Entering the Vajra World: A Three-Yana Retreat

Hosted by the Three Yanas Society and Drala Mountain Center, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to step into the living tradition of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. One 2024 participant described the faculty experience as “unparalleled,” calling it an extraordinary way to connect with Trungpa’s teachings through his longtime closest students.

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche was among the most influential Buddhist teachers of the 20th century, known for emphasizing rigorous meditation, study, and community life. His approach was innovative and far-reaching, guiding students through the three yanas and drawing from the depth of the mahamudra and maha ati traditions.

The first Entering the Vajra World retreat offered a contemporary expression of the intensive training Trungpa Rinpoche gave his students. The 2026 summer retreat continues that lineage through a month-long immersive experience rooted in meditation, study, and sangha practice.

Deep Training in Trungpa Rinpoche’s Tradition

Trungpa Rinpoche’s methods were distinctive, profound, and highly effective, especially as they appeared in the three-month Vajradhatu Seminaries. Central to this training was intensive shamatha-vipashyana meditation, particularly in group practice, which formed the foundation of the retreat experience.

Meditation is supported by deep study and contemplation of the three-yana teachings. The retreat explores the path of individual liberation, the bodhisattva path of wisdom and compassion, and the path of indestructible wakefulness, each presented in its own fullness and shaped by the view of maha ati.

Post-meditation practice includes contemplative arts, protector practice, and the shared journey of sangha life. This retreat continues that tradition by bringing these methods together in a supportive and immersive setting.

Who Should Attend?

This retreat is open to any Buddhist practitioner who wishes to enter the vajrayana in Trungpa Rinpoche’s tradition, provided they have enough meditation experience to benefit from an intensive month-long retreat. Practitioners from any dharma tradition are warmly welcome.

For the 2026 summer retreat, participants from diverse backgrounds are invited to apply. While the program emphasizes the Kagyü and Nyingma paths as presented by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, students from any genuine Buddhist tradition are encouraged to attend. Applicants should already be committed to Buddhist study and practice and have completed previous immersive meditation periods.

Why Past Participants Loved It

Participants have described the retreat as a powerful and intimate experience of dharma and community life, with exceptional coordination, care, kindness, and depth. Many valued the chance to meditate, spend time on the land, visit the stupa, and receive pointing-out instructions in a supported environment.

Others highlighted the quality of the faculty, the opportunity for small-group and individual conversations, and the sense of practicing alongside a large sangha of like-minded people. Several noted the richness of the teaching styles and the importance of that variety within a diverse group.

Application Process

• Submit your application through the 3yanas.org website.
• Obtain a recommendation letter from a meditation instructor or Buddhist mentor; instructions will be sent after your application is received.
• Speak with one of the retreat faculty about your background and readiness for this commitment.
• Once these steps are complete, you will receive a link to register with Drala Mountain Center.

Retreat Faculty

Larry Mermelstein has been a close student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche since 1971 and has served for decades as a senior teacher in the Vajradhatu/Shambhala community. He is a founding member and executive director of the Nalanda Translation Committee and a longtime consulting editor to Shambhala Publications.

Andy Karr has practiced and studied the dharma for more than fifty years under masters including Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. He is the author of several books and coauthor of The Practice of Contemplative Photography: Seeing the World with Fresh Eyes.

Adrienne Chang has studied in Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s tradition for over fifteen years and has helped lead Shambhala and Buddhist meditation retreats and study courses across Europe, North America, and online. She is also part of the Milinda program, a ten-year Buddhist teacher training program under Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Lodging

Several accommodation options are available at checkout, and all include healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

• Tents — 12′ x 14′ tents include two twin beds, two bookcases, and a hanging clothes rack. Each campground has a shared bathhouse. Summer platform tents are available from late May through early September. Tents may be rented as single or double occupancy.
• Dormitories — Rooms sleep up to 7–8 people and are gender-segregated. Bathrooms are shared down the hall and include shower stalls.
• Monk Rooms — A more affordable indoor option for those comfortable with a shared bathroom. These private rooms include a bed, bedding, closet, large window, desk, and desk chair.
• Single and Double Rooms — Ideal for those who want private space and a private bathroom. Each room includes a dresser, closet, and a 3/4 bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower.