Solitary Cabin Retreats

Spacious, airy and bright, Yeshe is surrounded by gentle young trees, saplings and raspberry fields at the edge of a small glen. It is out from under the forest canopy, yet hidden from view. The cabin has big windows, a skylight and a beam ceiling. With ample sky energy and faraway views, Yeshe is a wonderful setting for a spacious retreat.

Also known as Jambhala or Kubera

This roomy cabin is located in the forested lower hills surrounding the main building. In summer time, Vaishravana is shaded by a canopy of tall deciduous trees, among them several gnarled old maples. It is surrounded by lush fern, mossy logs and boulders, and a brook running by that carries cool “sky water” from the upper Retreat Area. The entrance to the cabin is near a parking lot, but the cabin feels remote nonetheless. The interior is more modernly furnished than other cabins. The set up of shrine, kitchen and sleeping area is nicely balanced and the many large windows add to its spacious atmosphere.

This tiny cabin features large windows along its porch, looking out into a bowl-shaped glade, which has a peaceful and protected atmosphere; so much so, that groups of deer frequently sleep close by the cabin. It is located near the Retreat Road, but hidden from view, in short walking distance to the meadows surrounding the Purkhang, the stupa-like monument in the upper Retreat Area. From Nirmanakaya, one can easily walk down to the Main House, if need be.

Remote, with a commanding view over a secluded meadow in the upper Retreat Area, Nagarjuna’s removed location makes it a favorite of many seasoned practitioners. This large cabin has a simple, rustic interior with dark woodwork, a skylight, a beam ceiling and a corner shrine.

This cabin is perched on a steep wooded slope in view of the Purkhang. Although it is one of the smaller cabins, the interior feels particularly harmonious, with the shrine featured prominently and the kitchen and bed tucked into their own niches. Surrounded by tall oak and maple trees, with a craggy, dark rock formation looming in the back, it is shaded and cool in summer. During the winter it feels protected in its elevated location. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche's mother, Lady Kunchok, always chose this cabin for retreat while she lived at Karmê Chöling.

Traveling uphill on the Retreat Road, then following a winding trail deep into the woods, one passes several spiky old pine trees that seem to stand guard over the remote site of this cabin. Dhritarashtra stays cool all summer long, but a gap in the tree line opens into a sunny glen, visible from the porch. The cozy interior resembles that of the Great Eastern Sun cabin, symmetrical and well-designed.