Vajrayana View on Ayahuasca Retreat - Mindful Abiding in Altered States of Consciousness

Vajra Center's Ayahuasca Ceremony is a practice of mindful abiding in the intermediate states (bardo), akin to a journey in an altered state of consciousness between familiar points of perception.

The primary purpose of your stay at Center Vajra is the deepening of spiritual practice. Adherence to the established rules creates the necessary conditions for this.

Place

Center Vajra is located at an altitude of 3900 meters above sea level, near the sacred Kinsa Ccocha lakes in Peru.

To ensure nothing distracts from inner work, the retreat space is organized as a unified whole on a single level. Your living quarters, common rest areas, and the sacred space of the ceremony hall are in harmonious proximity, forming a closed circle of practice and seclusion.

Way of Life

State of Mind: Maintain inner calm, a measured pace, and observe silence on the premises.

Care for Self and Space: Attend to personal hygiene and keep your surroundings clean. Treat resources with care: food, water, electricity, and your own time.

Participation: We invite you to engage in selfless service (karma yoga) — assisting in the kitchen, cleaning, or other communal tasks.

Respect for Spiritual Practice: In the meditation hall and during ceremonies, adhere to the established rules and maintain a peaceful, collected presence.

Mindfulness in Every Action: Remember that your thoughts and actions are visible. Act as if you are in the presence of Guru Rinpoche — for His presence here is constant.

Cultivate inner discipline, simplicity in daily life, and be content with minimal comforts.

Accommodation

To ensure nothing distracts from inner work, the retreat space is organized as a unified whole on a single level. Your living quarters, common rest areas, and the sacred space of the ceremony hall are in harmonious proximity, forming a closed circle of practice and seclusion.

Schedule

DAY 1

12:30 - Arrival and check-in

13:00 - Riwo Sangchö Ritual (Mountain Smoke Offering)

15:00 - Tea Break

17:00 - Meditation

18:00 - Ayahuasca Ceremony

DAY 2

11:00 - Breakfast

13:00 - Riwo Sangchö Ritual

15:00 - Tea Break

17:00 - Meditation

18:00 - Ayahuasca Ceremony

DAY 3

11:00 - Breakfast

13:00 - Riwo Sangchö Ritual

15:00 - Tea Break

17:00 - Meditation

18:00 - Ayahuasca Ceremony

DAY 4

11:00 - Breakfast

13:00 - Riwo Sangchö Ritual

Food

During the retreat, one meal will be provided per day to allow the ceremony to proceed smoothly and comfortably for your body.

It is also important to follow the Ayahuasca diet for at least 3 days prior to the retreat.

For more detailed information on the diet and ceremony preparation, please visit the link below. Pay special attention to the list of medications/vitamins/herbs incompatible with the Ayahuasca plant:

Getting ready for Ayahuasca ceremony.

If you wish, you may bring light snacks for the evening tea. We recommend that these be healthy foods, such as fruits, nuts, or chocolate, without added salt or sugar.

For the Riwo Sangchö ritual, specific offerings are needed. Recommended items include: copal, coca leaves, lavender, hierba dulce, corn, rice, and incense.

What to Bring

  1. Mala beads (for mantra practice, if you engage in it).
  2. Personal hygiene items.
  3. Warm clothing: thermal underwear, woolen garments, warm socks. As the Vajra Center is located high in the mountains, temperatures can be extremely low, so you will need at least three layers of warm clothing.
  4. Slippers.
  5. Water bottle / thermos.
  6. Flowers for the altar (optional).

Recommendations

To maintain an atmosphere of deep immersion and a safe container, please observe the following guidelines:

Stay at the Center:

We ask that you do not leave the center's grounds for the duration of the retreat. This is a necessary condition for maintaining inner focus, gaining maximum benefit from the practice, and providing mutual support for all participants.

On Physical Comfort During Practice:

We understand that prolonged sitting meditation can be challenging. Please prepare your body before sessions and gently restore it afterward — a special space for exercises and stretching has been created in our garden for this purpose.

On Respect for the Meditation Hall Space:

The Hall is the heart of our practice, a sacred place for collective and personal work.

Purpose: Use it exclusively for meditation and ceremonies. Please refrain from sleeping, exercising, personal conversations, and using strong scents (essential oils, perfumes, Agua Florida).

Order: Keep your area clean and arrange your personal belongings neatly.

Leaving During a Session: If you need to exit, please try to do so during a short break between meditation cycles to avoid disrupting the concentration of others.

On Respect for the Process and the Teacher:

The Teacher guides you through this process. Please show respect for their time and energy:

Punctuality: Arrive on time for all meditations, rituals (including Riwo Sangchö), and ceremonies.

Personal Questions: If you have questions about the practice, you may request a private consultation during the designated time.

On the Integrity of Your Practice:

For optimal results, we recommend refraining from any other spiritual or esoteric practices for the duration of the retreat, fully focusing on the presented path.

Before the Retreat

For a harmonious retreat experience, we recommend turning your attention inward. Minimize external activity, maintain inner balance, and, if it is part of your practice, dedicate time to mantra recitation.

Light, simple food and gentle physical exercises, especially stretching for the back and legs, will provide important support.

Particularly significant is forming a clear and pure intention. The highest and most beneficial form is the aspiration for the well-being and liberation of all sentient beings. May this aspiration become the foundation of your path during this retreat.

After the Retreat

Preserve Inner Silence: Protect the state of wholeness you have found by minimizing external impressions and noise in the first few days.

Postpone Activity: Avoid urgent tasks and intensive communication. Allow yourself time to rest and gently return to the rhythm of daily life.

Continue Your Practice: Daily spiritual rituals (meditation, mantras) will help solidify and deepen the experience gained during the retreat.

Cost

Accommodation and meals: $100 USD for 3 days.

Our spiritual practices and Ayahuasca ceremonies are made possible by the generosity of participants. At the end of the retreat, you will have the opportunity to make a donation in a form convenient for you to support the continuation of this work.

We wish you a powerful practice for the benefit of all sentient beings!