Just Be: A Springtime Personal Retreat

Location icon
191 Cragsmoor Road Cragsmoor, New York 12566
Users icon
Up to 10 in group
Date
May 23 - 26, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • • Intimate setting
  • • Personal access to a teacher for guidance or Q&A
  • • Group shamatha and guided meditations
  • • Yoga sessions
  • • Massage
  • • Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
  • • Extensive library of dharma books
  • • Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful paths, flora and fauna
  • • Ample time to relax and decompress in a peaceful environment

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT
Now, on the cusp of summer, leave the pressures of your normal life and immerse yourself in the tranquil environment of our Center. This is a time to focus on yourself and your practice.

Meditate in Milarepa Hall, in the privacy of your room, or in one of our many mediation spots around campus—including our outdoor practice pavilion and along our woods trails. Spend afternoons in the library, perusing our extensive collection of dharma and other books. Hike Bear Mountain or Sam's Point. Spend evenings around our firepit. Contemplate the stars.

With a teacher on hand to lead group meditations, help you design a course of practice for your stay, guide your practice, and answer your questions, you can use it as a time for study. Or you can simply follow your own rhythms, to just be.



BRING A FRIEND DISCOUNT: Do you know someone who would like this program, but hasn't been to the Center? Bring them, and you both get a 10% discount on your entire program package. For the discount to apply, there must be two reservations, at least one of whom has not taken a Dharmakaya Center class previously. At checkout, apply the Discount Code: BringAFriend. May not be combined with other discounts.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: We are pleased to be able to offer partial scholarships for this program. Please apply here.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Intimate setting
Daily program of salutations and meditation with Center community
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


OPTIONAL MASSAGE
Please email retreats@dharmakayacenter.org if you would like to book a massage during your free time.

OPEN TO ALL
There are no prerequisites for this program; it is appropriate for all.



 
SCHEDULE
Friday, May 23




3:00-6:00 PM
Check in


6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner


7:30-8:00 PM
Sunset Meditation, optional


7:30-9:30 PM
Fire pit (weather permitting), optional


10:00 PM
Lights out on campus



Saturday, May 24-Sunday, May 25



7:30-8:00 AM
Morning Salutations and Meditation, optional


8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast


10:30-11:45 AM
Gentle Yoga


12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch


2:00 PM
Afternoon Group Meditation, optional


6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner


7:30-8:00 PM
Sunset Meditation, optional


7:30-9:30 PM
Fire pit (weather permitting), optional


10:00 PM
Lights out on campus



Monday, May 26




7:30-8:00 AM
Morning Salutations and Meditation, optional


8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast


9:30-10:30 AM
Group Meditation


12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch


1:00 PM
Checkout and Departure



 

 

Schedule

7:30-8:00 AM: Morning Mediation and Salutations
8:00-9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM-12:00 PM: Program or free time
12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00-6:00 PM: Program or free time
6:00-7:00 PM: Dinner
10:00 PM Lights Out
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing, 191 Cragsmoor Road Cragsmoor, New York 12566

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.

Private Room: Single

Accommodation
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

Accommodation
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

Accommodation
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

Accommodation
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.

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
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
Perched atop a wooded hillside in the hamlet of Cragsmoor, the Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing is surrounded by 90 acres of forest. The Center opened in 2017 and was purpose built to support retreats. With only 20 bedrooms, our retreats are small, keeping the retreat experience intimate. People regularly comment both on the cleanliness of the buildings and on the total sense of peace that envelopes you when on campus.

Meals

Menu
Menu

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.

What's Included

  • Comfortable accommodations with queen bed in every room
  • All linens
  • Three delicious, farm-fresh vegetarian meals a day
  • Tea station and fruit bowl always available
  • Large Meditation Hall and private Meditation Room
  • Extensive library of dharma books
  • Cozy chairs and fireplace
  • 90-acre campus with walking trails and outdoor meditation spots
  • Fire pit
  • Outdoor practice pavilion

What's Not Included

  • Travel to the Center
  • Massage Sessions (optional)

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Peace in a comfortable environment
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.

5.0
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Beautiful spot
Dharmakaya Center is a beautiful & peaceful spot. Highly recommend! The center is immaculate and well maintained. Great staff and facilities.

5.0
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Amazing place Amazing experience
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!

5.0
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fantastic experience
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.

5.0
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Easeful Setting
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

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