Retreat Accommodations

Prajña Residence Hall

Our residence hall offers 16 rooms on two floors with stunning views of the San Juan mountains to the east and Ekajati peak to the west. The building is beautifully hand-painted with traditional Tibetan flower imagery on the window lintels. The outer plaster is a brilliant golden yellow ochre limestone that matches the community building. Our rooms offer beautifully decorated and extremely comfortable accommodations. We hope that the amenities of the residence hall will allow more retreatants to take advantage of our retreats year-round.

Each double room includes two twin beds, a beautiful granite sink, and closet. In the hallway are separate baths, showers, and toilets. There are two queen doubles on each floor that have one queen bed and share a full bathroom between them. All rooms are stocked with high quality sheets and duvets; please bring your own towel.

Your room choices are:
• Double Room (two twin beds) shared with a roommate; hallway bath
• Queen Double (one queen bed, double occupancy); semi-private bath
• Single (one queen bed, single occupancy); semi-private bath

Camping
Bring your own tent and gear and sleep under the big open sky on Tara Mandala’s beautiful land. Camping continues to be an option for anyone coming here during the warmer seasons. All facilities, including full baths, are in the community building.

Prices for available housing options are listed with retreat descriptions.

What to Expect
Most of our retreats are held in the style of a traditional Tibetan summer teaching camp with many teachings and activities held outdoors. Our retreat land, located at 7500-8000 feet elevation, presents varied weather conditions. Summer days are sunny and can reach the 90’s with afternoon thunderstorms likely. Nights may be quite cool in the 40’s-50’s, requiring a warm sweater or jacket. Our large community building houses the bookstore, dining hall, kitchen, and full bathrooms with bathtubs and showers. Teachings are held in the Tara Temple, a short walk from the community building, many tent sites, and Prajña residence hall.

Food
During retreats, we serve three nutritious, wholesome vegetarian meals a day. The kitchen can not accommodate food preferences. If you have medical dietary needs, please be sure to note them on your registration form. A limited amount of non-refrigerated space is available for food related medical needs. Please note that coffee, white sugar and artificial sweeteners are not provided.

If you do choose to bring personal snacks, they must be stored in airtight containers and placed in the limited shared food storage facility or in your car due to the presence of wildlife.

Cell Phone Policy
While on retreat, in order to fall deeply into the experience, you will be out of contact with friends and family except in the case of emergencies. We request that all cell phones are left off for the duration of every retreat. Please take care of all necessary business and issues prior to arriving on the land.

What to Bring
Please bring:
• Layered clothing for hot days and cold nights (elevation 7500’, summer temperatures 35-95)
• Hats (for sun and cold), rain gear (nylon poncho and rain boots)
• Bath towels
• Camping gear if camping—tent with rain fly and/or tarp, comfortable padding, and warm sleeping bag
• Non-toxic Insect Repellent
• Lantern or flashlight and batteries
• We provide cushions, but please bring whatever makes you comfortable for meditation
• Sturdy shoes or hiking boots
• Sunscreen, sunglasses
• Refillable water bottle, thermos if you like hot drinks
• Backpack (for exploring and hiking)
• Personal items, alarm clock, bath towel, washcloth, hand wipes, toiletries
• Earplugs

What Not to Bring
The land has poor or no cell phone reception and limited access to electricity. As you are going into retreat, please be prepared to be without outside communication. Our office phone is available for emergencies. In order to go deeply into your retreat experience, we ask you to leave electronics, cell phones, and your outside work at home.
• Aside from personal snacks, please do not bring your own food as there are no individual cooking facilities.
• Please do not bring drugs, alcohol, or weapons onto the land.
• Please no pets.

Transportation
Visit the Getting Here page for detailed information about air and ground transportation.

Retreat Arrival and Departure Times
Please check in at the Tara Mandala land to complete registration between 2 pm and 4 pm on the day your retreat begins. Unless otherwise noted, retreats begin with 5:30 pm orientation, dinner, and an opening teaching, and end with an optional lunch on closing day at 1 pm. Please plan to attend for the full time specified; late arrivals and early departures must be prearranged, and cannot always be accommodated. Whenever possible, please book departing Durango flights after 4 pm. This will allow time for travel and airport check-in without missing the end of your retreat.

Air and Ground Transportation
We are 90 minutes from the La Plata County airport in Durango (DRO) and 4 1/2 hours from the Albuquerque airport. Our retreat land is a 25 minute drive from Pagosa Springs. You are responsible for arranging your own transportation. There are several options for ground transportation, including a Tara Mandala shuttle, professional shuttle services, and rental cars. The Tara Mandala shuttle runs betwen 10 am - 6 pm on the opening and closing days of a retreat. Reservations must be made 10 days prior to your arrival. Please visit our Getting Here section for many more travel details.

Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga (work service) represents time offered to support the needs of the retreat and is an intrinsic part of spiritual practice at Tara Mandala. All retreatants participate in one hour of karma yoga daily. We greatly appreciate your willingness to help in this way during your stay at Tara Mandala.

Medical Care
Tara Mandala does not provide a medical staff person on the premises. The town of Pagosa Springs has a new, full service hospital approximately 25 minutes from the retreat land.

Course Fee covers practice texts, facilities, accommodations, and three vegetarian meals daily. The course fee does not include teacher dana (donation, see below) unless otherwise specified. Sustaining Sangha members receive a 10% - 20% discount.

Sliding Scale helps make retreats accessible to people with a range of economic situations. Please consider your situation carefully and pay at the highest level you are able; payments offered above the low end go directly to scholarships.

Dana
Most Tara Mandala retreats are completely dana based. Dana is a Pali word which means generosity. The teachers in our programs donate their time in service of the Dharma and only receive what retreatants offer at the end of the retreat. Traditionally, teachings were given freely, so there is no required amount of dana. Tara Mandala charges a course price that covers our food, facilities, staff and overhead costs. Unless specified, dana is not included in this price. Below the course price, we have listed a suggested dana amount in an effort to give participants an idea of what a traditional offering might be for each retreat; however, no minimum amount is required. Please remember that the precious teachings are priceless, and the offering of dana is an opportunity to practice the paramita of generosity. There will be an opportunity to make dana contributions (cash or checks preferred) at the end of each retreat.

Registration Procedures
Payment due upon registration varies according to retreat length, but is no less than 50% of the total. Please check our website or call the office for detailed information about a specific retreat. Registrations paid in full 30 days before the retreat start date will receive a $25 discount. You may register online, by phone, or by mail. Payments may be made by cash, check, or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express). Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation letter providing instructions on check-in procedures, a map to the land, what to bring, and other pertinent information.

Changes, Cancellations, Refunds
Cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellation fees are dependent on timing of cancellation:
•Cancellation received at least 30 days prior to retreat start date: $50 fee.
•Cancellation received at least 10 days prior: $100 fee.
•No refunds can be given for cancellations made less than 10 days prior.
Please understand that last minute cancellations are costly for us. The staff time and budget committed to each program is based upon the number of people registered. A portion of course fees kept from cancellations is dedicated to the Evada Scholarship Fund. In the unlikely event that Tara Mandala makes substantial changes to the content of a retreat or cancels a retreat altogether, payment will be refunded in full or may be transferred to another retreat.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Tara Mandala is licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a continuing education provider (#3260). CEUs are offered for marriage, family, and child counseling (MFCC) and for social work (LCSW). The number of CEUs offered is listed below programs for which credit is available. Please sign up for CEUs at the time of registration; a $15 fee applies.

Financial Assistance
Tara Mandala offers two types of financial assistance: deferred payment plans and scholarships. You may apply for one or both of these types of assistance. Read the terms carefully as outlined on the financial aid application.

Payment Plans - Deferred payment plans are available based on financial need. You must fill out an application and work out a payment schedule with the office. If approved you must provide post-dated checks or your credit card number for prompt payment.

Evada Scholarship Fund - The Evada Fund is designed to assist those who, due to financial hardship, may not otherwise be able to attend our retreats. These funds are available to cover up to 50% of camping retreat fees for programs at Tara Mandala. We are now offering young adults, ages 18-25, scholarships of up to 75% of camping fees for retreats at Tara Mandala. Visit our website or call Robin at (970) 731-3711 x108 for further details and an application.

To apply for either a payment plan, or the Evada Scholarship:
1. Print and fill out the appropriate form:
Financial Assistance Form
Young Adult Financial Assistance Form
2. Print and fill out the registration form for the retreat you would like to attend (found on the individual retreat page, accessible through our retreat schedule page).
3. Return the two forms together with the required application fee.

We do not currently have on-line applications for financial assistance.

Work Exchange
A limited number of work exchange opportunities are available for most of our retreats. Tara Mandala's work exchange program allows volunteers to attend retreats at a reduced price. We ask that volunteers plan to arrive two days before the retreat begins in order to help set-up for the teachings, and leave a day after the retreat to assist in clean-up. Volunteers also check in with the retreat manager every morning during the retreat so that they are available for small chores between teaching sessions. In exchange, they earn $150.00 off the price of the retreat. Work exchange partipants are also eligible to apply for financial aid - scholarships are applied after the $150 discount. To apply for work exchange, please download and return the work exchange form - electronic word form or PDF.

Special Needs
Retreats are not meant as a substitute for psychotherapy. We recommend that if you are currently undergoing psychotherapy you inform your therapist of your intention to participate in a retreat. Retreats can be emotionally demanding and physically strenuous. If you have a health condition or are aware that you may require medical supervision, we recommend that you not participate in a retreat. We do not have the appropriate staff or facilities to accommodate unusual needs.

Smoking
In general, smoking on the land is discouraged. However, for those who choose to do so, a designated smoking spot is available during the retreat. Due to the ongoing drought our area has suffered and the extremely high risk of fire, smoking is only allowed in that location.

Pets
Unfortunately, we do not allow pets of any kind on the land. There are places in town where you may board them. Below is a listing of pet boarders in town. Please note that we do not specifically endorse any of them.
Pagosa Pet Parlor and Palace: 970-264-5923
Pagosa Veterinary Clinic: 970-264-2148
Elk Park Animal Hospital: 970-731-6400

Visitor Policy
You are welcome to join us at the retreat land to visit our community. Unless we are in the midst of a closed retreat, we are happy to host visitors to the land throughout the summer. Prior arrangements must be made to make sure we have a host available to escort you. Contact us at info@taramandala.org or 970-731-3711.
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