Private Retreats at Pema Osel Ling

Wisdom teachers throughout history have emphasized the importance of solitary retreat to deepen practice. Nestled in the redwood forests of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, Pema Osel Ling has been blessed by many great masters. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche often said:

“Pema Osel Ling is one of the best places to do practice. We have incredible holy supporting objects like the body aspect of Guru Rinpoche’s statue, made by our Lord of Refuge Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, and the mind aspect or our stupas.”

And as Lama Sonam Rinpoche reminds us:

“Now is the time to practice. Don’t think you will have more time later... we should practice with the same urgency we would feel if our hair were on fire!”

We offer a variety of short and long-term private retreat opportunities in both open and closed settings.

Special Retreat Opportunities

 

Gradual Path Drubdra Retreats – Starting Soon

For practitioners serious about immersing themselves in the full Vajrayana path, we offer structured short-term Drubdra retreats focused on the Gradual Path as outlined by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. These are 1–6 month closed retreats held in our Three-Year Retreat facility, Drub Nyi Döjö Gatsal.

 

These retreats offer guidance from our resident lamas and follow the full progression of the path—from Ngöndro to Creation and Completion stage practices, and (by invitation) Dzogchen training. For more information about the Gradual Path Retreat opportunities please email drubdra@vajrayana.org

 

 

Drubdra Private Retreats – Happening Now

These closed retreats take place in our Three-Year Retreat cabins, offering the rare opportunity to enter deep retreat in a highly blessed and secluded environment.
All Drubdra retreats are fully residential with no outside access during your stay. This immersive retreat space is intentionally designed to support total disconnection from worldly distractions. Participants must stay for the full scheduled time—early departure ends the retreat.

Each retreat includes:

• Private cabin accommodations
• Meals
• Orientation and limited guidance from our lamas
• Structured daily schedule

Duration: 1–6 months

Apply: Download the Closed Retreat Questionnaire and submit it to privateretreats@vajrayana.org where it will be given to our resident lamas for approval, we will send you more information about the retreat/conduct and pricing. Upon approval we will contact you with the next steps.

 

Check out our Three-Year Retreat webpage here. 

 

 

Personal Retreats at Pema Osel Ling

Looking for a quieter window to practice without full retreat structure? Pema Osel Ling offers flexible short-term personal retreats in a variety of accommodations throughout the year.

 

Availability:

Most Monday–Wednesday dates are available for personal retreat in the Sangha House, Cabins, or Yurt. A 2-night minimum stay is required. Kunsang Choling is currently unavailable.

 

Available Spaces:

• Sangha House – A peaceful 4-bedroom lodge with ocean views. Retreatants may rent a private room with access to a shared kitchen and shared bathrooms. Ideal for solo practice or friends on retreat at the same time.
• Orchard House – Located in a serene forest clearing. Retreatants stay in individual rooms within the house and share kitchen and bathroom facilities. Spacious and quiet, suitable for those wanting more room to reflect.
• Cabins & Yurt – Tucked along a quiet hillside, our heated cabins and yurt offer private, cozy spaces. Each unit includes a queen bed and/or bunk beds, with access to shared bathhouses and kitchen use at the Sangha House.

 

Note: WiFi is limited or unavailable in most retreat spaces. Cell reception is available in some areas (Verizon works best in the Sangha House).

 

Interested?
Fill out the Personal Retreat Questionnaire and email it to privateretreats@vajrayana.org. We’ll follow up with availability, rates, and next steps.

Click here to pay your deposit or retreat balance
(Be sure to review our Payment and Cancellation Policy)