What to Bring

Updated 2021

Karmê Chöling is situated at 605 feet elevation east of the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Be prepared for variable and unpredictable weather!
Please review “ Retreat Cabin Inventory” to understand what you will find in your cabin!
Here are some things to remember to bring with you for your retreat.

Any time of the year:

• Medications, and your preferred First Aid items (see cabin inventory for what is in
  the kit).
• Battery-operated LED reading lamp or headlamp with a bright white light.
• Your toiletries; wet wipes can be handy.
• Lip balm, sun screen
• Battery-operated alarm clock.
• We supply cloth rags for cleaning, no paper towels.
• Cash for buying food items from Karmê Chöling for longer retreats; we do not do
  town trips.

Colder months:

• Warm slippers.
• Sturdy boots with good lug soles.
• Yak tracks, or some other device to attach to the underside of your boots to
  prevent slipping.
• Warm coat, hat, mittens and/or gloves, scarf.

In deep winter:

• Snow boots with lug soles are a must .
• Layers of clothing .
• If traveling by car, consider bringing a small rug .
• Hot water bottle .
• Hot cocoa and other warm comfort food.
  

Warmer months:

• Raincoat, rain hat, galoshes.
• Hiking shoes or boots with lug soles; sneakers.
• Even in the summer the evenings can be cool; please bring a warm jacket and
  sweater.
• Insect repellent: Although we provide some insect repellent, it may not be a brand
  suitable for you.
• For a cabin retreat May-October we recommend
  • Buying insect-repellent clothing OR
  • Treating a set of light colored outdoor clothing and shoes with Permethrin in order to repel ticks. The retreats staff uses Permethrin Gators, or treated sleaves that you wear over pant legs.
  • Please be aware that Permethrin in liquid form is toxic for aquatic life and for cats. Once it is dried, the clothing is safe to wear on bare skin.

Tantrikas:

• All vajrayana chants, and your liturgies and sadhanas
• All offering substances for the shrine (candles, incense, charcoal, saffron, ink,
  sake, dutsi etc.).
• Cord to repair broken mala or an extra mala.

Food and beverages:

• You are responsible for purchasing and bringing to retreat all your own food.
• Bring into retreat all the drygoods and non-perishables you’ll need for your retreat.
  Plain water for drinking and cooking is provided.
• Karmê Chöling’s one-acre organic garden provides boxes of produce for $25 per
  box during the growing season, June-October. You can order a box or more for
  your retreat with fresh seasonal produce. A box should last a week.
  These foods are alive and full of flavor. You never quite know what you get in a box, but the Retreat Master can send you a list of the most current garden produce if you ask by email a week before your retreat.
  
  Let the Retreat Master know if you want to order a box at least a week in advance
  of your arrival day.
  

Don’t forget these if you want them – they are not supplied:

• Incense, lhasang substances, charcoal, tea for the protector offerings.
• Votive candles or tea lights (votives or tall cylinder candles encased in glass only
  – tapers or column candles are not permitted).
• Practice implements, gong.
• Liturgies.
• Any first aid materials other than what is provided (see cabin inventory).