Retreat Cabins
Open Dates
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The beauty of nature, quietness, and solitude supported me so much in letting the vajra mind shine through. Having time for my practice with no outer worldly pressure helped me to deeply relax into my meditation, creating space. I’m deeply grateful for this precious time on Tara’s Land! -Vera…
Dentog Chigma: The Method for Accomplishment on One Seat With Drubpön Lama Karma
With Drubpön Lama Karma
December 18 - 22, 2018
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The profound practice of Dentog Chigma, “Liberation on One Seat,” combines the melodic and rhythmic aspects of traditional Chöd with the visualization and mantra recitation of deity practice. This sadhana is “at the absolute core of Machig’s lineage” according to Lama Tsultrim Allione.
Winter Solstice Celebration
With Lama Tsultrim Allione
December 21 - 22, 2018
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Come celebrate the Winter Solstice 2018 with the Tara Mandala residents and Lama Tsultrim Allione.
Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine
With Lama Tsultrim Allione
January 11, 2019
TSO (Tucson Symphony Orchestra) Center, Tucson, Arizona
This evening talk is based on Lama Tsultrim Allione’s new book: Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine. A dynamic spiritual model based on 1000-year-old tradition from Tibet meets the gale force winds of the current world situation. She masterfully shows us the secret to harnessing the…
Spring Equinox Celebration
With Drubpön Lama Karma
March 23 - 24, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The beginning of spring provides an opportunity to seek renewal, the setting of new intentions, and the chance to redirect our path. We invite you to greet and celebrate the arrival of spring at Tara Mandala with the raising of Prayer Flags!
Queen of Great Bliss Wisdom Dakini & Twenty-One Taras (Drupchö)
With Lama Tsultrim Allione and Drubpön Lama Karma
April 11 - 20, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This retreat begins with the empowerment of the Queen of Great Bliss Yeshe Tsogyal Wisdom Dakini from the Longchen Nyingthig Dzogchen treasure cycle revealed by Jigme Lingpa (1729-1798). We will invoke the primordial wisdom aspects of each of the twenty-one Tara goddesses, culminating in a great feast celebration.
Feeding Your Demons®: Kapala Training Level I
With Lama Tsultrim Allione and Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton
April 24 - 29, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Inspired by the ancient practice of Chöd, Feeding Your Demons® is a five-step process created by Lama Tsultrim Allione that allows us to offer compassion and understanding to our own inner demons rather than engaging in battle and struggling with them.
Dentog Chigma: The Method for Accomplishment on One Seat
With Lama Tsultrim Allione, Magyu Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam and Pieter Oosthuizen
April 25 - 29, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The profound practice of Dentog Chigma, “Liberation on One Seat,” combines the melodic and rhythmic aspects of traditional Chöd with the visualization and mantra recitation of deity practice.
Essential Dzogchen: A Retreat on Pegyal Lingpa’s Collection of Spiritual Teachings on Selflessness
With Drubpön Lama Karma
May 3 - 8, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Meditation is a path to uncovering our natural state; it helps us recognize the workability of even the most uncomfortable or unpleasant thoughts and emotions. Drubpön Lama Karma will give teachings on the text 'Collection of Spiritual Teachings on Selflessness' composed by his master, Pegyal Lingpa.
Wisdom Rising: Awakening the Empowered Feminine in Her Diverse Forms
With Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton, Karla Jackson-Brewer, Alejandra Siroka, M.A. and Ranjini George
May 3 - 8, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
A women’s retreat where through guided meditations, dharma talks, conscious communication inquiry, yoga, dance, and generative writing, you will awaken the enlightened and empowered feminine within you.
Open House and Intro to Meditation | May
May 11, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Tara Mandala is open to the public several times each year. You are welcome to join us for a guided tour of our beautiful Retreat Center and Tara Temple and an introduction to Buddhist meditation.
Shamatha Meditation: Cultivating Meditative Quiescence
With Drubpön Lama Karma
May 12 - 15, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
In this retreat we will learn Shamatha meditation, the Buddhist practice of cultivating a mind imbued with clarity and concentration.
Sacred Tibetan Art Retreat
With Lama Gyurme Rabje
May 12 - 15, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Tibetan master artist Lama Gyurme Rabgye, who painted the beautiful murals in Tara Mandala’s Trikaya Tara Temple, will teach the origin of Tibet's sacred art and give lessons on how to draw and paint Tibetan Thangkas as a beginner.
The Lion-Headed Dakini (Simhamukha)
With Lama Tsultrim Allione, Magyu Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam, Miranda Shaw and Ellen Booth Church
May 19 - 27, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This retreat offers transmission and teachings on the Lion-Headed Dakini, Simhamukha, practice as well as Lama Tsultrim’s personal transformation work within the mandala.
Shadow Yoga Retreat: Kartikeya Mandalam & Full Practice Format
With Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton and Scott Blossom
May 23 - 27, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This retreat provides the time for you to refine your practice of all three Shadow Yoga Preludes forms with a special emphasis on the third form, Kartikeya Mandalam (Garland of Light). This retreat has pre-requisites. Click onto the listing to find out more and to make an initial application.
Wisdom Rising Mandala Training Level 1: Meeting the Mandala of the Five Wisdom Dakinis
With Lama Tsultrim Allione and Magyu Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam
May 31 - June 6, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Experience transformation through the power of the mandala—a universal map for inner and outer balance, wholeness, and practical awakening. This training offers a journey into the Mandala of the Five Wisdom Dakinis, developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione to bring emotional transformation into alignment with the spiritual path.
Sutrayana: The Journey of the Buddha
With Pieter Oosthuizen
May 31 - June 7, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Sutrayana looks deeply at the life of the Buddha and his teachings, including the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path and the Twelve Links of Interdependent Origination. We will do intensive practice of Shamata (calm abiding) and walking meditation, and we will also learn about Buddhism through the life…
Three Yana Retreat
With Lama Tsultrim Allione, Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton, Magyu Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam, Karla Jackson-Brewer, Pieter Oosthuizen and Polly Ryan, MA, MFT
May 31 - June 27, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The Three Yana retreat will cover the historical and contemplative development of Buddhism involving a combination of meditation practice and daily teachings.
Mahayana: Vast View, Open Heart
With Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton and Polly Ryan, MA, MFT
June 10 - 17, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This retreat will explore new developments that took place during the Mahayana period such as the Prajnaparamita Sutra, Madhyamaka and Yogacara philosophies, Buddha Nature, and the greater emphasis on compassionate motivation.
Vajrayana: The Mandala Principle
With Lama Tsultrim Allione, Magyu Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam and Karla Jackson-Brewer
June 20 - 27, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
In this retreat you will learn the historical and practical elements of the Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle), including the mandala principle, dakinis, and deity yoga. You will be given teachings and transmissions for three meditation practices on the mandala developed by Lama Tsultrim.
Feeding Your Demons®: Kapala Training Level IV
With Lama Tsultrim Allione
June 22 - 27, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
In Kapala Training Level 4 you will receive Machig’s Direct Transmission from Lama Tsultrim, as well as the Movement Practice and Five Elements Practice.
Open House and Intro to Meditation | June
June 29, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Tara Mandala is open to the public several times each year. You are welcome to join us for a guided tour of our beautiful Retreat Center and Tara Temple and an introduction to Buddhist meditation.
Tara Mandala Teachers’ Retreat
With Lama Tsultrim Allione
July 2 - 7, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This retreat is for Tara Mandala Authorized and Apprentice Teachers and is by invitation only.
Generating Bodhicitta, the Heart of Compassion
With Drubpön Lama Karma
July 3 - 7, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Generating Bodhicitta, the heart of compassion, is the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It is the heartfelt wish to awaken for the benefit of all beings. During this retreat, Drubpön Lama Karma will provide instruction on how to develop and practice the mind of Bodhicitta.
Tara Mandala Rising: Celebrating 25 Years
With Lama Tsultrim Allione and Drubpön Lama Karma
July 6 - 7, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
During this celebration, Lama Tsultrim and guests will share powerful stories and teachings about how Tara Mandala can move forward with the profound intention to serve present and future generations of students.
Family Retreat | Child Registration | Ages 4-11
With Jennifer Warren
July 11 - 17, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This year’s Family Retreat will explore the mandala principle, a universal map for inner and outer balance and wholeness. This retreat will include family activities, young people’s groups, a parent program, and free time.
Family Retreat | Teen Registration | Ages 12-18
With Alexis Slutzky, Nick King and Nikita Gayle Romanzov
July 11 - 17, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The teens will be guided to dive deeper into their own relationship with themselves and each other during a 24-hour solo vision quest with several preparatory and integration days.
Family Retreat | Adult Registration
With Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton, Magyu Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam, Pieter Oosthuizen and Scott Blossom
July 11 - 17, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The Family Retreat is a true retreat experience that brings us face-to-face with our own experience and gives us the time and space to slow down and renew our personal practice.
Gateway: Completes’ Retreat (By Invitation Only – Completes)
July 22 - 27, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This retreat is required for all Complete Transmission (“Completes”) participants who have met their samaya requirements for the Trekchö practice. These are closed teachings and are only open to those who are part of the “Completes” cohort.
Gateway: White Dakini Sadhana (By Invitation Only – Tigers)
With Lopön Beth Lee-Herbert M.A., L.M.H.C.
July 23 - 27, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This retreat is for those in the Gateway Program who have completed the Dzinpa Rangdröl Ngöndro. These are closed teachings and only open to those who are part of the Gateway Program Foundation (Tigers).
White Dakini Drubchen, including Teaching Days, July 30 – August 10
With Drubpön Lama Karma, Lama Tsultrim Allione and Lopön Beth Lee-Herbert M.A., L.M.H.C.
July 30 - August 10, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The annual Drubchen (Great Accomplishment Ceremony) of the White Dakini practice from Do Khyentse’s Dzinpa Rangdröl (Self-Liberation from Fixation) treasure cycle will be performed at Tara Mandala. This lineage comes directly from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche to Lama Tsultrim Allione.
White Dakini Drubchen only, August 1 – 10
With Drubpön Lama Karma and Lama Tsultrim Allione
August 1 - 10, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The annual Drubchen (Great Accomplishment Ceremony) of the White Dakini practice from Do Khyentse’s Dzinpa Rangdröl (Self-Liberation from Fixation) treasure cycle will be performed at Tara Mandala. This lineage comes directly from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche to Lama Tsultrim Allione.
Gateway: Outer Rushen (By Invitation Only – Garudas)
With Lama Tsultrim Allione
August 13 - 18, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This retreat is required for all Complete Transmission (Garuda) participants who have completed their samaya for the Tsalung practices. These are closed teachings only open to those who are part of the Garuda Complete Transmission Program.
Wisdom Rising Dialogue Series
With Lama Willa Miller, Lama Rod Owens, Karla Jackson-Brewer, MacAndrew Jack, Eve Eckman and Ācārya Malcolm Smith
August 16 - 18, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
This is the first of a five-year series of gatherings where inspiring guest panelists will share their voice, vision, and wisdom centered around a key subject of relevance to our communities in the West - Fostering Enlightened Leadership and Power on the Buddhist Path and in the World.
The Four Immeasurables Retreat
With Drubpön Lama Karma
August 24 - 29, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The Four Immeasurables are the sublime expressions of love, compassion, equanimity and joy. They are the essential nature and radiance of the enlightened heart. It is said that these sublime qualities are the great removers of tension, the great peacemakers in social conflict, and the great healers of wounds suffered…
Somatic Enlightenment: Awakening through the Four Kāyas
With Lama Willa Miller
August 24 - 29, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
The practices of Tantra have long recognized the power of the body to catalyze the fruits of awakening. As the Hevajra Tantra states, “Great wisdom lives in the body.” If we bring attention to the body, great wisdom reveals itself to us, like a hidden lotus blooming in the night.
Wisdom Rising Workshop
With Rianne van Rijsewijk
August 30 - 31, 2019
Zutphen, The Netherlands
This workshop is based on Lama Tsultrim Allione´s new book: Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine. Through the Dakini Mandala, a universal template of wholeness, each of the five dakinis, embodiments of the fierce feminine, transforms an emotional encumbrance into wisdom.
Open House and Intro to Meditation | August
August 31, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Tara Mandala is open to the public several times each year. You are welcome to join us for a guided tour of our beautiful Retreat Center and Tara Temple and an introduction to Buddhist meditation.
Relationship as Sacred Practice
With Nadine Keller, MA and Andrew Keller
September 6 - 9, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Awakened in our bodies and relationships, we can access our highest creative potential. In this gathering we will explore how our relationships can be of service to a world that honors life as sacred.
Stars at Dawn: Stories of Our Buddhist Foremothers as Guides and Inspiration
With Wendy Garling
September 6 - 9, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
A Storytelling, Writing and Practice Retreat As wisdom rises, women seek connection with each other and inspiring stories of strong women who have gone before. This retreat opens a window to our foremothers, the “first” Buddhist women, whose stories in the ancient Mahayana and Pali literature have been, until now,…
Lojong – Seven Point Mind Training Retreat
With Drubpön Lama Karma
September 13 - 16, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Mind Training, or Lojong, is a practical and inspiring teaching that transforms the mind afflicted by destructive emotions. Mind Training is at the heart of all practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
Dakini’s Whisper: Subtle Body Training
With Chöying Khandro, M.A.
September 13 - 16, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Dive deeply into the wisdom and compassion embodied in this transformative practice.This retreat is devoted to Therapeutic Mind-Body-Heart Training, which interweaves a set of exercises from Tibetan Wisdom Tradition, meditation and Yoga Therapy.
Journey into the Dakini Mandala: A Meditation and Writing Retreat
With Karla Jackson-Brewer and Ranjini George
September 19 - 22, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
In the introduction of Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine (Simon & Schuster, May 2018), Lama Tsultrim Allione narrates the beginnings of Tara Mandala, a 700-acre Buddhist retreat center in Southwest Colorado. She recounts a conversation with Grandmother Bertha Grove, a respected elder of the Ute…
Open House and Intro to Meditation | September
September 21, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Tara Mandala is open to the public several times each year. You are welcome to join us for a guided tour of our beautiful Retreat Center and Tara Temple and an introduction to Buddhist meditation.
Khandro Kejang Chöd
With Drubpön Lama Karma
September 26 - October 1, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
Chöd literally means "cutting", and is a powerful, dramatic practice of cutting through ego-clinging and delusion by visualizing the offering up of one's body to all beings and karmic debtors. It is a powerful method to sever all self-grasping and to usher one into the realization of emptiness.
P’howa: Transference of Consciousness – A Winter Solstice Retreat
With Drubpön Lama Karma
December 19 - 23, 2019
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
During this winter retreat, Drupön Lama Karma will offer teachings and instructions on the extraordinary Vajrayana method of transference of consciousness at the moment of death. The skillful means of the P’howa practice allows us to direct our consciousness out of our body and into the exalted state of the…