Meditation Retreat Opportunities

Retreat practice is the life blood of the Buddhist tradition.
These are some of the possibilities for individual, group and teaching retreat.

'Remembering My Heart' retreat:
This is a one day solitary retreat designed to be done at home. Most of the Steamboat sangha has done this retreat and are encouraged to do so as often as possible.

Solitary retreats:
Whenever possible, longer solitary retreats are highly recommended and are extremely helpful in deepening one's practice. These retreats can last for a weekend, a week, or more, depending on the level of your practice and time available. These can be done at home or in cabins designed for retreat. There are many excellent facilities available in the Colorado area.

Intensive group retreat - Dathun:
Dathun is a month long group retreat designed by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. This is one of the most powerful retreats that one can do, and is appropriate for new as well as more experienced practitioners. The emphasis of a dathun is on sitting meditation practice in a group context, but includes teaching and personal guidance related specifically to meditation practice. You can take part in just a week of the dathun if you wish. That is referred to as a 'weekthun'

Dathun's are offered at various times throughout the year at the following centers:

• Shambhala Mountain Center - Red Feather Lakes, CO (2 hrs. away) www.shambhalamountain.org
• Karmê Chšling - Barnet, Vermont - www.karmecholing.org
• Dorje Denma Ling - Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia - www.dorjedenmaling.com
• The Dharma Ocean Foundation - Crestone, CO - www.dharmaocean.org - under the guidance of Reggie Ray

Teaching retreats:
These are retreats led by lamas or senior western teachers. While the emphasis of these retreats is on the teachings, the daily schedule usually involves sessions of silent meditation practice. These retreats are held at dharma centers throughout the country and at large facilities designed to host spiritual retreats.

Major retreat centers (in addition to the ones listed above):

• Omega Institute - Rhinebeck New York - www.eomega.org
• Garrison Institute - Garrison New York - www.garrisoninstitute.org
• Gomde - Leggett, CA - www.gomdeusa.org (under the guidance of Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche)
• Insight Meditation Society - Barre, MA - www.dharma.org - vispassana tradition
• Gampo Abbey - Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia - www.gampoabbey.org
• Spirit Rock - Woodacre, CA - www.spiritrock.org - vispassana tradition

These are some of the most prominent teachers who travel and teach in the west.

• The Ven. Chškyi Nyima Rinpoche - www.gomdeusa.org - eldest son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
• The Ven. Tsoknyi Rinpoche - www.pundarika.org - third son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
• The Ven. Mingyur Rinpoche - www.yongey.org - youngest son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
• The Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche - www.rinpoche.com - the leading scholar of the Kagyu Lineage
• The Ven. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche - www.siddharthasintent.org -Preeminent teacher/film maker
• Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche - www.mipham.com - Son of Trungpa Rinpoche, Shambhala Lineage
• The Ven. Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche - www.mangalashribhuti.org - resides in Crestone
• The Ven. Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche - www.nalandabodhi.org
• The Ven. Khandro Rinpoche - www.vkr.org - the leading female teacher in the Tibetan tradition
• The Ven. Sogyal Rinpoche - www.rigpaus.org
• The Ven. Ringu Tulku - www.bodhicharya.org
• Pema Chšdršn - www.pemachodron.org - western Buddhist nun, founder of Gampo Abbey