5.0
Verified
Beautiful setting
Much less rustic than I expected, great food, beautiful surroundings!
Becoming Peacemakers: A Tibetan Sacred Arts Retreat
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Top Rated
Becoming Peacemakers: A Tibetan Sacred Arts Retreat
4.8582 reviews
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
December 2 - 6, 2026
About this Retreat
Venerable Geshe Tashi Lama joined Sera Jey Monastery in India in 1995 to pursue the rigorous course of study leading to the Geshe degree. He completed advanced study of the Five Major Treatises - Valid Cognition, Perfection of Wisdom, Madhyamika, Monastic Discipline, and Phenomenology - and was selected on merit for the Geshe program. In 2019, he received an MPhil degree in Buddhist Philosophy.
He then completed a full year of tantric study and practice at Gyuto Tantric Monastery in Dharamshala, specializing in mandala construction and ritual, followed by six months of internal tantric practice at Sera Jey in 2021. He has extensive experience in monastic administration and project implementation. In 2022, he was elected to the monastic assembly, where core policy decisions are made, and he has represented the monastery and Lawa Khangtsen on tours to Buddhist communities in Vietnam, Taiwan, Laos, and elsewhere. He has also offered public lectures and teachings on the Buddhadharma. In 2024, the Lawa Khangtsen assembly elected him to lead the Khangtsen for a three-year term focused on its welfare and development.
Venerable Geshe Lharampa Lobsang Tsultrim joined Sera Jey Monastery in 1996 and undertook many years of rigorous training in Buddhist philosophy and dialectics. In 2019, he completed the full Geshe curriculum and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest academic degree in the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His studies encompassed the Five Major Treatises: Valid Cognition, Perfection of Wisdom, Madhyamika, Monastic Discipline, and Phenomenology.
Following his philosophical studies, he completed tantric training at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, where he received specialized instruction in mandala construction and ritual practice. He has extensive experience teaching Buddhist philosophy and practice to younger monks and lay communities. Since 2022, he has served as a member of the teaching and examination faculty at Sera Jey Monastery, helping educate and train the next generation of monastic scholars.
Venerable Geshe Jampa Dhonden joined Sera Jey Lawa Khangtsen in 1998 for his monastic education. Over the next twenty-one years, he completed foundational and advanced training in Buddhist philosophy and dialectics as a fully ordained monk. In 2019, he was selected for the Geshe Lharampa degree program, and in 2025 he completed examinations in Pramana, Vinaya, Abhidharma, and all levels of Madhyamika, earning the Geshe Lharampa degree.
He subsequently undertook a year of tantric study at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, specializing in mandala construction and ritual ceremony. Since the beginning of 2026, he has served as a resident Geshe and teacher for Sera Jey in Gangtok.
Among his academic distinctions, he ranked first among Sera Jey candidates in his class in 2002 and again in 2004 during Madhyamika studies. He has also participated in numerous national and international seminars.
Venerable Geshe Lharampa Yeshe Gyaltso entered Sera Jey Monastery in 1999 and undertook the full course of philosophical and scholastic training in Buddhist studies. In 2023, he completed the Geshe curriculum and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest academic degree in Buddhist philosophy in the Gelug tradition. His studies included Valid Cognition, Perfection of Wisdom, Madhyamika, Monastic Discipline, and Phenomenology.
In addition to his traditional monastic education, he pursued specialized studies in Buddhist science and Buddhist psychology through Emory University. He also completed tantric studies with specialized training in mandala construction and ritual practice. These combined qualifications have enabled him to participate in national and international events, ceremonies, and public programs across a wide range of Buddhist and educational settings.
Venerable Geshe Lharampa Lobsang Donyoe enrolled at Sera Jey Monastery in 1999 and devoted many years to the rigorous study of Buddhist philosophy and dialectics. In 2023, he completed the Geshe curriculum and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree. His academic training included the Five Major Treatises: Valid Cognition, Perfection of Wisdom, Madhyamika, Monastic Discipline, and Phenomenology.
After completing his philosophical studies, he undertook a year of tantric training at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, specializing in mandala construction and ritual practice. He also carries important responsibilities in monastic education and is currently entrusted with overseeing the studies of monastic students, supporting their academic progress and formation. His work reflects both scholarly accomplishment and devoted service to the monastic community.
Venerable Geshe Tsering Dhondup received his initial ordination and early language education at a village monastery before making the difficult journey into exile in 1998. In 1999, he joined Sera Jey Monastery in India to continue his monastic studies. He completed the Geshe curriculum in Valid Cognition, Perfection of Wisdom, Madhyamika, Monastic Discipline, and Phenomenology, and in 2022 he was awarded an MPhil degree in Buddhist Philosophy.
In 2024, he completed tantric studies and training at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, specializing in mandala construction and ritual practice. Alongside his academic work, he has held a variety of administrative responsibilities within the monastic community, including serving Khen Rinpoche for one year. He brings broad experience in monastery service and religious training and is continuing his spiritual and ritual formation through an intensive period of monastic tantric practice at Sera Jey.
Details of this retreat
Cultivating Inner Peace Through Meditation, Sacred Art, Dialogue, and Compassion
The Mandala Path: A Journey to Peace with the Monks of Sera Jey
Join six Tibetan Buddhist monks from Sera Jey Monastery in India for an unforgettable five-day journey into the heart of peace. At the center of this immersive experience is the creation of a sacred sand mandala, a living map of the awakened mind made visible, where participants meet the energy and image of peace and compassion firsthand. The mandala traces the journey itself: encountering the Five Buddha Families and, through them, joining the wider family of peacemakers.
The Steps of Liberation are the skills and tests learned along the way. Through chanting, silent meditation, traditional dance, peace circles, and dialogue, participants will explore how inner transformation becomes compassionate action grounded in the Five Buddha Families, the Twelve Steps of Liberation, the Four Noble Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path. A special screening of Mission: Joy offers a moving reflection on the friendship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
On the final day, before the mandala's dissolution, an empowerment ceremony based on the mandala's central Buddha image will be offered. The ceremony blesses everyone present and empowers them to carry the message of peace forward. As the completed mandala is ceremonially dissolved and released, guests carry its reminder that peace cultivated withi naturally moves from our hearts into family, community, and the wider world.
Schedule:
Wednesday, December 2
3 - 5:30 pm Guest Arrival, Registration & Room Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Opening Ceremony: Becoming Peacemakers
Welcome, introduction of the monks, sacred chanting, retreat orientation, and guided meditation for peace
Thursday, December 3
7 - 8 am Morning Meditation & Sacred Chanting
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 am Opening Prayers & Consecration of the Mandala Space
10:30 am - 12 pm Beginning the Sacred Sand Mandala
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3 pm Rest, Spa Time, Nature Walks, or Personal Reflection
3 - 5:30 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Inner Peace as the Foundation for World Peace
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Guided Meditation & Peace Circle: What Does It Mean to Be a Peacemaker?
Friday, December 4
7 - 8 am Morning Meditation, Mantra & Sacred Chanting
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Compassion and Interdependence
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3 pm Optional Film Screening: Mission: Joy
Finding Happiness in Troubled Times (dir. Peggy Callahan & Louie Psihoyos) offered alongside rest, spa time, and nature walks for those who do not wish to attend
3 - 5:30 pm Mandala Creation, Small-Group Dialogue & Deep Listening Practice
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Reconciliation and the Courage to Listen: Teaching, guided contemplation, questions, and community dialogue
Saturday, December 5
7 - 8 am Morning Meditation & Prayers for Healing
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Transforming Difficulty into the Path
12:30–1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3 pm Rest, Spa Time, Nature Walks, or Personal Reflection
3 - 4:30 pm Completion of the Sacred Sand Mandala
4:30–5:30 pm Sacred Dance, Ritual Music & Contemplative Movement
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Becoming a Peacemaker: Closing teaching, dedication, candlelight meditation, and prayers for world peace
Sunday, December 6
7 - 8 am Final Morning Meditation & Sacred Chanting
8 - 9 am Breakfast & Guest Room Check-out
9:30 - 10:15 am Final Teaching: Carrying the Retreat into Daily Life
10:15 - 11 am Mandala Viewing, Blessing & Closing Prayers
11 am - 12 pm Ceremonial Dissolution of the Sand Mandala
12 - 12:30 pm Peace Procession & Offering of the Sand
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note this schedule is subject to change.
The Mandala Path: A Journey to Peace with the Monks of Sera Jey
Join six Tibetan Buddhist monks from Sera Jey Monastery in India for an unforgettable five-day journey into the heart of peace. At the center of this immersive experience is the creation of a sacred sand mandala, a living map of the awakened mind made visible, where participants meet the energy and image of peace and compassion firsthand. The mandala traces the journey itself: encountering the Five Buddha Families and, through them, joining the wider family of peacemakers.
The Steps of Liberation are the skills and tests learned along the way. Through chanting, silent meditation, traditional dance, peace circles, and dialogue, participants will explore how inner transformation becomes compassionate action grounded in the Five Buddha Families, the Twelve Steps of Liberation, the Four Noble Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path. A special screening of Mission: Joy offers a moving reflection on the friendship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
On the final day, before the mandala's dissolution, an empowerment ceremony based on the mandala's central Buddha image will be offered. The ceremony blesses everyone present and empowers them to carry the message of peace forward. As the completed mandala is ceremonially dissolved and released, guests carry its reminder that peace cultivated withi naturally moves from our hearts into family, community, and the wider world.
Schedule:
Wednesday, December 2
3 - 5:30 pm Guest Arrival, Registration & Room Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Opening Ceremony: Becoming Peacemakers
Welcome, introduction of the monks, sacred chanting, retreat orientation, and guided meditation for peace
Thursday, December 3
7 - 8 am Morning Meditation & Sacred Chanting
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 am Opening Prayers & Consecration of the Mandala Space
10:30 am - 12 pm Beginning the Sacred Sand Mandala
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3 pm Rest, Spa Time, Nature Walks, or Personal Reflection
3 - 5:30 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Inner Peace as the Foundation for World Peace
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Guided Meditation & Peace Circle: What Does It Mean to Be a Peacemaker?
Friday, December 4
7 - 8 am Morning Meditation, Mantra & Sacred Chanting
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Compassion and Interdependence
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3 pm Optional Film Screening: Mission: Joy
Finding Happiness in Troubled Times (dir. Peggy Callahan & Louie Psihoyos) offered alongside rest, spa time, and nature walks for those who do not wish to attend
3 - 5:30 pm Mandala Creation, Small-Group Dialogue & Deep Listening Practice
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Reconciliation and the Courage to Listen: Teaching, guided contemplation, questions, and community dialogue
Saturday, December 5
7 - 8 am Morning Meditation & Prayers for Healing
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Transforming Difficulty into the Path
12:30–1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3 pm Rest, Spa Time, Nature Walks, or Personal Reflection
3 - 4:30 pm Completion of the Sacred Sand Mandala
4:30–5:30 pm Sacred Dance, Ritual Music & Contemplative Movement
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Becoming a Peacemaker: Closing teaching, dedication, candlelight meditation, and prayers for world peace
Sunday, December 6
7 - 8 am Final Morning Meditation & Sacred Chanting
8 - 9 am Breakfast & Guest Room Check-out
9:30 - 10:15 am Final Teaching: Carrying the Retreat into Daily Life
10:15 - 11 am Mandala Viewing, Blessing & Closing Prayers
11 am - 12 pm Ceremonial Dissolution of the Sand Mandala
12 - 12:30 pm Peace Procession & Offering of the Sand
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note this schedule is subject to change.
Getting Here
Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
Accommodation
Deluxe Queen
Deluxe Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers.
Deluxe Queen Rooms are Available in Lhasa Inn and Kathmandu House
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
Standard Double Full - Shared bath (Shared Room)
Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Beds and Shared Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations.
Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.
Standard Double Twin - Shared bath (Shared Room)
Deluxe Double Room with Two Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations.
Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.
Economy Premium Single - Shared Bath
Standard Premium Single Room with a Queen or Full Bed and Shared Bathroom
Up to 10 guests share two large bathrooms. Each bathroom has two shower stalls and two toilets.
A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room
Phone Access Available in Upper Level Of Conference Center. All calls are free of charge
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
Economy Single - Shared Bath
Standard Single Room with a Twin Bed and Shared Bathroom
Bathroom is Shared with One to Six Other Guests on Your Floor.
A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)
Standard Double with Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
The bathroom is Shared with other rooms on the same floor.
High-speed Wi-Fi is available in the room.
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
* Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed)
* This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others
Economy Quad - Shared Bath (Shared Room)
Standard Quad Room with Quad Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals.
High speed Wi-Fi is available in the room.
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
* Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed)
* This booking is for one bed in a quad shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others.
Customer Reviews
Verified
5.0
Verified
Our Destiny Lies in Our Origins Retreat
The staff was very kind. The food was delicious. My room and bed were very clean. The grounds are lovely to walk. I wished I would have booked an extra day to enjoy the walking paths, indoor and outdoor meditation areas, and book a massage.
5.0
Verified
Exquisite
While I can't speak to the accommodations for multi-room occupancy, my time in a private room with a stream outside my window allowed me to quickly settle into stillness and inner connection. Greeted by wild turkeys, deer and rabbits, the abundant expression of forests, waterways and mountains provided opportunity for deepening into the natural world in all of its abundance. The crisp air and even an afternoon rainbow added to the ambience and invitation to relax and breathe. The food was delicious, varied and healthy; the staff friendly and present to our needs; the public spaces filled with beauty augmented by extraordinary photography, sacred tapestries and clean design. The single "caveat" is to be aware that ability to walk on uneven ground and to navigate steps (or make arrangements for assistance) might be critical for your full, unfettered enjoyment of your time there. I hope a return visit is in my future. Robin H.
5.0
Verified
Wonderful
The staff are friendly, polite, helpful and genuinely kind. Food is outstanding. Facilities are clean and comfortable. The setting is gorgeous: full of flowers and trees , ringed by mountains, with a river, waterfalls and a pond.
This was our third time there, and we’ve loved it each time.
This was our third time there, and we’ve loved it each time.
5.0
Verified
Breathtaking, every moment
I loved every moment being at menla. I stayed in dragon 5 and even with 4 other people there, 2 of which strangers at first, it was my home away from home. The food was AMAZING and the serenity unmatched. I especially loved all the creeks and rivers running through the property. The birds and deer were beautiful sources of happiness throughout the day. Every member of staff was beyond friendly and a joy to interact with. Thank you thank you thank you!!
Last Chance
