About this Retreat
George Wiegand is our well-known and loved meditation teacher and volunteer at Ratna Ling. He has been a student of our Founder Tarthang Tulku and a full-time volunteer in Nyingma organizations for 40 years, as a chef, baker, kitchen manager, temple builder, book binder, and pressman.
He earned his Masters of Education in Counseling in 1974. After teaching high school while in the Peace Corps, he served as a Counselor at a Catholic high school before moving to California in search of a meditation teacher. He intensively trained in Tibetan Yoga (Kum Nye) from 1982-1986 at the Nyingma Institute in Berkeley, and then moved to the Odiyan country center.
George describes his daily practice as meditation in action, working on projects in the Nyingma community, cooking, baking, building temples, printing, binding books, and teaching Tibetan meditation. His active meditation has been a solitary practice, internally studying the working of his own mind as he performs dharma activities. Some of his greatest lessons have come from caring for a dying parent and teaching communication to teenagers at a mindfulness-based youth treatment center.
His hobbies include bread baking, basketball, and choir singing.
Karmyn Ojeda Egle is a devoted practitioner and teacher whose journey bridges the realms of physical awareness, meditative practice, and Tibetan Buddhist wisdom. Karmyn has dedicated herself to exploring the intricate connection between body and mind through the transformative practice of Kum Nye, a Tibetan healing system. Karmyn’s practice resonates with those seeking a meaningful integration of body, mind, and spirit. Through her guidance in Kum Nye, Yoga, and meditation, she creates spaces where practitioners can cultivate deep relaxation, heightened presence, and a profound connection to themselves and the world around them.
Karmyn is trained in Meditation, Reiki, Therapeutic Yoga, Breath-based Hatha Yoga (200 RYT), and a 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training. Her training encompasses intensive retreats and seminars across Europe, the United States, South America, and Asia, drawing on those experiences to design inclusive classes with a warm, grounded presence.
Originally from Argentina, Karmyn moved to the USA in 2018, where she has been a full-time volunteer at Ratna Ling, supporting diverse activities. Her practice is infused with a love for nature, motherhood, gardening, cooking, and the artistry of textiles, reflecting an aesthetic sensibility and mindfulness in everyday life.
Details of this retreat
Quiet the mind. Restore the spirit. Reconnect with your inner self.
Are you in need of a break — just some time and space for quiet with a change of scenery?
A Space and Ease retreat at Ratna Ling invites you to slow down and move at your own pace. This experience can be deeply restorative, offering a sanctuary for solitude, self-reflection, and mindful presence in the natural beauty of our land.
You are free to fill your days as you wish — with meditation, hiking in the redwoods, reading, or self-study. Your private cottage, nourishing vegetarian meals, and the rhythm of the land offer a steady container to support rest, healing, and a gentle return to your true essence.
The schedule is intentionally light, with spacious time for contemplation, quiet walks to the ocean, or simply sitting with yourself in stillness. Evenings may be spent exploring our library, including many books written by our founder, Tibetan Buddhist Lama Tarthang Tulku. Inspirational films are also available for viewing.
What to Expect in the Sessions
Your weekend begins with an Orientation, where you’ll meet fellow retreat guests and receive an introduction to the Tibetan Buddhist view of the mind. You’ll learn and practice shamatha — a calming, centering meditation — and build upon it throughout the weekend by focusing on the five senses.
You may explore:
Open awareness: glimpsing the mind without content or movement
Visualization: evoking states like love, joy, or compassion
Clarity around meditation: what it is (and isn’t), and how it differs from therapy
New relationships with the mind’s contents: thoughts, feelings, judgments, and more
To further support your retreat, Kum Nye Tibetan Relaxation and self-massage sessions are offered. These gentle practices integrate slow movement, stillness, and awareness to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and deepen your capacity for presence. Through them, body and mind come into full, harmonious contact — allowing experience to feel richer, healthier, and more alive.
Ready to Reconnect?
If this weekend doesn’t work for you, please visit our Personal Retreats page to explore future dates.
Come relax. Come home to yourself.
Come enjoy the space and ease of Ratna Ling — the realm of treasures.
COVID POLICY: For your safety and ours, we require that all participation be vaccinated against Covid and provide proof of a negative covid test result within 48 hours of arrival. We wish to provide peace of mind for all of our residents and guests.
Schedule (Subject to Change):
FRIDAY
3:00 pm Check in
5:30pm Dinner
7:00 pm Orientation
SATURDAY
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 Meditation
11:15 Kum Nye (Tibetan Relaxation) and Self-Massage Techniques
12:15 pm Lunch
Free time for meditation and contemplation
5:30pm Dinner
SUNDAY
9:00 am Meditation
10:00am Brunch
12pm Check out
For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421
Accommodations are beautiful lux cabins
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Transportation to/from Ratna Ling is NOT included - carpooling encouraged
Payments are nonrefundable and transferable to a future Ratna Ling retreat
Each cottage includes TWO private rooms with queen beds, large dining & living area, gas fireplace, spacious deck, jacuzzi tub, linens/towels/hand soap, kitchenette with tea & coffee, complimentary wireless internet.
Vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.
What people are saying about our retreats:
“The accommodations were great along with the beautiful surroundings - everything was so peaceful and nurturing”
“It was exactly what I needed – to disconnect, get in tune with my soul and recharge my spirit.”
“It was exactly what I needed - to disconnect, get in tune with my soul and recharge my spirit. ."
“Space for reflection while also giving me anchor points through teachings.
“Space and time for meditation and movement classes were truly wonderful.”
“Being able to move at my own pace is a luxury. And of course the food was delicious."
Deryk's Staff Pick
Top Rated
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Verified
Meditation
Last Chance
