A Meaningful Life

Daylong Retreat: 3 Principal Aspects of the Path - Online and In Person
2026-03-29 09:30 - 15:30 (America/Denver) | Durango Dharma Center, 1800 East 3rd Ave, Ste 109, Durango, CO, 81301, United States
The Three Principal Aspects of the Path: A Daylong Retreat with John Bruna

Hosted by the Durango Dharma Center
Sunday, March 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
In this daylong retreat, John Bruna will explore the timeless wisdom of The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, a short yet profound teaching by Je Tsongkhapa that distills the essence of the entire Buddhist path into just fourteen verses. Together, we will unpack these pith instructions and explore how they speak directly to the challenges, aspirations and inner struggles of modern life.
Drawing from classical Buddhist philosophy while making clear connections to contemporary Western psychology and therapeutic models, this retreat offers both depth and accessibility. It is well-suited for those new to Buddhist thought as well as seasoned practitioners seeking to deepen and integrate their practice.
At the heart of this teaching are three essential qualities that support genuine well-being, inner freedom and compassionate engagement with the world:
Renunciation
Learning to recognize how misperceptions and habitual patterns of mind give rise to unnecessary suffering—for ourselves and others. Renunciation in this context is not withdrawal from life, but a clear-eyed understanding of what truly leads to happiness, freedom and meaning, and how to cultivate those conditions in daily life.
Bodhicitta (Great Compassion)
Discovering the profound strength, resilience and healing that emerge when we cultivate connection and an altruistic motivation to benefit others. Bodhicitta transforms personal practice into a source of purpose, belonging and service.
Wisdom
Developing the capacity to understand ourselves and our experience of the world more accurately. Through this clarity, we begin to loosen deeply ingrained misperceptions that fuel emotional reactivity, distress and confusion—opening the door to greater balance, insight and freedom.
Throughout the retreat, participants will be guided through reflection, contemplation and practice aimed at integrating these teachings into real life—not merely as philosophical ideas, but as living principles that support healing, ethical living and genuine happiness.
Register at the Durango Dharma Center.
