Set in the wild beauty of a mountain canyon in SE Arizona, our small and intimate retreat center offers a very special, natural environment for personal meditation retreat. Trained teachers and spiritual friends are available for support and meditation instruction. While Buddhist meditation forms the backbone of our practice, we embrace all spiritual traditions, as well as secular practice. Meditators from every tradition – or from none – are welcome. We prefer applicants with previous group retreat experience but may make exceptions based on their personal practice.
Retreat Information
- Retreat Location: About Cochise Stronghold
- Getting Here
- Retreat Lodging
- Pay for your retreat after booking
- What about food?
- What should I bring?
- What’s expected of me as a retreatant?
- Personal Messages from Retreatants
- For Questions and Booking a retreat
- Practice History form
Retreat Location
Cochise Stronghold Retreat Center is located on five secluded acres, high in the historic Cochise Stronghold Canyon of southeastern Arizona’s Dragoon Mountains and bordered by the Coronado National Forest. Hiking trails are easily accessed from the property.
We are at 5000-foot elevation, please take this into consideration if you have any health issues.
Click here for a map and directions
Retreat Duration
Solo retreats are required to be a minimum of three nights. The quiet here is conducive to retreats of multiple weeks or months. Preference is given to people staying for longer retreats; we recommend a stay of at least seven to ten days.
Arrival
Upon arrival at Cochise Stronghold Retreat, you will be welcomed, shown to your accommodations and given a short tour of the property. Then you can settle in and store your food and belongings. You are encouraged to meet with the Resident Teacher early as possible in your stay, to discuss your practice and set up your personal retreat schedule.
Schedule
As a solo retreatant, you will establish a daily schedule that meets your needs and respects the needs of other retreatants. Schedules normally include time for sitting and walking meditation practice, rest, exercise, meal preparation, meditation interviews, work service to the land and community, and personal time.
While your schedule is your own creation, we ask that as a retreatant you have a minimum of six hours of dedicated practice time (formal mediation and walking meditation) per day.
Click here for a sample of a daily personal retreat schedule
Lodging
There are a number of lodging accommodation options, including a private stay in a modern eco-house unit, a semi-private / semi-shared space in our “Dharmatory” Yurt, and private travel trailers and tent camping. To find out more, visit our Lodging page
Retreat Fees and Teacher Compensation
Retreat fees cover your lodging (not meals, which are self-catered or join our community food program) and help defray the expenses of the center, while making the retreat experience as accessible as possible to all who sincerely wish to practice. Read more about Retreat Costs
Silence
All retreatants at Cochise Stronghold observe noble silence during retreat. The community is well-versed in supporting retreatants in their practice of silence.
Practice Guidelines and Precepts
Retreatants are asked to abide by a set of intentional living practices while there are here in retreat.
Read more about the Expectations for Practitioners
Booking a Personal Retreat
Here are a few easy steps to book your retreat:
- Email us at retreats@dharmatreasure.org to let us know what kind of retreat you are seeking, and to check on the availability of your accommodation and dates.
- Please fill out and return the short survey below with your practice history and a little bit about yourself: Click here to complete the Dharma Treasure Practice History Form
We have the following cancellation policy:
- 60 days prior to retreat: Full refund, minus a $200 cancellation fee
- 60-20 days prior to retreat: Half refund
- 20 days or less prior to retreat: No refunds
Once your preferred accommodation is confirmed, you may make your payment here
Sponsorship
The Open Dharma Foundation offers scholarships for practice at Cochise Stronghold. Check for their new application deadlines.
Questions
We love answering any questions you may have and we invite you to reach out to retreats@dharmatreasure.org