The word retreat in Tibetan literally means to take time away from ones’ everyday life of distractions and focus internally. Within the Buddhist Tradition, retreat is part of a practitioner’s development, vital for fully absorbing practices and teachings and internalizing them.
Thosamling offers a quiet and inspiring location for both ordained sangha and lay women to do private retreats. Whether you are looking for an environment to complete your preliminary practices, a silent vipassana style retreat or a Dharma study retreat, Thosamling can offer you a great environment and facilities. Thosamling’s resident Lama, Geshe Tsewang Niyma is also available to assist with advice for retreatants and our community of nuns and Dharma practitioners are happy to support you.

Often practitioners are unable to complete retreats due to the high costs of creating such an environment in the West. Here at Thosamling fully catered retreats are within reach.

To discuss your individual retreat needs please contact the office directly via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Retreat Reviews

Sister. Santacitta,  (Austrian, Theravada nun)  May-August 2005

I just completed a 3 month retreat and would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for this precious opportunity to Ani Sangmo and the Thösamling women.

It feels truly special to be part of a place where the feminine element is so strong and an atmosphere of persistent effort is slowly but surely materializing as a nunnery for international women. Despite the work which is going on around the site, which can be a bit noisy at times, I felt altogether very well taken care of and settled.

Homegrown vegetarian food was delivered to my door daily and in the next building there was little 'shop' where chocolate and other important items could be picked up (like ice cold coke and fresh coffee which proved to be the occasional life saver.)

There is also a spacious library on the first floor above the Gompa and a roof top terrace on each building for walking meditation, overlooking stunning rural vistas in all directions.

To live and practice alongside nuns from different traditions is a great inspiration and support. I will miss some of the sisters when I leave - if all goes well I will be back again soon!

Sr. Santacitta from Amaravati Buddhist monastery.