Karme Choling Shambhala Meditation Retreat Center

What Karme Choling Shambhala Meditation Retreat Center does

Karme Choling (Karmê Chöling) is a Buddhist meditation retreat center founded in 1971 by Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and legally organized as the non-profit "Vajradhatu – Karmê Chöling." Located on a 500-acre campus in Barnet, Vermont, in the state's Northeast Kingdom, the center serves individual practitioners seeking instruction in Tibetan Buddhadharma, Shambhala teachings, and contemplative practice.

The center's product portfolio is built around structured meditation retreats ranging from half-day open community sessions to multi-week intensives, including solitary cabin retreats in seven dedicated cabins, 5- to 10-day group programs, the progressive Shambhala Training path, and embodied practices such as Kyudo (Japanese archery), Qigong, Tai Chi, and Mudra Space Awareness. Supporting infrastructure comprises the Main House, shrine rooms, a Kyudojo, the Purkhang memorial structure, a one-acre organic garden that supplies the kitchen and a Saturday farm stand with CSA shares, plus a Residency program allowing long-term stays with telecommuting support. Programming is delivered on-land at the Vermont campus and online via virtual meditation gatherings, online reading groups, and remote dharma sessions, with a published virtual tour extending reach to prospective practitioners globally.

Revenue is generated through program and retreat fees, donations and memberships, residency fees, day-visit lunch donations, and farm stand produce sales. The center employs a dual-pricing model offering a higher "Generosity Price" tier that subsidizes scholarships alongside a base "Tuition" tier, with financial aid, full-time student discounts, and scholarship programs making participation accessible. Customers span new and curious practitioners, committed Buddhist practitioners, students and young adults, families with children, and long-term residents; acquisition is driven primarily by community referrals, the global Shambhala network, website content, newsletters, blog articles, and word-of-mouth.

Name

Karme Choling Shambhala Meditation Retreat Center

Legal name

Vajradhatu - Karmê Chöling

Website

https://karmecholing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Karme Choling is a non-profit Buddhist meditation retreat center founded in 1971 on a 500-acre Vermont campus, offering structured meditation retreats, solitary cabin stays, Tibetan Buddhadharma teachings, and residency programs to individual practitioners across the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meditation Retreat Services

NAICS

Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF), Mindfulness & Mental Wellbeing Experiences (Stress Management, Sleep Retreats, Coaching) (THAJAHAH)

Keywords

• Buddhist meditation retreats
• Tibetan Buddhadharma teachings
• Mindfulness retreat programs
• Contemplative residency programs
• Shambhala training path

Headquarters

HQ city

Barnet

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Program and Retreat Fees: Revenue is generated through fees for various meditation retreats, programs, and workshops. Pricing includes tiered options (Generosity Price and Tuition) to make programs accessible. Accommodations and meals are priced separately during registration.
2. Donations and Membership: The organization accepts one-time donations, membership contributions, and bequests. They offer a 'Polishing the Jewel' donation program and various giving options to support operations and scholarships.
3. Residency Program: Long-term residency is available with telecommuting support, allowing practitioners to live at the center while maintaining employment. This provides ongoing revenue and community engagement.
4. Day Visit and Lunch Donations: Outdoor visits are free during designated hours. Indoor visits require appointments. Lunch is offered at $15 by donation. Learn to Meditate open houses are free with optional $10 lunch donation.
5. Farm Stand and Produce: The organic garden produces vegetables, herbs, and flowers. A farm stand operates on Saturdays, offering produce to visitors and the local community. CSA shares are available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Karmê Chöling is a non-profit Buddhist meditation retreat center operating on a 500-acre campus in Barnet, Vermont. It offers structured residential meditation retreats (5–10 day group retreats and solitary cabin retreats), Tibetan Buddhist teachings across Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, progressive Shambhala Training curricula, mind-body contemplative practices (Qigong, Tai Chi, Kyudo, Mudra Space Awareness), youth and family programs, mindful leadership training, and long-term residency with telecommuting support.

Product overview

Karme Choling is a Buddhist meditation retreat center offering a diverse portfolio of programs and services centered on Tibetan Buddhist meditation and Shambhala teachings. The core offerings include structured meditation retreats ranging from 5 to 10 days, solitary cabin retreats (7 cabins available), the Shambhala Training Path, and Tibetan Buddhist teachings across Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions. The center provides residential programs for long-term stays, youth and family programs, and mind-body contemplative practices including Qigong, Kyudo, Tai Chi, and Mudra Space Awareness. Additional offerings include an organic garden, farm stand, online meditation gatherings, and mindful leadership training. The organization operates as a unified retreat center with multiple interconnected programs rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Meditation Retreats (5-Day to 10-Day)

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the oldest meditation retreat centers in the US, established 1971
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: Large yoga and holistic wellness retreat center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, offering residential programs in yoga, meditation, and wellbeing. Comparable in residential retreat format, holistic wellness orientation, and New England presence.
• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: Holistic education and retreat center in Rhinebeck, New York, offering residential workshops on wellness, mindfulness, and personal development. Comparable in retreat-based programming, multi-disciplinary wellness offerings, and not-for-profit structure.
• Shambhala Mountain Center: Sister center in the Shambhala Buddhist network offering residential meditation retreats rooted in the same Tibetan Buddhist/Shambhala lineage founded by Chögyam Trungpa. Directly comparable in mission, programming, lineage, and retreat-center operating model.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: Major Insight Meditation retreat center in Woodacre, California, offering residential retreats, daylong programs, and teacher training. Directly comparable in retreat-based business model, lay Buddhist audience, and not-for-profit operation.
• Insight Meditation Society: One of the oldest and largest Vipassana meditation retreat centers in the US, located in Barre, Massachusetts. Directly comparable in mission, residential retreat format, and target audience of committed lay Buddhist practitioners.
• Garrison Institute: Contemplative retreat center in Garrison, New York, offering residential retreats on mindfulness, social justice, and interfaith dialogue. Comparable in contemplative retreat format, residential accommodations, and mission-driven programming.
• Dharma Drum Retreat Center: Buddhist retreat center affiliated with Dharma Drum Mountain, offering residential meditation retreats and Chan Buddhist practice in Pine Bush, New York. Comparable in Buddhist retreat format, residential programming, and teaching lineage structure.
• Esalen Institute: Pioneering holistic retreat and education center in Big Sur, California, offering residential workshops on personal growth, mindfulness, and contemplative practice. Comparable in residential retreat format, multi-disciplinary programming, and long operating history.
• Cloud Mountain Retreat Center: Interfaith, Buddhist-rooted retreat center in Castle Rock, Washington, offering residential meditation retreats and contemplative programs. Comparable in residential retreat format, Buddhist practice offerings, and small-scale center operations.

Others

• Naropa University: Contemplative education university in Boulder, Colorado, also founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Not a retreat-center peer but closely related via shared founder, Shambhala lineage, and contemplative pedagogy mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/karme-choling-shambhala-meditation-retreat-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Karme Choling Shambhala Meditation Retreat Center