THE CENTER

Vajra Vidya Retreat Center is located on 35 acres of blessed land at the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. Vajra Vidya is one building with two wings and a shrine room at the center. It was built with traditional Tibetan buddhist architecture and is both a retreat center and monastery. It houses monastics, devoted practitioners who are all long term residents, and visitors looking for private and group retreats.

A white marble statue of a young Buddhist monk holding a staff with multiple rings and a pointed tip, outdoors against a background of trees and a blue sky.
Outdoor patio with white chairs and tables outside a house during sunset, with trees in the background.
A small wooden pagoda with prayer flags, housing a white stupa, is situated outdoors on a stone-paved area surrounded by trees and a dirt path, with another white statue visible in the background.
A garden sculpture of a seated, cross-legged, female deity or figure with a headdress, placed on a stone base surrounded by rocks and plants, with a modern house and large glass doors in the background.
Interior of a Buddhist temple with a large central golden Buddha statue, surrounded by colorful small Buddha figures on shelves, and various religious artifacts and paintings.

THE SHRINE ROOM

Our main shrine room, consecrated and designed by Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche, is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist temple that seats 60–80 people. The shrine holds statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha, the 21 Taras, and the Thousand Buddhas of the past, present, and future—with Marpa’s sacred bone relic enshrined within the central Buddha statue. This serene space is dedicated to meditation, chanting, retreats, and silent sitting, open to visitors during daylight hours and to residents at all times.

A large golden Buddha statue seated in meditation with a serene expression. In front of the statue is a framed photograph of a smiling monk with hands in prayer position. The background features ornate, colorful decorations and small Buddha statues in display cases.
An empty room decorated in traditional Asian style with red walls, tapestry artworks, and wooden furniture, including tables and chairs set up in rows.
A colorful Buddhist altar with statues, offerings, and decorative elements in red, gold, and blue.
A brightly lit dining room with round tables covered in white tablecloths and surrounded by wooden chairs. The room features large windows allowing natural light, a framed portrait on the wall, and a modern chandelier made of hanging light bulbs. There are green plants near the windows and a small decorated table in the background.

THE DINING ROOM

Our sunlit dining room is the heart of our center. It’s where retreatants and visitors share wholesome vegetarian meals and connect between sessions. Breakfast, lunch, and a light evening soup are served on a set schedule each day. After meals, we tidy the space together as a practice of karma yoga—caring for the place that cares for us. Tea and coffee are available during dining room hours from 5:00AM - 8:30PM.

Dining room with a table, four wooden chairs, sunlight streaming through two small windows with wooden frames, a vase with flowers on one window sill, and a black shelf against the wall.
Kitchen with a pass-through window, yellow walls, a black shelf with food items, a whiteboard with handwritten menu, colorful decorative flags, and a table with a striped tablecloth and wooden chairs.
Table with a green vase of purple and green flowers, two green and blue ceramic jars, a tall glass of milk, and a black radio or speaker in a sunlit dining room.
A house in a vast field with mountain scenery in the background, a rainbow in the sky, and sunset lighting.

THE LAND

Traditional Tibetan monasteries were sited using sacred geomantic principles—much like feng shui—honoring the elements and indigenous cosmology. Ideal places nestled against mountains with a nearby stream flowing left to right; such sites were often home to local deities that great masters (Milarepa, Padmasambhava, others) pacified and enlisted as Dharma protectors. Crestone lies in the high San Luis Valley (~7,000 ft), held between the San Juan range and the Sangre de Cristo mountains—an archetypal setting for retreat. As one lama observed, mountains and monasteries share greatness, simplicity, strength, and endurance; where beauty and solitude inspire awe, sanctuaries arise. May Thrangu Rinpoche’s Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone embody that union of landscape and practice.

A desert landscape with sand dunes, green grass, mountains in the background, and a partly cloudy blue sky.
Scenic view of a mountainous landscape with rugged, barren peaks, a lush green forested area, and a small water body in a valley, under a cloudy sky.

Ready to practice?

Private retreats

Book a stay at Vajra Vidya.

→

Retreats & calendar

Upcoming programs and registration.

→

Teachers

Learn about Khenpo Lobzang, Khenpo Jigme & Ani Lodro Palmo.

→

Donation & memberships

Help sustain practice and care for the space.

→