Find Authentic Retreats in Cragsmoor New York

"From the moment I arrived I was impressed with how peaceful and immaculate the entire facility is. The rooms had exactly what I needed with a comfortable bed and pillows, meditation table and cushions, and a desk. Towels were provided as well. Vegetarian meals were delicious. I was able to immerse myself in the silent meditation retreat and focus on deepening my practice. This is a perfect place for me and I’m already planning my next retreat. "

"Dharmakaya Center is a beautiful & peaceful spot. Highly recommend! The center is immaculate and well maintained. Great staff and facilities. "

"If you are looking for a place to unwind and grow spiritually while eating the best food this place is for you. Brand-new beautiful facility, super friendly stuff and relaxing atmosphere - I don’t know the better way to spend a weekend. I enjoyed my stay and I’m coming back!"

"I was in a wonderful art work shop and it was amazing. Accommodations where beautiful. Food was delicious and fantastic. Beautiful grounds lovely walking experience. . The staff was delightful."

"I felt at ease and at home, right from the start. The program teacher was phenomenal, the retreat center director capable and down-to-earth, and the staff was truly kind and accessible. I can't wait to come back. I wanted to give Dharmakaya a good review, though I also like that it's a small and intimate setting. -- Lucia D"

"My wife bought me a weekend retreat to Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing for my 50th birthday. I attended this past weekend and I have to say, this was the most amazing and timely gift I could have ever received. It came at a time when my life’s purpose is top of mind and my anxieties have been at an all-time high. I have been a casual student of Buddhist teachings for going on 10 years but had never fully integrated them into my daily life or achieved the feeling of balance I’d hoped for. Together with what I’ve experienced this weekend I now have that sensation that things are starting to “click”. Knowing my history, I can’t say I’m confident I’ll be successful making regular mediation, mindfulness, and compassion my default but I’m super hopeful. I'm going on Day 6 now of regular salutations and meditation. I HIGHLY recommend this center and its teachers."

"awesome, relaxing, peacefull... The rooms and the food are really great. I'll be back for sure. Again thank you"

"Quiet, immaculate, and beautifully kept spaces inside and outside, exceptional food, kind people… Dharmakaya Center is an oasis of peace in these very troubling times. My mind is at ease after just a short personal retreat. I am so grateful to this place for finding a way to open safely with care and grace during Covid."

"The past too many months of COVID have been difficult for the entire world. Most have dealt with death, sorrow, loss and suffering in its many forms. I realized I needed a place find some quiet..some peace. The Dharmakaya Center itself is pretty new and has been meticulously maintained and obviously put together with love and care. The rooms, dining hall, the meditation hall, every space that I went into in fact, was super clean with sanitizer and Lysol wipes readily available. Everything was spaced so there was at least 6 ft between all participants, usually more. All meals were provided and the food was absolutely amazing, and daring in fact. Thank you Mamadou! (vegetarian/vegan). The meals were served in disposable eco-friendly containers so there would be less chance of COVID contamination. The weekend program was led by Gary. He showed the group several different ways to meditate with emphasis on being able to take these techniques home and incorporate them into our daily lives. I felt he was very sincere in his desire to convey what knowledge he had. He also took time to make sure to email us the meditations, the spoken words and dedications after the weekend was over. Dharmakaya seemed a little on the pricier side but it's comparable to other places in the area. To put it in perspective, I use one of the techniques that Gary taught that weekend, every single day to get by. That alone is enough to have made that weekend worthwhile for me. I cannot speak for other places but I can vouch for the cleanliness, the overall peaceful and comfortable feeling that this place vibes on. If you're looking for a place to go to give yourself some time and space, surround yourself with beauty both man-made and in nature, feed your soul and your body what it needs, and be sincerely taken care of by kind people, then I recommend you take a day or a weekend here and check it out. 🙏"

"It was my first time experience to visit and stay at The Dharmakaya Center. Also my first Buddhist retreat and intro to Buddhism. I have read up on Buddhism throughout my life, tidbits here and there. But practicing it and learning to use meditation to focus on my daily life was simply groundbreaking for me. Diving into our response cycle, understanding the five poisonous emotions, and so much more... was overwhelming but it sent me home with “homework” to do on myself. The teachings of how to apply it to daily life was absolutely amazing ❤️🙏🏻Thank You! To say the least, it was a very calming and educational weekend. I left feeling centered, at peace and prepared to tackle stress and everything else that tugs at you!"

"I needed the reminder of the importance of a retreat. Coming back to the center seemed to carry no weight when surrounded by silence and sky as much as one can see in the distance. The atmosphere is permeated by deep practice and reverence for life. Everything about Dharmakaya is wholesome; a true gem."

"Had a lovely time at the center. It's near NYC and Sam's Point / Minnewaska. Everything was clean and I never felt worried about Covid."