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
23
Heart of Recovery The Awakened Heart Weekend
Karme Choling, 369 Patneaude Lane, Barnet, VT, USRecovery, Mindfulness and Spiritual Growth
Grounded in the principles of meditation and select Buddhist teachings, this program provides tools to gain insight into the connection between body, mind, and breath while working with difficult emotions. Participants are invited to explore these practices within a compassionate community, fostering a sense of connection and mutual support.
Guided by the lens of the Shambhala path, the program integrates themes from Eric's book, Recovery Lojong, which bridges recovery with mindfulness and spiritual growth. Together, we’ll explore how the principles of recovery align with meditation and Buddhist fundamentals, empowering participants to cultivate greater clarity, resilience, and joy in their lives.
This program is ideal for those ready to explore the intersection of recovery and spirituality with curiosity and an open heart. The fruition of recovery is a sense of connection and opening of our hearts to help others. Over the course of the weekend we will discuss the journey from self-centered to other-centered as we continue to develop the bravery of living a life free from our addictions.###
Note: For those who wish to go further, this weekend program extends into a weeklong version with additional teachings and practices.
Heart of Recovery begins with the weekend program that covers the above fundamentals. The weeklong program continues from there and deepens our practice and understanding of the journey of awakening our hearts. Participants in the weeklong program will be given the opportunity to explore additional ideas from the practice of Lojong.
The practice of lojong is a traditional training system designed to provide an opening of the heart (i.e. spiritual awakening) so that we can be of service to the world around us. These practices can help us traverse the challenges of addiction and recovery.## https://www.karmecholing.org/program/heart-of-recovery-weekend2026
1 attendee
Heart of Recovery The Awakened Heart - A Weeklong Retreat
Karme Choling, 369 Patneaude Lane, Barnet, VT, USNote: This retreat begins with a weekend program and extends into a weeklong version with additional teachings and practices. See below.
Grounded in the principles of meditation and select Buddhist teachings, this program provides tools to gain insight into the connection between body, mind, and breath while working with difficult emotions. Participants are invited to explore these practices within a compassionate community, fostering a sense of connection and mutual support.
Guided by the lens of the Shambhala path, the program integrates themes from Eric's book, Recovery Lojong, which bridges recovery with mindfulness and spiritual growth. Together, we’ll explore how the principles of recovery align with meditation and Buddhist fundamentals, empowering participants to cultivate greater clarity, resilience, and joy in their lives.
This program is ideal for those ready to explore the intersection of recovery and spirituality with curiosity and an open heart. The fruition of recovery is a sense of connection and opening of our hearts to help others. Over the course of the weekend we will discuss the journey from self-centered to other-centered as we continue to develop the bravery of living a life free from our addictions.###
Heart of Recovery begins with the weekend program that covers the above fundamentals. The weeklong program continues from there and deepens our practice and understanding of the journey of awakening our hearts. Participants in the weeklong program will be given the opportunity to explore additional ideas from the practice of Lojong.
The practice of lojong is a traditional training system designed to provide an opening of the heart (i.e. spiritual awakening) so that we can be of service to the world around us. These practices can help us traverse the challenges of addiction and recovery.https://www.karmecholing.org/program/heart-of-recovery-weeklong-2026
1 attendee- $299.00
Qigong Levels 1-2 Peaceful Body, Peaceful Mind
Karme Choling, 369 Patneaude Lane, Barnet, VT, USPeaceful Body, Peaceful Mind
When body is relaxed and peaceful, energy will flow. When mind is still, it will embrace qi and strengthen the body. In the Chinese arts of health and longevity, qigong simultaneously cultivates a peaceful body and a peaceful mind. Physical health and mental well-being are closely aligned.
Begin your journey of health and well-being in Qigong 1 by learning six classic qigong techniques that relax the body and two postures of standing qigong that gather internal energy. Continue in Qigong 2 by learning how to guide energy through the body using the Nine Self-Massage. Complete the program by learning Twelve Devas Tendon Changing - the most effective form of qigong used in repairing physical injuries and enhancing muscular-skeletal strength.Xiantianwujimen is a Taoist lineage founded by Chen Xiyi in 10th century China. “Xiantian” means primordial, “wuji” means limitless, and “men” means gate. The translated name of the lineage is Primordial Limitless Gate.
This lineage specializes in using qigong to simultaneously cultivate and transform body and mind. A hermit and household tradition, Xiantianwujimen has been transmitted uninterrupted for over a thousand years. Qigong techniques favored by this lineage include self-massage, tendon-changing, calisthenics, marrow washing, and breath regulation.
Instruction of Xiantianwujimen qigong is offered by Eva Wong, a 19th generation carrier of the lineage, and by instructors authorized by the lineage.For more information on the teachings and programs offered by Xiantianwujimen Taoism please go to limitlessgate.com.
Prerequisites:
There are no requirements. If you wish to get started on improving your physical health and mental well-being, this program is for you.Information and Registration: https://www.karmecholing.org/program/qigong-1-2-spring-2026
1 attendee - $299.00
Qigong: Level 3 The Gourd and Cauldron
Karme Choling, 369 Patneaude Lane, Barnet, VT, USChinese Medicine and Qigong enjoy a long history of relationship, mutually influencing each other in their approach to health and longevity. The Gourd is the symbol of Chinese medicine, and the cauldron is the symbol of the Taoist arts of health and longevity.
Your introduction to the Gourd and the Cauldron begins with Hua Tu Five Animals Qigong, one of the most well-known systems of health practices. Hua Tu was the founder of Chinese medicine, and his animal qigong forms are designed to enhance both physical and energetic health. In this qigong, the tiger trains tendon strength, the bear trains bone strength, the deer focuses on preserving generative energy, the monkey trains agility, and the bird sends energy from the base of the spine to the head.
As you continue to explore the Gourd and the Cauldron, you will enter the world of Immortals’ Guide to Self Massage and Breath Regulation and the Red Phoenix Calisthenics. Here, you will learn how to use techniques of breath regulation to work on specific health needs such as improving knee and hip mobility, introducing flexibility into tendons and ligaments, aligning the spine, stimulating bone marrow growth, and strengthening qi stored in the internal organs.
The highlight of Qigong 3 is an evening practice that is designed to strengthen bones and increase bone marrow density. Minimizing the risk of bone fracture and breakage is an important part of preventative medicine.
Our exploration of the world of the Gourd and the Cauldron ends with learning how to let qi that is circulated soak deep inside the body. After we have moved qi through the body, we rest in the relaxed stillness of four more standing qigong postures, allowing what we have practiced to have long lasting benefits.
Xiantianwujimen is a Taoist lineage founded by Chen Xiyi in 10th century China. “Xiantian” means prmordial, “wuji” means limitless, and “men” means gate. The translated name of the lineage is Primordial Limitless Gate.
This lineage specializes in using qigong to simultaneously cultivate and transform body and mind. A hermit and household tradition, Xiantianwujimen has been transmitted uninterrupted for over a thousand years. Qigong techniques favored by this lineage include self-massage, tendon-changing, calisthenics, marrow washing, and breath regulation.
Instruction of Xiantianwjimen qigong is offered by Eva Wong, a 19th generation carrier of the lineage, and by instructors authorized by the lineage.For more information on the teachings and programs offered by Xiantianwujimen Taoism please go to limitlessgate.com.
Information and Registration: https://www.karmecholing.org/program/qigong-3-spring-2026
1 attendee
Past events
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