Retreat Centers of the Americas
Besides giving ideal conditions for meditation practice, one thing that all the retreat centers in the Americas have in common is that they unify sangha, both on regional and national levels. They are becoming increasingly important vehicles for unifying across even broader distances, throughout the hemisphere, and hopefully throughout the world. We are ready and excited for your visit; please feel at home. ¡Mi casa es su casa!
Western Retreat Center - California, USA
diamondway.org/wrc
wrc@diamondway.org
The Western Retreat Center, located in the mountains of the Central Coast of California, features the “top of the world” views in the setting of acoustical and visual privacy, and supports sustainable, off-the-grid living, in harmony with the natural beauty of the surrounding area. The WRC offers rustic but comfortable conditions for individual or couple retreats, as well as monthly group meditation and work retreats.
- Located in the mountains of Diablo Range, Central Coast of California
- 2.5 hours from San Francisco, 5.5 hours from Los Angeles, 1 hour to nearby town
- 80 acres (32 hectares)
- Features 2 comfortable meditation cabins, indoor gompa and communal space, outdoor kitchen, outdoor showers and toilets
- Solar electricity, no internet, no phone reception
- Offers rustic but comfortable and focused conditions for individual, couple and group meditation retreats
- Plenty of good water and space to camp, hike and meditate in nature
- Features the “top of the world” views in the setting of acoustical and visual privacy
- Supports sustainable, off-the-grid living, in harmony with the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
Dakini Ranch - Colorado, USA
diamondway.org/dakiniranch
dakiniranch@diamondway.org
Dakini Ranch is at an altitude of over 8,300ft (2,600m), with breathtaking views across the San Luis Valley to the 14,000ft. (4,300m) peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. The inspiration and beauty of the place are as vast as the land itself, and one truly has the chance to feel the space of mind here.
- Located in San Luis Valley outside of Saguache, Colorado
- Roughly 3 hours from Denver, 3 hours from Santa Fe, 5 miles to small town, 45 minutes to 16th Karmapa stupa
- 350 acres (141 hectares) of remote, raw land
- Rustic, off-grid, 3-season cabin with loft
- Large barn with gompa near cabin
- Plenty of mountain wilderness to camp, hike, and meditate in a climate similar to the mountain valleys of Tibet
- Perfect for small group and personal retreats
- Breathtaking and vast views of the valley and Sangre de Cristo mountain range
"It's like being born into a pure land!" - Lama Ole Nydahl
Texas Retreat Center, USA
diamondway.org/trc
trc@diamondway.org
Deep in the heart of Texas, the Texas Retreat Center sits on top of the Edwards Plateau. This elevated 'hill country' provides meditators majestic views of the east and west horizons, lovely night skies, and valleys of prairie and savanna. Aimed to help develop regional activity and depth, this special place has power and beauty for any visitor and practitioner, and with space (35 acres) to host large dharma courses, group and private retreats.
- Centrally located at the Heart of Texas in a small town called Kempner
- 1 hour from Austin, 2.5 hours from Dallas, 3.5 hours from Houston, 10 minutes to nearby town
- 35 acres (14 hectares) of pastures, forest, and two hills with beautiful views
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, socializing space, and separate gompa
- WiFi at the house and cell reception throughout the property
- Comfortable conditions for retreats and group activities
- Both open and secluded areas for camping
- Outdoor sinks and showers during larger gatherings
“It is really great, really wonderful, really exciting...when people, place, and everything just fit...it's such a joy you get this. The Buddhas have their kind hands on whatever happens." - Lama Ole Nydhal
Heartland Retreat Center - Wisconsin, USA
diamondway.org/hrc
hrc@diamondway.org
The joyful group dynamic and freedom of the Heartland Retreat Center are its greatest assets, which expresses our common view that the process is the product. The rolling hills and meditating in front of the life-size 16th Karmapa statue are also quite impressive.
- Centrally located in the “Midwest”, in the Amish countryside of Wisconsin
- 3 hours from Minneapolis, 4 hours from Chicago, 2 hours from Madison, 10 minutes to nearby town
- 87 acres (35 hectares) of forests, hills, and spring-fed creeks
- 2,500 sq ft cabin with beautiful gompa that holds up to 70 people and an inspiring life-size 16th Karmapa statue
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, socializing space
- Landline phone and WiFi in the cabin; cell reception for most providers
- Comfortable conditions for open retreats and group activities
- Both open and secluded areas for camping
- Outdoor sinks and showers during big courses on the land
"This place will surely benefit many. Thank you for your wide range of activities." - Lama Ole Nydahl
Northeast Retreat Center - New York, USA
diamondway.org/nrc
nrc@diamondway.org
Karma Dondrub Ling, "Place of Accomplishment", rests on a high plateau with 270 degree views of inspiring forested hills. The flat open fields at a high altitude show the freedom of space and allow our mind to see its own potential and richness.
- Located in upstate New York
- 3 hours from NYC, 3.5 hours from Boston, 4 hours from Philadelphia, 1 hour from Albany
- 42 acre (17 hectare) property resting on a high plateau with 270 degree views of inspiring forested hills
- Main house with 420 sq ft gompa, 2 guest bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, full industrial kitchen, laundry room and lounge area
- 450 sq ft dormitory above the garage for larger groups
- Retreat cabin
- Comfortable conditions for open retreats and group activities
- Nearby attractions to enjoy during all seasons
"The nature of mind is beyond birth and death, coming and going and everything, and this is the type of place where you can realize that." - Lama Ole Nydahl
Karma Palsang Ling - “All Good and Radiant Place” - Villa de Leyva, Colombia
https://budismocolombia.co/centros/karma-palsang-ling/
kpl@diamondway-center.org
Karma Palsang Ling, the “All Good and Radiant Place” in Villa de Leyva, Colombia appeared with a great transformative force of unity and consensus.
- Located in Villa de Leyva, Colombia
- 3 hours from Bogota (100 miles / 165 km), 10 km from town
- 42 acres (17 hectares)
- Easy accessibility, water and electricity
- Good weather
- Comfortable house with 3 guest bedrooms each with its own bathroom and hot water
- 8 water-efficient showers and composting toilets for camping
- Fully equipped kitchen to serve over 700 friends
- A new warehouse that also will be used as a workshop for the Stupa's tsatsas production
In this beautiful land, with the wide generosity and work of the international sangha across the world, the first Diamond Way Stupa of the Americas will be built.
Karma Dechen Ling - “Land of Highest Bliss” - Lavalleja, Uruguay
www.kdl.org.uy/es/
info@kdl.org.uy
- Located in Lavalleja, Uruguay
- 133 acres (54 hectares)
- 3 hours from Montevideo (118 mi / 190 km)
- Surrounded by low hills
- Electricty with solar pannels
- House has 3 bedrooms with 24 beds, toilets and showers with hot water, living room, dining room for 50 people, big kitchen with capacity for cooking meals for 200 people
- Beautiful gompa with an inspiring view of the valley
- 2 meditation huts under refurbishing that can be used for retreats
"We have a really interesting place in Uruguay. It’s our meditation center there. It’s probably the oldest area in the world, what concerns the stones lying on the ground and so on. It is an amazing place.
It has really strong influence also on one’s meditation and it’s like an epic, it’s like a saga, the whole place. It’s very, very interesting. If you have any kind of chance, go there, do some meditation, help there, do whatever, but don’t miss it: IT’S AN AMAZING PLACE!” - Lama Ole