ACCOMPLISHMENT: Unveil Your Awakened Nature
191 Cragsmoor Road, Cragsmoor, New York 12566
September 4 - 9, 2026
Retreat Highlights
- Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
- Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
- Shamatha and guided meditations
- Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
- Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
- Extensive library of dharma books
- Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful paths, flora and fauna
About this Retreat
H.E. Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of the Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing. Known as a scholar, teacher and meditation master to thousands of students around the world, Rinpoche is also the first incarnate lama to earn a PhD in the West. He completed his doctoral studies in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism at Harvard University in 2004.
He is the head of the Trungram lineage, its monasteries, meditation centers, schools, dharma centers and groups around the world. One of the highest tulkus of the Kagyu lineage, he is a Rime master, having received teachings from the great masters of all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Rinpoche offers students a unique blend of Eastern wisdom and Western understanding. A scholar of Sanskrit and Tibetan, Rinpoche roots his teachings in the Skills of Awareness—a path combining profound meditation techniques with essential points of Dharma study.
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Details of this retreat
Discovering the Dharma III
A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT
Throughout the Discovering the Dharma cycle, H.E. Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche sets the foundation for Buddhist study. In this year's program, he outlines the entire Tibetan Buddhist path using teachings from Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation. He discusses the mind of ignorance and insight, the path of practice and the teacher-student connection, all over five days of engaged learning and guided practice. Each session includes a robust period of Q&A, as well as a specially designed Tsa-Tue yoga practice and guided meditation. Each day also includes walking meditation, small group discussions, and time for personal practice. You will have full access to the recordings after the program.
ONLINE OPTION: To make the teachings more broadly available, Rinpoche is also offering this program via live-stream. Register here. Please note that you must attend Discovering the Dharma I, II, and III in person to qualify for Discovering the Dharma IV.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Mind of Ignorance and Insight: Empower Yourself by Knowing Yourself
Understand how the path to freedom from fear and frustration opens you to the possibility of enlightenment. Empower yourself with practical skills to deal with and to eradicate disturbing emotions.
The Path: Follow an Accelerated, Systematic Process to Achieve Enlightenment
Receive an outline of the entire Tibetan Buddhist path to awakening. Study Buddha’s life story and discover the step-by-step path to enlightenment according to Gampopa’s Thargyan, as described in his seminal text, Ornament of the Precious Liberation.
The Spiritual Teacher: Learn the Importance of Finding the Right Teacher
Understand the need for an authentic teacher on the spiritual path, the qualities of teacher and student, and how to relate to a teacher for your greatest benefit.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Intimate setting with personal access to Rinpoche
Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
Optional Refuge ceremony
Shamatha and guided meditations
Tsa-Tue yoga practice
Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
Extensive library of dharma books
Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful walking paths, flora and fauna
OPEN TO ALL
There are no prerequisites for this program; it is appropriate for meditators at all levels and those simply interested in exploring the teachings. Although it is part of the Discovering the Dharma series, the first three programs may be taken in any order.
SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
Friday, September 4
3:00 pm
Check in begins (Reception Hall)
6:00 pm
Dinner (Dining Room)
7:30 pm
Welcome (Milarepa Hall)
7:45 pm
Rinpoche: Introduction to Meditation (Milarepa Hall)
10:00 pm
Lights out
Saturday, September 5-Tuesday, September 8
6:00 am
Wake up and prepare
6:30 am
Walking Meditation (Courtyard)
7:00 am
Breakfast (Dining Hall)
8:00 am
Rinpoche Teaching and Q & A (Milarepa Hall)
10:00 am
Yoga (Milarepa Hall)
10:30 am
Guided Meditation (Milarepa Hall)
11:15 am
Group Discussion
12:00 pm
Lunch (Dining Hall)
1:00 pm
Free time
2:00 pm
Contemplative Woods Walk
3:00 pm
Personal Meditation (Milarepa Hall or Pavilion)
4:00 pm
Walking Meditation (Courtyard)
6:00 pm
Dinner (Dining Room)
7:00 pm
Rinpoche Teaching and Q & A (Milarepa Hall)
9:00 pm
Yoga (Milarepa Hall)
9:30 pm
Guided Meditation (Milarepa Hall)
10:00 pm
Lights out
Wednesday, September 9
6:00 am
Wake up and prepare
6:30 am
Walking Meditation (Courtyard)
7:00 am
Breakfast (Dining Hall)
8:00 am
Rinpoche Teaching and Q & A (Milarepa Hall)
10:00 am
Refuge, Gratitude Mandala Offering (Milarepa Hall)
12:00 pm
Lunch (Dining Hall)
1:00 pm
Checkout (Reception Hall)
Schedule
6:30-7:00 AM: Walking Meditation
7:00-8:00 AM Breakfast
8:00-10:00 AM: Rinpoche Teaching and Q&A
10:00-10:30 AM: Yoga
10:30-11:00 AM: Guided Meditation
11:15- AM-12:00 PM: Small Group Discussion
12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00-3:00 PM: Free time/personal meditation
3:00-4:00 PM: Walking Meditation
4:00-6:00 PM: Free time/personal meditation
6:00-7:00 PM: Dinner
7:00-9:00 PM: Rinpoche Teaching and Q&A
9:00-9:30 PM: Yoga
9:30-10:00 PM: Guided Meditation
10:00 PM Lights Out
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Directions
CAR. You will find a link for driving directions on our website. The parking lot is immediately to your left when you enter the Center grounds. You may drive up and drop your luggage at the Welcome Center, but may not leave your car unattended there; someone will be happy to shuttle you back down to the parking lot.
TRAIN. From Newark, La Guardia and Penn Station, you can take the Metro North train into Middletown, New York, approximately a 30-minute drive from the Center. For teachings, retreats and other special events, we will provide van service at set times. Otherwise, please take a taxi from the train station to the Center.
BUS. From New York City, you can take the Shortline Bus into Ellenville, New York, approximately a 15-minute drive from the Center. For teachings, retreats and other special events, we will provide van service at set times. Otherwise, please take a taxi from the train station to the Center.
PLANE. Newark, La Guardia and Stewart Airports all offer convenient services. From Newark or LaGuardia you can complete your trip by train; from Stewart you may rent a car or take a taxi service.
Accommodation
Our two residence halls offer a simple, peaceful environment that supports your retreat experience, with rooms for those on both personal and solitary retreats. Each room has a meditation cushion and zabuton. Rates include breakfast, lunch and dinner with the resident community, as well as towels and housekeeping. All guests are welcome, but not required, to join the daily meditation and other activities (although separate tickets are required for all ticketed events).
• Our junior suites have a double bed, private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice.
• Our private rooms have a double bed and room for private meditation, with a shared bath.
Rooms may be shared by those in a committed relationship.
Commuter
Our Commuter Fee covers the costs of all meals during your retreat and the use of all our facilities.
Private Room: Single
This comfortable room has a double bed and ample room for meditation. It is outfitted with a desk and small table suitable for a meditation object; it shares a bath with one or two other rooms. All rooms are furnished with linens, pillows, blankets, coverlets, and towels, as well as a meditation cushion and zabuton. The room rate includes three delicious vegetarian meals each day; in addition, there is a tea station on every hall.
Private Room: Couple
This registration fee is for two people. This comfortable room has one double bed, and may be shared by couples in a committed relationship. With ample room for meditation, it features a desk and small table suitable for a meditation object. All rooms are furnished with linens, pillows, blankets, coverlets, and towels, as well as a meditation cushion and zabuton. The room shares a bath with one or two other rooms. Room rates include three delicious vegetarian meals each day (6 total meals for a couple room); there is also a tea station on each hall.
Junior Suite: Single
These large rooms have one double bed, a private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. Each room has a small table suitable for a meditation object and a meditation cushion and zabaton, as well as a desk and an armoire. Room rates include three delicious vegetarian meals each day; there is also an in-room tea station.
Junior Suite: Couple
This reservation fee is for two people and includes three delicious vegetarian meals each day (6 total for a couple). This large room has one double bed, which may be shared by couples in a committed relationship. In addition, it has a private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. Each room has a small table suitable for a meditation object and a meditation cushion and zabaton, as well as a desk and an armoire.
Meals
Menu Types
Ancient wisdom describes food as a source of prana, or life force. The Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing was founded on the premise that nourishing food is integral to wellbeing. Our chefs are passionate about creating meals that are both flavorful and healthy. We use the freshest, most nutritious, least processed foods available; when possible our ingredients are organic and locally sourced.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your accommodation fee. To promote good health, we serve delicious, varied, nutritious vegetarian food, with options at every meal. All our meals are served on a buffet, with ingredients listed next to each dish, enabling guests to avoid dairy, as well as glutens, nuts and other allergens.
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