Upcoming Retreats


Everyday Awakening: Tools for Inner Peace

Charok Lama Rinpoche

May 29 - June 26, 2025
Dates: Thursday Evenings, May 29 to June 26, 2025 Time: 6:00- 7:30 PM (PT) Place: Online Only, offered generously through our sister FPMT center in Sante Fe New Mexico, Thubten Norbu Ling.      Transform your relationship with life’s challenges through time-tested Buddhist wisdom In this five-week course, discover how ancient Buddhist principles can bring clarity, purpose, and peace to your modern life. Everyday Awakening offers practical tools for understanding the mind, cultivating awareness, and finding meaning amidst challenges.     What you’ll Experience: Uncover why outer success doesn’t always lead to inner satisfaction Develop mindfulness practices that fit into your life…

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…

Nyung Nae Retreat

Venerable Charles

July 10 - 19, 2025
Our most precious Venerable Charles has graciously agreed to return to Vajrapani from July 10 to 19 to Lead 4 Nyung Naes! It is RARE that Ven. Charles leads Nyung Naes in the States. Don't miss this opportunity to participate in this incredibly potent purification practice led by someone with Ven. Charles' extensive experience in the practice.   “Nyung naes take such a short time but brings strong purification. So many eons can be purified in this life; it makes it so easy to have attainments.” - Kyabjé Lama Zopa Rinpoche   Venerable Charles leads Nyung Nae retreats around the world, including 108 Nyung Naes…

Family Camp 2025

July 24 - 27, 2025
This EVENT is CURRENTLY FULL, please join us for Family Camp 2026! A weekend family retreat where participants are given the opportunity to better understand their mind and emotions through a Tibetan Buddhist lens using meditation, discussion, art, nature and play. Set in the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains, families with children ages 5-12 are encouraged to unplug and reconnect, supported by a community of like-minded families, staff, and volunteers.   First Time at Family Camp? Read all about what to expect at Family Camp at our Family Camp details page              …

How to Train a Happy Mind

Scott Snibbe

August 28 - 31, 2025
Based on his popular book How to Train a Happy Mind, this three-day retreat with Scott Snibbe offers a relaxed tour of eight meditations that help bring out your best qualities, deepen your relationships, and build a better world.   Each of the retreat’s practices is derived from the Tibetan Buddhist lamrim “stages of the path,” a series of analytical meditations highly refined over the centuries. This lesser-known form of meditation complements the more popular mindfulness meditation by using stories, emotions, and critical thinking to actively steer the mind away from frustration, craving, and loneliness, and toward happiness, connection, and satisfaction.   The retreat requires no…

Our Services


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