The weeklong Joyful Summer Retreat is held each August on a topic suitable for those with no prior exposure to Buddhism or Tibetan Buddhism. Each retreat combines meditation, teaching, discussion, performance, and other activities around a single retreat topic.

The Winter Retreat is generally open to Vajrayana practitioners only, and devotes 7-10 days to teaching, study, meditation, and intensive practice on specific topics.

The Spring Retreat is held each year in the Netherlands in the months of April and May.

Two retreats are held each year at the Garrison Institute, one on Memorial Weekend and one mid-October.