The Maine Retreat
JUNE 6-15, 2025
Facing Facts and Finding Liberation
How the Buddha’s central teachings help us navigate today’s challenges
“The teachings of the four noble truths are grounded in our ordinary experiences as human beings. It is by relating with these experiences, rather than by escaping them, that we can free ourselves. The radical message of the Buddha is that the potential for freedom is always at hand, and it is up to us — no one else—what to do about it.” ~ Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
“We don’t meditate to see heaven, but to end suffering.” ~ Ajahn Chah
This year’s retreat explores the first precious teachings that Shakyamuni Buddha gave after achieving enlightenment, known as the Four Noble Truths. Buddha had started his quest with a simple goal—to reduce suffering—and his radical discovery was that he had found a way to do so. The first step is to acknowledge the reality of suffering, to face it directly, to break the habit of avoidance. The second step is to examine its causes and the ways in which we perpetuate it. Thirdly, once we understand what causes us to suffer, we realize that we are not hopeless, but we can free ourselves from suffering. And finally, the Buddha gave us a practical pathway for doing so: we can get to work.
In this retreat we will re-examine these foundational teachings and their relevance to the challenges and chaos of modern life. We will delve into how to develop a path that balances understanding and meditation practice, personal development, and engagement with tough challenges. Together we will look into questions such as:
How can these teachings help us when we are stuck or feel hopeless?
Can we apply the logic of the four truths to look into broader collective patterns of suffering and harm?
In what ways can these essential teachings guide us in how we show up?
Is meditation enough? Is it enough to contemplate compassion?
Through working with the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path, we can experience a world beyond our rigid concepts, dualistic categorizations, and petty fixations. It is possible to take off the masks we hide behind to see clearly what is and act precisely. Ultimately, this path of awakening is learning how to be: how to be present, authentic, and truly of benefit.
The Profound Treasury Retreats are for everyone, whether you are new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner. Your presence and wisdom are welcome.
Practice the Teachings of
The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma
During the Profound Treasury Retreat, we practice and study topics from The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, a compilation of the teachings that Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche gave over a span of 13 years at the Vajradhatu Seminaries, an intensive 3-month program of study and practice he offered to his students. Participants are strongly encouraged to study The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, especially the suggested readings, to help prepare for the retreat.
Teachers
The 12th annual Profound Treasury Retreat in Maine will be led by a team of teachers who are being mentored by Judy Lief and other senior students of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. These teachers have studied and practiced for many years now and they have taken on leadership roles in the retreats. Their fresh approach is inspiring, and we are committed to supporting and empowering new leadership to build on the foundation of the first eleven years and carry these retreats forward into the future.
T. Tavita Martinez is a licensed professional counselor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has been a student of mediation for over 10yrs. During the past few years, Tavita has worked in the Milwaukee Public School system, social services, and community agencies to foster mindfulness and awareness specifically in the areas of trauma and loss. Also, she has provided professional development seminars for entrepreneurs, educators, and mental health providers.
Emilia Volz was born and raised in two Buddhist communities – Shambhala and Mangala Shri Bhuti. She started practicing in her teenage years through Shambhala Training. In 2012 Emilia became a student of Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche and attended the Shechen Seminar in Croatia for many years. In 2019 Emilia attended a Profound Treasury Retreat with Judy Lief. The alive spirit of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and warm homecoming of Profound Treasury have led her to get more involved with the retreat. She has supported the practice, study, and administrative aspects of the retreat and is dedicated to the continuation of Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings and practices.
Emilia has cultivated a career in public health and grant administration. In her daily life she finds joy in the great outdoors of Colorado, fantasy novels, friends, family, and reality TV.
Daniel Nguyen has been a practitioner of Buddhism for over a decade. He studied the Theravada tradition with True North Insight, as well the Kagyu and Nyingma tradition through attending the Profound Treasury Retreats and is one of its current board members.
Daniel is a family doctor in Montreal. He works in a group clinic, in long-term care, as well as palliative care in a hospital.
Blaire Martin was introduced to Chögyam Trungpa’s unique style of meditation in 2013 and her life’s compass shifted on the spot. She attended her first Profound Treasury Retreat in 2019 and has helped in the background every year since. The connections she makes at PTR have enriched her life beyond the retreat.
Blaire currently works for the Chögyam Trungpa Digital Library, has recently moved from Michigan to Nova Scotia, and has two sons. Her most cherished moment to date is when her boys told her, “Something must be working with this Buddhist thing, mom, you’re different in a good way.”
Leandra Ziegler was born to students of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and grew up in Nova Scotia. She has been practicing meditation for 22 years. Inspired by the Dharma Art teachings, she trained as a modern dancer and currently leads creative movement workshops exploring dharmic themes through the body. Leandra has worked as a professional dancer, ESL teacher, and freelance magazine editor. Most recently, she co-directed a dathun, a month-long meditation retreat, at Dorje Denma Ling in Nova Scotia.
Leandra is the managing editor of the Chögyam Trungpa Digital Library and is thrilled to be contributing to making these invaluable teachings accessible to a worldwide audience.
Pricing
The price of the Profound Treasury Retreat includes the retreat, lodging, and meals. The price varies depending on the type of lodging you choose. We encourage you to apply early. Our refund policy and other useful information is in our FAQ section.
Accessible Housing: The Ferry Beach Retreat Center has two accessible rooms available for individuals with physical limitations. For more information about accessible rooms and their pricing contact us.
The Ferry Beach kitchen accommodates a wide range of diets and dietary needs including omnivore, vegetarian, vegan and gluten or dairy-free. We will ask participants to fill out a questionnaire before the retreat to make sure everyone’s preferences, special dietary needs, or allergies are part of the meal planning. You can find more information on meals at the retreat here.
Fees and Housing Options
Pricing Plans
For any questions regarding our pricing plans below, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Double Room
Most Popular!
$1295
Per Person
- Linens Provided
- May Specify Roommate
Single Room
$1750
Per Person
- Linens Provided
Double Tent
$955
Per Person
- You Supply the Tent, Gear and Towels
- Must specify tentmate
- All sites have electricity
- Some sites include a platform
Single Tent
$1100
Per Person
- You Supply the Tent, Gear and Towels
- All sites include electricity
- Some sites include a platform
Triple Room
$1100
Per Person
- Linens Provided
- Bunk Beds
“Generosity is a willingness to give, to open without philosophical or pious or religious motives, just simply doing what is required at any moment in any situation”
– Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Financial support
The Profound Treasury Dharma Foundation is committed to offering the authentic transmission of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings to all, regardless of their financial capacity.
If it will make the difference between attending or not attending the retreat, we encourage you to request financial support when you apply. Decisions on financial support are made concurrently with the application review.
If you would like to join us in offering financial support to those who need it to attend, please go to our Donations page.
The Profound Treasury Dharma Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Sample Schedule for a Study Intensive Day
-
7:30-8:30am
Opening Chants and Sitting Meditation -
8:30-9:30am
Breakfast and Personal Time -
10:00-11:00am
Sitting Meditation & Guided Compassion Practice -
11:00-12:00pm
Main Class -
12:00-2:00pm
Lunch and Personal Time -
2:00-3:30pm
Elective Class -
3:30-4:00pm
Tea Break -
4:00-5:00pm
Personal Time -
5:00-6:00pm
Sitting Meditation -
6:00-7:00pm
Dinner -
7:00-9:00pm
Sitting Meditation -
9:00-10:00pm
Study / Personal Time -
10:00pm
Lights Out
FAQ
Arrival and Departure
Arrival day is Friday, June 6th. Plan to arrive after lunch and before dinner, 2pm – 5:30pm, to register and settle in. The first event is dinner at 6pm followed by an opening ceremony and welcome talk at about 7pm.
The retreat ends on Sunday morning, June 15th, with final remarks and a closing ceremony during which all participants take down the shrine and close the shrine room. We need to vacate our rooms by 10am on Sunday – instructions will be given for where to leave luggage.
The closing ceremony is a very important part of the Profound Treasury Retreat. Please schedule your departure from Ferry Beach after 11:30am on Sunday, June 15th – lunch is optional.
Please make your travel plans accordingly. If you must arrive later than dinnertime on Friday, June 6th, or leave earlier than 11:30am on Sunday, June 15th, let us know as soon as possible by emailing the retreat coordinators, info@profoundtreasuryretreat.com
During your travels to the retreat, if any emergency should arise please call or text Sue (207) 295 4754, or call the Ferry Beach Conference Center at 207-282-4489.
The Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center address is 5 Boardwalk Drive (formerly Morris Avenue), Saco ME 04072. Their website has very good information on travel options, including driving instructions from all four directions. You can check that out on their site at Directions.
For those who are flying, there are three airports in the vicinity of Saco, ME, where Ferry Beach is located:
- Portland Jetport in Portland, ME
- Logan International Airport in Boston, MA, and
- Manchester Airport in Manchester, NH.
The closest airport is Portland, ME, but you might get a better deal flying into Boston. From Boston’s Logan Airport, you can take the Amtrak Downeaster train to Saco, ME (book ahead for significantly lower rates), or you can also take a bus to Portland on Concord Coachlines.
Ferry Beach Is offering a shuttle service from Portland Jetport – fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/29RWcpa2ouxLmPMe7
Ferry Beach Is offering a shuttle service from Portland Jetport – details to follow.
What to Bring
We will provide meditation cushions—gomdens, zabutons, and a limited number of zafus and support cushions. We also have chairs for those who prefer them. However, if you use a meditation bench or a favorite cushion, please bring it with you.
Ferry Beach provides each participant staying in a dorm with 1 set of linens, which includes sheets, towels, a pillow, and a blanket. If you need anything else, you will need to bring it. For example, you might want to bring a beach towel or an extra blanket or that special extra-fluffy pillow.
Campers do not receive linens or towels. Please bring these with you when you come.
Daily dress for the program is casual but uplifted (in other words, not loose work-out clothing). Please refrain from clothing with complicated designs and messages as they can become distracting entertainments or annoyances during sitting periods. We advise you to check the weather in Saco, Maine, for the retreat period just prior to coming and bring appropriate outdoor clothing. Maine in June is likely to be chilly in the evenings so layers are recommended. You should have rain gear and/or an umbrella, especially if you are camping. We have a celebratory banquet on the last night, so please bring one dressy outfit for that occasion.
Please remember to bring Covid Test Kits (at least three tests) and enough medical or (preferably ) N95 masks for the full length of the program. We also recommend bringing a small portable supply of hand sanitizer to carry with you throughout the day.
Bring all your own toiletries including soap and shampoo. These items are not provided. Also bring any other personal care items and prescription, non-prescription vitamins & supplements that you use or may need. Again these items are not provided and unless it’s an emergency we are not able to shop for them during the retreat.
Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center is located 4 miles away from any kind of shop so there is no opportunity to pick up items once at the retreat. There is no store on the location of the retreat. Consider things like snacks, contact lens solution, soap and deodorant when packing for the trip. It’s Maine, so tick and mosquito repellent as well as sun protection are great to bring.
- A flashlight
- Bathing suit for the beach
- Flip flops for the beach or showers
- You may want a shawl or a throw for chilly mornings or evenings in the shrine room.
- Open containers like mugs are not allowed in the shrine room. If you need to bring liquids into the shrine room, please bring a spill-proof bottle or mug.
Preparation
Practice. Practice. Practice.
The most important preparation you can do for the retreat is to have a regular sitting practice. Try to meditate every day and do longer sessions on the weekends. If you are able to attend group meditation sessions, that would be excellent. If you have been introduced to tonglen practice, make it a point to incorporate this into your daily and weekly practice so that it feels familiar to you.
If you’d like to purchase a PTR Chant Book ($30 including shipping within the US), please email info@profoundtreasuryretreat.com.
PTOD Volume One – pages 50-60
The Truth of Suffering & the Path of Liberation – by Chogyam Trungpa
What the Buddha Taught – by Walpola Rahula pages 16-50
A great way to prepare for the retreat is to watch the video courses of past Profound Treasury Retreats produced by Shambhala Publications.
Camping
Keeping in mind that Maine can be chilly in June, especially in the early morning and at night, bring warm sleeping bags and blankets. Campers should also bring their own pillows, towels, linens and any other creature comforts. Be prepared for rain.
Since the camping area is in the pine forest across from the Retreat Center, consider mosquito netting or repellent, a light source such as a lantern and flashlight, and a sleeping pad or air mattress. Flip flops or other easy on/off shoes are great for the trek to the showers and WC.
Volunteering
All of the housekeeping and meals – cooking and kitchen clean-up – are provided for us by the Ferry Beach staff. However, you will have the opportunity to participate in shrine room duties at the retreat. This is an important part of our practice and community. We sweep and clean the shrine room and the post-meditation hall daily–sand blows in from the beach, which is just a few feet away!
There are also opportunities to volunteer for shrine room duties such as ikebana (flower arranging), umdze (chant leader and time-keeper), gatekeeper, shrine-keeper, and drummer during chants. If you have an interest in any of these positions, there is always an opportunity for training and practice in a supportive atmosphere. You can sign up for these positions at a board in the post-meditation hall, where daily announcements are posted.
We also have a number of events that require extra effort from our community, for our community. These include building a bonfire one night, setting up for the final banquet, and help with any feasts. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and engage with the retreat.
Food and Drink
Ferry Beach does its best to accommodate everyone’s needs, and provides vegetarian and vegan options for those who request them prior to the retreat, as well as gluten-free and dairy-free options.
All participants will receive a Participant Questionnaire asking for information about their food needs and preferences. It’s important to fill this out so that the kitchen staff can plan to meet your dietary needs.
With respect and consideration for other participants, the PTR has a policy of no public consumption of alcohol during the retreat – except at the banquet when alcoholic beverages are offered.
The retreat is an opportunity to explore our habitual tendencies – including those around alcohol – and participants are encouraged to refrain from drinking during the retreat.
Facilities
We have the OCEAN! It is brisk!!
Costs and Money
Prices range depending on the type of accommodations you select. Please see the Pricing section for more details.
Your program fee is fully refundable until six weeks before the start of the retreat.
If you withdraw between six and three weeks ahead of retreat time, 50% of your program fee is automatically refundable.
We may not be able to make any refund if you withdraw within three weeks of the start date since we will be committed to paying our host for the cost of your room & board. However, the admin team will review all refund requests after the retreat and make additional refunds wherever possible.
The Profound Treasury Dharma Foundation is committed to offering the authentic transmission of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings to all who want to receive them, regardless of their financial capacity. Please see Financial Support above for more details.
You can apply for a financial support during the Application process. Funds are not unlimited, and are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please apply as early as possible. You will be notified of your financial support in your acceptance letter.
There is no ATM on premises or nearby. Please plan for cash needs before arriving since we cannot make trips into the village to get money.
Since there is no ATM on site, you should bring some cash (and/or a checkbook) for incidental expenses.
There will be an opportunity to offer a teaching gift to the head teacher (a traditional offering after receiving teachings). The amount of your teaching gift, if you wish to offer one, is completely up to you.
We also collect a small offering to show our appreciation for the Ferry Beach staff who who take such good care of us.
We can accept major credit cards for offerings if you don’t have cash.
Photography and Use of Electronic Devices
Participants cannot make video or audio recordings of the talks under any circumstances. An official retreat photographer will be taking photographs during the retreat.
Finally, to maintain the contemplative atmosphere of the retreat, we ask that you do not use your mobile phone in public spaces and that you only use it in private if absolutely necessary.
The Team
The 2025 Retreat Coordinators
Eric Diaz
Joe Armstrong
diaz@larediaz.law
sherab1688@gmail.com
The Retreat Location
Ferry Beach is 30 minutes south of Portland, ME; 90 minutes north of Boston, MA;
and 5 miles from the Saco Amtrak station.
Ferry Beach
5 Boardwalk Drive (formerly Morris Ave), Saco ME 04072
Phone:+207.282.4489
info@ferrybeach.org
Directions to Ferry Beach
2024 Teaching Team: Barry Boyce, Chris Willcox, Damita Brown, Judy Lief, Emilia Volz, Tavita Matinez, Daniel Nguyen.