The Retreat

The Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center is located on 102 acres of pristine redwood forests, rolling hills and meadowland in the mountains near Santa Cruz, California. This peaceful, natural setting offers panoramic views of Monterey Bay and acts as a place of refuge for guests throughout the year.

The site features several large indoor and outdoor meeting areas, a wide range of overnight accommodations, a full-size lap pool, and a kitchen that provides vegetarian, vegan and non-vegetarian meals. The facilities are well distributed over the common areas, creating privacy and space for guests.

Pema Osel Ling

Pema Osel Ling means. "Lotus Land of Clear Light". The retreat was founded in 1991 and is the main facility for the nonprofit Vajrayana Foundation, which also administers a College of Buddhist Studies and the Tibetan Arts Institute. The Vajrayana Foundation was founded by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche to establish and preserve the spiritual, artistic and cultural traditions of Tibetan Buddhism in the West.

The staff are "Pagan friendly" and very down to earth. When we told them that were wanted to have Drumming Circles they asked, "Can we come too?" Of course, we said, "Yes!" Many of the Pema Osel Ling staff are adept at healing with herbs and we will be supplementing our on-staff nurse with their knowledge.

Pema Osel Ling is not a nudist retreat. For that reason, among others, we ask our Pagan Folk to dress "modestly" in the Public Areas. By "modestly", we mean standard Beach Wear: Tops & bottoms for the women and bottoms for the men. Swim suits are required for the pool.

Housing

Pema Osel Ling can accommodate 70 or more people indoors. They offer several houses for use by guests. Sangha House is a modern four-bedroom lodge with a tea service kitchen two bathrooms, a meeting room and a deck facing the ocean. The Main House (also known as Creek House) features two bedrooms, a full kitchen, a bathroom, a large living room and a deck. Creek House, as the name implies, is set near a creek and is surrounded by redwoods.

On a quiet hillside area of the camp, there are several heated cabin spaces with high ceilings and large windows. These cabins sit in a group overlooking the eastern gorge. Each cabin will house six people in bunk beds. There is also a large heated yurt which can accomodate 8 to 10 people in sleeping bags. The yurt stands alone in a quiet area of the camp, and is topped by a clear dome for stargazing.

A bathhouse with separate hot shower and toilet facilities for men and women is nearby.

Just a half mile off site sits Dove House; a lovely two bedroom house with a full kitchen and bath, which is also available for rent to Retreat visitors.

Camping

Pema Osel Ling can also accommodate campers. The campsites are secluded amidst the redwoods, near hiking trails leading to a creek and open meadows. Bathhouses with hot showers are convenient to camping areas.

Kitchen and Dinning Hall

The kitchen is equipped to serve up to 225 people at one time. The resident staff prepare exceptional vegetarian, vegan, and non-vegetarian gourmet meals three times daily, using the finest locally grown organic produce. There is a spacious dining hall, as well as picnic tables for outdoor dining under the redwoods.

Meeting Areas

Pema Osel Ling has a large tented outdoor platform known as the Shrine. This platform is carpeted and equipped with a sound system. It provides a beautiful space for up to 225 people. The tented walls of the Shrine can be put up to allow for the free flow of fresh air and a view of the beautiful mountains which surround the area. The Shrine sits in a large meadow surrounded by walnut trees. The meadow is large enough to hold 300 people or more. We will be using it for dances under the moon.

There is a Redwood Grove amphitheatre near the Dining Hall. The Grove has benches and a stage and it provides a tranquil setting for outdoor talks and meditation. A fire circle with a barbeque is available for nighttime get-togethers and drumming circles.

Recreational Facilities

There are miles of forested mountain hiking trails and ample lawn space for dancing and ritual and group activities. Guests can also enjoy the many secluded sitting and meditation areas.

Swimming Pool: The 25'x60' pool has its own bathhouse and a large poolside lounging area. A chain link fence with a gate surrounds the pool. The gate is locked at night, for safety reasons. (You need not fear that your children will pass by the pool at night and fall in by accident.)

During the daytime, Minors who wish to use the pool must be accompanied by an adult.

Directions:

Pema Osel Ling is located two hours drive south of San Francisco, 35 minutes from Santa Cruz, and about an hour from both San Jose and Monterey.

From Santa Cruz: come south on Highway 1. Take the Freedom Blvd. exit and go left over the freeway. After 5 miles you will come to Corralitos Road. Turn left and go for 2 miles. At the four-way stop sign, the road becomes Eureka Canyon Road; go straight and continue on this for 6.7 miles. Pema Osel Ling is on the left side, with a blue and gold sign posted at the entrance.

From Watsonville: take Freedom Blvd., north to Corralitos Road and turn right. The directions from this point are the same as above.

Shuttle bus service is available directly to Pema Osel Ling from the San Francisco and San Jose airports.