Nestled in the breathtaking San Juan Mountains of Colorado, the Tara Mandala Retreat Center serves as a sacred sanctuary for those seeking spiritual renewal through the ancient lineages of Vajrayana Buddhism. This comprehensive resource page outlines the essential retreat information for visitors, detailing how their programs function as transformative containers for growth. To accommodate the needs of a global sangha, the center offers two distinct pathways: onsite retreats on our pristine 700-acre land and online programs accessible from anywhere in the world.
What types of retreats does Tara Mandala offer?
Residential Retreats
Residential retreats at Tara Mandala offer opportunities to enter a caring, group container for undertaking intensive meditation and deepening of Buddhist practice and study. The mindfulness and meditation practices taught on retreats are often accompanied and complemented by training in methods to effectively guide and empower our capacity to become role models in the world through methods, such as, Feeding Your Demons® and Mandala Training processes developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione.
Our residential retreats usually involve a gathering of anywhere from 10 to 70 participants. During a residential retreat, silence is often held during part or all of the retreat. In this silent and mindful environment, awareness sharpens, the body quiets, the mind clears, and space opens for insight and understanding to develop. Retreats at Tara Mandala offer a caring group container for undertaking intensive meditation and deepening of Buddhist practice and teachings.
Retreats are led by Lama Tsultrim Allione and/or her Senior Teachers, holders of Lama Tsultrim’s lineage selected and trained by Lama Tsultrim. Tara Mandala also invites guest teachers that are well-known and beloved in our broader community. The teachers offer instructions, dharma talks and regularly scheduled practice meetings to provide guidance throughout the retreat. Group work and interaction are often also a component of the retreats during instruction and group meetings.
Check out our Retreat Calendar »
Find out more about the residential retreat experience »
Solitary Retreat Cabins
Retreat cabins at Tara Mandala provide a rare and precious opportunity to be completely secluded in a remote mountain setting where one is free to maintain intensive practice and connect with their innermost being. They feature vast views and complete privacy. It can allow practitioners time and space to bring to fruition meditation and advanced practices, as well as an opportunity to slow down the pace of regular daily life full of deadlines and distractions.
The retreat cabins at Tara Mandala have been created through the loving kindness, generosity, and hard labor of many people. Currently we have three cabins suited for year-round practice. All of them provide ample space inside and out for yoga, meditation and other movement practices. They facilitate inner stillness and seclusion, ideal for weekend retreats to month-long and year-long retreats.
Find out more details on amenities and book a solitary retreat cabin now »
Photo credit: Josh Brownlee
Tara Mandala Retreat Center in Colorado, photo credit: Josh BrownleeIntro to Meditation & Open Houses
Tara Mandala is open to the general public several times each year. You are welcome to join us for a guided tour of our beautiful Retreat Center and Tara Temple, which includes a brief introduction to meditation, time for Q&A, and a vegetarian buffet lunch. Our Tara Mandala Store is open during these visits. There is no charge, but online registration is required.
The Intro to Meditation Class is held in the afternoon during an Open House event and introduces the basics of Buddhist meditation. One does not need to be a Buddhist to attend or to derive great benefit from this afternoon. This class is suitable for all levels, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners.
Reserve a place for an Open House and/or Intro to Meditation Class »
Please note that visiting at other times is by appointment only. Please contact us if you have any questions at (970) 731-3711 ext. 108 or by contacting the Registrar on this page.
Online Offerings
If you cannot come to Tara Mandala, we will come to you! The mission of our online programs is to offer greater access to Dharma teachings to people around the world, whether you are new to practice or have been practicing for decades. Our online courses provide teachings and practice support, with courses from Lama Tsultrim’s Feeding Your Demons® to practices such as Chöd and Green Tara. Online courses are video- and audio-based, and include home practice instructions.
Living Dharma Apprentice Program
Tara Mandala’s “Living Dharma” Apprentice Program is a unique summer apprenticeship program created to enable meditation practitioners of all backgrounds and experience levels a powerful way to deepen your engagement with and understanding of Vajrayana Buddhist practice. Tara Mandala is one of the few practice places in the world where the lineage of Machig Labdron, an emphasis on the Sacred Feminine, and the compassion of 21 Taras are at the center of the practice mandala. The Living Dharma Apprentice Program brings all of this to life for you in a transformative five months!
Local Practice Groups – Global Sangha Offerings
Tara Mandala has more than 40 global sangha centers in 13 countries around the world. These local practice groups offer teachings and retreats, online courses and practices, local practice sessions and individual support. Groups are led by Senior and Apprentice Teachers in Lama Tsultrim’s lineage.
How Does a Residential Retreat Work?
Since the time of the Buddha 2,500 years ago, meditation retreat has been a central part of the Buddhist path. Retreat offers you a respite from your usual daily routine so that you may dive into a depth of practice that is only possible while away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Tara Mandala residential retreats combine a deep experience of Buddhist practice in pristine nature with the calming and nourishing atmosphere of silence (either full or partial silence depending on the retreat). Careful guidance and training is offered for beginner’s meditation techniques all the way to advanced practices. Daily teachings and group practice offer you support for discovering inner understanding and freedom. Our retreats are suitable for both new and experienced students of meditation.
In a chaotic and stressful world, Tara Mandala offers refuge and renewal in a comfortable relaxing environment.
Photo credit: Clinton SpenceWhy Come to a Tara Mandala Retreat?
Retreat allows us to slow down, pull back, get inspired, find community, and ultimately awaken to who we really are. Retreat comes from the Latin verb “to pull back.” When in retreat, we withdraw from our regular life, pulling in all the energy that is otherwise spread out in multiple directions. We gather our forces to focus them on something that can help us grow. From this place, we get a new perspective, we regroup and re-energize. We find inspiration that can be put into action and transform the world around us.
On retreat we become more spacious. We step out of our structured day-to-day routine into a space where we have the time to connect with nature, with ourselves. The vastness of the beautiful Colorado skies is a reminder of the importance of space in our lives, space between thoughts, space to allow creative inspiration to arise, space in our daily routine. Retreats at Tara Mandala offer a safe space where we can unlock self-exploration and growth, allowing us to remember who we are at our core.
On retreat we become inspired. Inspiration translates as “to breathe into.” On retreat we breathe vitality into our life and connect to our inspiration, our genius. The natural beauty of the land brings about a shift of perspective whereby our practice and insight may ripen. We establish new and healthier routines and practices so our lives can continue to be re-energized, happier and clearer. In retreat, by cultivating the power of awareness, clarity and kindness, we discover our path to liberation, inner freedom and a fulfilled heart.
Types of Meditation
Various kinds of meditation are supported and taught in Tara Mandala retreats. They span the three Yanas (Vehicles) of Buddhism, from the early and middle phase of the Sutrayana (including Mahayana) to the latter development of the Vajrayana teachings.
We offer mindfulness based practices such as sitting and walking meditation, compassion meditation such as Metta (Loving-kindness) and Tonglen (Sending & Receiving), as well as Feeding Your Demons®, a practice developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione that helps us heal the unintegrated aspects of ourselves.
We offer Vajrayana (Buddhist Tantra) practices such as Green Tara, Chöd, that involve sound, visualization, mantra, and ritual practices. And finally we offer retreats on Dzogchen (Great Perfection) and Mahamudra (Great Seal) practices that are considered the pinnacle of Tibetan Buddhist teachings.
The beauty of these practices is that there are entry points for all of us. Their variety gives us the chance to feel what best suites our disposition.The Buddha said that however many people there are on the earth, there are the same number of practices. At Tara Mandala we value both the downward journey of healing and cultivating emotional balance and the upward journey of awakening to our own true nature, full liberation. In essence these are not two, but on the relative level both need to happen alongside one another.
Sitting Meditation
Sitting meditation lies at the heart of retreat. In sitting practice, silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. The training of the heart brings kindness and compassion for all that arises. In sitting we can find for ourselves the wisdom and freedom discovered by the Buddha. At Tara Mandala, beginning meditators are encouraged to use the breath as a focus for mindfulness. The arising and passing of breath shows us in a direct way the universal truth of impermanence. After an inner calm and steadiness are established through breathing, the meditation is
systematically opened to include mindfulness of all experiences, external and internal, of body sensations and emotions, of thoughts and the nature of mind itself.
Walking Meditation
Walking gracefully and wisely on the earth is one of the great Buddhist meditative practices. On retreat, periods of walking meditation alternate with periods of sitting meditation. Just as in sitting meditation, where attention is brought to the rhythmic pattern of breathing, in walking meditation, mindfulness is cultivated by resting the attention on sensations of the body as one walks. In walking meditation we become aware in the midst of activity. Retreatants at Tara Mandala are also encouraged to hike more leisurely to cultivate mindfulness and deeper connection with nature.
Sitting and Walking Meditation are taught in our Sutrayana retreat each summer and our Intro to Meditation courses throughout the year.
See the retreat calendar to register »
Vajrayana – Tantric Meditation, Visualization & Ritual
Vajrayana practices taught at Tara Mandala include practices that incorporate mantras (sacred sounds), dharanis (concentrations), mudras (hand gestures), mandalas (sacred geometric patterns) and the visualization of deities and Buddhas.
In Vajrayana, one receives empowerment (Tibetan: wang) from a qualified spiritual teacher in order to engage in Tantric practices. In Vajrayana, it is said that tantric practice provides an accelerated path to enlightenment which is faster than other paths.
Mindful Eating
An awareness of food, and the mindful understanding of the entire process of nourishment and eating is included in the practice at retreats. Retreatants are encouraged to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to sitting and walking. Mindful eating is a wonderful context for the arising of insights. The simple, mindful eating connects us to the truth of the interconnectedness of all existence. On retreat, carefully prepared vegetarian meals are served. Retreatants may assist the cooks in meal preparation and clean up through work meditations.
Karma Yoga / Work Meditation
Work meditation or Karma Yoga is an important part of the retreat practice. Through it we learn how to bring the spirit of wakefulness to the activities of our life. Karma yoga also supports the community and assures the smooth running of the retreat. At retreat check-in, retreatants are assigned a Karma Yoga assignment (such as helping in the kitchen during preparation of meals, cleaning up afterwards, tidying up the dining room, etc). The daily completion of the task is understood to be part of the continuous cultivation of mindfulness.
Dharma Talks
Dharma talks are the vocal heart of a retreat. Each day the teachers present a different set of teachings from the central practices of Buddhism, offering ways to apply them to our own experience. Sometimes the talks focus on retreat practice, and sometimes they offer teachings for wise living in the world. In the talks the teachers may speak about the nature of wisdom or address Right Livelihood, explain the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, explore the Five Hindrances, speak of loving-kindness and equanimity, or tell stories from personal experience that help illuminate practice. The dharma talks are not Buddhist tenets to be believed, but are spiritual principles offered for students to consider and use in ways that bring benefit to their daily lives.
Practice Meetings
One of the most valued parts of intensive retreats is the opportunity to speak intimately with the teachers about one’s own inner life. Teachers hold individual and small group meetings with retreatants on a regular basis to answer questions, discuss problems, give guidance and explain meditation practices more fully. Students are also welcome to consult with teachers at any time during a retreat as need arises. This teacher support facilitates a deepening of the student’s meditation practice and encourages further development of the student’s understanding.
Photo credit: Josh BrownleeLeaving the Retreat
Whatever you think a retreat is going to be like, it will probably be different. Most participants find it deeply refreshing and healing, often life-transforming. While spiritual truths can be seen every day of our ordinary life, the stillness and simplicity of retreat brings a wonderful and unique possibility for renewal. At the retreat’s end, we have instructions and insights that we can bring home. Our task is to return to our communities and bring a rekindled spirit of awareness and compassion to all we touch.
Prepare for a Virtual Retreat
Creating Your Virtual Retreat Environment
Meditation practice is supported and enhanced by a tight retreat container in which our normal activities and distractions are kept to a minimum. The borders of our retreat enable us to go deeply into our practice experiences. Like cooking a good stew, we want to keep the heat steady and the lid on. During this virtual retreat we invite you to do your best in creating this container in your own home.
Technical & Retreat Guidelines
- Please don’t multitask while online with our community.
- Engage as fully as you would if we were in person.
- Everyone will be muted during the majority if not the entirety of the retreat to cut down on feedback and extraneous sounds.
- The session facilitator will provide specific guidelines for when to submit a question or a comment while a live session is underway.
- Troubleshoot your audio issue using Zoom’s audio help guide. You might also try leaving the event and rejoining it.
- It is helpful for creating community to allow your video to be on during the meetings.
- Please keep your audio on mute so that we can hear the speaker clearly.
- Troubleshoot any video issues by using Zoom’s video/camera help guide
Your Space
- Pick a place where you will sit to receive teachings and to practice. Be intentional about your choice of space. Where do you feel most awake, receptive and at ease? Where is the view supportive of your practice? Where can you be undisturbed?
- Set up your chair/cushion in advance, along with a side table for a notebook, water, and anything you’ll need during our sessions. Make sure you have an outlet nearby to plug in your computer.
- Uplift your space in some way, perhaps with a flower or a candle, or a small shrine.
How to Prepare for a Multi-Day Retreat
- Create your personal schedule aside from our meeting times. Decide when you’ll get up in the morning and go to bed at night, have your meals, do exercise and/or go outside. Short naps can be wonderful during retreat, so you could consider building in 20-30 minutes for this each day.
- Turn off social media, news and other entertainment. Take care of any critical communications before our retreat, so that outside communications are kept to a minimum during our days together.
- If you live with other people in your home, discuss your retreat with them ahead of time, including your intentions, motivation, and personal schedule. Supporting someone in retreat can be quite rewarding, so consider how those you live with might help you by cooking meals or taking care of housework.
- If you have children, decide when you’ll spend time with them. Consider sharing with them some of what you’re learning each day.
- Buy and prepare food in advance so that you don’t have to go shopping during our retreat.
- Have a Bell, Vajra and Damaru in your space if you have them (you can also purchase them in our Dakini Store).
- If a Tsog (Tantric Feast) is scheduled for the last day of this retreat, you’ll want a variety of food items: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, astringent, meat and alcohol. Make sure you have these in advance. Ideally, these are unopened packages of food / drink. You’ll need 4 small plates worth of food.