Practice. Contemplate. Meditate.

Dewachen Sanctuary | Costa Rica

Welcome to Dewachen

We are building a silent retreat sanctuary in Costa Rica’s pristine cloud forest where you can immerse yourself in practice, contemplation, and meditation. Join us on this journey to cultivate peace and contribute to a compassionate society.

Welcoming people of all traditions, Dewachen offers personal and group teachings in meditation and compassionate living, guided by an experienced Tibetan Lama. Our techniques are rooted in Buddhist principles, yet our approach is open and accessible to everyone. Through these teachings, we focus on fostering inner happiness, promoting intercultural unity, and contributing to ecological regeneration–three guiding pillars that shape the vision of Dewachen.

Our Guiding Pillars

Inner Peace

Intercultural Unity

Ecological Regeneration

The Power of Silence

True happiness can be achieved when you come home to your true nature of compassion and wisdom. Dewachen is a place for you to unwind, get in touch with the natural world, and heal your body with fresh spring water, organic foods, and local fruits. Here, you are free to rest your mind in its natural state.


An Ancient Meditation lineage

For 2,500 years, this tradition of meditation has been passed down in an unbroken oral lineage of masters. After experiencing the tremendous benefits of four years in solitary retreat, Lama Dorje is called to share these practices with others. In 2018, he was given the title of Drupon “Retreat Master” from His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche.

Help Us Achieve Our End-of-the-Year Goal

Dewachen is the heart of the sangha, and it takes a village to create it.


We are fundraising to build four retreat cabins by the end of 2024, with the goal to begin hosting you in 2025!

The construction costs of each cabin are $50,000. These flexible living spaces are designed to function as solitary retreat spaces that can comfortably change into shared accommodation during group retreats.  Each cabin features a private kitchen, private bathroom with hot shower, an altar, meditation deck, and private garden. The thoughtful design and amenities were conceived as comfortable spaces for silent meditation. 

MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION

Goal: $200,000
4 cabins @ $50,000 each
All donations are tax-deductible in the U.S. 

First Cabins Already Sponsored!

Thank you Cathal, Lorraine, Leeanne, and Rebecca

Donate what you can
and we return your generosity

As a thank you, you’ll receive:

  • Butter Lamp offering & prayer in your name

As a thank you, you’ll receive:

  • Blessed mala from Lama
  • Butter lamp offering & prayer in your name

As a thank you, you’ll receive:

  • One personal one-week retreat at Dewachen (ask for details)
  • 5 Free online classes
  • Blessed mala from Lama
  • Butter lamp offering and prayer in your name

Please contact info@lamadorje.net for wire info

As a thank you, you’ll receive:

  • A personal one-week retreat at Dewachen- for 5 years (ask for details)
  • Two 1-on-1 orientations with Lama per year (for three years)
  • Personal framed photo & certificate for your home
  • Sponsor plaque with your name at Dewachen
  • 5 Free online classes
  • Blessed mala from Lama
  • Butter lamp offering & prayer in your name

Please contact info@lamadorje.net for wire details

As a thank you, you’ll receive:

  • A personal 2-week retreat at Dewachen- Annually (ask for details)
  • Three 1-on-1 orientations with Lama per year (for 5 years)
  • Personal framed photo gift and certificate for your home
  • Sponsor plaque in your name at Dewachen
  • 5 Free online classes
  • Blessed mala from Lama
  • Butter lamp offering and prayer in your name

Please contact info@lamadorje.net for wire details

Sponsor the construction of an entire cabin. As a thank you, you’ll receive: 

  • A personal 2 - 4 weeks retreat at Dewachen - Annually (ask for details)
  • Quarterly 1-on-1 orientations with Lama to keep your practice integrated (for 5 years)
  • Personal framed photo gift and certificate for your home
  • Sponsor plaque with your name at Dewachen
  • 5 Free online classes
  • Blessed mala from Lama
  • Butter lamp prayers in your name

Please contact info@lamadorje.net for wire details

What We’ve Built Together at Dewachen

How Dewachen was born:

Drupon Lama Dorje completed a 4-year solitary retreat in the mountains of India under the Drikung Kagyu Lineage which changed his life profoundly. He aspired to create a silent retreat sanctuary accessible to all people of all backgrounds, so they too could benefit from this knowledge and come to know their innate goodness.

After dedicating 14 years of teaching in Chile, Lama visited Costa Rica in 2021 and learned this country is committed to peace and regeneration. Here he found the perfect home for Dewachen Sanctuary.

The land owner made a generous offer to support Lama’s dream, and two sangha members matched each other to make the land purchase possible. Since then, the sangha has come together to protect even more surrounding land and water.

Now we are building this dream step by step as a gift to humanity -- to be reserved for all future generations.

The Future of Dewachen

Permaculture Plan

We designed Dewachen with nature in mind to ensure protection of all beings

Solitary Retreats

Experience personal silent retreat: weekend, week, month, year and traditional 3 year retreats

Traditional Temple

We will build a traditional Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Costa Rica to preserve Tibetan culture.

Rinpoche House

We will build special housing for high masters from Tibet to come share their precious wisdom

Sangha gatherings

A beautiful place to gather in community, pray, and grow together

Food Forest

We are replanting the forest with abundant fruits both for visitors and local wildlife to enjoy

Stupa of Enlightenment

A sacred monument of the Enlightened mind to bless visitors and anchor the environment

Amitabha Garden

We will dedicate a garden to Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, who's pureland is the realm of Dewachen

Prayer Wheel Paths

All around Dewachen you will find paths with prayer wheels, filled with millions of mantras, that send out prayers as you spin them

Sacred Art

Walking paths at Dewachen will be filled with sacred art that bring about inspiration and wisdom

INSPIRED TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR SKILLS?

Volunteer with us

may all beings benefit