From Seeing to Being
Natural liberation into the nature of mind
3-5 July 2026
Villa Sambuca
Teachers:
Anne Carolyn Klein — Lama Rigzin Drolma, Harvey Aronson — Lama Namgyal Dorje
Anne Carolyn Klein, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies and former department chair at Rice University (USA), is the co-founder and resident lama of the Dawn Mountain Tibetan Temple and Community Center in Texas.
Appointed Dorje Lopön in 2009, she is one of the most respected voices in the dialogue between academic scholarship, contemplative practice, and embodied experience.
Author of numerous books on Buddhist philosophy and contemplative experience, she has studied and practiced the Heart Essence Dzogchen traditions for more than forty years, transmitting these teachings through educational programs and guided retreats.
Harvey Aronson, PhD in Buddhist Studies and psychotherapist with more than thirty-five years of clinical experience, is the co-founder of Dawn Mountain.
He studied with renowned masters of the Geluk, Dzogchen, and Theravada traditions. He is the author of influential books exploring the dialogue between Dharma and Western psychotherapy, including Buddhist Practice on Western Ground and Love and Sympathy in Theravada Buddhism.
Appointed Dorje Lopön in 2010 by his teachers, his approach integrates Buddhist wisdom, deep listening, and experiential guidance.
More info:
3-5 July 2026
Villa Sambuca
Check-in: Friday from 3:00 PM. Start at 5:00 PM. Check-out: Sunday by 2:30 PM.
Language: English with translation into Italian
Included:
Full Board (Vegan Cuisine)
Practices and teachings
Beyond the “Veil” of Separation
Much of our life unfolds with a mind that observes, analyzes, and judges.
A mind that separates:
I am here, the experience is out there.
A mind that comments on life instead of resting in experience as it is.
This way of functioning is natural and useful. Yet it often carries tension, a subtle background of dissatisfaction, and a quiet distance from life itself.
And yet the sense of separation we perceive is not as solid as it seems.
When it dissolves, what remains beyond this “veil” is a vast space of awareness.
From this space, qualities such as relaxation, clarity, presence, freedom, and compassion can naturally emerge.
This retreat is an invitation to explore that space.
Not as an idea to understand, but as a direct experience to recognize.
The Retreat Guides
“From Seeing to Being” is inspired by the Seeing to Being program, developed by Anne Klein (Lama Rigzin Drolma) and Harvey Aronson (Lama Namgyal Dorje) at the contemplative center Dawn Mountain in Texas.
They will personally guide the retreat.
Anne Klein and Harvey Aronson are internationally respected teachers and scholars who have spent decades exploring the dialogue between the depth of the Buddhist contemplative tradition and contemporary life.
Practicing directly with teachers of this experience is a rare and precious opportunity.
You can read more about them in the dedicated bio sections.
From Seeing to Being
This movement from seeing to being describes a natural shift of the mind:
from a mode based on separation between observer and experience to a more integrated, open, and immediate presence.
This is not about acquiring new ideas or special inner states.
Rather, it is about recognizing the nature of mind that is already present.
The path integrates:
- the depth of the Buddhist tradition
- a language accessible to contemporary life
- direct experiential work with the mind and the heart
The Four Movements of Experience
The retreat unfolds through four movements of the mind, describing a natural process:
- Seeing: clearly recognizing how the mind usually functions
- Seeking: noticing the tendency to try to obtain something from practice
- Feeling: returning to a more embodied and immediate experience
- Being: resting in an open awareness that is not separate from experience
These movements are not rigid stages, but experiential orientations that help us navigate meditation with clarity and kindness.
The energies of the elements as a path of Transformation
A central aspect of the retreat is the exploration of elemental energies:
fire, earth, wind, water and space.
In the language of the Buddhist tradition, these energies describe fundamental qualities of human experience. In everyday life they often appear as inner patterns such as:
- agitation or rigidity
- control or dispersion
- emotional intensity or withdrawal
Often we experience these states as problems to eliminate.
In this retreat, instead, we learn to recognize them, listen to them, and transform our relationship to them.
Through a specific sādhana practice from the Seeing to Being cycle (inspired by the teachings of Orgyen Khakhyab Lingpa), we will explore these patterns with clarity and respect.
In doing so, we discover how the very energies that seem to limit us can become profound resources, available as one or more limitless states or Buddha wisdoms.
The teachings and practices related to elemental energies, essential in traditional mind-body healing systems and foundational in Tantra and Dzogchen, are carefully adapted to the needs of contemporary practitioners.
How the Retreat Will Unfold
During the weekend, we will alternate between:
- contemplative teachings
- guided meditation and silent practice
- spaces for listening, clarification, and integration of experience.
The rhythm of the retreat will be simple and gradual, allowing each participant to enter the practice in their own time.
The natural environment of Valle Benedetta, nestled in the silence of the hills, deeply supports this process of listening and presence.
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is open to anyone interested in meditation and contemplative practice.
No previous experience with Dzogchen or the Seeing to Being program is required.
The work offered is progressive and accessible, while still providing genuine depth for those who already practice and wish to integrate awakened presence into everyday life.
Language
Teachings will be offered in English with Italian interpratation.
A direct encounter with the Nondual Nature of Mind
Guided by authentic teachers of the Buddhist contemplative tradition, these days of practice offer the possibility to explore directly the nature of mind and awareness.
Through practice, a profound and radical discovery may emerge: the solid identity we usually cling to is not as solid as it seems.
When identification and the sense of separation soften, experience becomes surprisingly free and relaxed.
And from there, life begins to change.
This retreat is an invitation to experience this possibility directly.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Program Fee (Accommodation not included)
To allow everyone to participate according to their possibilities, Valle Benedetta offers a conscious contribution model for the retreat program.
We invite participants to choose the fee that best reflects their financial situation.
SUSTAINABLE LEVEL:Covers the real costs of the retreat –>€200 – €250
SUPPORTER LEVEL:For those who can contribute a little more to support others–>€250 – €300
SUPPORTED LEVEL:For those who need financial support–> €150 – €200
ACCOMODATION (FULL BOARD)
Accommodation with full board varies depending on the room type:
- Shared quadruple room: €90 per person, per night
- Double room: from €115 per person, per night
- Single room: from €180 per person, per night
Information and Registration
For registration or further information, please write to info@taramandala.it.