Extended Retreats

Experience a Meditation Retreat at Karmê Chöling

Step away from the constant pace of daily life and enter the restorative quiet of a meditation retreat at Karmê Chöling. Nestled among the forests and rolling hills of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, our meditation center offers a peaceful environment where mindfulness, contemplation, community, and nature support genuine rest, inner clarity, and personal transformation.

Whether you are attending your first retreat or returning to deepen an established practice, our programs invite you to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and discover the wisdom that emerges through presence and awareness.

What Is a Meditation Retreat?

A meditation retreat is an opportunity to step away from everyday responsibilities and devote uninterrupted time to mindfulness, contemplation, and personal reflection. Unlike a vacation, a retreat offers a structured environment where meditation, silence, community, and nature
support greater awareness, compassion, and well-being.

At Karmê Chöling, meditation retreats range from introductory weekends to extended residential programs rooted in Buddhist contemplative traditions and contemporary mindfulness practices. Each retreat is designed to help participants cultivate practical skills that support a more balanced and meaningful life.

Types of Meditation Retreats

• Silent Meditation Retreats: Experience the restorative power of silence through guided meditation, mindful daily rhythms, and quiet reflection in the natural beauty of northern Vermont.
• Beginner Meditation Retreats: Designed for those new to meditation, these retreats introduce foundational practices in a welcoming and supportive environment.
• Weekend Meditation Retreats: Short retreats that provide an opportunity to slow down, recharge, and establish or renew a meditation practice.
• Personal Retreats: Flexible opportunities for individual practice in a peaceful contemplative setting.
• Buddhist Meditation Retreats: Explore meditation within the Shambhala Buddhist tradition through contemplative practice, study, and community.
• Nature and Contemplative Retreats: Experience the relationship between meditation and the forests, meadows, and mountain landscape surrounding Karmê Chöling

Foundations of Practice

Many meditation retreats at Karmê Chöling are grounded in the practice of Shamatha-Vipashyana, a foundational Buddhist meditation tradition that cultivates calm abiding, clear awareness, and insight. These complementary practices provide a stable foundation for developing mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom.

Alongside traditional contemplative training, Karmê Chöling also offers contemporary mindfulness education, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs), and teacher training pathways that bring mindfulness into healthcare, education, leadership, coaching, and everyday life.

What You'll Experience

• Sitting meditation
• Walking meditation
• Guided contemplative practices
• Dharma talks and instruction (when applicable)
• Time for personal reflection
• Mindful meals
• Time in nature
• Community practice
• Periods of noble silence
• Optional interviews with instructors
• Healthy vegetarian meals
• Time for rest and integration

Is This Retreat Right for Me?

Our retreats welcome beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Whether you are exploring meditation for the first time, renewing an established practice, seeking respite from a busy life, preparing for teacher training, or looking for a meaningful spiritual retreat in New England, you will find a supportive environment that encourages personal growth, quiet reflection, and genuine human connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a silent meditation retreat?
  A silent meditation retreat offers dedicated time for meditation, contemplation, and mindful living while reducing conversation and everyday distractions. Silence creates space for greater awareness, clarity, and inner calm.
• Are retreats suitable for beginners?
  Yes. Many retreats are designed for newcomers, with clear instruction, supportive teachers, and a welcoming community.
• Do I need to be Buddhist?
  No. People of all backgrounds are welcome. While many retreats are rooted in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition, participants are invited to engage at their own level of interest and experience.
• What is Shamatha-Vipashyana?
  Shamatha-Vipashyana combines calm abiding with insight meditation, cultivating both stability of mind and clear awareness.
• Can I attend alone?
  Absolutely. Many participants attend on their own and find the retreat environment welcoming and supportive.

Upcoming Retreats

Explore the silent meditation retreats and mindfulness programs currently scheduled below. Additional retreat dates and seasonal offerings are added throughout the year.

See our scheduled retreats below.