Retreats help us to gain a deeper meditation experience that we can take into our daily lives. We do so by limiting our ordinary activities (within our capacity) and focusing on strengthening our spiritual practice and understanding. Most retreats are suitable for everyone, regardless of experience level.

What to Expect at a Day Retreat or Workshop

Day retreats provide us with teachings emphasizing particular meditation practices. We are also given an opportunity to immediately put the teachings into practice through guided meditations. These retreats are great for all practitioners.

What to Expect at a Longer Retreat

The practice of week long retreats at Kadampa Meditation Center New Mexico was designed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for modern people with busy daily lives. If our circumstances permit, we may attend all retreat sessions and devote an entire week to retreat. However, for those with work and other obligations, attending just weekend or evening sessions can still bring great benefit.

Retreat sessions typically consist of prayers in English to prepare our minds for meditation, a guided meditation on the retreat topic, and a long meditation period to gain personal experience of the meditation object. There is time for self-study in between sessions. Most retreats also include an introductory teaching. See the webpage of the individual retreats for more details on the meditation topics and format.

For those attending from out of town, we have limited accommodations available.