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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Free Half-Day Meditation
369 Patneaude Lane, 369 Patneaude Ln, Barnet, VT 05821, USA, Barnet, VT, USMindfulness 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 Retreat1 attendee
Heart Advice: For Questions That Don't Go Away
369 Patneaude Lane, 369 Patneaude Ln, Barnet, VT 05821, USA, Barnet, VT, USA Practical Guide to the Buddhist Path for Modern Life
This fall, we welcome Younge Khachab Rinpoche for a foundational public program — 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦.
Not a new belief system~something that actually meets your life: the stress that won't quiet down, the relationship that needs more patience than you have, the grief you haven't set down yet, the quiet question of what any of it is for.
🕊️ 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 — a free public talk, open to everyone. No experience required, no registration required.
🌿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 — the sutra path, bodhicitta, and an introduction to tonglen.
🌄 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 — a taste of Mahamudra and Dzogchen — the view, the inspiration, and why it matters.
Rinpoche trained across all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and teaches in a way that's fully grounded in modern life while staying faithful to the tradition it comes from.
Whether you're new to meditation or have practiced for years, this weekend meets you where you are.
📍 Karmê Chöling, Barnet, VT
🗓️ This fall — details & registration at:
𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘒𝘩𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘣 𝘙𝘪𝘯𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦2 attendees
Building Insulating Window Inserts for Community
369 Patneaude Lane, 369 Patneaude Ln, Barnet, VT 05821, USA, Barnet, VT, USPLEASE CONSIDER HELPING YOUR NEIGHBORS STAY WARM THIS WINTER
Karme Choling is again delighted to host Window Dressers for the last week of October. Each year the area towns get together to build 300+/- energy- saving interior storm windows that save local homeowners thousands of dollars on what would be wasted money on fossil fuels. Plus these inserts add to their comfort by eliminating drafts. The custom made wooden frames will be cut in Maine and assembled by WD customers and other volunteers like you during the "pop up build" in the Karme Choling Pavilion.
We need a total of 150 4-hour shifts & we can't do it without your help!
Choose which day(s) and sessions you can come to.NO SPECIAL SKILLS OR CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE NEEDED:
It's fun! It's rewarding! Free lunch included! Bring a friend! Make a new friend!
Please sign up for a few shifts today. (You can always move your shift if something comes up)Register at: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/115217349807/false#/invitation
2 attendees
Tai Chi: Seasons of Energy
369 Patneaude Lane, 369 Patneaude Ln, Barnet, VT 05821, USA, Barnet, VT, USAutumn: Cloud Fists & Wind Hands
Just like the earth shifts through the seasons, the energy inside our bodies naturally changes too. 🌷☀️🍁❄️
When we practice Tai Chi in alignment with nature, we learn how to move with these seasonal shifts instead of resisting them. If you are ready to build a deeper relationship with your body mechanics and physical vitality, join us at Karme Choling for an immersive movement experience: Tai Chi: Seasons of Energy.
Led by long-time practitioner and teacher Joseph Pascutazz, who brings more than twenty years of daily practice to his students, this retreat is designed to help you tap into your own energetic awareness.
This program is part of an ongoing seasonal series exploring the five elemental energies and their direct correspondences within both nature and the human body. Through hands-on guidance, you will explore how to anchor your practice through the transitions of the seasons.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁:
• Direct experience with proper body mechanics and gentle alignment
• Practical tools to cultivate, balance, and sustain your body energy
• The living, healing relationship between Tai Chi movements and the natural world
• A peaceful, supportive outdoor platform setting surrounded by the Vermont hillsWhether you want to deepen an existing movement practice or discover the benefits of moving meditation for the very first time, you are welcome here.
📍 Barnet, Vermont
👉Ready to align your movement with the rhythm of the seasons?
🔗Learn more and register at: Tai Chi Autumn Season1 attendee
Past events
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