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.

Vajrayogini Amending Fire Offering

with Mark Nowakowski

June 18 - 28, 2026
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 - 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! This year, as BTS reconfigures its relationship with Tatamagouche Centre, we gratefully welcome the opportunity to hold our Annual Gathering at a new site–still within the Tatamagouche Area–Dorje Denma Ling. And a new venue for our cherished AG is not […]

Fighting Impunity in Guatemala’s Judicial System - Public Talk

with Judge Gálvez

June 26, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
In keeping with Breaking the Silence (BTS) tradition, we would like to invite our Tatamagouche community (and beyond!) to join us for a public talk with our Guatemalan guest the Friday evening of our Annual Gathering. 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. This talk is open to anyone and free of charge.

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

June 27 - 28, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Join Breaking the Silence’s AG for the day Saturday, or Sunday, or both! Saturday’s program includes updates from our staff on the ground in Guatemala, an overview of what’s happening within the BTS network in the Maritimes, a guided reflection on the changes at Tatamagouche Centre and how that impacts BTS, ceremony, and of course, our fiesta! Sunday’s programming–which goes until 3 pm this year–will centre on a facilitated exercise to sketch a roadmap for BTS for the next five years. We hope you will join us for this important work!

Fully Being Meditation Retreat

with Adam Kane

July 1 - 5, 2026

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

The Art of Being Human: a Meditation in Action Retreat

with Robyn Traill

July 10 - 14, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
You are warmly invited to join our Community Retreat at Dorje Denma Ling: mornings immersed in The Art of Being Human teachings and meditation practice, and afternoons working alongside the Dorje Denma Ling staff.

Walking the Path of Peace

with T. Tavita Martinez and Mark Nowakowski

July 24 - 31, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Book now and get CAD $70.00 off. Offer valid until Jun 23, 2026.
In turbulent times, how do we meet the world with peace? Walking the Path of Peace is a retreat grounded in the teachings of the Buddha, bringing together meditation, contemplation, movement, talks, and lively discussion. Together we'll explore how genuine peace can arise in the midst of uncertainty and confusion.

Walking the Path of Peace - Weekend Option

with T. Tavita Martinez and Mark Nowakowski

July 24 - 26, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Book now and get CAD $35.00 off. Offer valid until Jun 23, 2026.
In turbulent times, how do we meet the world with peace? Walking the Path of Peace is a retreat grounded in the teachings of the Buddha, bringing together meditation, contemplation, movement, talks, and lively discussion. Together we'll explore how genuine peace can arise in the midst of uncertainty and confusion.

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: Pointing Out the Dharmakaya

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.
Vajrayana practitioners are warmly invited to join retreat leaders Andy Karr and Scott Wellenbach for an advanced, 10-day Mahamudra retreat. To guide our practice, we will use the shamatha and vipashyana meditation instructions from the ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje’s Pointing Out the Dharmakaya, translated by the Vajravairochana Translation Committee at the request of the late Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche, for use in the three-year retreat at Gampo Abbey.

Limitlessgate Qigong Gathering: Level 1/2 and Level 3 Review and Practice Sessions

with Donna MacKenzie

August 30, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
At this gathering we offer a morning Qigong Level 1/2 followed by an afternoon Qigong Level 3 review and practice session.  Join us between sessions for a nourishing DDL lunch.  These sessions are only open to those who have successfully completed these Limitlessgate Qigong Levels and are not substitutes for the full programs.

Kyudo: The Way of the Bow - Save the date!

September 3 - 7, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Book now and get CAD $100.00 off. Offer valid until Jul 4, 2026.

Join us for a 4-day weekend of Kyudo Intensive. This program is open to both new and experienced Kyudo students. "Through Kyudo one can learn to live beyond hope and fear, how to be" -Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche This program will be taught by Sam West, 'Somo' of Kozan Kyudojo.

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 $100.00 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 Shape of Awake®: Weekend Option

with Hope Martin

September 25 - 27, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Book now and get CAD $50.00 off listed prices. Offer valid until Jul 26, 2026.

Discover how to be fully present and at ease in your body. This will transform your practice and your life! This experiential retreat offers a safe, supportive and caring environment to learn about and befriend yourself, and to deepen your meditation practice. Learning to be more embodied, to let go of excessive tension and allow your nervous system to settle, provides a powerful foundation for navigating the challenges of this time of uncertainty and change.

The Shape of Awake®: Meditation and the Alexander technique

with Hope Martin

September 25 - 30, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Book now and get CAD $100.00 off. Offer valid until Jul 26, 2026.

Discover how to be fully present and at ease in your body. This will transform your practice and your life! This experiential retreat offers a safe, supportive and caring environment to learn about and befriend yourself, and to deepen your meditation practice. Learning to be more embodied, to let go of excessive tension and allow your nervous system to settle, provides a powerful foundation for navigating the challenges of this time of uncertainty and change.

Embodied Listening®

with Hope Martin

October 2 - 5, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Book now and get CAD $50.00 off. Offer valid until Aug 2, 2026.
Embodied Listening® offers a way to move through blockages, challenges and uncertainty by tuning into your most reliable source for guidance — the wisdom of your body.

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: Three Pillars of Self-Care Level 1/2 Retreat and Qigong Level 3

with Donna MacKenzie

October 15 - 22, 2026

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

Dorje Denma Ling is excited to offer you four Limitlessgate Qigong Program options this coming October. Read on to learn about the: 7-day bundled retreat, 5-day extended Qigong Level 1/2, Qigong Level 1/2 weekend, and Qigong Level 3 The Importance of Self-Care In the modern world where demands are ever-increasing, self-care is more important than […]

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.

[Hybrid] Kalapa Conference 2026: Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Arrival of the Ashe

October 23 - 28, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Or Online
October 25, 2026, marks the 50-year anniversary of the manifestation of the Ashe in the Dorje Dradul’s mind stream. To celebrate this occasion, the Kalapa Study Group is hosting a 5-day intensive practice and study retreat.

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. 

The Wisdom Weapon of Compassion: Vajrakilaya - Part 1 (Two-Week Retreat)

with Loppon Lodro Dorje and Karen Porterfield

October 29 - November 15, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Join Loppon Lodro Dorje and Karen Porterfield in this Part 1 of the Vajrakilaya retreat, a two-week offering. 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. In this program, participants can begin their Vajrakilaya retreat requirement by time by completing 14 days of the full 32 days of retreat practice. This program is also open to those who are qualified to do the Vajrakilaya retreat but would like to attend this as an intensive.

Diamond Sky Dancer -- Vajrayogini Retreat

with Adrienne Chang and Mark Nowakowski

October 29 - November 8, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Register by Aug 29, 2026 and receive CAD $130.00 off.
You are warmly invited to join us for nine days of meditation. We will be practicing and studying your sadhana in the circle of the sky, surrounded by earth, water, fire, and all the elements. Adrienne and Mark will lead us in the practice, and point out some things they have learned along the way. There will be one daily teaching on the view and practice with lively and provocative discussions. We welcome both fresh and seasoned yoginis. The teachings will adjust to whoever is attending.

The Wisdom Weapon of Compassion: Vajrakilaya - Part 2 (Three-Week Retreat)

with Loppon Lodro Dorje and Karen Porterfield

November 13 - December 3, 2026

Dorje Denma Ling
2280 Balmoral Road
The Falls, NS, Canada
Join Loppon Lodro Dorje and Karen Porterfield in this 3-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 who have completed the first recitation (14 days) can complete their retreat requirement by time (specified as 32 days of practice).  Those who have completed the retreat commitment (by time or mantra; in solitude or group setting) are warmly welcome to join in.