SENDA LOTO
At Senda Loto, a retreat is more than just a getaway; it's a deep journey to the core of your being. Held in the sacred Sierra Nevada of Colombia—the heart of the world—our retreats guide you on a timeless path rooted in the practices of Shamatha (calm abiding) and Vipassana (insight) meditation, following the profound lineage of the great Tibetan master Dudjom Rinpoche.
For over a decade, we've created the ideal environment for you to turn inward and not just learn meditation, but to live it. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just beginning, our programs are designed to meet you exactly where you are. Each day balances meditation classes, silent sittings, Hatha yoga, breathwork, periods of noble silence, and moments for optional social connection.
What truly sets us apart, though, is our non-dual approach. This path goes beyond concepts and techniques, inviting you to re-connect with the boundless nature of your own awareness. This isn't just a retreat—it's a return to the wholeness that has always been within you.
Pema (Tib. Lotus) is a meditation teacher and yogi with over 15 years of deep practice in Tibetan Buddhism, especially within the Dzogchen tradition. He has trained with some of the most respected masters of our time, including H.H. the Dalai Lama, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop, and his root teacher, the great yogi Loppon Jigme Rinpoche.
Pema's journey into the Dharma began with a series of devastating losses. In his childhood, he lost both parents, and soon after, everything they had left him was stolen by other family members. This betrayal and pain deeply marked his early years. During his adolescence and into his mid-twenties, music became his refuge and a new mask, and for a time he lived as a professional musician with some success. But inside, the pain and questions about the meaning of life continued to grow. Depression set in. The silence beneath the noise became increasingly louder, revealing what wasn't real.
One night, standing at the edge of a seventh-floor window in Berlin, ready to end his life, something opened. In an instant, he saw the true nature of mind: that all thoughts and emotions—whether pleasurable or unbearable—are essence-less, empty, and fleeting projections. That moment pulled him back from the abyss and guided him towards a life of authentic inquiry and confrontation with reality as it is.
He gave away his belongings, left behind the world he knew, and embarked on a path of practice and retreat. From hermitages in the Himalayas to South American jungles, he trained with wild yogis and compassionate masters, spending long periods in silence, solitude, and study. Little by little, his mind found peace. Pain transformed into fuel for a deeper reality. And the Dharma ceased to be just a teaching to become a lived truth, stripped of all pretense.
Today, Pema lives in retreat and shares his space and practices with those seeking liberation and to be genuinely real. His teachings are direct, practical, and free from the masks of spiritual pretension. He offers not theories, but tools born from his own experience, guiding others to dance with life as it is.
Whether you're just starting your journey or have years of experience, Senda Loto is the perfect place to reconnect with yourself.
In this retreat we'll guide you to look beyond appearances and discover natural clarity through Shamatha and Vipassana meditation. You’ll be supported by daily Q&A sessions, restorative Hatha yoga, breathwork, and noble silence. We designed this retreat to help you deepen your practice, and we're honored to have many guests return to join us again and again.
Discover a path to inner calm and clarity. This retreat guides you through foundational mindfulness and gentle Hatha yoga, designed to soothe your mind, ease stress, and gently awaken your deeper self-awareness. It’s a perfect starting point for anyone seeking to cultivate more calm and clarity.
At Senda Loto, our retreats offer expert guidance in mindfulness and essential Buddhist meditations like Vipassanā and Shamathā. Each day seamlessly blends these powerful practices with restorative Hatha yoga, breathwork, and periods of noble silence, creating an ideal environment for deep reflection and inner growth. This is your space to pause, quiet the mind, and reconnect with your true self in a setting designed for profound spiritual re-connection.
A peaceful sanctuary where every detail is designed for your comfort and to help you experience unity with nature.
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At Senda Loto, we believe in the healing power of food and craft our meals carefully to promote overall well-being and health. Our thoughtfully assembled meals feature locally grown food and sustainably sourced ingredients, prepared with lots of love. We have vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian options.
During meals, we practice mindful eating so the food nourishes not only our bodies but also our minds and spirits. To facilitate this, our meals are eaten in Noble Silence.
