Dharma Village Retreat
June 2nd - 7th, 2026 Boulder, Colorado Shambhala Center
This 6-day (+ free add on), in-person, Mahasangha gathering is a rare opportunity to come together as a living sangha, sharing contemplative practice, music, ritual, and community in the heart of Boulder. Over the course of the week, you’ll be invited into a rich rhythm of shared experiences, including:
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Planetary Dharma Convergence Gathering at the Shambhala Center on Spruce Street. More information and registration page coming soon.
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Opening celebratory dinner at the Boulder Dushanbe Tea House on 13th Street
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Daily core retreat offerings: 9:00am-5pm.
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This is a beautiful ceremony for all participants to be a part of, but specifically offered for Banyan (2nd year Bodhisattva students, and for Aspen who have already taken their vows). All welcome to attend!
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Retreat Closing dinner at T/aco on Walnut Street.
Welcome to Dharma Village. In person, together! We’ll meet you in Boulder!
Arrival & Departure
Nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a place where natural beauty and contemplative culture meet. With open skies, mountain views, walkable streets, and a vibrant arts and food scene, the city offers a rare balance of wildness and refinement. June brings long days, fresh air, and an ease that invites both deep practice and relaxed enjoyment; an ideal setting for Dharma Village to unfold.
Retreat Setting
Fly into Denver on the morning of Tuesday, June 2nd, and plan to make your way to Boulder, which is about 30–45 minutes by car from Denver depending on traffic.
We recommend booking travel that allows you to arrive in the morning or early afternoon so you can settle in before our welcoming dinner which begins at 5pm (more details below). Closing dinner on Sunday, June 7th. Plan to fly out on the 8th.
Venue
Our retreat will be held at the Boulder Shambhala Center, located at 1345 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302, an American epicenter of Buddhist education and practice since the 1970s. The Shambhala Center reflects the evolution of Buddhism in the West; serious practice, lived culture, and human warmth woven together. It offers an ideal container for a week of meditation, music, ritual, and community.
Cost & Pricing
The cost to attend the Dharma Village retreat is $1,111 if paid in full, or $1,332 when paid over 4 payments of $333. Please click the + signs below to view the breakdown between retreat fees & program tuition.
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Of the total cost, $375 covers retreat fees, including:
Food & Beverage for two communal dinners:
Opening dinner at the Dushanbe Tea House (non-alcoholic beverages included)
Closing celebration at T/aco (open margarita bar included)
Daily snacks and refreshments
Retreat Venue Rentals, including the Boulder Shambhala Center, Dushanbe Tea House, and T/aco
Staff Support: service fees, tax, and gratuities for our meals at the Dushanbe Tea House and T/aco
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The remaining $736 is retreat tuition, supporting Planetary Dharma administration, space holders, and teaching staff.
Rituals, Celebrations + Free Optional Bonus Event!
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Bonus Event - Planetary Dharma Convergence Gathering
Monday, June 1st, 2026 | 9:00am-5:30pm
As a brief heads up: the week leading into Dharma Village (Tuesday, May 26–Monday, June 1, 2026) will be a particularly rich moment in Boulder, centered around the ICON 2026 Conference (Integral Conference of North America) from Tue May 26 - Sun May 31.
Following the conclusion of ICON on Sunday, May 31, Planetary Dharma will host a free, Planetary Dharma Convergence Gathering on Monday, June 1st at the Shambhala Center. This gathering is open to the broader Boulder community, ICON Conference participants, and anyone in our sangha who is in town, as an optional, informal opportunity to arrive early, connect in person, and ease into the Dharma Village field.
For more information on this event please click on this link.
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Celebration Opening Dinner: The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026 | 5:00-9:00PM
We’ll begin Dharma Village with an intimate opening dinner at the Dushanbe Tea House, one of Boulder’s most beautiful and beloved gathering spaces, located at 1770 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302. This evening marks the soft opening of our retreat…a time to arrive, settle, and begin weaving the relational field.
Surrounded by handcrafted beauty, shared food, and conversation, Banyan and Aspen cohorts will have time to meet, reconnect, and orient together. This first night is about presence and arrival, socializing, gathering, and letting the retreat begin through simple human connection.
The opening dinner is designed as a ritual threshold: a moment to step out of daily life and into shared practice, community, and belonging.
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Ritual: Bodhisattva Vows Ceremony
Saturday, June 6th, 2026 | TBD
Banyan students will be invited to take the Bodhisattva Vows during Dharma Village on their own authority. This offering is entirely optional and will be held with care, context, and appropriate preparation. For those who feel called, the vows mark a meaningful threshold in your training, an expression of intention to orient one’s life toward awakening in service of the whole.
Aspen and Aspen FIT students are warmly invited to renew their Bodhisattva Vows, should they wish. Renewal is likewise optional and offered as a chance to consciously rearticulate commitment, clarify intention, and re-enter the vows from wherever you currently stand.
The vow ceremony will be held as a shared, ceremonial moment on the final day of the retreat, honoring both individual readiness and the collective field that supports such commitments.
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Celebration Closing Dinner: T/aco
Sunday, June 7th, 2026 | 5:00 - 9:00PM
We’ll wrap up Dharma Village with a joyful, relaxed celebration at T/aco, Boulder’s beloved urban taqueria located at 1175 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302.
After a week of meditation, shared practice, and deep connection, this casual dinner is the retreat’s cherry on top! A place to laugh, eat tacos, sip margaritas and tequila, and celebrate all we’ve experienced together. With its warm, lively atmosphere and delicious house-made tortillas and creative tacos, T/aco sets the perfect tone for an evening of good food and good company.
The party runs from 5:00–9:00PM(ish!). This closing dinner is not a formal sit-down meal, but a relaxed, collective celebration of our shared week and the sangha we continue to weave. A relaxed exhale together, where friendship, celebration, and shared meaning carry us across the threshold back into daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, Boulder sits at about 5,430 feet (1,655 meters) above sea level, which is higher than Denver and can cause mild altitude sickness and increased UV exposure for visitors coming from sea level, requiring extra hydration and acclimatization.
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Comfortable clothes for sitting and comfortable walking shoes. A light jacket or layers are recommended, as Boulder can swing from cool evenings to very warm days. A meditation shawl or light sitting blanket is also nice to have. A water bottle and hat are also recommended.
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You don’t need to bring a meditation cushion; the Shambhala Center has plenty on hand. However, there are limited meditation benches, so if that is what you prefer, you’ll need to bring your own.
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Most students choose to book accommodations through Airbnb or a similar short-term rental service, often sharing a house or apartment with fellow participants near Pearl Street and the center of town. We’ll provide a WhatsApp group to help registered participants self organize, connect, coordinate lodging, and find potential roommates ahead of the retreat.
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Yes. Retreat fees cover shared costs for the gathering as a whole, including venue rentals, venue staff support, logistics, and group meals. These costs are fixed at the group level and are not adjusted based on individual participation in meals, as Planetary Dharma is required to provide final participant numbers to each venue months in advance.
Registration
This is a free community gathering, and food and beverages will be provided. While there is no cost to attend, donations are gratefully received to help offset venue rental and catering expenses. A Venmo QR code will be available at the welcome table upon arrival for donations. Registration is required for all attendees to support accurate planning and ensure we can comfortably accommodate everyone. Portions of the event will be captured by a film crew for seeding a revolution.
A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. Our cancellation policy is firm. Cancellations on or before 5/5/26 forfeit the deposit; any remaining balance is refunded. Cancellations after 5/5/26 forfeit all payments. This retreat is in person only; no online option or recordings will be available. Portions of the retreat will be captured by a film crew for seeding a revolution. Scholarships are not offered for this retreat. By enrolling, you agree to the full terms of payment.