Crestone Retreat Center — Attraction in Four Corners States

I stayed in the studio for 2 weeks, to unplug, read, and relax,(and yes, to have someone make a meal for me without having to leave or do it myself) usually with 3 student residents. My back can be "touchy" and I was happy to find the bed quite comfortable. And the food- Mmm, Mmm!

If you want a lot of privacy the guest house or one of the other accommodations is recommended. Students participate in all of the activities, whether Zazen, food prep or the work schedule, so you can get around 6 hours to yourself everyday in the studio (that is assuming the other residents are students) I enjoyed all of the guys that lived there when I was there, everyone respected each others space. The showers and restroom were in the separate guesthouse, but quite convenient and always clean.

They follow a schedule, including meal time; they are very welcoming if you want to "sneak in" and grab a piece of Deborah's* Home Made Bread- or espresso-or both- and if someone* has the urge to make cookies, well, let's just say everything tastes like it gets made with "love". Ok, enough about the great food.

There are 2 meditation periods most days, I participated in the evening Zazen, and would often do a solitary practice in the late morning, undisturbed in the beautiful Zendo, which really promotes a silent mind (something hard for me to do in the big city)

There are lots of places; to hike, or sit on awesome meditation rocks along the creeks, or watch the sun rise behind the 14'er's and onto the valley floor, or watch it set and light up the 14'er's with spectacular clarity; on and all around the property; as well as a National Park, about an hour to drive to (check out Zapata Falls while you're there) and a Rio Grande National Forest Trail head at the North end of Crestone proper. The landscape is fantastic. Whenever I was outside, which was often -even in a hailstorm or snowfall- "Rocky Mountain High" played in my head, is that being mindful? I saw rocky mountain sheep, a bobcat, 2 foxes that live on the property, several deer, an eagle or hawk... lots of hummingbirds!

Everyone always greeted me with a smile and a hello, very welcoming. I loved my experience there. Thank you to everyone I met, including the other guests, whom I often sat and talked or...

I visited the Zen Center with my sister for 5 days as a student, meaning that you are engaged in all the practices and work of the monastery and its staff (as opposed to staying here as a guest, which means you don't work, and are provided accommodations and 3 vegetarian meals each day).

What an incredible experience and what a special place! The people are wonderful, open, and authentic, and treated us with so much hospitality and love. The center and monastery are stunning, located in the beautiful Sangre Del Cristo mountain range near Crestone. The grounds are clean and well maintained, and it just feels very zen here. The air is fresh, it's quiet, serene, peaceful - just exactly what I needed, a refuge to reflect, learn, observe, and cleanse mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

There are 2 meditation cycles each day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Anyone is welcome to come sit and meditate and be a part of the service and chanting and bowing ceremony. It's the first time I've been exposed to Zen, so I'm learning a ton and taking in the customs, practice, the philosophy.

Being here feels very freeing and natural - it's refreshing to be away from the hustle, bustle, and stress of our society, complete with mortgages, social injustices, impure food (just to name a few). The center is illuminating in its simplicity of life and lifestyle choices, and it can be felt throughout.

We were fortunate to be able to speak with several monks, ask questions, and just be a part of the daily life here at the center. It's certainly a place I see myself coming back to again and again, likely as an annual ritual, and perhaps more frequently.

The center hosts individuals, couples, groups, and retreats, and rents out an incredibly spacious done structure for various events. I'm so glad to have accidentally stumbled on this amazing find, and I highly recommend you stop by for a visit, a night, a week, or as long as you feel...

My husband and I recently spent 4.5 days at CMZC. We knew basically nothing about Buddhism or Zen and found this place simply when looking for a different way to unplug and relax. We could not have been more surprised when it turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences of our lives.

The practitioners and staff are so incredibly kind and generous. The sense of community we experienced with the staff and other guests was unsurpassed by any prior experience anywhere ever for both my husband and I. We were welcomed with open arms and treated like family.

The lovingly and skillfully prepared meals were such a treat and the setting in which you enjoy them with the practitioners and other guests was just so peaceful and communal. We are hectic, stressed out and often quite quick to dismiss strangers and keep to ourselves, but the joy I experienced breaking bread with everyone and experiencing more "community" than I have in a very long time was quite possibly the most beautiful part of the whole experience.

I could go on and on about why this was a great stay, but I somehow can't really articulate what a truly peaceful, relaxing, spiritual, and profound experience this was. Whether you're a student/practitioner already, or you know nothing about the practice but are craving a new and different experience like this, just book your stay and don't think twice about it. I can guarantee it will move and astound you. They will share as much or as little of the practice with you as you like, and when you're not in the mood to commune, the level of privacy we had in our quarters was just pure joy.

Whether you're seeking peace, privacy, enlightenment, or just great hiking in a beautiful part of Colorado, CMZC will deliver an experience that will move you in ways you similarly won't be able to adequately describe. I can't thank the staff enough and I will be returning more than once...