Just Be: A Year-End Personal Retreat

Name: Just Be: A Year-End Personal Retreat
Start: 2025-12-26
End: 2026-01-01
Location: Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing
Rating: 5

5.0012 reviews

191 Cragsmoor Road Cragsmoor, New York 12566

Up to 10 in group

December 26, 2025 - January 1, 2026

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

Details of this retreat

A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT
Ring in the New Year from a calm, centered place, by leaving the pressures of your normal life and immersing 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 even in our outdoor pavilion. Spend afternoons in the library, perusing our extensive collection of dharma and other books. Take a snowy walk. Contemplate the stars.

We will ring in the New Year together, too (though long before midnight).

Make us part of your holiday tradition. Just be.
"This is a wonderful place for quiet and for furthering ones personal practice."
"We had an amazing time on a personal retreat at Dharmakaya. It is beautiful and clean and the meals are so delicious! And the rates are extremely inexpensive! They gave us such personal care and attention."
WANT DIFFERENT DATES? If you want to come later, simply book a Personal Retreat. You are welcome to participate in the group meditations and New Year's celebration while you are with us. If you want to stay longer, you can extend during step 2 of registration.

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 in ADDITION to the built-in 10% discount reflected in the program prices. 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 the Early Bird Discount.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Small campus and intimate setting
Daily program of salutations and meditation with Center community
Delicious all-vegetarian meals with organic, local ingredients
Extensive library of dharma and wellbeing books
Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful 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, December 26

3:00 PM
Check in begins

4:15-4:45 PM
Outdoor Sunset Meditation, optional

6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner

7:15-7:30 PM
Welcome and Introduction

7:30-9:00 PM
Evening Meditation, optional

10:00 PM
Lights out on campus

Thursday, December 27-Wednesday, December 31

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

8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast

10:30-11:30 AM
Gentle Yoga Practice (Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday), optional

12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch

2:00 PM
Afternoon Group Meditation, optional

4:15-4:45 PM
Outdoor Sunset Meditation, optional

6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner

9:00 PM
New Year's Toast

10:00 PM
Lights out on campus

Thursday, January 1

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

8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast

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

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

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

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

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

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

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

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 Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

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

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

Laura • Feb 01, 2023

5.0

Verified

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.

Anonymous • May 18, 2022

5.0

Verified

Beautiful spot

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

YELENA • Nov 10, 2021

5.0

Verified

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!

Debra • Sep 03, 2021

5.0

Verified

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.

Lucia • Sep 01, 2021

5.0

Verified

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

Just Be: A Year-End Personal Retreat

Retreat Highlights

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

Schedule

Getting Here

Directions