Carmen María

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Traveler | CONTEMPLATIVE | BUDDHIST MEDITATION TEACHER

Carmen María

Carmen has been a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner since 2012, and has spent over four years in strict meditation retreat. After dedicating thousands of hours to solitary meditation, and in a spirit ready to serve, she feels prepared to share with others the methods and techniques she has learned to cultivate mental balance and well-being.

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Center for Contemplative Reseach

Crestone, CO., USA

"Carmen is a rare and highly-qualified meditator, who has been invited from among many
qualified applicants to spend at least six months at the CCR in strict meditation retreat."

Centro de Meditación Dharmadhatu

Meditation and Buddhist Center in Barcelona, Spain

"We wish Carmen all auspicious conditions, free of obstacles, and the inspiration of Buddhas and masters so that her retreat is fruitful and of great benefit to her and all beings."

Terran Palmer-Angell

M.S.; Longtime Contemplative; meditation.quest; Co-Founder of Dereify & Karma Works

"It has been my honor to do retreat along-side her for years now – and I've seen her dedication, diligence, and enthusiasm pay off in ways that have been transformative for her life, and the lives around her. Anyone who has the privilege of learning meditation from her will be learning not only from her years of serious study, but also from the warmth of her extensive meditation experience."

Andie Vazquez (Yeshe)

Life Coach, Buddhist Meditation Teacher & Somatic Active Healer

"Carmen stands as one of the most genuinely dedicated practitioners I have ever encountered. Her devotion and unwavering commitment to her practice is both inspiring and deeply moving.
Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, Carmen is a sincere and qualified guide for anyone who aspires to practice meditation and buddhism, including those who are just beginning their buddhist/meditation journey. Her expertise is profound and authentic, rooted in genuine understanding."

What I Offer?

Explore the depth of meditation with guidance tailored just for you.

Discover how to observe your mind from a first-person perspective and tap into your innate, natural resources to nurture genuine happiness. Genuine happiness arises from transforming how we view the world and how we relate to it.Based on buddhist contemplative methods, discover how to cultivate a calm, clear, and focussed mind through mindfulness and introspection — as well as nurturing a deep sense of love and compassion for yourself and those around you.

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Learn to Develop

A Calm, Clear and Focussed Mind

“Few things affect our lives more than our faculty of attention. If we can’t focus our attention we can’t do anything well. We can’t study, listen, converse with others, work, play or even sleep well when our attention is impaired.” (Attention Revolution)

Through the Cultivation of

Mindfulness and Introspection

“Mindfulness has the characteristic of remembering. Its function is not to forget. It is manifested as guarding.”
(The Path of Purification)“Introspection is a mental faculty having the function of monitoring the state of one’s body and mind. With this faculty we note when the mind has succumbed to either laxity or excitation.” (Attention Revolution)

With

Loving-Kindness and Compassion

“Whatever joy there is in the world
All comes from desiring others to be happy.
And whatever suffering there is in the world
All comes from desiring myself to be happy.”
(The Way of the Bodhisattva)

Unlock the door to

Genuine Happiness

“By happiness I mean here a deep sense of flourishing that arises from an exceptionally healthy mind. This is not a mere pleasurable feeling, a fleeting emotion, or a mood, but an optimal state of being. Happiness is also a way of interpreting the world, since while it may be difficult to change the world, it is always possible to change the way we look at it”
(The Skill of Happiness)

About

Karma Works

One of several projects we've decided to undertake is Karma Works. We started this brand to offer sustainably made, dharma-related daily items as a support for our own and others' daily practice. The sales will go toward improving the retreat place we have, and helping to make it into a place we can share with others who might like to come join us in retreat.

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About

Dereify

Dereify is a nascent podcast, blog, and hub for conversations about meditation, the mind, and contemplative practice in the 21st century. Each of us on the team have lived feeling like there are far too few high quality conversations available about the mind, contemplative practice, and dereification. We hope to share some of those to the best of our abilities, for our own and others' benefit.

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BIG THINK

Eastern philosophy says there is no “self.” Science agrees

“Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9 percent of everything you think, and of everything you do, is for yourself — and there isn’t one.”

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H.H. Dalai Lama

Only Genuine Compassion Will Do

It’s not enough simply to believe compassion is important. We must transform our thoughts and behavior on a daily basis to cultivate compassion.
Before we can generate compassion and love, it is important to have a clear comprehension of what we understand compassion and love to be.

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Carly hunt

Four Tips for Sticking to a Meditation Practice

Having trouble sitting still? Here are some suggestions from a meditation researcher.
Have you heard about the many health benefits of meditation—but find yourself struggling to start or keep up a meditation practice?

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THICH NHAT HANH

5 Practices for Nurturing Happiness

Thich Nhat Hanh’s life was inspiring, his benefit great, and his teaching, like the dharma itself, profound and practical. Here, he shares five practices to nurture happiness: letting go, inviting positive seeds, mindfulness, concentration, and insight.

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come and meditate with us

Retreat Cabin

Tiny House in the Adirondack Mountains, designed specifically for meditation, and exceeding Energy Star standards for total comfort in both cold and warm seasons.

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Meet Carmen

Carmen María has studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism since 2012. After graduating from the College of International Trade and Customs in 2007, she spent five years living on the road around the globe.During her travels, she encountered Tibetan Buddhism and decided to go to India to learn more. After several months of study and practice there, she felt that she had finally found what she'd been searching for all those years on the road. Through the teachings of the Buddha, she discovered a path of irreversible inner freedom and genuine happiness that does not rely on external factors. At that point, she committed herself to a lifelong journey of exploring the mind, a path she intends to follow for the rest of her life.

Carmen has received teachings and guidance from many renowned teachers, including H.H. Dalai Lama, and served as a meditation instructor while living in Barcelona. She has dedicated thousands of hours to meditation practice during strict personal retreats in various countries such as Thailand, Nepal, Mexico, Spain, France, Italy, and more recently, the United States at the Center for Contemplative Research, where she spent over two years in strict retreat, and participated in a research study on the benefits of long-term meditation practice.Carmen is the co-founder of Karma Works and Dereify, working alongside her husband and dharma companion, Terran Palmer-Angell. She lives in the beautiful Adirondack Park in Upstate N.Y., where she aspires to find the middle way between spending time in meditation retreat and sharing with others what she has learned over the past decade — contributing to the best of her ability to the mental balance and well-being of others.

Why One-on-One?

One-on-one sessions allow us to work closely on your specific meditation methods and challenges, whether you're just beginning or looking to deepen an established practice. Together, we will create a meditation practice that suits your needs, incorporating Tibetan Buddhist teachings and proven methods for achieving greater clarity and calm and therefore well-being.

What to Expect

In a private session, we’ll focus on:Customized Meditation Guidance – Techniques tailored to your level of experience and personal aspirations.
Direct Support and Feedback – Personalized insights and adjustments to support your growth.
In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Contemplative Methods– Teachings inspired by my studies and retreat experience, shared in an accessible, meaningful way.

How It Works

One-on-one sessions are conducted in person (if possible) or via video call, offering flexibility and convenience. Each session lasts around 60 minutes, and we can establish a schedule that fits your lifestyle—weekly, bi-weekly, or as suits your progress.

Ready to Begin?

If you’re ready to embark on a personal journey to deepen your meditation practice, reach out to schedule a free consultation. This initial meeting is a chance to explore your goals, discuss my approach, and answer any questions you might have.