New Year's Retreat at Dharma Mati

At the turn of the year, this retreat invites us to immerse ourselves in the living essence of the Dharma: compassion for ourselves and for others. Continuing on from last winter's retreat (2023/24) on the theme of refuge, this time we will focus on the question of how we can truly embody compassion—within ourselves, for one another, and as a community.

Led by Ian Ives and supported by members of the German Sangha, we will explore in teachings and complementary practice sessions how self-compassion becomes a source of genuine openness and connection. We will consider what it means to open our hearts—even in the face of difficulties—and how we can keep the vast, unlimited intention of bodhichitta alive in our daily lives. We will also look at how we can truly bring compassion into the heart of our togetherness and into the activity of our community.

This retreat is open to anyone who would like to start the year with intention and offers space for contemplative deepening, personal reflection, and shared awareness.

Supported by a group of experienced practitioners and teachers from the German Rigpa community, this retreat is also a gathering of the sangha—a time to draw strength together, nurture connection, and enter the new year as a compassionate community.

This retreat is open to anyone who would like to start the year with intention and offers space for contemplative deepening, personal reflection, and shared awareness.

Supported by a group of experienced practitioners and teachers from the German Rigpa community, this retreat is also a gathering of the sangha—a time to draw strength together, nurture connection, and enter the new year as a compassionate community.

We encourage everyone to come to Berlin for the retreat. However, an online option is also available for those who are unable to travel.

Optional: New Year's Eve party on December 31 (on-site only) https://pretix.eu/rigpa/party25/

In keeping with the tradition of recent years and, of course, the legendary Kirchheim retreats, we invite you to celebrate the new year together.

At Dharma Mati, we welcome you to an evening with a festive dinner, a colorful party, and quiet moments of shared practice. In this way, we dedicate the past year with all its ups and downs and awaken together the motivation for a fresh new year.

Schedule

January 1, 2026 / 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
January 2, 2026 / 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
03.01.26 / 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
04.01.26 / 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

These times are provisional and may be subject to slight changes.