Category Archives: Programs

Resting in Quiet, Returning to Wonder

Daylong Retreat,

Join us for a Day of Mindfulness in the Plum Village tradition, settling into meditation and mindfulness practices that water our seeds of well-being and reawaken us to the wonders of life. 

November is a time of growing darkness and quiet as the pulse of life slows. Imagine resting with a blanket of snow covering the landscape and us, where we settle into deep comfort, and at the same time, we are waking up to the wonders and magic of life. We can use this time of slowing down to revitalize ourselves and our relationship with the Earth and one another. During our day together, we will enjoy ways to renew our energy and act with intention and deep gratitude for the gifts before us in this deepening season of darkness.

Practitioners from all traditions and any level of previous experience are welcome. Lunch is brown bag.

Gina Garlie is a Dharma Teacher in the Plum Village Tradition founded by Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh. She received the Lamp Transmission in the Tiep Hein Order of Interbeing of at Plum Village in the spring of 2025. She started Open Sky Sangha in Kalispell, MT, in 2010, and collaborates with sanghas across Montana in helping to organize retreats and Days of Mindfulness. Gina spent thirty years as a public school teacher, teaching middle school sciences, and interspersed practices of mindfulness into her daily lessons. When she is not engaged in Sangha Building, she can often be found oil painting or enjoying time in nature.  She also offers personal consultations for developing or deepening personal meditation practices and mindful living. Contact Gina at openskysangha@gmail.com.

Living from True Nature with Elaine Huang

Half-Day Retreat, Non-denominational

On Saturday October 11, step into a morning of exploration from 9:00 AM to noon where guided meditation, mindfulness, reflective exercises, and practical tools open the way to freedom from limiting patterns of heart, mind, and body. This retreat offers practical pathways for embodying your true nature, cultivating presence, openness, and love in everyday life.

Highlights:

  • Practices that nurture freedom, presence, and embodied awakening
  • Tools to soften limiting patterns of heart, mind, and body
  • Guidance for living with more ease as your true nature shines through

Elaine Huang (MSW, MA, SEP) is a seasoned mindfulness teacher and guide, with 25 years of experience facilitating individuals, groups, and corporate teams. A dedicated meditator for over 35 years, she holds certifications in Mindful Leadership, Search Inside Yourself, and Somatic Experiencing. Elaine leads mindfulness retreats, intensive workshops, and half-day offerings in a variety of settings, and facilitates trainings for leaders and teams across companies of all sizes and industries. With master’s degrees in social work and clinical psychology, she brings a rich educational foundation to her work. Elaine’s focus is supporting individuals on their journeys of personal growth, presence, and awakening to their true nature.

Zen Sesshin with Nomon Tim Burnett

Weekend Retreat, Zen

The Zen Sesshin offers inspiring practice with zendo forms in place – right at the Bozeman Dharma Center. Enjoy zazen, service, dharma talks, and oryōki (formal eating) practice. We will be providing two oryōki meals with instruction provided by Nomon. These meals are part of the practice and will be held in silence. 

The sesshin will happen over the course of four days, October 23-26, from 7:00 AM– 5:00 PM Thursday – Saturday and from 7 AM to noon on Sunday. Although participation can be flexible, priority for attendance will be given to those who sign up for all four days.

Nomon Tim Burnett has been a student of Zoketsu Norman Fischer since 1987 when he was a resident at San Francisco Zen Center’s Green Gulch Farm. After sitting practice periods at Green Gulch and Tassajara Zen Monastery, Tim helped found the Bellingham Zen Practice Group in 1991. Tim was ordained as a Zen Priest by Norman in 2000, received Dharma Transmission in 2011, and was installed as Guiding Teacher of the Red Cedar Zen Community in April, 2017. A person of wide-ranging professional interests, Tim has been a botanist, carpenter, elementary school teacher, writer, and computer programmer. In addition to his work at the Guiding Teacher of Red Cedar Zen Community, Tim is Executive Director of Mindfulness Northwest where he offers the Dharma in the form of secular mindfulness to many in local communities and professions.

Buddhism Basics

Classes, Non-denominational

Join senior BDC practitioners on Saturday October 4 from 9 AM to 12:30 PM to explore central teachings of our 2600 year old Buddhist tradition. We will learn about the five aggregates, five remembrances, five hindrances and the six paramitas. Great for those new to meditation and Buddhist practice; seasoned practitioners are warmly encouraged as well.

Yamama!

Non-denominational, SoundGate

Explore meditation and connection through sound on Friday October 3 from 7-8 PM with Yamama!

Yamama! will offer a meditative soundscape using drums, percussion and vocals as guest artists for October’s SoundGate program. No registration necessary. Donations welcome! Any funds collected will be split evenly with the guest artists.

Mindful Creativity: Tibetan Singing Bowls

Classes, Non-denominational

Learn about Tibetan singing bowls and how to ring them from Brian Sparks! He will offer an introduction to sounding the bowls on Sunday, September 21 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM.

The class will introduce information on several therapeutic uses, bowl types, considerations on buying a bowl and a therapeutic set of bowls, how to play the bowls, mallet types, and physiological impacts of bowl sounds on the body and brain as well as some hands on practice with the bowls. 

 Brian received his spiritual teaching from several masters in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His teachers blessed his bowl work by giving him the specific “Prayer of Aspiration” and granted him many Buddhist empowerments. He has toured with notable Tibetan musicians, actors, and at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee.

He offers his practice of playing Tibetan bowls in service of healing, compassion and awakening.

If anyone is interested in learning how to become part of this tradition, they can talk with Brian after the session to discuss the structure and content of what is required to become a proficient bell ringer.

August Mindful Creativity: Origami

Classes, Non-denominational

Enjoy an afternoon of origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, on Saturday August 23 from 3:30-5 PM!

Repetitively folding paper can produce a calming, meditative state while also working on focus and concentration. And it’s fun! 

Our facilitator, Cam Palmer Warner, has been a folding fanatic since second grade and enjoys teaching others to fold. Cam will offer designs inspired by the Dharma such as lotus flowers and cranes (specific designs to be determined). 

You do not need prior experience to attend this workshop. Children and complete beginners welcome!

All materials supplied (but if you have paper you’d like to use, you’re welcome to bring it).

This event is in-person only.

Newcomer Orientation

Classes, Non-denominational

Want to start a meditation practice? Or learn about the Bozeman Dharma Center? On Tuesday July 1 from 5 PM to 6 PM we will host our monthly orientation. Join us to learn about the Center, get your questions answered, and receive basic meditation instruction. No registration required. Free!