9th Annual Dzogchen Retreat
with Lama Mark Webber
Lama Yongdu Chokyi Gyaltsen
February 27 – March 27, 2026 (1 Month)
Accommodating, Steadfastly into the Glory which is Buddha Mind.
Using the skillful means and meditation naturally generated out of the Dzogchen View
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are thrilled to announce this opportunity for Dharma practitioners to come together for a 1-month Dzogchen retreat at Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre in Feb/March 2026.
As many great masters have declared and realized, only when we have trained in and understood Dzogchen-Mahamudra meditation, will we be receptive to and able to abide in the genuine non-meditation mode, the natural and spontaneous awakeness.
This retreat is an ideal opportunity for established Dharma practitioners to come together in a supportive practice community and deepen their connection to the Dzogchen view. The retreat is also open to those who may be new to the Dzogchen teachings, but have a sincere interest in Buddhist Dharma and mediation.
RETREAT FORMAT
Lama Mark Webber has recently entered a 6-month deepening period of solo retreat. At this stage we are keeping the theme and structure of the retreat relatively open, to allow for whatever direction may arise to Lama during this period.
However, we expect the retreat format will generally be consistent with previous years – a daily schedule consisting of up to two group sessions and plenty of opportunity for solo retreat time, self-practice and discovery, including days without any formal sessions.
Lama Mark Webber will offer a series of Dharma classes (including meditation instruction), reading transmissions, empowerments and guided sadhana practice sessions. He will also be available at times for one-on-one guidance. These offerings will be complemented with retreatant-led group sadhana practice sessions as well as some gentle body-awareness sessions (yoga, qigong) to help develop clear, bright awareness of sensation within and around one’s body.
COSTS
For Wangapeka members: NZ$2856 + dana
For non-members: NZ$3136 + dana
The set fee covers accommodation, prepared meals and a resource fee. The fee does not include any contribution for the teacher / teaching. In accordance with Buddhist tradition, Lama Mark offers the teaching of Dharma freely, out of the spirit of generosity. There will be an opportunity to make an offering of dana / donation in return, in appreciation of the teachings and to help support the continued flow of Dharma. Please give as generously as you can – as a rough guide we suggest allowing for about $30/day, but this should be moderated according to your means.
Dana to Lama Mark Webber can be made directly via Paypal to the address: mwebber108@yahoo.ca
A deposit of $200 is required to secure your place on the course (this consists of a $100 deposit to Wangapeka and $100 to the course organisers). Refer Wangapeka’s refund policy, which is applicable to the full amount: https://wangapeka.org/refund-policy/
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
A scholarship fund has been established to provide financial support to people who wish to attend teachings and retreats with Lama Mark Webber. It is primarily intended for those who would be unable to attend without financial assistance. To be eligible, you must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident. Funding is limited and preference is generally given to those who have attended teachings with Lama Mark Webber in the past. It may not be necessary that Lama Mark is your main Dharma teacher, however a good connection is helpful. Funding is subject to an application process and is awarded at the discretion of the funding committee. Other terms and conditions apply. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity for financial support, please contact the course manager.
TRANSPORT & TIMING
Wangapeka Retreat Centre is approximately 75 min drive from Nelson. Please aim to arrive between 3pm and 5pm on 27 Feb, in time for a light meal and orientation meeting. The course will officially finish around 2pm on 27 March, after a light lunch and clean-up. We do rely on retreatants to help with cleaning the centre so please organise transport times to allow for this. For those flying into Nelson it is usually best to aim for a flight arrival time into Nelson between 11am and 1pm, and a flight departure time on the last day after 4pm.
We will be coordinating shuttles & car-pooling options in the week prior to the start of the retreat. If you do require transport to and from the Centre, please email the course manager with your flight times, etc when you have these confirmed. Cost usually works out to be between $50-$80 per person each way. If you are able to offer a lift to others, please let us know.
ENQUIRIES AND REGISTRATION
For all enquiries and to express interest in attending this retreat, please contact the course manager, Jonathan Chambers:
e: info@openbreath.org
p: +64 21 1860 476
To register please fill out our online registration form
PAYMENT
After you have Registered for the retreat, please pay a deposit of $200 to secure your place.
Retreatants from New Zealand
Please pay using internet banking. The bank account number is: 03-0703-0156597-003. Note the 003 suffix!
Make sure to include your name and the retreat name in the payment details. Payment information is also included on the Registration Form. Thank you for your patience. We are working on streamlining this payment system to make it easier to use.
Retreatants from Elsewhere
Those living outside New Zealand can use our Stripe account.
Please add $5 to the amount to cover the fee that Stripe charges us.
Here is the Stripe Link to make payments: Wangapeka Stripe Link
Please email the Admin Office on info@wangapeka.org to tell them a payment has been made. Include your name, the retreat name and the amount you paid. Thank you for your patience. We are working on streamlining this payment system to make it easier to use.
Please consider becoming a Wangapeka member – click here for details.
ABOUT LAMA MARK WEBBER
Lama Mark Webber (Lama Yongdu Chokyi Gyaltsen) has been studying and teaching Buddha-dharma for almost fifty years. For thirty years his main root teacher was the great Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche who taught all three cycles of the Buddha’s teachings, including Abhidhamma, Vipassana in the lineage of Mahāsi Sayādaw, 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 Kyabje Ontul Rinpoche and transmissions from H.E. Lho 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, Jamgön Ju Mipham, Patrul Rinpoche and Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra 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.
For more information about Lama Mark Webber please see: