Embodied Heart Sutra (Residential Weekend - Includes 2 nights accommodations and all meals)

5.004 reviews
Location icon
Topanga, California, USA
Users icon
Up to 15 in group
Date
Feb 6 - 8, 2026

Retreat Highlights

  • Sacred Buddhist Dance and Art Retreat

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

This retreat invites participants to explore the Heart Sutra through sacred movement and embodied meditation. In Charya dance, we translate the profound teaching of emptiness into physical experience allowing insight to arise through the body, not just the intellect.

Through flowing movement, stillness, gesture, and mantra, participants are guided to sense how form and emptiness are not separate, but continuously interwoven. Prajñāpāramitā, the feminine embodiment of wisdom, is invoked as a living presence expressed through clarity, openness, and fearless compassion.

No prior dance experience is required. This practice is about presence, attunement, and listening deeply to the body as a doorway to wisdom.

Schedule

8am: Breakfast

9AM - 12PM: Morning Session
Art Workshop with Tiffani Gyatso

12:30 - 3PM PM: Lunch and Rest
Opportunity to receive healing bodywork sessions

3 - 6 PM: Afternoon Session
Dance Workshop with Prajwal Vajracharya

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Dinner
A relaxed dinner where participants can engage in informal discussions.

Both morning and afternoon sessions include Buddhist teachings on the five elements, five Buddhas, and sacred geometry of the mandala.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Pure Land Farms, Topanga, California, USA

Directions

We are located approximately a 40 minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR).

Accommodation

Traditional Mongolian Yurts Zen House Tiny House Indoor Retreat Rooms

Mongolian Glamping Yurt (Ati or Yangchenma - Shared)

Accommodation
Our traditional Mongolian Glamping Yurts offer remote accommodation for those who want an authentic experience immersed in nature. Tucked up against the hillside bordering national park, our yurts enjoy expansive views, silence, and privacy while still being in close proximity to the Yuthok Ling Temple, dining area, and restrooms. These yurts are fully equipped with electricity, space heater, shrine, and bedding/linens. Rental includes access to all communal spaces on land and gender neutral restroom facilities (two in close proximity). This is a shared accommodation for two (each yurt has two single beds). You will be assigned a roommate unless you specify a preferred roommate.

Indoor Retreat Rooms (Shared)

Accommodation
Comfortable guest rooms perfect for those who prefer more accessibility. Shared gender neutral full bathroom located right outside the rooms with an additional half bath just downstairs. Rooms are located just above student lounge and library. Climate controlled. This is a shared accommodation for two. You will be assigned a roommate unless you specify a preferred roommate.

Tara House (Single or Couple)

Accommodation
The Tara House is a serene free-standing retreat room close to Yuthok Ling Temple and overlooking Tanaduk Gardens. Contains private half bath. Shower in shared gender neutral bathroom located in the adjacent house. This space is suitable for an individual or a couple.  If you would like to book this space as a couple please select two guests from the drop down menu.

Mongolian Glamping Yurt (Garuda - Single or Couple)

Accommodation
Our Garuda Yurt is a secluded accommodation option for those seeking greater privacy. Located below the pool with private deck and featuring unique Asian antiques. Fully equipped with electricity, space heater, shrine, Queen size bed and bedding/linens. New private composting toilet and outdoor solar shower! This yurt is suitable for a single or couple.

Zen House (Single or Couple)

Accommodation
The Zen House offers Japanese style bright and serene accommodation perfect for meditation steps to the student lounge, pool, sauna and outdoor shower. This space is suitable for an individual or a couple. Includes a private patio with seating. Shared gendered neutral full bathroom located in the adjacent house. If you would like to book this space as a please select two guests from the drop down menu.

Tanaduk Tree House (Single or Couple)

Accommodation
The Tanaduk Tiny House offers cozy tree house-style private accommodation steps to Tanaduk Gardens. This woodsy writers' retreat features a loft style bed, additional pull out couch, and is fully equipped with a kitchen, full bathroom, and private outdoor seating area nestled under oak tree. This tiny house is suitable for an individual or couple. (Guest(s) should be comfortable accessing sleeping loft via ladder.) If you would like to book this space as a please select two guests from the drop down menu.

Mongolian Camping Yurt (Nomad - Shared)

Accommodation
This traditional colorful Mongolian yurt offers remote accommodation for those who wish for an authentic experience close to nature. Tucked up against the hillside bordering national park, our yurts enjoy expansive views, silence, and privacy while still being in close proximity to the Yuthok Ling Temple, dining area, and restrooms. This Nomad off the grid yurt is without electricity or heating and guests should bring appropriate warm clothing. Rental includes access to all communal spaces on land, gender neutral restroom facilities, and bedding/linens. This is a shared accommodation for two. You will be assigned a roommate unless you specify a preferred roommate.  

Pure Land Trailer (Single or Couple)

Accommodation
Our colorful Pure Land trailer offers private accommodation close to Yuthok Ling temple, and public dining area. Includes fully equipped kitchen and private bathroom. If you would like to book this space as a please select two guests from the drop down menu.  

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Pure Land Farms is a ten acre rural sanctuary on the edge of Los Angeles named after Tanaduk (Tibetan ལྟ་ན་སྡུག།), the Pure Land of the Medicine Buddha.

Pure Land Farms is the home of the Sowa Rigpa Institute: School of Tibetan Medicine founded by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang and we offer courses and workshops in Tibetan Medicine, wellness retreats, as well as group Buddhist meditation practices and arts and cultural events and workshops.

Meals

Menu Types

Simple and nourishing vegetarian food based on the principles of Tibetan Medicine

What's Included

  • A Week Immersion at Pure Land Farms
  • Three Vegetarian Meals A Day
  • Optional Onsite Accommodations (or commuter rate)
  • Dance and Art Practice

What's Not Included

  • Travel

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Our first time at Pure Land Farms
My partner and I enjoyed our first time at Pure Land Farms. We took a class there and learned so much. The class was paced well with movement and differently learning modalities. The instructors were so informative and open to questions as well as very calming. Our cohort of students were kind, sensitive and each on a personal mission of self discovery. We signed up for the January class and mu partner is going to schedule a 1 on 1 with one of the practitioners there for an assessment abd treatment. We both can see ourselves becoming regular attendees here.

5.0
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Grounded, Welcoming, and Well-Held
I spent an afternoon at Pure Land Farms in a Tibetan self-healing session and found the experience calm, grounded, and genuinely welcoming. The land itself makes it easy to slow down and arrive.

The instructors, Dr. Bryan Watrous and Julia Mariko Shannon, were relaxed, highly knowledgeable, and created a safe container for people of many different backgrounds and levels of experience. The guidance felt steady and spacious rather than rigid or prescriptive.

I left feeling settled and clear. I shared a longer reflection on the experience here:

https://journeythroughmeditation.com/blog-meditation/2025/12/15/pure-land-farms-an-afternoon-of-tibetan-self-healing

5.0
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Foundations of Vajrana Buddhism & External Therapies
I cannot say enough how much Pure Land Farms is a place of deeply profound meaning for me. To study with Dr. Nida and all the teachers who offer their wisdom and knowledge is an experience that is enriching and inspiring.
Dr Nida is the most incredible vibrant joyful and brilliant teacher. He is a multidimensional teacher of innate intelligence brilliance humor & compassion - he distills the essence of complex ancient teachings in the clearest & most practical way. I basically want to take any classes he is teaching and I hope to be able to take the foundational Sowa Rigpa training next year. All the teachers I have experienced in person or CHRISTIANA, Liz and Drukhmo , Dr. Brian , Bair, and the visiting lamas have enhanced so many aspects of my life with their presence, teachings & offerings.
All the Sangha people I come into contact with there are wonderful humans doing sincere & incredible work in the world and I feel that wherever Dr. Nida goes and wherever CHRISTIANA is they create such a container for magic and goodness and Gardens of bounty .
I highly highly recommend Pure Land Farms and feel very blessed to live locally - so thankful to be a part of this incredible sangha.

5.0
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A healing site of deep transformation
At least twice a year since 2022 I have gone to PURELAND FARMS in Topanga seeking refuge from the storms of life. Like a hidden hamlet of rejuvenation nestled in golden Southern California hills, you can find a quiet place and just be or you can engage with other retreatants whose journey's will inspire you to new heights. The yurts, the food, the spirits of the land and the courteous and knowledgeable staff all combine in a frictionless way making for not just a get away but an experience - a heart centered feeling of returning home. Whenever Dr. Nida is there you can definitely count on an epic time!! Personal retreats are also available too, and having done that twice, I can say it is truly sublime.

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