Finding an inner place in the outer world

We welcome you to create your personal retreat in the simple and concentrated atmosphere of our monastic Zen Practice Center.

Our Summer Volunteer Program runs from mid-May until the end of September. Throughout the Summer we will open our facilities to welcome external retreat leaders and their groups. The volunteer program offers room and board in exchange for helping with our Summer Guest Season.

Residents join the daily life of the monks and teachers at CMZC. Our daily schedule includes meditation, time for self-guided study, communal meals and work periods. There are also Dharma talks and Question and Answer sessions.

To be a student at CMZC means to join the resident monks and lay practitioners in following the schedule completely. This includes meditation and work periods, talks and discussions, and community meals.

We are committed to ensuring that those who wish to practice at Crestone Mountain Zen Center can do so. Anyone who is interested in coming here to join programs or events, but needs support to do so, can apply for financial assistance.

At Crestone Mountain Zen Center, we continue the monastic tradition of the 90-day Practice Period. During the Practice Period residents and students are engaged in structured daily schedule of Zazen, oryoki meals, dharma talks, study, and ceremony.

At Crestone Mountain Zen Center, we continue the monastic tradition of the 90-day Practice Period. During the Practice Period residents and students are engaged in structured daily schedule of Zazen, oryoki meals, dharma talks, study, and ceremony.

Sesshin is the traditional, 'Seven-day Meditation Intensive' of sitting and walking meditation, three-bowl (oryoki) meals, daily Dharma talks, and personal interviews (dokusan) with the teacher.

Varying in length between 2 and 4 days, a Zazenkai is a silent weekend retreat.

During the Work Week, the Sangha comes together to prepare the campus for our Summer Season.

Join us for this Seminar, titled Introduction into Zen Practice,  led by Tatsudo Nicole Baden Roshi.

Kali will bring us together as Sangha (spiritual family) to be held by the ancient teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine (5 Element Theory) and Zen Buddhism. This Yin Yoga and Meditation Spring Retreat will re-establish essential foundations for all of us to uplevel our relationship to a life lived in mindfulness.

Varying in length between 2 and 4 days, a Zazenkai is a silent weekend retreat.

Varying in length between 2 and 4 days, a Zazenkai is a silent weekend retreat.

This retreat invites you to dive deeply into the ancient wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, "The Song of the Soul," a story woven with the pain of human separation, the struggles of war and family, and humanity's attempts to control the natural world. Through this timeless narrative, we will explore profound teachings that illuminate the way to living an awakened life.

Humanity Shared invites you to spend 5 days in the beautifully held, intentional and serene environment of the Crestone Mountain Zen Center. Immerse yourself with mindfulness, movement and emotional wellness practices that promote vitality and well-being. Will you regret it a year from now or will it have helped catapult you to your next right place?

In these days together we will practice aikido and zazen, and take part in community life at the Crestone Mountain Zen Center.

Please send us your post office mailing address if you would like to be on our physical mailing list.