Official website – https://www.diamondmountain.org/
The story of this center began with a simple walk and a sudden idea — to do a three-year retreat. Geshe Michael and his friends were walking through New York City when the thought arose. Here’s how he remembers it:
“I was living in New York and had been working in the diamond business for 19 years. One day, a few friends and I were walking through the East Village. I clearly remember—we were crossing the street when someone said, ‘Hey, let’s do a three-year retreat!’ And by the time we made it across, in those 10–15 seconds, everyone had agreed: ‘Yes, let’s do it!’”
But is it really so easy to say “yes” to something like that? And what does it truly mean?
To commit to this retreat, Geshe Michael had to leave behind:
- His home
- The monastery and his Teacher of 25 years
- A career in the diamond industry that spanned nearly two decades
- His students, whom he had taught for 7–8 years
For most people, this would be a nearly impossible decision. But for someone whose highest value is spiritual practice, the choice becomes clear.
And when such deep determination arises, obstacles seem to fall away. That’s exactly what happened in the search for a retreat location. Out of nowhere, someone offered several acres of untouched desert land in the remote Chiricahua Mountains. No proper roads for miles, pristine nature preserved for thousands of years. Wild birds, animals, and even snakes — all completely undisturbed.
In that stillness and seclusion, Geshe Michael and four others began their first three-year retreat.
When the retreat was complete, and Geshe Michael returned to the world, his friends took him to what would soon become Diamond Mountain. During his absence, they had found and leased 1,000 acres of land — for him to teach, to guide others into the depths of retreat and realization.
Why? Because the results are real. Because true success is born from a peaceful mind guided by wisdom. And only by stepping back from life for a while can we see things clearly.
From the start, Diamond Mountain was meant to serve two purposes: long, deep retreats for committed practitioners, and shorter retreats for laypeople, supported through a sustainable commercial model.
And so, the first group of 30 dedicated students entered into their own three-year retreat. Each committed not only to the inner journey, but also to physically building their own retreat cabin. Most learned to mix concrete and build from YouTube — but they did it. And the result is deeply meaningful. You can stay in a cabin that someone built while in retreat. Every brick, every detail infused with the clarity and purity of practice. Created in a space of concentration and wisdom. Incredible.
Over time, a central teaching hall was built, along with a water system — and the project grew into a multi-million dollar spiritual campus.
Today, Diamond Mountain Retreat Center has a professional team, many of whom have completed three-year retreats themselves. They carry the direct experience and are there to guide others — both in preparing for retreat and in going through it.
Because retreat isn’t just about escaping your circumstances. It’s about knowing exactly what to do with your mind once you’re there.
You can come for an individual retreat or as part of a group. Either way, the space invites you to let go of worldly concerns, take a step back, and reflect from a place of stillness.
It may even feel like a pilgrimage — a return to hope. To the hope of lasting happiness and true freedom. All of it already lives within us. We simply need quiet… to remember.
Source of Images – https://www.diamondmountain.org/
