About us
Karmê Chöling is a residential meditation retreat center situated on 500 acres of beautiful countryside in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. With the Green Mountains as the backdrop, the land is enriched by rolling meadows, woodland walking trails, and a one-acre organic garden.
Originally home to the Abenaki people, the land was turned into a dairy farm before it became our retreat center. We have six meditation halls, bright and open common spaces, a range of living quarters for full-time residential staff and program participants, along with seven rustic cabins in the woods for solitary retreats.
We are a global community of meditators, spiritual practitioners, and people who believe that human beings are basically good. This nature can be brought into daily life so that it radiates out to family, friends, community, and society. We are committed to creating communities where we support one another on our spiritual paths and celebrate life’s journey together, and to creating a society that brings out the best in each of us.
Our Center brings together people from all walks of life to learn, through the practice of meditation, to be kind to ourselves and others. The center continues to offer programs for both new and experienced practitioners, with a community life rooted in meditation practice as a foundation for fostering enlightened society.
The first land center established by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Karmê Chöling has served the international Shambhala community for 50 years. Upon his passing, leadership passed to his son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and recently to the Shambhala Board.
The Karmê Chöling community values respect for all individuals; regardless of meditation experience, age, race, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation or identity, capabilities, politics, religion or occupation.
In this time of great difficulty for ourselves, society, and the planet, our Center promotes teachings across many faiths and traditions, that can help us show up with fearlessness and gentleness and to meet the challenges brought on by the chaos of our world.
Upcoming events
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Online Reading Group: Integral Buddhism
·OnlineOnlineA warm, drop-in study group reading Integral Buddhism by Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, a practical look at how emotions, relationships and life's struggles can become the path itself.
Newer and longtime students read together, take turns facilitating, and discuss as we go. All are welcome.
💻 Tuesdays, 6:45 to 8:30 PM Eastern · Free · Weekly through Dec 15
👉 Join details: Integral Buddhism Reading Group1 attendeeOnline Study Group: The Tantric Path of Indestructible Wakefulness
·OnlineOnlineMindfulness Practice:
All Levels of Meditators Welcomed!This half-day meditation retreat is an opportunity to "just sit" and steep in mindfulness practice. The main practice will be sitting meditation known as shamatha or peaceful abiding. We will alternate periods of sitting with walking meditation and brief Dharma readings. This is an opportunity to deepen your meditation and be able to practice with a community of meditators. Deepening in mindfulness meditation is appropriate for beginners to experienced meditators.
Beginning meditation instruction available
If you are new to meditation or have questions you would like to ask a meditation instructor, we will provide meditation instruction apart from the main group. With meditation instruction we give detailed directions on both basic sitting meditation and a "zen-style" walking meditation technique. We will talk a little about the view and understanding of meditation as well as go over some "best practices". This will provide you a good foundation on which to base an ongoing, consistent meditation practice at home. You'll have the opportunity to ask any meditation questions you might have in this instruction period.
You are welcomed and encouraged to join the main group in the shrine room afterwards.Registration and Information:
Free Meditation Retreat: November1 attendee
Meditation for a World on Fire
369 Patneaude Lane, 369 Patneaude Ln, Barnet, VT 05821, USA, Barnet, VT, USMany of us feel the pressure of living in uncertain times. We react with anxiety, anger, exhaustion or overwhelm to the events around us.
Buddhist teachings recognize that periods of confusion and conflict are not new and that throughout history, people have faced times of instability and uncertainty. Buddhism offers practical methods for meeting these challenges with greater awareness and compassion.
In this weekend retreat, we'll explore:
- Meditation practices for working skillfully with fear, anger, uncertainty, and overwhelm.
- How to stay open-hearted and engaged without being swept away by aggression and conflict.
- Practical ways to bring mindfulness and awareness into everyday life, relationships, and work.
- How meditation cultivates resilience and confidence in the midst of turmoil.
Whether you are new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this retreat offers a supportive space to discover how you can respond more skillfully to the world. That it is possible to stay engaged with it while cultivating clarity, steadiness, and an open heart—all without becoming consumed by fear, outrage, or despair.
Learn more & register:
Meditation for a World on Fire1 attendeeTsa Tsa Painting: Help Prepare the Stupa
369 Patneaude Lane, 369 Patneaude Ln, Barnet, VT 05821, USA, Barnet, VT, USCome spend a day, or a whole weekend, helping prepare something that will last for generations. Karmê Chöling is making about 1,000 tsa tsas, small clay images shaped like a stupa, to place inside the Purkhang as it becomes a kudung stupa, with a consecration planned for April 2027.
What you'll do:
- Place paper mantras inside each tsa tsa, then paint them gold and red
- Work with care and attention as a form of meditation, with mantras chanted throughout
- Join morning and evening sitting practice if you like (all optional)
No experience needed, and instruction is given at the start of each session. Free to attend; meals are by donation.
📍 Barnet, Vermont
👉 Learn more & register: Tsa Tsa Painting (November)1 attendee
Past events
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