Valentine's Couples Retreat 2025

VEN SUNAM HLAMO, Dr. Brigitte Mayr

Director

“Happiness is when the bass starts to play” – isn’t this the perfect life theme for an ordained nun?”

Venerable Sunam is passionate and joyful in everything she does and mixes “rock ’n’ roll” with a touch of German efficiency. She is a licensed veterinarian, successful IT project/program manager, and has worked as a database specialist for international projects. As director she goes above and beyond to create a remarkable retreat experience for guests and retreat producers.

After decades of chasing her own happiness with egoism, hazardous sports, lots of work and not getting anywhere, Ven. Sunam discovered Dharma in 2005 by reading the Diamond Cutter by Geshe Michael Roach. Ever since she has been studying, teaching, and translating ancient texts with joy and happiness, transforming herself into a kinder person. Ven. Sunam has studied all 18 ACI Courses and 11 DCI Seminars, has attended nearly all LAM RIM Retreats and several Translator Terms. She is a certified ACI Senior teacher, and a certified Sivananda yoga teacher.

She fell in love with Diamond Mountain and the desert during her first visit in 2014 and has the passion to preserve the silence, nature, and magic of this exceptional place while transforming it into “the retreat” place for modern time.

How Karma and the Buddhist Principles have helped her:

Through applying the principles in my life: become a much happier person, be able to work part time in a management position, time & money to travel the world to attend teachings, having deeper fulfilling relationships with people, a loving relationship with my family esp. my mother after decades of tension.

VEN KAT, LOBSANG KADING

Spiritual Caretaker

“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” -Margaret Meade

Spending part of her childhood in Africa instilled in her a deep appreciation for beauty and simplicity. Kat attended school at Nairobi International School, played violin professionally, studied with British Riding Academy and Ethnomusicology at UCSC.

Passion and belief in successful evolution for humankind drive Kat. During her early twenties, Kat worked for the president of a fast-growing start-up fulfilling multi-national contracts with royalty and governments. This extraordinary experience implanted the confidence in her that any problem can be solved while having lots of fun. For the next 30+ years, she launched successful start-ups in catering, film, fine art publishing, a school, a newspaper, and developing products benefiting rural communities globally.  With two pre-school sons, Kat moved to the wilderness in Southeast Arizona where she built their homes.

In 2002 in the same wilderness, she met Geshe Michael, and life changed.  She gave away businesses, sold land, and moved to Diamond Mountain. For the next nine years, she helped build and operate the first buildings on the land as a volunteer. In her exuberance, she also completed advanced coursework; finished a 3-year retreat; became an ordained nun; worked for the Asian Classics Institute;  and helped launch the Sedona College of International Management in Arizona.

Now joyfully back at Diamond Mountain, Kat serves as caretaker for retreaters and ceremonies, continues studying and volunteering for world-view groups.

How Understanding Karma and the Buddhist Principles has helped her:

Using the four steps and the four powers has given me a logically-proven way to tailor-make my life. It’s been super-fun to practice and watch relationships shift, beautiful homes appear, health restored and wisdom spread, with happiness and freedom in others around me, too.

Madison Love

Lower Campus Manager and Artist

Madison offers guided art classes—a fantastic opportunity to connect with your loved ones through the art of creation.

Nicholas aka Nick Goodin

Maintenance and Musician

Nick has been a musician for 17 years (since 6 years old) and plays multiple instruments. He is primarily a songwriter and takes inspiration from many genres. I also like to paint in the surreal abstract style.

Wi-fi is available for emergency use, and cell coverage is practically non-existent. We strongly encourage that you put all your electronic devices in airplane mode, and plan to take advantage of the opportunity to be completely off-grid!

Most of our eco-friendly houses retreat include 12-volt solar electricity, composting toilets and passive solar design which allows them to naturally stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Please check out our houses here.

All rivers flow to the same ocean. We hope to give you tools to deepen your spiritual connection, applicable to any faith.

We want you as a couple to slow down together.  Please give yourself the gift of time together without children.

It is important to attend this retreat with someone with whom you share a meaningful connection. You are welcome to bring any individual who embodies a loving relationship, such as a close friend or family member.

Here are a few helpful links to prepare:  come prepared, what does off-grid mean,  directions

Registration fees are refundable:

• 50% refundable up to 3 months (before November 14, 2024)
• 25% refundable from 3 months – 1 month (between Nov 15, 2024 – Jan 14, 2025)
• 0% for the last month (after Jan 15, 2025)

You are welcome to request an exception to this policy.

We would like you to know the rules, the Do’s & Don’ts. Please let us know if you have any questions, we are happy to answer, and if there are any concerns from your side – maybe we find a solution! Let’s talk.

If you still have questions about the retreat or your registration please let us know by clicking here

Everyone is welcome at all of our experiences regardless of the meditation and yoga experience or fitness levels. We cater for different levels so that you will be supported, challenged, and encouraged to learn.

No. You can pace yourself to find the perfect amount of activity that suits you. We support you in doing as much or as little as you’d like, depending on how you are feeling. Personally, we wouldn’t want to miss a thing!

Yes you can. Please let us know in the comment box during sign-up, and we will contact you about the extra costs.

We unfortunately cannot accommodate disabled or mobility impaired people. Diamond Mountain Retreat Center is located in Southern Arizona’s remote and pristine mountains, and the terrain doesn’t allow for such access.