Weekend Retreat
A Meditative Journey Through the Lamrim:
Discovering the Stages of the Path to Awakening
with Venerable Amy Miller

Rejoice! Photos from the retreat with Ven. Amy Miller in July 2026. Heartfelt thanks to Venerable for her inspiring teachings, and to everyone whose generosity and support made these precious teachings possible. May the Dharma flourish for the benefit of all sentient beings. Photos by Donna Svennevik and center volunteers.

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The Buddhist path unfolds step by step in the lamrim, translated as the “Stages of the Path,” and characterized by a number of important texts that organized the Dharma into graduated steps to enlightenment. It offers a complete roadmap for awakening that is as relevant today as it was centuries ago. This weekend retreat brings these timeless teachings to life through accessible explanations, guided meditations, and practical application. Many students encounter lamrim teachings early in their studies and may feel they already know them. Yet when approached as meditation rather than mere theory, the lamrim reveals itself as something far richer: a living path that gradually reshapes how we see ourselves, others, and the world. This retreat invites participants to rediscover these familiar teachings in a fresh and deeply experiential way.

Using the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga practice as the structural framework for our sessions, we will explore how devotion, meditation, and reflection on the lamrim naturally unfold together. This traditional practice, also known as Ganden Lha Gyäma, is used to receive inspiration and blessings while cultivating realizations of the path. Together, we’ll explore key contemplations of the lamrim, from cultivating meaningful motivation and recognizing the precious opportunity of human life, to developing renunciation, compassion, and the wisdom that understands the nature of reality. Each session weaves teaching with experiential meditation, offering a direct encounter with the clarity, purpose, and inner freedom these practices are designed to awaken. Rather than presenting the lamrim as simply a list of topics, this retreat reveals it as a dynamic path of transformation. It is one that gradually reshapes how we think, act, and relate to others. Through the integrated structure of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga, participants will discover how the stages of the path can become a living meditation supporting both formal practice and daily life. This retreat is ideal for students seeking a clear structure for their practice, or for those wishing to reconnect with the heart of the Buddhist path. This weekend offers a fresh, engaging, and transformative encounter with the lamrim. Open to all levels, though some familiarity with Buddhism may be helpful.

Additional Materials

  • Getting a Daily Practice Started: You Can Do! (PDF)

  • Prayers for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche (PDF)

  • Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga A Method of Practicing Ganden Lhagyama According to the Instructions of Lama Zopa Rinpoche (PDF via FPMT store)

For the prayer flag ceremony on Sun Jul 19:

  • Dependent arising mantra (PDF)

Recordings

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About the Teacher

Venerable Amy Miller

Venerable Amy Miller has been teaching extensively since 1992 and was ordained as a Buddhist nun in June 2000 by the great Tibetan master, Venerable Choden Rinpoche. She has previously directed several FPMT centers and projects for decades and has completed a seven-month solitary retreat. Her teaching style emphasizes a practical approach to integrating Buddhist philosophy into everyday life. She is happy to help people connect with meditation and mindfulness in an effort to gain a refreshing perspective on normally stressful living. Venerable teaches and leads retreats and pilgrimages around the world. Her teaching schedule and other information can be found at www.AmyMiller.com.