Deep Dive Dharma: Essential Teachings on The Sure Heart’s Release
With Erin Treat, Pamela Weiss and Victoria Cary
October 25, 2025 - May 23, 2026
Vallecitos is pleased to announce a special eight-month online program for experienced practitioners during the off-season with Erin Treat, Pamela Weiss, and Victoria Cary.
Program Details
Deep Dive Dharma is an online program offering for experienced practitioners. This deep dive into essential Buddhist teachings on liberation explores:
- The Three Characteristics
- Emptiness and Suchness
- Dependent Origination
- The Two Truths
- The Nature of Mind
- Awareness and Awakening
Through meditation and interactive inquiry, we will bring these complex teachings alive into our daily lives. The program begins and ends with half-day sessions, in addition to monthly meetings which include dharma talks and discussion. We will weave insights from both the Theravada and Mahayana perspectives into this unique training.
New topics are introduced on the first Wednesday of each month. A second monthly optional session includes interactive inquiry and time for discussion. Comprehensive readings, reflections, and practices support the integration of the topics into daily life.
Together we will build a strong relational field and a robust Sangha to support our individual and collective liberation.
Prerequisite: This program is intended for experienced practitioners familiar with fundamental Buddhist teachings such as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Foundations of Mindfulness; you should have silent retreat experience and three to four years of dedicated practice. It is not intended for those new to practice.
Cancellation Policy:
- 45 days prior to program start date: Full refund, minus a $150 nonrefundable fee
- 44-22 days prior to program start date: 50% refund
- 0-21 days prior to program start date: No refund
Teachers
Erin Treat lives in Durango, CO and has been practicing Buddhist meditation for nearly 30 years. In addition to serving as the Guiding Teacher of Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center since 2013, she teaches regularly at Spirit Rock and the Insight Meditation Society. She served for 20 years in leadership on the Teaching Council of the Durango Dharma Center. Erin teaches the practical and the profound, from a heart grounded in respect for mystery and the many faces of awakening. Her approach to sharing the dharma is influenced by her ongoing experience as a student of the Diamond Approach by A.H. Almaas and by Thanissara…
Learn more about Erin Treat
Pamela Weiss is a Buddhist teacher in two traditions—Zen and Theravada. After living as a monastic at Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery for five years, she completed comprehensive training through Spirit Rock Meditation Center to become an Insight meditation teacher. She teaches at Spirit Rock, San Francisco Zen Center and Tassajara, and is a guiding teacher at San Francisco Insight. Pamela is a pioneer in bringing Buddhist principles and practices into the workplace, and is the author of “A Bigger Sky: Awakening a Fierce Feminine Buddhism”. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, Eugene, and little dog, Grover.
Learn more about Pamela Weiss
Victoria Cary has been practicing Insight Meditation and studying the Dharma since 2006. In 2017 she completed Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader program and went on to become a fully empowered Dharma Teacher. In 2016 she co-founded the San Francisco People of Color Insight Sangha and continues as one of the core teachers. She is a San Francisco Bay Area Native. She left her workplace of 20 years in 2017 to deepen into the Dharma. Since then she has spent time in and out of intensive silent meditation practice, including a 3-month retreat at IMS, 6-week amd 3-month retreats at…
Learn more about Victoria Cary