Upcoming Retreats


New Moon Tara Puja

Venerable Angie Muir

May 27, 2025
Join us as we welcome Ven. Angie back from Nepal and India! Tara Puja: For Protection and Fulfillment.   Please join us for a Tara Puja on May 27th with Ven Angie Muir from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM (PT) on Zoom.  This puja will be in English.   Tara Puja is a devotional practice invoking the blessings of Tara, a female manifestation of all the Buddhas. Embodying enlightened activity, Tara has the power of swiftness to quickly overcome our obstacles and fears and fulfill our temporary and ultimate goals.     Key Elements of a Tara Puja: Mandala Offering:…

Seabright Beach Community Potluck

Geshe Tenzin Legtsok

June 8, 2025
Join us at a Beach Potluck to Celebrate our Precious Sangha and welcome Geshe Tenzin Legtsok to the Bay Area community!   When: Sunday, June 8th, 2025  3:00pm-6:00pm   Where: Seabright Beach, Santa Cruz   We’re excited to invite the Bay Area community to a special event celebrating the monastics who so generously serve our local FPMT centers. On Sunday, June 8th from 3:00–6:00 PM, we’ll be gathering at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz for a joyful Beach Potluck in Honor of our Sangha and to celebrate the arrival of Geshe Tenzin Legtsok to our community. This is a heartfelt…

Saka Dawa Merit Festival: Prayer Wheel Turn-a-thon and All Night Tara Practice

Geshe Tenzin Legtsok and Venerable Angie Muir

June 10 - 11, 2025
Join us as we welcome Geshe Legtsok for our Saka Dawa merit festival and fundraiser!   There will be so many ways to create merit on this merit-multiplying day!   Make a date with Tara for our All-Night Saka Dawa Tara Purification Practice!  Join us in-person or online.  Sessions begin at 7:00 pm Tuesday, June 10th and continue through the night, concluding the practice at 7:00 am the following morning, Wednesday, June 11th.  For those coming in-person we will have a small dinner to kick things off, and then end with a breakfast celebration.   Our 24-hour Prayer Wheel turn-a-thon…

Intro to Buddhism and Meditation: A Kopan West Lamrim Retreat

Geshe Tenzin Legtsok

June 14 - 21, 2025
Please join us in June for a rare Kopan West Retreat during the summer! Kopan West is a Free, "Pay-it-Forward" retreat that is modeled after the famous Intro to Buddhism course at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. Begin your summer in the serene beauty of the California Redwoods at Vajrapani Institute!   Have you been interested in Buddhism but have not yet had the opportunity to explore it in depth? This retreat offers a unique opportunity to engage with the foundational teachings of Tibetan Buddhism in a supportive and immersive setting. Perfect for beginners and those looking to deepen their practice,…

Exploring Buddhism

Geshe Tenzin Legtsok

June 16 - December 14, 2025
Exploring Buddhism is the newest foundational-level course co-developed by FPMT Education Services and senior FPMT teachers, including Geshe Tenzin Namdak, Geshe Tenzin Legtsok, and Venerable Joan Nicell. Geshe Tenzin Namdak and Geshe Tenzin Legtsok serve as the main contributors. The program has been revised from the original pilot offered at various FPMT centers.   It was conceived as a bridge between the FPMT Discovering Buddhism and the FPMT Basic Program. The EB program presents selected topics that provide a strong basis for more advanced study. The program is intended for students with a good understanding of basic Buddhism.    What…

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GROUP RETREATS

Group Retreats allow you to join other students in gaining experience, knowledge, and skills under the guidance of a qualified teacher.

PRIVATE RETREATS

Retreat is especially relevant and useful in today’s busy, agitated world. Retreat offers many different benefits, for a wide variety of people.

FACILITY RENTALS

Our facilities, including a meditation hall, accommodations, and blessed land are available for rental to spiritual groups of all traditions.

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Vajrapani Institute is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition www.FPMT.org