Group Retreats

“Retreat offers a situation where it’s possible to fulfill our basic human potential and develop all the positive qualities within ourselves.”

– Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Learning Together

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

Group retreats vary in length and focus. They can last from a few days to several weeks and cover a wide variety of topics. You can find and register for our upcoming group retreats on our event page.

Benefits

  • Direct feedback and authoritative answers to questions as they arise
  • Sharing of experiences and ideas through discussion
  • Extra stamina and momentum from a shared group dynamic
  • Increased confidence in your own ability and skill in the practice
  • Meeting like-minded individuals for companionship on your spiritual journey

Choosing a Program

All levels: Relevant to people of any experience level.
Introductory: Most suitable for those who haven’t received instruction before and have little to no experience with meditation. These programs are also great for those who want to do an introductory review.
Intermediate: Most suitable for those with at least a cursory understanding of lam-rim and some basic experience with meditation.
Advanced: Most suitable for those with a good understanding of lam-rim or tantra, and considerable meditation experience.

Levels of Silence

The practice of maintaining silence helps individuals go deeper in the retreat experience. While we do encourage full silence during most retreats, the level of silence maintained in a retreat can vary at the discretion of the retreat leader. The following silence levels therefore help to give you a general idea of silence held per retreat.

 

Full: Silence is held for the full retreat. Depending on the retreat there may be talking during discussion groups or during sessions with the teacher. However, during all break times, meals, mornings and evenings, silence is held.
Partial: The amount of silence held can vary in amount, but generally consists of half-day silence. Silence is held from after the last session in the evening until after lunch.
None: Silence is only held by the group during working meditation times.

 

Have more questions? First retreat? Check out our FAQ

Please note that we have recently updated out Cancellation Policy: You can read more about this under our FAQ section. The Cancellation Policy is also stated at the time of registration payment.

 

Questions about financial aid? Review our financial aid page.

 

If you are interested in serving as Course Liaison for a group retreat, please apply here.

Upcoming Retreats

Experiential Vajrayogini Retreat

Elaine Jackson

October 24 - 27, 2024
Join us for an experiential Vajrayogini Retreat with FPMT Teacher Elaine Jackson at Vajrapani Institute.   Elaine has said, “How wonderful that we will meet again to explore our relationship with Vajrayogini. I will share my approach to the practice and happily discuss ways to enliven it, soliciting your experiences as well.”   “I have seen over many years of practice that there is an alchemy, a gradual change, that manifests when I embrace the practice from a felt sense and try to bring that sense into my everyday life. This comes, not solely from  the sadhana, but from embracing…

Unlocking the Power of Ritual, Mantra, and Mudra

Venerable Angie Muir and Venerable Katy Cole

November 7 - 10, 2024
Book early and get 10% off. Offer valid until Oct 7, 2024.
In the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, practicing ritual is a powerful method to develop positive mind states and subdue the negative ones, while serving as a compelling foundation for your spiritual practice to flourish.     For those new to Buddhism or those who have yet to grasp the profound benefits of these rituals fully, the rituals may seem overwhelming. We might feel a lack of confidence in engaging with these valuable practices, especially while practicing in groups. If we are unclear about the purpose of practicing ritual, we may lose motivation, feeling like we are just going through the motions, treating…

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