We are delighted to announce that Lama Mark Webber (Lama Chokyi Gyaltsen) will be leading on December a 10-day Vipassana retreat and bestowing the empowerment of White Dzambhala at Villa Sumaya on beautiful Lake Atitlan Guatemala.
“All teachings and meditations of the Buddhist Path are the unity of Vipassana-direct wisdom seeing-and vast compassion." ~ Lama Chokyi Gyaltsen.
This retreat will emphasize directly realizing core topics of Vipassana through sensing breath-body-awareness: a) mindfulness as continuum attentiveness and recollective awareness, b) the insights into cause and effect (karma or mental intention), c) insights into name (concepts) and form (appearances), d) recognition of impermanence (anicca), dis- ease-ment (dukkha) and no-real-self nature (anatta), e) cessation of clinging and attachment (nirodha) as release and relinquishment (nibbana/nirvana).
This retreat will combine approaches and methods of the classic Abhidhamma-vipassana and the Mahamudra and Dzogchen.
In addition, Lama Webber will bestow the White Dzambhala empowerment, the Union of the Sun and Moon, revealed by the 18th century Terton Chogyal Dorje. White Dzambhala is a special manifestation of Guru Rinpoche, a meditation for increasing prosperity, wealth, merit of all kinds, especially the supportive conditions to awaken and realize primordial awareness.
Location: Villa Sumaya.
Single, double and triple accommodation available, including three daily vegetarian meals. Early Bird Rates available for booking by September 11, 2026:
Single Occupancy from $1,910 to $2,340
Double Occupancy $1,280 to $1,620, each guest
Triple Occupancy $1,230 to $1,400, each guest
Dates: December 1- 11 2026. There will be two to three sessions a day. Although classes will be given regularly, participants will be guided individually.
Contact: Sandra Drummond: sandradrummondl@gmail.com
About Lama Chökyi Gyaltsen
Lama Mark Webber (Lama Yongdu Chökyi Gyaltsen):
Has been studying, meditating, and teaching Buddha-dharma for fifty years. For thirty years his main root teacher was the great Ven. Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche who taught all three cycles of the Buddha's teachings, including Abhidhamma, Vipassana in the lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw, generation and completion stage practices of the Tantrayana and Mahamudra/Dzogchen of many lineages, especially of the Karma Kagyu and Sakya.
Under the guidance and transmissions of the late Drikung Lho Ontul Rinpoche and requests of H.E. Lho Karma Ratna Rinpoche, Lama Webber has been teaching principally the richness of the Drikung Mahamudra, Drikung Dzogchen Yangzab and Orgyen Nuden Dorje Dzogchen traditions, transmissions of pith texts of Padmasambhava, Je Gampopa, Jamgon Ju Mipham, Dza Patrul Rinpoche and Shantideva's Bodhisattvacaryavacara, a transmission from Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche.
He has a deep and long-term interest in the sciences and collaborates in marine biology research and the arts which he integrates with the teaching of Buddhism. Lama Webber is a founding board director of the national ecological research institute IMERSS (imerss.org).
Lama Webber's compassionate activities demonstrate a profound commitment to freeing beings from innumerable suffering states. His emphasis with practitioners and students is on uncovering pure Dharma to reveal its extraordinary benefits and share the great joy of its deep study, meditative practices and integration into all aspects of our lives.