The family retreat is a time to explore our spiritual journeys individually, as a family, and as a group. This year’s theme will be centered around the path of the Bodhisattva, which emphasizes mind training for the lay practitioner. This is the path of compassion and transformation of any situation into a training for the heart and mind. The Bodhisattva path has a rich lore of stories. We’ll be looking at these with the children and introducing the path of the Bodhisattva to the teens. The parents will learn mind training practices that are particularly useful for living in the world and using worldly life as a genuine path for awakening. The Bodhisattva commits to awakening within the confusion, the dirty dishes and chaos. What greater inspiration could there be for family life? The children who wish can also enter into a year round program which leads toward taking refuge. The teen quest is lead by experienced guides trained in rites of passage and working with teens. The teens live in our secret meadow for most of the retreat, where they spend time preparing for a twenty-four hour solo at a place of their choosing.

Prices
Adult
Double: $1,035 - $699
Queen Double: $1,130 - $795
Camping: $650 - $505

Teen
Residence Hall: $665 - $445
Camping: $440 - $395

Child
Residence Hall: $485 - $335
Camping: $325 - $280

Family retreat price includes dana. Kids and teens can be added to a double room for the camping price plus
a $20 mattress rental fee.

Accommodation descriptions can be found here.

Sliding scale fees allow participants to pay according to individual means. Your payment above the low end directly benefits our scholarship fund.

Sustaining Sangha discounts range from 10%-20% based on your membership level and are calculated at registration. Become a Sustaining Sangha member today!

Detailed information about retreats at Tara Mandala
Travel Information (booking flights, shuttles, hotels)
Download registration form (PDF)
Register securely online: 50% of course cost or $500 family total (whichever is less) due at registration
Financial aid available

Tsultrim Allione, M.A., was one of the first American women to be ordained as a Tibetan nun in 1970 by the 16th Karmapa. She is the author of Women of Wisdom, a groundbreaking book on the lives of great female Tibetan practitioners. Her newest book, Feeding the Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict, (2008, Little, Brown & Co), connects the ancient knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism with the modern psyche, addressing the major issues of our culture and the roots of our suffering. Based on her pioneering technique using five steps to feed your demons, this book offers a system to transform our inner demons by nurturing rather than fighting them.

After four years as a nun, Tsultrim returned her monastic vows, married, and raised a famity. She earned a masters degree in Buddhist Studies and Women’s Studies from Antioch University. Inspired by the vision of a Western retreat center while living in the Himalayas, and seeing the need to create a place for the reemergence of the sacred feminine, Tsultrim founded Tara Mandala in 1993 where she is now the resident teacher.

Tsultrim is collecting the lineage of Machig Labdrön, the 11th century Tibetan yogini who founded the Chöd lineage. As a long-time Chöd practitioner, Tsultrim has studied Machig’s teachings for decades and taught the practices all over the world. In 2007, Tsultrim was recognized as an emanation of Machig Labdrön by Karme Dorje Rinpoche, the resident Lama of Zangri Khangmar in Tibet (see article on opposite page).

In regards to the recognition Tsultrim has recently said, “I think [the recognition] is to make this new phase of collecting Machig’s lineage more empowered. Recognition allows more energy to flow, and Machig’s blessings can manifest more fully. It’s a kind of mirroring from the outside, validating our heartfelt intention to reinvigorate and spread Machig’s lineage in the West. It also felt very natural. We will keep doing what we have been doing already, but the recognition creates an auspicious interdependence for the teachings.”

Tsultrim’s skill at teaching arises from her dedication to the Dharma and the ways she has brought Dharma to the challenges of everyday life. She brings forth the vibrancy of the teachings in a way that makes them germane for accomplished practitioners and those new to the path.

Children's Group Guide: Cady Holtkamp, Executive Director, ran the children's program for the past two summers with great success. She has done extensive work with children including writing and directing children's plays, serving as a member of the waterfront theater in Key West, FL, and opening and directing an art center for children in Key West.

Bridget Bailey's (Pema Wongmo) spirit is always in part at Tara Mandala, and her love for and connection to the dharma ever-present in the small things of daily life. She has studied theatre and performance in the United States, England, and Russia. She now resides in New York City where she recently performed in the Off-Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen and will soon perform in her award winning one-woman show, Child of Hungry Times. She is very grateful for the luminous Tara Mandala sangha and thanks them with all her heart for the opportunity to be a part of the 2009 Family Retreat. With our compassion and creativity, Bridget is excited to see what we will create! May all beings benefit!

Lisa Foreman has received her Bachelor's of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico, which has enabled her to thoroughly explore various art mediums and different means of creative expression. Lisa has many years experience working with youth in diverse settings including low ropes courses, outdoor education, art classes, special education, mentoring, summer programs and tutoring.

Teen Rite of Passage Guides: Hannah Salander and Bryan Thomas are both graduates of Naropa University’s Transpersonal Counseling Program, in Art and Wilderness therapies, respectively. Hannah has many years of experience working with youth and led last year’s teen rite of passage at Tara Mandala. Bryan has been working in the wilderness therapy field facilitating rites of passage work with young adults for the last couple of years.