embodying the open ground: New year’s Retreat - 2026
january 2 - 4, 2026
A contemporary path of embodied meditation that awakens clarity, compassion, and resilience for meeting the challenges of our time.
Embodying the Open Ground is a contemplative approach to meditation developed by Dr. John Churchill over the last twenty years. It draws on the inherent intelligence of embodied experience and the meditative traditions of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Rooted in Buddhist Essence Meditation and informed by attachment theory, psychodynamic practice, and developmental psychology, it integrates contemporary psychological and somatic understanding with Mahayana essence psychology.
This contemporary path of realization reveals the fundamental truth of interconnectedness, openness, non-duality, and wholeness of experience. The cycle of practice is designed specifically for the psychosomatic and cultural conditioning of Western practitioners, while remaining deeply grounded in Buddhist psychology. The practices work with the life intelligence of the body and matter, revealing expanded transpersonal experience through relaxation, loving-kindness, vulnerability, and release.
Grounded in a non-dual understanding of body, breath, and consciousness, this approach calms the mind and opens one to the heartfelt ground of being, while healing the split between mind and body. It leads from identification with the reactive personality to recognition of essence — vast openness, dynamic awareness, and transpersonal love that transcends and includes body and mind.
Meditation becomes not just a formal practice but a way of living that informs how we live, work, and love.
At its heart, this path rests on sincerity and authenticity. To embody the open ground is to live from the heart, guided by truthfulness, tenderness, and trust. In doing so, practice connects us not only to our own healing and awakening but to one another, to our communities, and to the wider living world.
This practice helps to reveal a deep source of wisdom within your own body and heart-mind. This inner wellspring is profoundly useful for meeting the challenges, stresses, and fears of our time, offering direct nourishment and guidance from within.
During this immersive experience, you will:
Enter the mandala of Sacred World
Deepen mindfulness of sensation as a doorway into calming thought
Open and expand your capacity for self-compassion
Integrate psychological healing and transpersonal development
Listen to gravity as an immediate teacher of freedom
Recognize earth as an invitation into boundless open awareness
Discover the heart as the central organizing center of the psyche
Experience movement as the means of deepening meditation
Access the inner wellspring of wisdom within body and heart-mind to meet the challenges, stresses, and fears of our time
Whether you're seeking to deepen your practice or are curious about applying for Planetary Dharma's Two-Year Training program launching in Fall 2026 (the Cedar Cohort) , this intensive offers a meaningful introduction to the path of the modern Bodhisattva.
What You’ll Learn in This online Course
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Discover Your Inner Ground
Learn to access a dependable source of calm, clarity, and compassion within yourself—an inner foundation you can return to again and again. -
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Heal and Strengthen
Develop practices that dissolve the split between mind and body, cultivating resilience, confidence, and wholeness to meet the challenges of modern life. -
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Live From Your Deepest Truth
Step onto the path of embodying your authentic self, becoming more compassionate and empowered to bring wisdom and service into the world.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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All live classes and sessions are scheduled in Mountain Time (MT). Be sure to adjust for your local time zone if you’re joining from outside MT.
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No problem! All classes will be recorded and available in the course membership area of the Planetary Dharma website for replay until May 31, 2026, so you can catch up or review the material at your convenience.
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Yes, absolutely! This course is designed to be accessible to students of all levels, from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners.
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The course tuition is $399 for a single upfront payment. $99 of which is a non-refundable deposit.
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Embodying the Open Ground is a three-day online course. Each day follows the same schedule:
Morning session 1: 7:00-8:30 am MT
Break: 8:30-8:50 am MT
Morning session 2: 8:50-10:30 am MT
Meal Break: 10:30-11:50 am MT
Afternoon Session 1: 11:50-1:20 pm MT
Break: 1:20-1:40 pm MT
Afternoon session 2: 1:40-3:00pm MT
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Yes, but to preserve the integrity of the training space, all participants must be registered and paid for the course. We have a strict “no stowaway” policy. We kindly ask that each student maintains a private and focused learning environment.
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Students in the Americas and Europe meet together for live sessions, as their time zones align conveniently.
*Please note: if we have enough students registered in the Oceania region, we will offer a group replay class led by senior students immediately after the live sessions. This will be based on registration attendance. TBD.
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Dr. John Churchill will lead the majority of the course, guiding students through the core teachings. He will be joined by Planetary Dharma teaching staff, including his wife and course co-designer, Nicole Churchill, as well as other senior students who bring their unique insights and experience to the course.
Course Structure & Payment Information
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18 Hours of Class Instruction
Participate in 18 hours of immersive teachings that include lecutures, meditations, Q & A sessions, and small group sharing. -
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Practices for Everyday Life
Discover how to attune to yourself through meditation and seamlessly integrate these profound teachings into your daily life. Through practical, embodied practices, learn to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and presence in every moment. -
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Tuition Investment
Your investment in this 3-day journey supports a profound opportunity for personal and planetary transformation. For $399, you’ll gain access to immersive teachings, guided practices, and a supportive community— designed to help you awaken the Bodhisattva within.
$99 of your payment is a non-refundable deposit. Our cancellation policy is strict & firm: cancellations on or before 12/19/25 will forfeit the deposit and the remainder of your payment will be refunded. Cancellations after 12/19/25 will forfeit all money rendered. This is not an "evergreen" course. All session recordings will be available in the membership library for your use until they expire on 1/31/26. Important: You must opt into emails (“Accept Marketing”) to get course updates.