2026 Serenity Ridge Open House
with Lama Kalsang Nyima
June 20, 2026
Share the joy, warmth, and community
Come to Serenity Ridge Retreat Center on Saturday, June 20th. Walk on our nature trails, learn about Buddhism directly from a lama in the Tibetan Bön tradition, practice meditation and spend time with a great community of people.
Lama Kalsang Nyima, a respected artist and Buddhist teacher, will be at Serenity Ridge throughout the month of September.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about him, the teachings and services he can offer during his residency and have a great time seeing old friends and meeting new ones!
Everyone is welcome to this free event!
Please be aware that Serenity Ridge will be impacted by a road construction project on Rockfish River Rd. on September 13th. Please find the alternative driving directions for the event.
From Charlottesville:
- Head south on Hwy 29
- Turn left onto Rte. 6 East (Irish Rd.)
- Continue to Rte. 639 (Laurel Rd.) and turn right
- Follow to Rockfish River Rd. (Rt. 617) and turn right
- Continue on Rockfish River Rd. to Drumheller Ln. (Rt. 714) and turn left
- Follow Drumheller Ln. to the top of the hill to arrive at Serenity Ridge
From Lovingston or Afton area:
- Head north on Hwy 29
- Turn right onto Rte. 6 East
- Continue to Laurel Rd. (Rte. 639) and turn right
- Follow to Rockfish River Rd. (Rt. 617) and turn right
- Continue on Rockfish River Rd. to Drumheller Ln. (Rt. 714) and turn left
- Follow Drumheller Ln. to the top of the hill to arrive at Serenity Ridge
Schedule:
9:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m.: Arrival – Enjoy tea and coffee while connecting with others
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.: Dharma Talk & Guided Meditation Practice with Lama Kalsang Nyima – Learn about the Bön Buddhist teachings
11:00 a.m: Tour – Explore the beautiful grounds of our retreat center and learn about our activities and mission
12:00 noon Potluck (bring something to share)
After the tour, stay for a potluck, socializing and swimming after lunch!
*Serenity Ridge will be having a Service Retreat at the same time.
Teacher
Lama Kalsang Nyima is a resident lama of Ligmincha Mexico. He is well known as an artist and thanka painter of the Bön tradition. Previously a resident lama for Ligmincha Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia, he now lives at the Great Bön Stupa for World Peace in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Born in 1970 in the village of Tad, in the province of Dolpo, Nepal, he is connected to Bön through his father’s Dong lineage, and to Buddhism through his mother’s Nyel lineage. At age 9, Lama Kalsang became a monk at Samling Monastery, the oldest and most important monastery in Dolpo, where his grandfather, Lama Lhagyep Rinpoche, was head teacher. There, he trained intensively for 12 years in the many methods of sutra and tantra, finished his ngöndro (foundational practices) and completed many personal retreats, including a traditional three-year closed retreat. At age 21, Lama Kalsang spent a month walking from Dolpo to Kathmandu to study at Triten Norbutse Monastery with H.E Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche. During his four years of study, in addition to traditional Bön teachings he also learned techniques of traditional thangka painting. Lama Kalsang then spent five additional years studying thangka painting at Tulku Urgyen…
Learn more about Lama Kalsang Nyima
