Subject: Thanks to all who joined us at the Bay Area Book Festival!

Plus there's still space in our fall retreats - sign up today!

A Successful Weekend at the Bay Area Book Festival


The Bay Area Book Festival, held in downtown Berkeley on Sunday, June 1st, went swimmingly for organizers and vendors alike! The event took place along Allston Way & Harold Way, which meant that much of it unfolded directly in front of Mangalam Research Center and Center for Creative Inquiry’s new building. There were big crowds throughout the day.


Thank you to everyone involved in the Book Festival, those who participated and took materials home with them, and those who took the time to get to know more about us. We look forward to becoming a part of Downtown Berkeley’s growing community.


Learning to Be More Conscious

Ratna Ling Retreat Center, Cazadero, CA

October 15 – 19, 2025


Space is limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis


When the story is its telling, appearance is its appearing . . .

We touch the lightness of being; we fuse with light.”

Tarthang Tulku, Dynamics of Time and Space


When we find ourselves stuck in habit patterns and dullness, emotions and worries, it’s a sure sign that we are operating at low levels of consciousness. We can change that, learning to appreciate more fully each moment of our lives.


In this retreat, we start with grounding practices, then look at how we use stories to make sense of our lives, including the story that we “own” our experience. We will also investigate the way our limited understanding of space and time undermines our capacity to be more conscious. There will be ample opportunities to enjoy and learn from the spectacular beauty of Ratna Ling and its surroundings.


The Center for Creative Inquiry (CCI) explores alternate forms of knowledge and inquiry and their potential to bring about fundamental change at the individual, cultural, and social level.


CCI headquarters is located at the Mangalam Center in downtown Berkeley, California, USA.


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