On-Land Programs & Events

Volunteer at Dorje Denma Ling!

Flexible Dates
Thank you for volunteering at Dorje Denma Ling! We appreciate your dedication and welcome you into our community. Volunteers receive room and board and enjoy the benefits of living in our intentional community.

Personal Retreat

Flexible Dates
Dorje Denma Ling

Dorje Denma Ling offers space for individual and small group retreats during the program season, as accommodations allow. Our season typically runs from May to December.

Spring Renewal Retreat: Exploring Eco-Embodiment as Path to Belonging & Resilience

with Josée-Ann Cloutier

May 8 - 10, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada

Participants are invited to learn and experience a guided thermal cycle-- immersions of hot and cold for all levels of practice, along with community sauna, cleansing plant and tree rituals, and elemental connection, all supporting integration and community as practice. We will enjoy wholesome, healthy meals, explore a nearby waterfall, and honour the pure water of the land by taking it in.

Mandala of the Empowered Feminine

with Susan Lorraine and Friends

May 12 - 18, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
Tatamagouche, NS, Canada
In this retreat, we will meet the dakinis—the dynamic, free, wise, compassionate, and sometimes fierce energies that dance within open awareness. Dakini literally means “sky dancer.”

Our main practice will be the Mandala of the Five Wisdom Dakinis. Lama Tsultrim will join our retreat remotely, to formally introduce the practice.

Limitless Gate Qigong Levels 1/2, 3 & 4

with Donna MacKenzie and Suzann Duquette

May 22 - 28, 2026
Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS

Xiantianwujimen is a Taoist lineage that specializes in using qigong to simultaneously cultivate and transform body and mind. Techniques favored by this lineage include self-massage, tendon-changing, calisthenics, marrow washing, and breath regulation. Donna Mackenzie will lead Levels 1-3, Suzann Duquette will lead Level 4. Register for each level or as a bundle.

Limitless Gate Qigong Level 1/2

with Donna MacKenzie

May 22 - 24, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS

Limitless Gate Qigong Level 1 & 2 Peaceful Body, Peaceful Mind When body is relaxed and peaceful, energy will flow. When mind is still, it will embrace qi and strengthen the body. In the Chinese arts of health and longevity, qigong simultaneously cultivates a peaceful body and a peaceful mind. Physical health and mental well-being […]

Limitless Gate Qigong Level 3

with Donna MacKenzie

May 24 - 26, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS

Limitless Gate Qigong Level 3: The Gourd and the Cauldron Chinese Medicine and Qigong enjoy a long history of relationship, mutually influencing each other in their approach to health and longevity. The Gourd is the symbol of Chinese medicine, and the cauldron is the symbol of the Taoist arts of health and longevity. Your introduction […]

Limitless Gate Qigong Level 4

with Suzann Duquette

May 26 - 28, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS

Limitless Gate Qigong Level 4: Iron and Silk Strengthening the Body, Cleansing the Internal Organs Iron has the quality of hardness, but tempered by fire, will become soft and flexible, ready to form limitless shapes. Silk has the quality of softness, but when the fibers are woven together, they form the strongest bonds. Qigong 4 […]

Mahamudra & Trekchö Retreat

with Richard John

June 5 - 14, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Fall, NS
Register by May 5, 2026 and receive CAD $70.00 off the program fee.
This retreat is an opportunity to go beyond conceptual study to direct personal experience, and to recognize and become capable of resting in buddha nature--the essence of mind. In the famous words of Tulku Urgyen, "Short moments many times--there is no other way."

The full retreat is open to tantrikas, the first weekend includes Approaching Mahamudra, which is open to all practitioners.

Approaching Mahamudra: A Weekend Meditation Retreat

with Richard John

June 5 - 7, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Fall, NS
Register by May 5, 2026 and receive CAD $35.00 off the program fee
This weekend will include in-depth instruction on shamatha and vipashyana. Shamatha, the training in calm abiding and non-distraction, becomes the ability to rest in and stabilize the natural state of mind. Vipashyana expands into the actual wisdom of emptiness, buddha nature itself. This weekend is open to all.

Vajrayogini Amending Fire Offering

with Mark Nowakowski

June 18 - 28, 2026
Register by May 18, 2026 and receive CAD $90.00 off.
Join Vajrayogini around the hearth to amend any mistakes you may have made during sadhana practice, so you will be more open to receiving siddhi — especially the ultimate siddhi of wisdom.

Vajrayogini Amending Fire Offering Repeaters

with Mark Nowakowski

Flexible Dates
Join Vajrayogini around the hearth to amend any mistakes you may have made during sadhana practice, so you will be more open to receiving siddhi — especially the ultimate siddhi of wisdom.

Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking The Silence 2026 Annual Gathering - Thursday to Friday

June 25 - 26, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence (BTS) Network 2026 Annual Gathering. Welcome to our Orientation and Intensive Visioning Session registration Page.

Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence 2026 Annual Gathering - Day Pass

June 25 - 26, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada

Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence (BTS) Network 2026 Annual Gathering Rooted in resistance, continuing our solidarity! BTS is incredibly privileged to have, as  our 2026 Guatemalan guest, exiled Judge Miguel Angel Gálvez, presently based in Costa Rica and a Fellow of the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission in Washington. Judge Gálvez is recognized for his leadership and […]

Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence 2026 Annual Gathering - Weekend Pass

June 26 - 28, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada

Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence (BTS) Network 2026 Annual Gathering Rooted in resistance, continuing our solidarity! BTS is incredibly privileged to have, as  our 2026 Guatemalan guest, exiled Judge Miguel Angel Gálvez, presently based in Costa Rica and a Fellow of the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission in Washington. Judge Gálvez is recognized for his leadership and […]

Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence - Public Talk

with Judge Gálvez

June 26, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada

Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence (BTS) Network 2026 Annual Gathering Rooted in resistance, continuing our solidarity! BTS is incredibly privileged to have, as  our 2026 Guatemalan guest speaker, exiled Judge Miguel Angel Gálvez, presently based in Costa Rica and a Fellow of the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission in Washington. Judge Gálvez is recognized for his leadership […]

Fully Being Meditation Retreat

with Adam Kane

July 1 - 5, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Register by May 31, 2026 and receive CAD $70.00 off the program fee.
Fully Being — A path of awareness, healing and insight We are fortunate to welcome Adam Kane, Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s primary translator and a senior Fully Being facilitator, for a 4-day meditation retreat at Dorje Denma Ling. Fully Being draws on Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s uniquely accessible approach to practice — one that helps us cultivate a grounded body, a warm and open heart, and a clear, steady mind. These teachings are practical and direct, inviting us to meet our experience as it is and to integrate meditation into daily life.

Dropping into the Awareness Zone

with Anam Thubten Rinpoche

August 8 - 13, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
During this residential meditation retreat, Anam Thubten will offer teachings on a doha—a song of realization—by Dudjom Lingpa, along with guided meditation. Together we will explore the possibility of opening and stretching the boundaries of our consciousness, discovering a deeper clarity of mind in this age of confusion.

Mahamudra Retreat

with Andy Karr and Scott Wellenbach

August 27 - September 7, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Register by Jun 27, 2026 and receive CAD $130.00 off the program fee.
You are warmly invited to join retreat leaders Andy Karr and Scott Wellenbach for an advanced, 10-day Mahamudra retreat. We will use as the practice text, the Shamatha and Vipashyana meditation instructions from the ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje’s Pointing Out the Dharmakaya, translated by the Vajravairochana Translation Committee. This is a Vajrayana program restricted to tantrikas and sadhakas who have received pointing out instruction. The retreat will follow a traditional three-year retreat format -- four practice sessions per day.

The Oxherding Retreat

with Sarah Bender, Roshi

September 16 - 20, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Register by Jul 17, 2026 and receive CAD $50.00 off the program fee.
The Oxherding series: a 12th-century Zen Buddhist series of drawings and poems which tell an ancient and a modern tale of enlightenment and endarkenment. For four days we’ll immerse ourselves together in silence and conversation, stillness and motion and emerge with hearts and minds refreshed.

The Three Pillars of Self-Care: An Enhanced Qigong Retreat (Level 1/2) with Taoist Meditation & Lifestyle Practices

with Donna MacKenzie

October 15 - 20, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Register by Aug 15, 2026 and receive CAD $100.00 off.

When body is relaxed and peaceful, energy will flow. When mind is still, it will embrace qi and strengthen the body. In the Chinese arts of health and longevity, qigong simultaneously cultivates a peaceful body and a peaceful mind.…]

Limitless Gate Qigong Level 1 & 2: Peaceful Body, Peaceful Mind

with Donna MacKenzie

October 15 - 17, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Register by Aug 15, 2026 and receive CAD $50.00 off.
When body is relaxed and peaceful, energy will flow. When mind is still, it will embrace qi and strengthen the body. In the Chinese arts of health and longevity, qigong simultaneously cultivates a peaceful body and a peaceful mind. Physical health and mental well-being are closely aligned.

Limitless Gate Qigong Level 3: The Gourd and the Cauldron

with Donna MacKenzie

October 20 - 22, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Register by Aug 20, 2026 and receive CAD $50.00 off.
Your introduction to the Gourd and the Cauldron begins with Hua Tu Five Animals Qigong, one of the most well-known systems of health practices. In this qigong, the tiger trains tendon strength, the bear trains bone strength, the deer focuses on preserving generative energy, the monkey trains agility, and the bird sends energy from the base of the spine to the head.

The Wisdom Weapon of Compassion: Vajrakilaya

with Loppon Lodro Dorje and Karen Porterfield

October 29 - December 3, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
This fall, Dorje Denma Ling will offer the traditional 32-day Vajrakilaya group retreat, with a concurrent 2-week retreat opportunity for those who would like to begin--or complete--their Vajrakilaya commitment.  The retreat also welcomes those who would like to come for intensive practice but not accumulate time or numbers.

The Wisdom Weapon of Compassion: Vajrakilaya - Five-Week Retreat

with Loppon Lodro Dorje and Karen Porterfield

October 29 - December 3, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Join Loppon Lodro Dorje and Karen Porterfield in this 5-week Vajrakilaya retreat. The practice of Vajrakilaya is timely.  In this time of unusual aggression and chaos in the world, this practice is aimed at addressing just this kind of circumstance. Through this program, participants can complete the Vajrakilaya retreat requirement by time which is specified as 32 days of practice.