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Personal Retreats

What to Know

Personal Meditation Retreats are a wonderful way to deepen your understanding and practice of the Dharma. This page contains information to help you plan your stay here.

Personal Meditation Retreats include:

  • Individual (Silent) Meditation Retreat without community interaction: This option is for when you really want to focus inward on your study and practice without the distraction of interacting with others.
  • Personal Retreats within community: This is for when you want to participate in the community events while pursuing your own study/practice program.
  • Self-guided Group Retreats: This is for groups who want to function as a cohort for a specific study/practice regime.
  • Trial Residency: Individuals who are considering Residency and want to try out living at Karmê Chöling before committing.

When applying, it’s best to be clear on your motivations and aspirations for coming into a retreat. Part of the practice of developing self-awareness through meditation is in allowing flexibility in how these goals come to fruition.

Shrine being lighted at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center


What’s included

Telecommuting at KCL

Costs & Fees

Requirements for a Retreat

Diversity & Inclusion

ROTA

Wellness Policy

Daily Schedule

Retreatants FAQs

Application Process

Book for a Person

Book for a Group

What's Included In Retreats

Meditation Support, Accommodations, Meals, & Amenities

MEDITATION SUPPORT

Meditation support available at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center
Meditation instructors at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Meditation Instructors

Receive meditation instruction from one of Karmê Chöling’s qualified meditation instructors (MI) Meeting with your MI on a regular and ongoing basis is strongly recommended, The MI relationship can be the basis of meditation support and mentorship.

Meditation rooms at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Meditation Rooms

We have six meditation/shrine rooms available for use; the Main Shrine Room, Community Room, Teacher’s Room, Shambhala Shrineroom and Sadhana Shrineroom in the Main House and the meditation hall in the Pavilion. These are available according to your practice, size of group and the time of your retreat.

Dharma teachings are archived at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Dharma Teachings Archive

Karmê Chöling has video and audio archive material going back 50 years. This includes the original talks given at Karmê Chöling by Chögyam Trungpa and others, that were later transcribed into books.

Dharma library at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Dharma Library

We have a collection of materials that extend from contemplative disciplines of general interest to transcripts of specific practices. Our library acts as one of our community rooms that is available most times to retreatants.

Meditation planning at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Meditation Plan

Our Retreats Coordinator will go over your retreat plan with you before your arrive. This might include what practices you are engaged in, which spaces you need for your practice, and arranging for a meditation instructor if you don’t have one.

Meditation community support at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Meditation Community

We are a community of meditation practitioners. When you are at Karmê Chöling you are living in a household that organizes itself around meditation and its principles.

Book for a PersonBook for a Group

ACCOMMODATIONS

Karmê Chöling’s program participants and in-house retreatants have a variety of accommodation options. We offer private single rooms, shared rooms, and dormitory housing.
During the warmer months, our campground is open. We offer wooden ‘tent’ cabins, canvas tents, or you may use one of our tent platforms and bring your own tent.

Retreat cabins are strictly used for Solitary Cabin Retreats.

Pricing is per night

Premium Room - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
Premium Room
Premium Room with loft - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
Premium Room with loft
Standard room with view - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
Standard Room with view
Standard room - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
Standard Room
Shared dorm room - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
Shared Dorm Room
"Tent" Cabin in Campground - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
"Tent" Cabin
Tent in Campground - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
Tent in Campground
Dome Tent in Campground - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
Dome Tent
Tent platform in Campground - Accommodations at Karmê Chöling
Tent Platform

Indoor Accommodations

Luxury room with private bathroom

These rooms offer a full-size bed, desk, closet, and a private bathroom. There are only two of these — one in the main house and one at Ashoka Bhavan.

Premium room with shared bathroom

These rooms offer a full or queen sized bed, plus either a second bed in a loft or a desk.

Standard room with shared bathroom

Individual rooms vary in size and layout, but are on average 10′ x 10′. Single rooms include either a twin or full-size bed. Desks are not available in Standard Rooms.

Shared Dormitory Housing

Two same-gender dormitories with twin beds are located in the main house with access to shared same-gender bathrooms. Bedding and towel included.

Personal items can be left in large cubbies in the bathroom area. Small lockers are available at no additional cost.

Campground Accommodations

(May through September)

"Tent" Cabins

Karmê Chöling has three beautiful Wooden "Tent" Cabins made by our local builder friends. Each structure has windows, a door, tin roof, and two cots. Bedding and towels are not provided.

Karmê Chöling Tents

KCL Tents are on thick wooden platforms and located throughout the forest behind the main house of Karmê Chöling. Each tent has up to two cots and optional three-inch-thick foam mattresses. Bedding and towels are not provided.

Those staying in tents may store their belongings in the dormitory cubbies located at the main house. Small lockers are available for use at no additional cost. Candles, fire, food, and toiletries of any kind are strictly forbidden in tents and Cabin tents.

There is an outhouse in the woods, however guests may also walk down to the main house to use dorm bathrooms and showers.

Meals & diets available at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

MEALS & DIETS

We eat fresh and healthy at Karmê Chöling! Organic produce from our garden is incorporated into most of our meals . We use local Vermont sources as much as possible in our cooking.

Meal Schedule

  • 8-9 Breakfast
  • 12:30-1pm Lunch
  • 3-3:30 Tea
  • 6:30-7 Dinner

Diets Accommodated through our kitchen

  • Omnivore
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Gluten free

We also have a community kitchen where you can cook to your own likes and needs. It includes a microwave, toaster, instant hot water, stove/oven, a refrigerator where you can store perishables, and a personal cupboard to store your own dry goods in. Additionally, we keep certain staples available around the clock to snack on.

Ask Us Questions

Amenities Available

Amenities available at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center
Wifi internet access available at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Wifi

The Main House has a symmetrical fiber optic connection with 50 mbps up and 50 mbps down. This is available wirelessly via a business grade system of wireless access points placed throughout the building with about 95 percent coverage. This network is constantly monitored for performance, reliability and fair usage.

Zoom Studio at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Zoom Studio

Our zoom studio is available to retreatants by appointment and offers a private space to make phone calls, video calls, and hold zoom classes and meetings.

Hikes & Walks at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Hikes & Walks

Our 750 acres of Vermont woodland is located in the scenic Green Mountains with beautiful walks and hikes that visitors and residents can take on the land.

Laundry room at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Laundry Room

All retreatants have access to our coin-operated laundry room which includes washers and dryers, an iron & ironing board, and drying racks.

Exercise room at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Exercise Room

Keep in shape with our exercise room. We have weights, a tread mill and other equipment to help keep you in shape even during a Vermont winter.

Common rooms at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Common Rooms

There are a number of spaces where people can gather to talk, or go for a quiet place to read or to meditate. These include the dining room, lower living room, Community Room, the library, the Main Meditation Hall, and the Shambhala Meditation room.

Community kitchen at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Community Kitchen

This is a smaller, shared kitchen for retreatants and staff to prepare their own personal items. This is perfect for those treats you are craving, or a specific dietary need you might have.

Parking at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Parking

We have plenty of outdoor vehicle parking which is readily available and included in all costs. Retreatants may bring a bicycle, however bicycles are not allowed indoors and there are no designated outdoor racks. We are unable to accommodate large recreational vehicles. We do have a recharging station for electric cars.

Telecommuting

While at Karmê Chöling

Karmê Chöling is set up for telecommuting

Although the ideal may be to get away and 'unplug', we realize an electronic free lifestyle is not an option for some people.

Karmê Chöling is fully set up for telecommuting with:

  • Fiber optic wifi
    (included in fee)
  • Office spaces for rent
    (at additional cost)
  • A private zoom studio available
    (free and available by appointment)
  • Equipment for zoom conferences and meetings
    (free and available by request)

We do maintain electronic free zones in some of the common areas of the house. This allows for times when you do want to 'unplug' and get away from all devices and electronics.

See our Electronics Policy

Private office space available at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center
Private Office Space
Shared office space available at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center
Shared Office Space
Office in bedroom at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center
Office in Bedroom

Costs & Fees

For Personal & Custom Retreats at Karmê Chöling

Custom retreat fee
$10/day per person plus cost of Accommodations
Our accommodations prices include meals.

Housing
Priced per day for one adult.
All housing options come with shared baths, unless otherwise noted.

Office Space
Priced per week

Indoor accommodations
INDOOR HOUSINGCOST / NIGHT
Shrineroom Floor
$40/night
Dorm Room Bed
$60/night
Standard Room
$100/night
Premium Room
$140/night
Outdoor Accommodations
OUTDOOR HOUSINGCOST PER NIGHT
Wooden "Tent" Cabin
$70/night
Karmê Chöling Tent
$50/night
Your Tent
$40/night
Office Spaces
OFFICE SPACESCOST PER WEEK
Standard Private Office
$75/week
Shared Office Space
$25/week
Sample Weekly Rate: Basic
OPTIONCOST
Retreat Fee ($10/day)
$70/week
Dorm Room Bed ($60/night)
$420/week
Shared Office Space
$25/week
Total Cost
$515/week
Sample Weekly Rate - Premium
OPTIONCOST
Retreat Fee
$70/week
Premium Room
$980/week
Private Office Space
$75/week
Total Weekly Cost
$1125/week

Requirements for Custom Retreats

Requirements for custom retreats at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center
  • Be a friend or member of Shambhala
  • Have completed at least one silent, group sitting-meditation retreat that lasted a week or longer
  • Have an established daily meditation practice of at least one year
  • Have the ability and discipline to do a self-directed meditation retreat
  • Have a written recommendation from a meditation instructor or senior teacher.

Living at Karmê Chöling

Ethics, ROTA, & Daily Schedule

Diversity and inclusion at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Diversity & Inclusion

We are dedicated to providing an environment that is welcoming, safe, and caring for all! We recognize that all of us come to Karmê Chöling with a variety of backgrounds and identities. This profoundly impacts how we experience being in the world and being around others. Given this wide variety of experience, we work to create relationships that are based on trust, and that are fair and kind. This means being respectful of each other, working in cooperation, being open to each other’s differences and maintaining good communication.

Read our Code of Conduct Policy

ROTA tasks at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

ROTA

ROTA involves household members participating in:

  • Doing the dishes
  • Cleaning the common household areas
  • Taking on key roles during the community practice sessions.

ROTA is more than “chores” however. It is an opportunity to bring insights gleaned from your sitting meditation and study into your real world activity. ROTA allows you to examine your ideas and beliefs around work and to relate to the “kitchen-sink” aspects of your life with a more mindful attitude. Please read our policies and statements carefully as you will be required to follow them while at Karmê Chöling.

Read our ROTA Policy

Daily schedule at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

Daily Schedule

  • 8-9 Breakfast
  • 9-10:15 Community meditation practice
  • 12:30-1pm Lunch
  • 3-3:30 Tea
  • 5:30-6:30 Community meditation practice
  • 6:30-7 Dinner
FAQ about residency at Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

FAQ

About Personal Retreats

Residency program application for Karmê Chöling meditation retreat center

APPLICATION PROCESS

We recommend that you begin this process at least six weeks before you are planning to arrive at KCL, although we do our best to accommodate your requests.

The process begins with filling out this form that lets us get to know you, the type of retreat you're interested in, and what your timeline is. After we review your enquiry, we’ll be in touch promptly to set up a time to talk.

During our conversation we’ll discuss the needs for your retreat, what kind of logistics are required and answer any of your questions.

When it is time to book your retreat, you will work with Guest Services to arrange for rooms and any office space you might want to use.

Initial fees need to be received at least three weeks before your arrival date.

Book for a PersonBook for a Group


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