Meditation, Mindfulness & Mahamudra – Kailash International Retreat Centre

meditation, mindfulness & mahamudra

10 Day silent Retreat in the Mountains

Meditation, Mindfulness & Mahamudra

guided by Gen Kelsang Devi

This 10 day silent retreat will take you on an inner journey into the clear and limitless nature of your own mind and help you to experience the peace and clarity within. Gen Devi will explain and guide simple, yet profound meditations that begin to open up a whole new inner world to gain deep insight and ability to understand and control your mind.

Mahamudra is the heart practice of Kadampa Buddhism. A great favourite among practitioners; deeply relaxing and profoundly illuminating meditations that will empower your ability to meditate and help maintain a happy and peaceful mind in your daily life. Dive into the silence and clarity of your own mind and experience the tranquillity and transformative quality of the mind’s pure nature allowing you to let go of limiting and painful self-conceptions and instead to progress towards becoming the person you wish to be.

Although this retreat is guided as a whole, not every session is guided. Some sessions will be self-guided to enable practitioners to deepen their own experience and confidence in meditation.

We’ll be engaging in Heart Jewel chanted prayers during the sessions. Although the retreat is in-depth, beginners are welcome. This retreat is suitable for those new to meditation as well as experienced practitioners. The retreat schedule allows plenty of time for quiet relaxation, enjoying delicious vegetarian meals and walking in the beautiful surroundings.

Silence
One of the most conducive conditions of this retreat centre is the practice of observing silence. Maintaining silence during such a guided retreat enables the mind to become very peaceful and concentrated in a relatively short period of time and enhances the meditative experience.

During retreat it is always quiet and our meditation sessions are as silent as possible beyond the usual chanted prayers and guidance. Outside of sessions people have the freedom to choose to be silent if they wish or to talk quietly and meaningfully with each other if they prefer.

Date:Fri 7 - Sun 16 Nov 2025
Cost: Attending course only: CHF 342.-
Please see below for onsite accommodation prices
Venue: Kailash International Retreat Centre
Language: The retreat will be guided in English
Mobile phones: During retreats everyone is encouraged to limit distracting activities, especially the use of mobile phones and digital devices to enhance their meditative experience and discover the profound benefits of meditation.

Click here for retreat schedule

Friday 7 November
18.00 – 19.30 Supper
20.00 – 21.30 Introduction to retreat

Saturday 8 November
07.30 – 08.30 Breakfast
09.30 – 10.00 Practical introduction in the dining room
11.00 – 12.30 Teaching
13.00 – 13.45 Lunch
16.00 – 17.30 Teaching
18.00 – 18.45 Supper
19.30 – 20.45 Wishfulfilling Jewel puja with tsog offering

Sunday 9 November
– Half day Silence until 13.00 –
07.30 – 08.30 Breakfast
09.00 – 10.15 Retreat session 1
11.30 – 12.45 Retreat session 2
– Silence ends –
13.00 – 13.45 Lunch
16.30 – 17.45 Retreat session 3
18.00 – 18.45 Supper
19.30 – 20.30 Retreat session 4
– Full Silence begins –

Monday 10 November
07.30 – 08.30 Breakfast
09.00 – 10.15 Retreat session 1
11.30 – 12.45 Retreat session 2
13.00 – 13.45 Lunch
16.30 – 17.45 Retreat session 3
18.00 – 18.45 Supper
19.30 – 20.30 Retreat session 4

Tuesday 11 November

07.30 – 08.30 Breakfast
09.00 – 10.15 Retreat session 1
11.30 – 12.45 Retreat session 2
13.00 – 13.45 Lunch
16.30 – 17.45 Retreat session 3
18.00 – 18.45 Supper
19.30 – 20.30 Retreat session 4

Wednesday 12 November
07.30 – 08.30 Breakfast
09.00 – 10.15 Retreat session 1
11.30 – 12.45 Retreat session 2
13.00 – 13.45 Lunch
16.30 – 17.45 Retreat session 3
18.00 – 18.45 Supper
19.30 – 20.30 Retreat session 4

Thursday 13 November

Friday 14 November

06:30 – 07:00 Mahayana Precepts Ceremony
08:00 – 09:15 Retreat Session 1
11:00 – 12:15 Retreat Session 2
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch
16:30 – 17:45 Retreat Session 3
19:00 – 20:15 Retreat Session 4

Saturday 15 November
07.30 – 08.30 Breakfast
09.00 – 10.15 Retreat session 1
11.30 – 12.45 Retreat session 2
– Silence ends 13.00 –
13.00 – 13.45 Lunch
16.30 – 17.45 Retreat session 3
18.00 – 18.45 Supper
19.30 – 20.30 Retreat session 4

Sunday 16 November
07.30 – 08.30 Breakfast
09.00 – 10.15 Question & Answer
11.30 – 12.45 Wishfulfilling Jewel puja with tsog offering
13.00 Lunch, cleaning & departure

DETAILS >>

Venue >>

The function of meditation is to give rise to mental peace. The supreme permanent mental peace is enlightenment. What is enlightenment? Enlightenment is the inner light of wisdom that is permanently free from all mistaken appearance, and whose function is to bestow mental peace upon each and every living being every day... ”

— Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche

the teacher:

Gen Kelsang Devi is the Principal Teacher of Kailash International Retreat Centre and Kadampa Meditation Centre Switzerland. She is a Buddhist nun and senior teacher of the New Kadampa Tradition, having studied and practiced Kadampa Buddhism for 25 years under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. During this time Gen Devi has engaged in extensive silent meditation retreat and has also taught and skilfully guided numerous group retreats around the world. Gen Devi’s experience makes her teachings and guidance in retreats very powerful, clear and practical and her joyful warmth and humour make them accessible to everyone.

booking + fees

Choose your accommodation preference and click below for prices:

Retreat Only
(no room)

Retreat only (no accommodation, no meals):

Whole retreat: CHF 342.-

Retreat only (no accommodation, with meals):

Whole retreat: CHF 522.-

Main House:
Quad Room

Cost for bed in a Quadruple Room in the Main House with Shared Bathroom:

Whole retreat: CHF 477.-

Main House:
Twin Room

Cost for bed in a Twin Room in the Main House with Shared Bathroom:

Whole retreat: CHF 549.-

Main House:
Single Room

Cost for bed in a Single Room in the Main House with Shared Bathroom:

Whole retreat: CHF 665.-

Temple:
Single Room

Single Room in the Kadampa Temple with bathroom nearby.

Whole retreat: CHF 747.-

Temple:
Single Ensuite

Single Room in the Kadampa Temple with ensuite bathroom.

Whole retreat: CHF 828.-

Temple:
Large Ensuite

Large Single Room in the Kadampa Temple with ensuite bathroom.

Whole retreat: CHF 855.-

Temple:
Ensuite Studio

Luxury Studio Room with ensuite bathroom (includes bath/shower):

Whole retreat:

Cost for 1 person: CHF 882.-

Cost for 2 persons: CHF 1,359.-

booking + fees

Retreat Only
(no room)

Retreat only (no accommodation):

Whole retreat: CHF 640.-

Main House:
Quad Room

Cost for bed in a Quadruple Room in the Main House with Shared Bathroom:

Whole retreat: CHF 849.-

Main House:
Twin Room

Cost for bed in a Twin Room in the Main House with Shared Bathroom:

Whole retreat: CHF 1306.-

Main House:
Single Room

Cost for bed in a Single Room in the Main House with Shared Bathroom:

Whole retreat: CHF 1568.-

Temple:
Single Room

Single Room in the Kadampa Temple with shared bathroom.

Whole retreat: CHF 1764.-

Temple:
Single Ensuite

Single Room in the Kadampa Temple with ensuite bathroom.

Whole retreat: CHF 1960.-

Temple:
Large Ensuite

Large Single Room in the Kadampa Temple with ensuite bathroom.

Whole retreat: CHF 2025.-

Temple:
Ensuite Studio

Luxury Studio Room with ensuite bathroom (includes bath/shower):

Whole retreat: CHF 2090.-

FAQs

Can I attend part of the retreat?

It is possible to attend either Part 1 of the retreat, Part 2, or the full retreat. Please select from the options when booking.

Why attend a retreat?

In retreat we take the time to step away from the busyness and distractions of daily life, creating the space in which we can take the teachings to heart and cultivate a deep experience of inner peace and further our spiritual practice.

If I'm a complete beginner, can I attend?

We offer a variety of retreats to suit everyone. If you are new to meditation or have never done retreat in the Kadampa Buddhist tradition, we recommend you begin your journey with an Introductory Retreat >>

What do I need to bring?

You may find it useful to bring comfortable clothes, indoor shoes/slippers, toiletries, notepad and pen, books relevant to the course or retreat, swiss francs (or they accept cards in most shops/public transport), water bottle, plug adapter. For longer retreats we will contact you with a more extensive checklist of things to bring.

Is the Centre easy to get to?

Despite its remote location, Kailash IRC is very easy to get to by public transport, as well as driving. Please visit the Directions >> page for further details.

Do you cater for special diets?

All meals we offer are vegetarian or vegan and use fresh and organic local produce wherever possible. We can not cater for individual specific dietary requirments.

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