Throughout
the ages, men and women of wisdom have encouraged spiritual organizations
from all cultures to co-exist.
Miles off the beaten path and surrounded by magnificant 14,000 foot
peaks, the Crestone area has attracted spirtually minded travelers
for hundreds,
perhaps thousands of years. We know from archeoloical finds that 'first
nation' people came here and performed sacred ceremonies long before
European or Mexican settlers brought Christianity.
Through generous land donations by Manitou Foundation, spiritual groups,
monasteries and retreat centers from around the world are modeling the
kind of co-existence so needed in our world today. Monastic communities,
representing unbroken religious lineages, offer private and group retreat
opportunities. Other centers are dedicated to prayer, education and meditation.
It is not unusual in the early morning, mid-day or evening, to hear the
sound of a conch horn or the bells of the Carmalite Monestary, inviting
a moment of prayer or meditation. Indeed, a considerable number of our
residents are presently in 2 year closed retreats.
This land is sacred. We know it, and that makes Crestone a very unique
place.
Karma Thegsum
Tashi Gomang was founded by his Holiness the XVI Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu
order of tibeta Buddhism. KTTG is dedicated
to working to fulfill his holiness' vision that this beautiful
and remote location would be an auspicious place for the preservation
and continuation of the Buddhist religion and culture of his tibetan
homeland.
The Tashi Gomang Stupa, consecrated in
1996, is the stupa of many auspicious doors, symbolizing the 84,000
paths taught by the Buddha to reach enlightenment.
The Stupa is dedicated to HH The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, and contains
his relics
and those of many Buddhist saints.
"Karmapa" means "He who performs
the activity of a Buddha." Since
the 12th century, the Karmapa has held the position of supreme head
of the Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism, the lineage known as the "sacred
word".
The shape of the Stupa is an architectural
rendering of enlightenment, depicting the Buddha crowned and seated
in meditation
onÊa lion's throne. The crown is the top of the spire,
his body the rounded shape (bumpa), his legs the four steps of the
terrace and the base of the stupa his throne. The Stupa is open to
the public.
Tashi Gomang Stupa - P. O. Box 39, Crestone, CO 81131
719.256.4694 • www.kttg.org
Sri Aurobindo Learning Center (SALC) was founded in 1986 by Seyril Schochen.
Headquarters are Savitri House and Savitri Solar Dome, where the work
of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother is embodied in spirit and in action.
Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950), India's foremost spiritual teacher
of modern times, was accorded unanimous recognition during his Birth
Centenary as "The Apostle of Human Unity" by all the Member
Nations of UNESCO, under whose auspices the International Township, named
for him "Auroville," was founded in 1968. Emphasizing action
in the areas of transcultural exchange and enrichment for universal peace,
consciousness healing and evolution, and a new education for a new world,
the Learning Center provides a library of the writings of Sri Aurobindo
and The Mother (1878-1973), his spiritual co-worker and founder of Auroville.
Since its inception, SALC has initiated projects and
hosted events to further its purpose of becoming an Indo-American collaborative
center
for educational, scientific, cultural and spiritual researches for "a
living
embodiment of an actual human unity," as Auroville's Charter
affirms. Events include musical performances, plays, dramatic readings, traditional,
Indian and Native American dances, and guest lectures and presentations. All
community members and visitors are warmly invited to attend the presentations.
The Sri Aurobindo Learning Center
P. O. Box 88, Crestone, CO 81131 • 719.256.4917
Yeshe Khorlo, founded by H.E. Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche in 1995, is a non-profit spiritual organization dedicated to sharing the teachings of the 14th century Buddhist saint and King Terts¹n (treasure revealer), Pema Lingpa. The termas (treasures) revealed by Pema Lingpa were instructions and blessings hidden in the 8th century by Guru Rinpoche who prophesized that they would be revealed at a future time when they would be of greatest benefit to the beings of that time.
Rooted in the Nyingma tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism, the Yeshe Khorlo Retreat Center is established as a teaching seat in the west for Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche, the ninth body incarnation of Pema Lingpa. The center is also a place for all people to come and deepen their spirits' and awaken their inner goodness through meditation and retreat.
The Yeshe Khorlo facilities include Choying Dzong, a Bhutanese style Lhakang (temple) and teacher's residence, an outdoor gathering space for teachings and empowerments, four retreat cabins for solitary-contemplative retreat and future three year retreat compound. Yeshe Khorlo offers weekly teachings, meditation instruction, and twice-monthly feast gatherings. Please call for a schedule of events, to make an appointment or for directions.
Yeshe Khorlo P. O. Box 87, Crestone, CO 81131
719.256.5224 • www.yeshekhorlo.org
Spiritual Life Institute a small monastic community of men and women hermit monks was founded in 1960. Its central purpose is to foster the spirit of contemplation as loving awareness. The community is Roman Catholic in origin, Carmelite in spirit and universal in outreach. The Institute was established to foster a spirit of contemplation to help inspire and influence social, political and domestic experience. "Nada Hermitage" in Crestone and "Holy Hill Hermitage" in Skreen, Co. Sligo, Ireland are places for people to live in wilderness for a time, close to nature. Most of the monastery grounds are closed to the public.
Advanced reservations are required for retreats. The Sangre de Cristo Chapel is open to the public and Mass is held every Sunday at 9am.
The Spiritual Life Institute - P.O. Box 219, Crestone. CO. 81131
719 256 4778 • spirituallifeinstitute.org
Haidakhandi Universal Ashram is a spiritual community and pilgrimage center inspired by Haidakhandi Babaji and dedicated to the Divine Mother, who embodies the totality of all that is to be known. Residents at the Ashram follow the teaching of "live lives of truth, simplicity, love and service." Although the worship activities are based in Indian ritual, Babaji taught that all religions lead the sincere devotee to God. Living sustainably, the Ashram has an organic garden, their own
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