Start:
May 30, 2026 12:00 PM
Costa Rica UTC-6
End:
June 5, 2026 12:00 PM
Costa Rica UTC-6
Registration Deadline:
May 17, 2026
Dewachen World Peace Sanctuary, nestled in the lush heart of Costa Rica, is a place where nature gently invites us back into harmony. Fresh rivers, ripe fruits, flowers, birdsong, and towering trees naturally soften the body and calm the nervous system. Simply being here reminds us of something essential.
Yet to truly touch the depth and beauty of the world around us, we also need to skillfully calm the mind and reconnect with the deep wellspring of wisdom within.
We are very fortunate to be guided by Drupon Lama Dorje, who comes from an unbroken lineage of meditation masters. For more than 2,500 years, these masters have passed down simple yet profoundly effective instructions—always with the intention of bringing genuine and lasting benefit to our lives.
During this six-day retreat at Dewachen, we will learn The Great Shravasti Meditation—a clear, step-by-step presentation of Shamatha (calm abiding), Vipassana (insight), and Mahamudra.
This method introduces the nature of mind through the mindfulness of the breath, offering a complete and grounded path of meditation practice.
The Great Shravasti Meditation is a special method for introducing the nature of mind, based on the Anapanasati Sutra taught by the Buddha and explained here from a Vajrayana perspective.
Through connecting with the breath, we directly experience:
These are explored through 16 sequential steps, allowing the practice to unfold naturally and experientially.
This particular presentation is taught in a unique way by Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoche, who requested Lama Dorje to begin sharing this practice in Costa Rica.
We will learn how to:
The meditation practice is complemented by Indo-Tibetan yogic breathwork exercises, offered each day to help center the mind and clear the inner channels, supporting both physical ease and meditative stability.
Many people find meditation—and especially silence—intimidating at first. With this in mind, we have designed a balanced and caring retreat container that includes:
This balance allows participants to settle naturally into silence and discover a deep inner connection without force or pressure.
Our lives are often busy and full. We hear teachings, insights, and advice—only to forget them the same day.
Practicing Noble Silence within a supportive container, guided by an experienced Tibetan Lama, allows the mind to truly settle. In this quiet space, wisdom can deepen, mature, and integrate. We learn not just about meditation, but how to meet the ups and downs of life with clarity, kindness, and grace.
Day 1: Teachings + meaningful conversation
Days 2–5: Silence all day + evening written Q&A with Lama
Day 6: Closing ceremony + meaningful conversation
During this retreat, we will enter one of the most sacred moments of the Buddhist year. The full moon of Saga Dawa, which falls on May 31, commemorates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana, all said to have occurred on this auspicious day. It is traditionally regarded as the most potent day for practice, prayer, and dedication for the benefit of all beings.
As we will be holding Noble Silence, Lama will perform a sacred Saga Dawa full moon ceremony on behalf of the retreat, allowing the blessings and meaning of this day to be fully present while honoring the depth of silence and inner turning. In this way, the ceremony becomes something we receive inwardly—through presence, intention, and shared field of practice—rather than through words.
The Dharma reminds us that silence itself can be an offering. On this full moon night, held by practice, ceremony, and collective intention, we allow merit, compassion, and clarity to naturally arise and be dedicated outward to the world.
Yes. This retreat is open to practitioners of all levels.
If you are a long-term practitioner, you will appreciate the profound depth and subtle nuances of how this sutra presents Mahamudra practice.
To support inner stillness and presence, we will disconnect from cell phones and electronic devices for the duration of the retreat.
Dharma books and journaling are warmly welcome.
The daily rhythm includes:
🪑 Chairs can be provided for those with physical discomfort or injuries.
May this time at Dewachen be a gentle turning inward—supported by nature, silence, and the timeless wisdom of the Dharma.
This option offers a spacious tent with a divider, providing individual spaces for two participants. The tent is set within the peaceful grounds of Dewachen with a spectacular view, and both chambers inside the tent have an individual bed and bedding provided. It is a simple and grounded way to stay close to nature and the rhythms of the land during the retreat.
-Shared tent (2 participants with divider in between)
-Set on a grassy terrace overlooking the mountains
-Shared outside bathroom facilities- with discrete outdoor shower and dry toilets
-Bed, bedding, and towel provided
This price is for one person and includes accommodation, full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials.
A cozy upstairs room in the forest lodge with a bunk bed. Enjoy an outdoor terrace overlooking nature, and bunk with a friend or new guest. Access to a shared bathroom with hot showers downstairs. If you wish to share the room with a specific person, please indicate this in the registration form.
-One bed (top or bottom)
-Room shared by 1 other individual of the same gender in the other bunk
-Room is located upstairs in a Large shared house with kitchen
-Shared bathroom with hot water (shared with up to 5 participants total)
-Wide forest and jungle views
This price is for one person and includes accommodation, full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials.
This option is a spacious loft located on the main floor of the Forest Lodge, surrounded by lush gardens and wide, open forest views. The room offers a sense of privacy and spaciousness, with an individual bed located in a mezzanine loft, accessed by a ladder. The loft room is shared with 2 other participants in a queen bed below the loft. This option is suitable for participants who are comfortable climbing and would like their own personal sleeping space.Large bedroom with kitchenette and living area
-One individual bed in a mezzanine loft (accessed by a ladder)
-Located one the main floor of the Forest Lodge
-Inside a shared house with community kitchen
-Shared bathroom on same floor (shared with up to 5 participants total)
-Wide forest and jungle views
This price is for one person and includes accommodation, full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials.
This option offers an individual private room located within a charming rustic lodge, surrounded by peaceful gardens and forest. The room provides a quiet, cozy space and a close connection to nature, ideal for participants who value privacy while remaining part of a shared lodge environment.
-Individual private room
-Located in a charming rustic lodge
-Shared bathroom facilities with hot water (downstairs)
-Peaceful garden and forest surroundings
This price is for one person and includes accommodation, full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials.
This option offers an individual bed on a covered open-aired terrace extending from the lodge. The terrace is a wooden and spacious deck, covered by an extensive high ceiling roof (no walls). Individual beds are thoughtfully arranged with cute netting around the bed and accordion-style dividers to provide privacy and comfort, while allowing participants to experience sleeping close to nature.
-Individual bed on a covered open-air terrace
-Mosquito net and accordion dividers for privacy
-Located in a charming rustic lodge
-Shared bathroom facilities with hot water (downstairs)
-Peaceful garden and forest surroundings
This price is for one person and includes accommodation, full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials.
This option offers two individual beds in a shared cabin with private bathroom, creating a simple and supportive retreat environment. If you wish to share the cabin with a specific person, please indicate this in the registration form.
-Individual bed
-Shared cabin with one other participant of the same gender
-Private bathroom with hot water
-Wide forest and mountain views
This price is for one person and includes accommodation, full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials.
This option is a spacious room located on the main floor of the Forest Lodge with a cozy bed nook, kitchenette, and living area, with a loft above where one other individual will sleep. It is surrounded by lush gardens and wide, open forest views. This option includes a queen bed on the main level, offering a comfortable and cozy space for a couple or two friends who wish to share.
-Large bedroom with cozy bed nook, kitchenette, and living area
-Queen bed on main level (shared by two people)
-One person will sleep above this area on the loft in same room
-Located in the Forest Lodge
-Inside a share house with community kitchen
-Shared bathroom on the same floor (shared with up to 5 participants total)
-Wide forest and Mountain views
This price is for two people and includes shared accommodation, full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials for both participants.
A private forest cabin offering a queen bed and private bathroom, ideal for couples attending the retreat together. Wake up to vast views and enjoy the simple silence of nature with your loved one or a dear friend.
1 Queen bed
Private cabin
Private bathroom with hot water
Wide forest and mountain views
This price is for two people and includes shared accommodation, full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials for both participants.
This option is for participants who live nearby and will be commuting daily to Dewachen rather than staying on-site. Commuter participants are fully included in the retreat experience and are warmly welcomed into the daily rhythm of practice and community. Commuter participants are asked to arrive on time each day and to plan their transportation independently. This option includes:
-Full retreat tuition
-All daily meals, prepared on-site with fresh, organic ingredients
-Access to and use of the Dewachen land and practice spaces throughout the retreat
-All retreat materials and scheduled activities
This price is for one person and includes full retreat tuition, all meals, and retreat materials.
Dewachen World Peace Sanctuary is a living and evolving sanctuary, gently being built as the home and land of the Lama Dorje Foundation. Set on a vast mountainside that unfolds like a green carpet, Dewachen is a place where the natural world quietly supports inner stillness and contemplation.
Here, birdsong accompanies the day, mist moves slowly through the forest, and wildflowers and native trees emerge naturally from the land. The air is fresh and spacious, inviting deep breaths and a sense of clarity. Rather than dramatic distractions, the environment offers simplicity, openness, and a steady rhythm that supports meditation and silence.
Dewachen is also held by a community rooted in trust, kindness, and service. Those who steward the land and support the retreats do so with care and humility, creating a container where participants can feel safe, supported, and gently guided back to the beauty and wisdom within themselves.
Located at approximately 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) above sea level, Dewachen enjoys cool, restful nights and warm, pleasant days. This balanced mountain climate naturally supports both physical comfort and sustained meditation practice, making it an ideal environment for retreat and inner renewal.
Dewachen is not yet a finished place—it is a place in the making, growing step by step alongside the sangha and the aspirations of peace, wisdom, and compassion it is meant to serve.
