About Vajrapani Institute

Mission & Vision

We help to transform hearts and minds to achieve their highest potential for the benefit of all through contemplative retreat!

As a spiritual community serving the needs of retreaters in all traditions, we are nurtured by the energy of our Tibetan Buddhist founder Lama Thubten Yeshe and our spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche, by our teachers and holy objects, and by the stillness of the California redwood forest. 

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Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Located off the grid in a remote forest location within the Santa Cruz Mountains our contemplative retreat center offers private retreat cabins and group meditation retreats . Everyone comments about how quiet and peaceful it is once they arrive and how the mind naturally settles. We have a beautiful Meeting/Meditation Hall that’s been blessed by 30 years of spiritual practice. Beautiful walking trails around the land and a longer hike with views of the Monterey Bay. We are also blessed with a number of stupas on the land. The main one is situated within close proximity to the main building. The others are up on Lama’s Ridge where the private cabins are located. Stupas are symbolic of the unlimited mind of all enlightened beings. Shakyamuni Buddha taught that performing spiritual practices at a stupa would have the same effect as making offerings to the Buddha himself. Read More

Meals

Menu Types

Vajrapani Institute is renowned for the deliciousness of its vegetarian cooking. Our meals are fully vegetarian and nutritionally balanced to offer you a supportive retreat experience. We can accommodate gluten, dairy, and soy allergies, as well as those on a vegan diet. We also have hot tea, pour-over coffee, and fresh fruit available at all times. Breakfast: Includes hot porridge, stewed fruit, granola, yogurt, boiled eggs, and toast. Lunch: The largest meal of the day, includes a grain, vegetable dishes, vegetarian protein, and salad. Dinner: A lite meal with soup, salad, cheese, hummus, bread, and gluten-free crackers. Read More

Getting Here

Location icon Vajrapani Institute, 19950 Kings Creek Road, Boulder Creek, CA, USA

Directions

Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Boulder Creek, CA at the end of a five-mile dirt road on the border of Castle Rock State Park. While secluded, we are relatively close to the San Jose and San Francisco airports. About an hour to an hour and a half drive respectively. If you are using a navigation system in your car or on your phone we recommend inputting the address of one of our local businesses, The Mountain Store at 125 Pool Drive in Boulder Creek CA 95006. Once your navigation system takes you there, you will drive less than a quarter of a mile on Pool Drive, turn left on Kings Creek Road, and follow Kings Creek Road for 5 miles. You should see occasional signs that let you know the distance left to travel and some prayer flags hanging over the road to let you know you are on the right path! Read More

Customer Reviews

4.91 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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A Serene Retreat
I had a serene, peaceful and restful retreat for two weeks at Vajrapani‘s comfortable Retreat cabin that sits on a ridge
Everything is taken care of, so there is no need to be concerned about daily worldly needs
The setting is exquisite with oak and redwood trees and spacious views , places to sit outside as well as on one’s own special outdoor deck

If there are any needs, it is easy to leave a note for the staff, and they respond as quickly as possible, so I feel supported secure and safe

All of this provides an ideal condition for being able to meditate, reflect, journal and just be

The daily meals that are delivered at noon are healthy vegetarian, delicious, and bountiful

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5.0
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Your Personal Reset Button
This was my fifth or sixth visit to this wonderous location. I was first told about it by a Buddhist friend who is one of the founders. The reality of Vajrapani is impossible to put into words. The tranquility, the opportunity to be suffuses with nature, the spectacular meals, the comfortable cabins, the delightful bath house, the trails, the exceptional staff, the grounds...and best of all, no one you have to talk to.

You can do the whole thing in absolute silence if you want. No one will bother you or think you're weird. You can sit on your private porch and read a book; meditate down on the yoga platform and watch the deer frolic; meditate on the provided yoga cushions in your cabin; hike down to the stream and be lulled into a nap by the music of the water. The cabins are spaced far enough apart that no one can hear you and you can't hear them. The Buddhists all seem to walk mindfully, slowly, so you can barely hear the rare person who passes by your cabin on their way to the bathhouse. This place is the embodiment of peace.

I went there this time to make some major life decisions after the death of a dear relative, and I left restored, hopeful, and calm. Although they can only accommodate six "retreatants" at a time, it is an absolutely ideal experience, especially for when you need to/want to be alone in silence.



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5.0
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Pujas
Vajrapani's Pujas are sweet, kind, peaceful, and powerfully healing. They reflect the heart of Buddha's teachings and offer a great benefit to all that participate and all sentient beings. Joyous and committed group that care about the Buddhist practices and want to commune together to genuinely and harmoniously support each other in benefiting all. Read More

5.0
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Retreat
I had a wonderful 4 night retreat. I would have liked to stay longer. My cabin was very comfortable and conducive to meditation and study. The staff were kinda and helpful. The food was nourishing, delicious . I enjoyed the beautiful hikes and views from the property. I plan to return for a longer retreat. Read More

5.0
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A deeply nourishing stay

My time at Vajrapani was truly special. The land itself feels sacred—peaceful, cradling, and incredibly supportive of deep self-reflection. From the moment I arrived, I felt held by the environment. The trees, the air, the stillness—every part of the landscape invites you to slow down, breathe deeper, and reconnect with yourself.

One of the most soothing aspects of the stay was the food. Not only was every meal delicious and thoughtfully prepared, but having it delivered allowed me to stay immersed in the retreat experience without disruption. It was such a loving touch.

This is a place for healing, grounding, and coming home to yourself. I left feeling nourished, inside and out Read More

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