January 8 - February 18
Heruka Close Retreat
January is a very special month for practitioners of Highest Yoga Tantra as it is considered the month of the deities Heruka and Vajrayogini. During this month we receive special blessings from these enlightened deities. For this reason January is the best time to do a close retreat of Vajrayogini, in which we engage in the practice of counting 100,000 mantras of this deity.
Followed by Heruka Fire Puja March 27
How to Participate in Winter Retreats
The Purpose is to make a special connection with Heruka so that we will receive his special care.
Virtuous Action To count 100,000 Vajrayogini Mantras
Blessed Location In the Kadampa Temple for World Peace, Glen Spey, NY
Spiritual Company Faithful Kadampa practitioners from around the world.
January 8 - February 18
The Oral Instructions
of Mahamudra
with Gen Samten Kelsang
Collecting 100,000 Mantras
Vajrayogini’s mantra is said to be the most powerful of all mantras. By reciting it we are cared for by all the Dakinis of the twenty-four places, as well as their emanations. We draw closer to Vajrayogini, making a connection with a special friend and eventually enjoying the same blissful happiness she does. Our negativities and obstacles are pacified, and our speech becomes very powerful. Our spiritual realizations increase and ultimately, reciting this mantra enables Vajrayogini to rescue us from the prison of samsara and take us to her pure land of Keajra Heaven.
Gen Samten Kelsang
One of Venerable Geshe‑la’s senior disciples with decades of meditative and teaching experience, Gen Samten Kelsang oversees the spiritual program at KMC New York, and teaches throughout the US and around the world. He is renowned for the clarity of his teachings, ability to help students improve their practice, and his skill in leading practitioners to profound meditative insights.
February 19 - March 18
The Four Great
Preliminary Guides
with Kadam Michelle Gauthier & Gen Kelsang Zamling
Buddha taught many different meditations. The realizations attained through these meditations are the path to liberation. Liberation from suffering therefore depends upon making progress in meditation, and progress in meditation depends upon engaging sincerely in preliminary practices. Buddha taught four principal preliminary practices. These are normally called the ‘four great guides’ because they are the methods by which we are guided into the actual path to liberation. Meditation itself is like the main body, and the four great guides are like four limbs; just as without limbs our body cannot move and function, so without preliminary practices meditation alone cannot work.
February 19 - 25: Refuge Preliminary Retreat with Kadam Michelle
February 26 - March 4: Vajrasattva Preliminary Retreat with Kadam Michelle
March 5 - 11: Guru Yoga Preliminary Retreat with Gen Zamling
March 12 - 18: Mandala Offering Preliminary Retreat with Gen Zamling
Kadam Michelle Gauthier is the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Washington DC and has been a disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for more than 30 years. She is an inspiring example of Modern Buddhism in practice. She presents Buddha’s teachings with beautiful clarity, warmth and sincerity, skillfully guiding people from all walks of life to find inner peace and lasting happiness.
Gen Kelsang Zamling is the Resident Teacher at KMC Chicago. He has been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for many years, and has taught in the United States and in the UK. Gen Zamling is known for his practical approach, warmth, and clarity and sets an immaculate example of someone who has taken Buddha's teachings to heart.
Retreat Fees & Important Registration Information
Accommodations
IMPORTANT: We are offering pre-application from September 9-16 for those who wish to attend and stay onsite for at least four consecutive weeks of retreat, and we will prioritize those who wish to stay for the full ten weeks of retreat. Please do not fill this out if you are wishing to do the Heruka Close Retreat. Visit the Heruka Close Retreat page for more information on registering for this retreat.
Please use the chart below to see accommodation options and prices. Please note for accommodations (not including meals) booked for 2 consecutive weeks, a 20% discount is applied; for 3 to 6 consecutive weeks, a 30% discount is applied; and for 7 or more consecutive weeks or more, a 40% discount is applied.
Onsite Meals
Vegetarian, vegan and/or wheat-free lunches and dinners are available each day for $8 each. Breakfast is available for $5 each for those staying offsite but must be pre-booked. It is included in the onsite accommodation fees. All of our meals are home-cooked. We use fresh and local produce where possible.
Registration Notes:
The nature of our retreats requires a harmonious and supportive environment for all participants. Our primary concern is ensuring the well-being and safety of all participants. Because of this, we will check references from Resident Teacher or center managers before confirming someone’s retreat.
The Heruka Close Retreat is a set price of $250 regardless of the number of weeks/days the person stays. More information about the Close Retreat can be found here.
Each guided retreat in the Oral Instructions of Mahamudra Retreat starts Friday evening and ends Thursday at lunchtime (6 nights).
For accommodations (not including meals) booked for 2 consecutive weeks, a 20% discount is applied; 3 to 6 consecutive weeks, a 30% discount is applied; and for 7 to 10 consecutive weeks or more, a 40% discount is applied.
A 10% discount is applied to the retreat fee for the 7th to 10th consecutive week of retreat.
Private rooms (deluxe, singles, doubles) and ensuite twins and triples must be booked for 6-night blocks from Friday to Thursday (i.e. the full week of retreat). Partial bookings are not available for private rooms or ensuite triples, i.e. someone would not be able to book for a weekend, for 10 nights or 23 nights but could book for 6 nights, 13 nights, 20 nights, etc.
Twin and triple rooms are booked by the bed. You will be staying with other people of the same gender in these rooms.
Dorm and shared room accommodations are available for partial bookings with a 2-night minimum for most of the retreat, except for the Tranquil Abiding Retreat (Jan 22-28). Due to the popularity of this week of retreat, from January 22-28, dorm and shared room accommodations must be booked for 6 nights from Friday to Thursday (i.e. the full week of retreat). On January 8, we will open any available shared or dorm spaces to those who wish to book for the weekend.
Those wishing to book for a private room or shared/dorm accommodations for at least four consecutive weeks up to the full ten weeks of retreat can apply from September 9-16 to inquire about availability. We will prioritize those who wish to stay for the full ten weeks of retreat. General registration opens on September 23 at 2pm EDT. At this time, any private rooms, ensuite twins or ensuite triples still available, these will be open to 6-night minimum stays.
Due to the importance of attending the introduction and start of retreat, all retreat bookings must be booked starting Friday night.
Week-long and weekend retreat bookings are available for those staying offsite. Due to the importance of attending the introduction and start of retreat, these must be booked starting Friday night.