Free & Donation-Based Meditation Retreats
Donation-based retreats (also called dāna) make meditation accessible regardless of financial situation. These centers trust participants to contribute what they can afford, often operating on the generosity of practitioners who have benefited from the teachings.
Dhamma Dhara Vipassana Meditation Center
Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
10-Day
Dhamma Patapa Vipassana Center
Jesup, Georgia
10-Day
Dhamma Siri Vipassana Center
Kaufman, Texas
10-Day
Bhavana Society Forest Monastery
High View, West Virginia
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day · 10-Day
Dhamma Kunja Vipassana Center
Onalaska, Washington
10-Day
Dhamma Pakasa Vipassana Center
Pecatonica, Illinois
10-Day
Dhamma Mahavana Vipassana Center
North Fork, California
10-Day
Dhamma Manda Vipassana Center
Kelseyville, California
10-Day
Dhamma Vaddhana Vipassana Center
Twentynine Palms, California
10-Day
Dhamma Sela Vipassana Center
Elbert, Colorado
10-Day
Dhamma Pubbananda Vipassana Center
Claymont, Delaware
10-Day
Dhamma Pasava Vipassana Center
Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
10-Day
Dhamma Sukha Vipassana Center
New Ulm, Texas
10-Day
Dhamma Visuddhi Vipassana Center
Menomonie, Wisconsin
10-Day
Insight Meditation Center
Redwood City, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
InsightLA
Santa Monica, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Insight Retreat Center
Santa Cruz, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day · 10-Day
IMS Forest Refuge
Barre, Massachusetts
Month+
The Mountain Hermitage
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
7-Day · 10-Day
Vermont Insight Meditation Center
Brattleboro, Vermont
Weekend (2-3 days)
Rocky Mountain Insight
Boulder, Colorado
Weekend (2-3 days)
Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery
Redwood Valley, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Wat Metta (Metta Forest Monastery)
Valley Center, California
Weekend (2-3 days)
Pacific Hermitage
White Salmon, Washington
Weekend (2-3 days)
Dharma Rain Zen Center
Portland, Oregon
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Ryumonji Zen Monastery
Decorah, Iowa
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Korinji Rinzai Zen Monastery
Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Sravasti Abbey
Newport, Washington
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Kagyu Thubten Choling Monastery
Wappingers Falls, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day · Month+
Kunzang Palyul Choling
Poolesville, Maryland
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Bodhi Path Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge, Virginia
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Dharma Drum Retreat Center
Pine Bush, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Ukiah, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day · Month+
Osage Forest of Peace
Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Diamond Mountain Retreat Center
Bowie, Arizona
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day · Month+
Mountain Cloud Zen Center
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Magnolia Grove Monastery
Batesville, Mississippi
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
New York Insight Meditation Center
New York, New York
Weekend (2-3 days)
Dhamma Sukhakari Vipassana Center
Ethel, Washington
10-Day
Abbey of Gethsemani
Trappist, Kentucky
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
New Melleray Abbey
Peosta, Iowa
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
St. Joseph's Abbey
Spencer, Massachusetts
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Mepkin Abbey
Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Holy Cross Abbey
Berryville, Virginia
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Abbey of the Genesee
Piffard, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey
Carlton, Oregon
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Saint John's Abbey
Collegeville, Minnesota
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Monastery of St. Gertrude
Cottonwood, Idaho
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
White House Jesuit Retreat
St. Louis, Missouri
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Osmanli Naqshbandi Dergah
Sidney Center, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Temple Forest Monastery
Temple, New Hampshire
Weekend (2-3 days)
Clear Mountain Monastery
Seattle, Washington
Weekend (2-3 days)
Chaiya Meditation Monastery
Las Vegas, Nevada
Weekend (2-3 days)
Hawaii Vipassana Center
Pahala, Hawaii
10-Day
North Shore Silent Meditation Garden
Haleiwa, Hawaii
Weekend (2-3 days)
Benedictine Center of St. Paul's Monastery
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Our Lady of Good Counsel
Waverly, Nebraska
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Jikoji Zen Center
Los Gatos, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Vedanta Society Retreat Olema
Olema, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Sonoma Ashram
Sonoma, California
Weekend (2-3 days)
Peace Village Learning and Retreat Center
Haines Falls, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Holy Cross Monastery
West Park, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Mount Saviour Monastery
Pine City, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
New York Vipassana Association
Fishkill, New York
10-Day
Great Dharma Chan Monastery
Boulder, Colorado
Weekend (2-3 days)
Monastery of the Holy Spirit
Conyers, Georgia
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Trisikkha Insight Meditation Center
Plant City, Florida
10-Day
Kriya Yoga Institute
Homestead, Florida
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Houston Zen Center
Houston, Texas
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Austin Zen Center
Austin, Texas
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Wattle Hollow Retreat Center
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Kansas Zen Center
Lawrence, Kansas
Weekend (2-3 days)
Green Mountain Zen Center
Huntsville, Alabama
Weekend (2-3 days)
Wallowa Buddhist Temple
Joseph, Oregon
Weekend (2-3 days)
Anchorage Zen Community
Anchorage, Alaska
Weekend (2-3 days)
Tam Bao Meditation Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Weekend (2-3 days)
Magnolia Heart Sangha
New Orleans, Louisiana
Weekend (2-3 days)
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Meditation Center of New Jersey
Monroe Township, New Jersey
Weekend (2-3 days)
Assumption Abbey
Richardton, North Dakota
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Mud Lotus Sangha
Columbus, Ohio
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Blue Cloud Abbey
Marvin, South Dakota
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Sarasota Forest Monastery
Englewood, Florida
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Daiyuzenji Rinzai Zen Temple
Chicago, Illinois
Weekend (2-3 days)
Insight Meditation Community of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Weekend (2-3 days)
Mid-America Buddhist Association
Augusta, Missouri
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Dharma Zephyr Insight Meditation Community
Reno, Nevada
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Mountain Stream Meditation
Nevada City, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center
Bloomington, Indiana
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery
Kingston, Arkansas
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
International Meditation Center USA
Westminster, Maryland
Weekend (2-3 days) · 10-Day
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate
Chicago, Illinois
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Clouds in Water Zen Center
St. Paul, Minnesota
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Atlanta Soto Zen Center
Atlanta, Georgia
Weekend (2-3 days)
San Antonio Zen Center
San Antonio, Texas
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Great Tree Zen Women's Temple
Alexander, North Carolina
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Boulder Zen Center
Boulder, Colorado
7-Day
Sanshin Zen Community
Bloomington, Indiana
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day · Month+
Ithaca Zen Center
Ithaca, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Blue Mountain Zendo
Andreas, Pennsylvania
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day · 10-Day
Tahoma Zen Monastery
Freeland, Washington
7-Day
Zen Center of Pittsburgh
Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Mission Mountain Zen
Dayton, Montana
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Dancing Crane Zen Center
Gainesville, Florida
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Indianapolis Zen Center
Indianapolis, Indiana
Weekend (2-3 days)
Zen Center of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Great Plains Zen Center
Monroe, Wisconsin
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Missouri Zen Center
Webster Groves, Missouri
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Haku-un-ji Zen Center
Tempe, Arizona
Weekend (2-3 days)
Sophia Zen Temple
South Bend, Indiana
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Dharma Zen Center
Los Angeles, California
Weekend (2-3 days)
Karma Triyana Dharmachakra
Woodstock, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Garchen Buddhist Institute
Chino Valley, Arizona
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day · Month+
Nalanda West
Seattle, Washington
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Thubten Norbu Ling
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Ewam International
Arlee, Montana
Weekend (2-3 days) · Month+
Tsechen Kunchab Ling
Walden, New York
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day · Month+
Sakya Kachod Choling
Friday Harbor, Washington
Weekend (2-3 days)
Milarepa Retreat Center
Tallassee, Tennessee
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Pema Osel Do Ngak Choling
Vershire, Vermont
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Abbey of New Clairvaux
Vina, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Assumption Abbey
Ava, Missouri
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Manresa House of Retreats
Convent, Louisiana
Weekend (2-3 days)
Demontreville Jesuit Retreat House
Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Weekend (2-3 days)
Tsechen Namdrol Ling
Jemez Springs, New Mexico
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Sakya Chokhor Yangtse Retreat Center
Barre, Massachusetts
7-Day · Month+
Dar al-Islam
Abiquiu, New Mexico
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Golden Sufi Center
Inverness, California
Weekend (2-3 days)
Dharma Mountain Zen Center
Grand Valley, Colorado
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Three Treasures Sangha / Mountain Lamp
Deming, Washington
7-Day
Siddhayatan Tirth and Spiritual Retreat
Windom, Texas
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram
Boulder, Colorado
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Sat Manav Yoga Ashram
Bethel, Maine
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Forest Dhamma Monastery
Lexington, Virginia
Weekend (2-3 days) · 7-Day
Santivana Buddhist Assembly
Blythe, Georgia
Weekend (2-3 days)
Conception Abbey Guest Center
Conception, Missouri
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Bhavana Society
High View, West Virginia
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 10-Day
Delaware Insight Meditation
Newark, Delaware
Weekend (2-3 days)
Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey
Hulbert, Oklahoma
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley
Warwick, Rhode Island
Weekend (2-3 days)
Great Basin Zen Center
Reno, Nevada
Weekend (2-3 days)
Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity
Huntsville, Utah
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Shantivanam House of Prayer
Easton, Kansas
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Iowa Meditation Community
Iowa City, Iowa
Weekend (2-3 days)
Mindfulness Community of Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Weekend (2-3 days)
Lowcountry Zen Center
Charleston, South Carolina
Weekend (2-3 days)
Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center
Warren, Illinois
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Ozark Meditation Society
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Weekend (2-3 days)
Palolo Zen Center
Honolulu, Hawaii
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Milwaukee Zen Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Weekend (2-3 days)
Mid-America Dharma
Columbia, Missouri
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day · 10-Day
Yogananda Self-Realization Fellowship
Encinitas, California
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Monastery of Christ in the Desert
Abiquiu, New Mexico
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Mississippi Insight Meditation
Oxford, Mississippi
Weekend (2-3 days)
Wat Florida Dhammaram
Kissimmee, Florida
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Glastonbury Abbey
Hingham, Massachusetts
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
White River Zen Center
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Bodhi House Zen Center
Hillsborough, New Jersey
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Mount Angel Abbey Retreat House
St. Benedict, Oregon
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day · 7-Day
Dharma Gate
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Weekend (2-3 days)
Coastal Zen Center
Beaufort, South Carolina
Weekend (2-3 days)
Weston Priory
Weston, Vermont
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Monastery of St. John
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Hundred Acres Monastery
New Boston, New Hampshire
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Annunciation Friary Retreat Center
Frederick, Maryland
Weekend (2-3 days) · 5-Day
Spring Green Zen Center
Spring Green, Wisconsin
Weekend (2-3 days)
Still Point Zen Buddhist Temple
Detroit, Michigan
1_day · Weekend (2-3 days)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do donation-based retreats work?
Donation-based retreats operate on the principle of dāna (generosity). You attend the retreat at no fixed cost and contribute what you can at the end. Suggested amounts are sometimes provided but never required. This model is traditional in Vipassana and some Buddhist traditions.
How much should I donate at a dana-based retreat?
There is no set amount. Consider the value you received, your financial situation, and that your donation helps future participants attend. Some centers suggest amounts equivalent to $50-$100/day as a guideline, but any amount is accepted gratefully.