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…

Six Session Guru Yoga Weekend ONLY

Venerable René Feusi

September 12 - 14, 2025
About the Retreat We are overjoyed that one of our most precious teachers, Venerable René Fuesi, is returning to Vajrapani in September!   Six Session Guru Yoga Weekend With any HYT initiation in our tradition, there is a commitment to do the six sessions of guru yoga, but many have never received instruction. Venerable Rene thought it could be nice and useful to explain how to meditate on it in this Six Session Guru Yoga Weekend before starting the Shiné - Mahamudra portion of the retreat.   Venerable René will teach from Friday, Sept 12 evening through Sunday, Sept 14…

Six Session Guru Yoga & Shiné – Mahamudra

Venerable René Feusi

September 12 - 21, 2025
We are overjoyed that one of our most precious teachers, Venerable René Fuesi, is returning to Vajrapani in September! Ven. René's retreats are known to be deeply transformative as he invites us to inquire into the nature of the mind. Join us as Ven René creates this rare opportunity to get to know our minds and to learn how to meditate more deeply in this immersive 10-Day Retreat.    Six Session Guru Yoga Weekend With any Highest Yoga Tantra initiation in our tradition, there is a commitment to do the Six- Session Guru Yoga, but many have never received formal…

Shiné – Mahamudra Week ONLY

Venerable René Feusi

September 14 - 21, 2025
About the Retreat We are overjoyed that one of our most precious teachers, Venerable René Fuesi, is returning to Vajrapani in September. Ven. René is creating a rare opportunity to learn how to meditate more deeply in this immersive retreat.   Shiné - Mahamudra Venerable René will start the Shiné - Mahamudra portion of the retreat in the evening on Sunday, Sept 14th, ending at lunch on Sept 21st. This part of the retreat is open to all levels of students. No initiations are necessary.   Mahamudra Retreat “Nowadays, we try to take good care of our health, as we…

Hope in the Dharma?

Guy Newland

October 10 - 12, 2025
Join us for a transformative weekend retreat with Guy Newland, a renowned scholar and professor of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. Guy’s engaging and accessible approach, grounded in his acclaimed work Introduction to Emptiness, will help you unravel complex Buddhist concepts and apply them to your daily life. Whether you're new to Buddhism or looking to deepen your practice, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to explore profound insights in a welcoming and supportive environment. Don’t miss this chance to deepen your understanding and cultivate inner peace!   About the Retreat Does the Dharma offer hope? Or does it tell us that…

Exploring Buddhism: Exploring the Path Retreat

Geshe Tenzin Legtsok

November 6 - 14, 2025
To proceed on the stages of the path to enlightenment, it is important to have a good roadmap. Exploring the Path allows us to get an overview of all topics of contemplation for the entire spiritual journey. Exploring the Path delves more deeply into the Lamrim, the step-by-step path to enlightenment.  Students will learn how to integrate this profound yet practical wisdom into daily life—cultivating greater peace, happiness, and compassion. The retreat includes insightful teachings, engaging discussions, and a variety of meditation practices, such as concentration meditation for mental clarity, visualizations for inner transformation, and analytical meditation on key Lamrim topics.…

Training the Mind, Awakening the Heart: A Retreat on Seven Point Mind Training

Geshe Thubten Sherab

November 28 - 30, 2025
Join us for a weekend of insight, reflection, and renewal as we explore the timeless wisdom of Seven Point Mind Training with beloved teacher Geshe Thubten Sherab. This profound yet practical approach to inner transformation has inspired spiritual seekers for centuries. With warmth, clarity, and gentle humor, Geshe Sherab will guide us through teachings and meditative practices that help us shift everyday challenges—like stress, anger, or disappointment—into opportunities for compassion, patience, and greater peace of mind. Whether you're navigating a life transition, seeking deeper meaning, or simply wanting to reconnect with your heart’s natural resilience, this retreat offers tools to…