Karmê Chöling : Meditation Retreat Center

The Sadhana of Mahamudra was written by Chögyam Trungpa Rinopche, with the intent of overcoming the physical, psychological and spiritual obstacles that materialism poses to us in this modern age.
Through relating with the vibrant imagery presented in the Sadhana, as well as actively participating in the chanting, visualization, and recitation of mantras, we invoke a basic sense of sanity and clarity. When we commit to this wakefulness it profoundly impacts not only our meditation practice but our everyday lives and the broader world around us.
Join the Karmê Chöling household for the Sadhana of Mahamudra during our evening practice session on the new moon. The sadhana takes most of the hour with an abbreviated list of closing chants at the end.

AN EXTENDED SILENT MEDITATION RETREAT

Early spring is a beautiful time to give yourself an intentional pause—a chance to step out of familiar routines and into a space of renewal, reflection, and quiet restoration.
As winter softens and the first hints of spring emerge, the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont takes on a brightness and subtlety all its own. This transitional season naturally invites us into nowness where the present moment is complete, vivid, and inherently trustworthy. In silence, we learn to meet each moment directly, without rushing past it or holding it at a distance.
Throughout this ten-day retreat at Karmê Chöling, you’ll gently disconnect from the noise and demands of daily life. Free from constant stimulation, you can settle into a slower rhythm and use the tools of mindfulness to explore your moment-to-moment experience. This spacious environment supports the cultivation of calm, clarity, and an authentic sense of presence.
Nestled within the returning light and crisp air of March, the landscape surrounding Karmê Chöling becomes an ideal companion for this transformative journey.
Join us for this time of silence and stillness. Rediscover your inherent clarity and resilience—return refreshed and confident to your daily life.

General Schedule

• 7:30 am Optional sitting
• 8:00 Breakfast
• 9:00 Morning Session
• instruction and practice
• (mid-morning break)
• 12:00 Morning Session Ends
• 12:30 lunch
• 1:00 ROTA (light service task)
• 3:00 Afternoon Session
• 4:00 Tea Break
• 4:30 Afternoon Session Resumes
• 6:00 Afternoon Session Ends
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:30 Optional sitting

Devotion and Crazy Wisdom

Practicing the Sadhana of Mahamudra

On the 39th anniversary of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s death and parinirvana, we will gather to practice The Sadhana of Mahamudra, one of his most profound treasure texts. He received and wrote this text while in retreat in Bhutan in the fall of 1968. The liturgy brings together the power of heartfelt devotion and compassionate wrath or crazy wisdom. Seven years later, at Karmê Chöling, Trungpa Rinpoche taught a seminar on the Trungpa tulkus and the Kagyü lineage. In that seminar, he talked about how the Kagyü lineage constantly encounters and at times even invites mishaps.

In this weekend, we will practice sitting meditation, compassion practices, and chant The Sadhana of Mahamudra each day. There will be talks with discussion as well as small group discussions. We will explore Trungpa Rinpoche’s life story surrounding his receiving this text in Bhutan and returning to Scotland to teach, as well how he worked with his own mishaps. Finally, our ultimate focus will be on how we work with mishaps in our own life and community.