Curious about the 30-day retreat? Not sure if it's right for you? The May, 2007 group was asked to give feedback from the experience. Of the 12 attendees, 10 were first-timers. Here's what they had to say about it:

How do you put into words an experience that is beyond words. When you go to sign up for a 30-day retreat, you think "can I do this?", "can I sit 30 days straight without talking?" (lol), "what if I freak out, can I leave?", "how can I afford to do this?", "what will my family and friends think?", "will the food be okay?", "will I get sick?", "will I still have friends when I return?", my goodness the list goes on, but honestly there's only one answer Yes! You can do this and it will be the most amazing journey you'll ever taken. Sure you'll have to deal with the finances, the lack of support from your "family" before you leave, when you return you'll have a whole new perspective on all of it, "what was I so afraid of"! The hard part is getting there, the rest you will cherrish, so my advise to anyone considering this for themselves is go, clear your obstacles and go! I can't thank Genla enough, he's helped me to open my eyes. His ability to know what each one of us needed during the 30 days was amazing. Our community is so blessed to have Genla and Rinpoche to guide us, don't let this amazing oppurtunity pass you by! I'm available via e-mail or phone should anyone want more information, lots of love to all of you!

In retreat we did a lot of meditation, got instruction daily, and had regular opportunities for meditation interviews. Plus, we had good meals and wonderful lodging. Everything was very conducive to practice. What more can you ask for? Everyone deserves this experience at least once in their life... Looking back, any hesitation or discouragement I felt before this retreat was nonsense. Personally, I feel that to allow anything to get in the way of such a great opportunity would be very unfortunate. I strongly urge everyone to do what they can to get into 30-day.

It’s difficult to find words powerful enough to describe this retreat. I think it’s something that just has to be experienced. For the first time, I felt a deep sense of connection with this method. Although it’s been several years since my first 30-day retreat, and although I’ve done a couple of them since then, it seemed like until this retreat I never understood the practice. The teachings this time were so clear, the practice instructions so precise that it was easy to apply them, and to know when I was practicing correctly. There was a “workshop” atmosphere, with emphasis on the “how to”, enough background and theory to make the “how to” meaningful, and a sense of camaraderie that made the experience enjoyable. I would strongly recommend this retreat to anyone who takes their spiritual life seriously.

I felt some real apprehension when committing myself to my first 30 day retreat, and to have it in India only added to my apprehension. However, I can say without exception, that it was a very powerful experience, and one I will never forget. Staying at the hotel, home,of Pema-la Namgyal, brother of our Rinpoche, was wonderful. Each of us had our own room and bath. We were treated like members of his family, and felt warmly welcomed. How fortunate we were to have had teachings from Rinpoche,and our special teacher and friend, Gen-la. There is so much more to share, but sometimes words are not sufficient to explain the power of the experience. Suffice it to say I, look forward to returning to Sikkim next year for another 30 day retreat. Won't you join us!

Our retreat was the greatest luxury imaginable. Removed from the constant commotion, interruptions, and demands of day-to-day life at home, our usual torrent of thoughts and emotions could settle a bit, which allowed us to experience some degree of inner quiet. Each day we were generously given amazing, dynamic, profound teachings, as well as an abundance of time for contemplation and meditation. Since we were well taken care of, we were free to concentrate only on the practice for 30 days. What a gift! Imagine it: day after day after day of dynamic teachings in a beautiful setting, plenty of time for meditation, no phones to answer and no dishes to wash. Just you, your mind, and teachers who want your success. If you are considering going on the next 30-day retreat, I urge you to do it. If it seems like an indulgence, a luxury, consider looking at it from the perspective of doing everything you can to improve your practice. It will be a rich experience. With deepest gratitude to Ringu Tulku Rinpoche and Gen-la Chokyi Dhakpa.

Having done several thirty day retreats, I have found them to the most rewarding experiences of my life. This passed experience in Gangtok, Sikkim was particularly heartfelt. The meditations build on one another and when questions arise there is help from an extraordinary teacher. This is a time to familiarize yourself with your mind in a setting that allows you to take care of yourself in a way that cannot be experienced in our daily lives. The meditation "tools" practiced are not just for the thirty day retreat but are to be used when you return to daily life. Those "tools" have helped me in my daily practice both on and off the cushion. This is an experience everyone, at some point, must make time for.

Traveling to India, spending time with Rinpoche's family, and receiving ancient Dharma teachings from Rinpoche and Gen-la, has been a life-changing experience. Gen-la has managed to find the right emphasis of the Buddha's teachings and present them in a way that speaks directly to Westerners. From the moment we touched down in India, to our final trip back to the US, I had one amazing experience after another. The Indian culture itself, which absorbs and then gifts you so many other cultures, staying at the Pomra hotel and being welcomed by an authentic Tibetan family, who offers a true glimpse of their sacred lineage, and being offered a profoundly deep, ancient teaching, all melded to create the perfect setting for personal transformation. I found that being quiet and completely mindful for 30 days, allowed my deepest struggles to surface. Because of the teachings and sense of safety that was created by the teachers and our group, I was then able to look directly at those struggles that have unconsciously dominated my life for so long. The results have been profound. My daily practice has solidified, my family and I are much closer, the knowledge I gained is helping others, I am so much less reactive, and am equipped with some serious tools to face the daily challenges that would have normally taken me for an uncomfortable ride! Also, my work is transforming and new ideas are actually becoming tangible. Where as before I had feelings of being overwhelmed and some confusion, 30 day brought together eight years of study, now giving me a much greater respect and understanding for the Dharma and our lineage. I highly recommend doing a 30 day retreat whether it be in India or your own backyard. Especially for those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the Buddha's teachings, those wanting to heighten their practice and find freedom in facing their struggles, and anyone who would like to become a better person, while improving their life and the loves of others.

To say this retreat changes lives, alter perceptions, and creates new perspective is an understatement. Consider joining the community on our next 30-Day retreat in Sikkim! You won't regret it.