Established as an educational non-profit in 2003, we are an all-volunteer community, with staff of varied backgrounds and experience. Our unifying purpose is a commitment to a spiritual path of inquiry and formal practice, and our belief that serving others is an important part of spiritual practice. Working for our guests’ happiness is something we enjoy and take pride in. Our community invites people of any spiritual tradition, race, class, nationality, gender and sexual orientation to enjoy our simple but comfortable retreat facilities. 

Since 2003, people gather at our beautiful retreat land for community and environmental work, and spiritual training and healing, both structured and informal. Many groups have become repeat visitors. The Black Mountain Retreat Center is the rental facility operating as part of Padmasambhava Peace Institute, and the ideal option for groups seeking a retreat space at a reasonable price around the Bay Area, where many other accommodations are either expensive hotels and spas or larger camp-style resorts requiring minimums of 40 or 50.

Groups of 15 to 85 people can choose from a range of accommodations and meeting rooms, and have the option to do their own catering or make use of our well-supplied commercial kitchen. Our rooms are clean, simply furnished, heated in cold weather, and most have views over the hills or forests. Private and dormitory accommodations are all single or double beds (no bunk beds) and bathrooms are spacious and very well-maintained. Guests can schedule time to be in our large shrine-room, as well as enjoy access to the extensive library, which has excellent collections of Buddhist, Hindu, art and architecture, and comparative religion books.

See our website at Black Mountain Retreat Center and please email or call us on (707) 632 5629 to find out about available dates, or with any questions.