“I take refuge in emptiness, luminous awareness and compassion.”

Dear Friends,

This is a line from the Ngondro meditation, one that is part of the refuge formulations in Dzogchen nying thig tradition. They refer to the refuge in the three jewels but also the many other ways of understanding refuge. 

The one from the Dakini’s Heart Essence gives a very long formulation:

I take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

I take refuge in the Lama, Yidam, and Khandro.

I take refuge in the Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, and Nirmanakaya.

I take refuge in emptiness, lucid presence and compassion.

I take refuge in the dharmakaya buddha.

I take refuge in the Sambhogakaya.

I take refuge in the compassionate nirmanakaya.

I take refuge in my own kind root teacher.

I take refuge in the lineage lamas, the source of blessings.

I take refuge in the compassionate teachers who give me guidance.

I take refuge in the yidam and the divine assembly of its mandala.

I take refuge in the warriors, dakinis, and dharma protectors.

But the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse is an essential version of the Dakini’s Heart Essence and the Dzogchen Nyingthig teachings, so it presents something more pithy. It says:

I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and Sangha

I take refuge in the Lama, Yidam and Khandro

I take refuge in the channels, winds, centers, and their nature, the bodhicitta,

I take refuge in emptiness, lucid presence and compassion

These prayers represent a reorientation that happens through Ngondro training. There is a change from seeing oneself as alone and rootless to seeing oneself as deeply connected, particularly connected to one’s lineage, to the buddha-nature of the body, to the wisdom intrinsic to the phenomenal world. It is not just a sense of refuge that comes from externals, but it is ultimately a sense of refuge that comes in the very wisdom of one’s own body and natural mind. To develop such a sense of refuge is an essential part of Vajrayana training, because it is a  matter of a sense of one’s roots, a sense of having resources in the most profound sense.

I am reminded of Garchen Rinpoche’s lovely analogy – there is a difference between a flower that has been picked and a flower that has its roots in the ground. The flower that has been picked and now lives in a vase, inside the house, will perish very easily. Whereas the flower that is still in the ground, its roots in the earth, can withstand winds, rains, hot and cold. 

What is that intangible quality of feeling that one has roots? The feeling that one knows one’s place in this world? It seems to be missing in our scientific studies of the benefits of meditation for the very reason that we cannot quantify it. Yet it is a matter of ultimate importance and something that Ngondro meditations address very directly. 

This Monday, I am looking forward to leading another module of Ngondro Training, the section on purifying the mind from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse Ngondro series. New students can join in on the class, so I am looking forward to seeing old friends and new friends. 

Happy lunar new year to you, and may health and wisdom prevail,

Entering the Heart of the Vast Expanse

Purifying the Mind

 

Feb 22-24, 2021, 1-3pm PT

Ngondro Training

Vajrasattva Meditation and Purification of Karma

 

It is possible to join Ngondro Training at any time, and it can be taken in any order. Join current modules live and take previous modules at your own pace. This module will focus on Purifying the Mind including Vajrasattva Meditation and Purification of Karma.

Ngondro are the foundational practices for purifying, training and empowering the body-mind. They form the basis of Vajrayana meditation and serve as the foundation for the highest practices of the nature of mind. Ngondro means ‘before going.’ In traditional Vajrayana practice, it represents the cognitive, physical, emotional and philosophical components which are keys to the practice liberation. 

This Ngondro training focuses on the foundational esoteric practices of the Nyingma tradition, of Tibetan Buddhism which emphasizes reliance on intrinsic wisdom, through its highest teaching, Dzogchen. The Heart of the Vast Expanse is a cherished cycle of the Nyingma lineage. It is also known as the Longchen Nyingthig, (klong chen snying thig). This is a cycle revealed by the brilliant eighteenth century Buddhist yogi, Jigme Lingpa, poet, leader, historian, and treasure revealer, whose texts synthesize Longchenpa’s teachings.

Pema Khandro reserves Ngondro teachings for serious students who wish to do intensive contemplative training. Dedicated to training yogis, householders and lay people outside of the monastery, Pema Khandro presents these practices in their concise, essential form. This comprehensive course on Ngondro will be taught in four modules to support the accomplishment of practice over the period of one year, with the training modules completed in nine months.

Heart of the Vast Expanse – 4 Modules

Module 1: The Field of Buddhas (Self-paced Course)
Module 2: Purifying the Mind
Module 3: Mountain of Jewels
Module 4: Intrinsic Wisdom

Module 1: The Field of Buddhas (Self-paced Course)
Purification of Speech
Generating A Refuge Field
Raising Enlightened Intent 

Module 2: Purifying the Mind
Vajrasattva Meditation
Purification of Karma

Module 3: Mountain of Jewels
Mandala Offering
Vajrayogini Practice
Seven Line Prayer

Module 4: Intrinsic Wisdom
Receiving the Four Empowerments
Merging into Buddhahood

---

Laughter of the Dakinis – Dakini Day Chod

 

March 8th, 2021, 1-3pm PT

 

Tibetan Chod Meditation is a practice for letting go of self-deception, facing death and developing radical compassion. 

 

---

ONLINE OPEN TEACHINGS

*All times are listed in Pacific Time UTC-8 (Timezone Converter)

 The 100 Days of Practice is being extended year round!

Starts Feb 12th, 12pm

Daily Meditation
Join our certified meditation instructors for a short free daily practice online. Each day meditation is followed by conversations about Buddhism.

Thursdays – Through April, 8am
A Course in Valid Cognition with Geshe Sonam
Winter Pramana Study

Feb 22-24, 1-3pm

Ngondro Training
Purifying the Mind: Vajrasattva Meditation & Purification of Karma

Mar 8, 1-3pm

Laughter of the Dakinis: Dakini Day Chod

Meditation and instructions on letting go of fictions and self-deception in Tibetan Chod meditation. 

Mar 17, 6pm

Being with Illness & Dying, with Pema Khandro 

By Donation. A free event open to the public. 

Mar 19-21, 10am-6pm

The Bardo Retreat with Pema Khandro

Pema Khandro will teach on the six bardos, Buddhist instructions for how to live wakefully in the phases of change within our lives. 

Apr 23-25, 10am-6pm

Finding Comfort and Ease

Pema Khandro teachings on Longchenpa’s Finding Comfort and Ease in the nature of mind.

April 25

Dharma Dialogue Series

Pema Khandro and Lama Willa in the Dharma Dialogue Series on Women in Buddhism. 

---

MEMBERS-ONLY CLASSES

Learn More about Membership

1st and 2nd Wednesdays – Vajrayana Training with Pema Khandro

A study of Buddhist philosophy for students on the path of Vajrayana and Great Perfection (Dzogchen).

3rd and 4th Wednesdays – Ngakpa Training with Pema Khandro

In-depth study of the Ngakpa Tradition for students who have completed pre-requisites. These classes continue the study of Buddhist philosophy examining source texts and discussing the main points of living a Buddhist life. 

---

DAKINI MOUNTAIN NEWS

Seeking Land Manager for Dakini Mountain

Seeking a land manager for twenty hours a week in exchange for someone who wants to do off grid living with your own self-sustaining mobile home/RV system on Dakini Mountain property and free Buddhist Studies Institute courses. No RV hookups are here but it is the one of the most beautiful places on earth. Applicants must have farm experience, landscaping skills, construction, building knowledge, handyman skills etc, as well as capacity to be self-motivated, self-starting, work with others, take direction well and problem solve. Past experience as well as three employment references are required. Please send your resume, a photo, along with the name and contact for three employment references to Info@DakiniMountain.org.

Do you have Business and/or Real Estate Expertise?

Seeking conversation partners in reshaping the future of Dakini Mountain – seeking to converse with people with experience in real estate and running businesses as we re-vision how Dakini Mountain will take shape during the pandemic and beyond. Contact Info@DakiniMountain.org.

Entering the Heart of the Vast Expanse

Purifying the Mind

It is possible to join Ngondro Training at any time, and it can be taken in any order. Join current modules live and take previous modules at your own pace. This module will focus on Purifying the Mind including Vajrasattva Meditation and Purification of Karma.

Ngondro are the foundational practices for purifying, training and empowering the body-mind. They form the basis of Vajrayana meditation and serve as the foundation for the highest practices of the nature of mind. Ngondro means ‘before going.’ In traditional Vajrayana practice, it represents the cognitive, physical, emotional and philosophical components which are keys to the practice liberation. 

This Ngondro training focuses on the foundational esoteric practices of the Nyingma tradition, of Tibetan Buddhism which emphasizes reliance on intrinsic wisdom, through its highest teaching, Dzogchen. The Heart of the Vast Expanse is a cherished cycle of the Nyingma lineage. It is also known as the Longchen Nyingthig, (klong chen snying thig). This is a cycle revealed by the brilliant eighteenth century Buddhist yogi, Jigme Lingpa, poet, leader, historian, and treasure revealer, whose texts synthesize Longchenpa’s teachings.

Pema Khandro reserves Ngondro teachings for serious students who wish to do intensive contemplative training. Dedicated to training yogis, householders and lay people outside of the monastery, Pema Khandro presents these practices in their concise, essential form. This comprehensive course on Ngondro will be taught in four modules to support the accomplishment of practice over the period of one year, with the training modules completed in nine months.

Heart of the Vast Expanse – 4 Modules

Module 1: The Field of Buddhas (Self-paced Course)
Module 2: Purifying the Mind
Module 3: Mountain of Jewels
Module 4: Intrinsic Wisdom

Module 1: The Field of Buddhas (Self-paced Course)
Purification of Speech
Generating A Refuge Field
Raising Enlightened Intent 

Module 2: Purifying the Mind
Vajrasattva Meditation
Purification of Karma

Module 3: Mountain of Jewels
Mandala Offering
Vajrayogini Practice
Seven Line Prayer

Module 4: Intrinsic Wisdom
Receiving the Four Empowerments
Merging into Buddhahood

---

Laughter of the Dakinis – Dakini Day Chod

March 8th, 2021, 1-3pm PT

 

Tibetan Chod Meditation is a practice for letting go of self-deception, facing death and developing radical compassion. 

 

---

ONLINE OPEN TEACHINGS

*All times are listed in Pacific Time UTC-8 (Timezone Converter)

 

The 100 Days of Practice is being extended year round!

Starts Feb 12th, 12pm

Daily Meditation

Join our certified meditation instructors for a short free daily practice online. Each day meditation is followed by conversations about Buddhism.

Thursdays – Through April, 8am
A Course in Valid Cognition with Geshe Sonam
Winter Pramana Study

Feb 22-24, 1-3pm

Ngondro Training
Purifying the Mind: Vajrasattva Meditation & Purification of Karma

Mar 8, 1-3pm

Laughter of the Dakinis: Dakini Day Chod

Meditation and instructions on letting go of fictions and self-deception in Tibetan Chod meditation. 

Mar 17, 6pm

Being with Illness & Dying, with Pema Khandro 

By Donation. A free event open to the public. 

Mar 19-21, 10am-6pm

The Bardo Retreat with Pema Khandro

Pema Khandro will teach on the six bardos, Buddhist instructions for how to live wakefully in the phases of change within our lives. 

Apr 23-25, 10am-6pm

Finding Comfort and Ease

Pema Khandro teachings on Longchenpa’s Finding Comfort and Ease in the nature of mind.

April 25

Dharma Dialogue Series

Pema Khandro and Lama Willa in the Dharma Dialogue Series on Women in Buddhism. 

---

MEMBERS-ONLY CLASSES

Learn More about Membership

1st and 2nd Wednesdays – Vajrayana Training with Pema Khandro

A study of Buddhist philosophy for students on the path of Vajrayana and Great Perfection (Dzogchen).

3rd and 4th Wednesdays – Ngakpa Training with Pema Khandro

In-depth study of the Ngakpa Tradition for students who have completed pre-requisites. These classes continue the study of Buddhist philosophy examining source texts and discussing the main points of living a Buddhist life. 

---

DAKINI MOUNTAIN NEWS

Seeking Land Manager for Dakini Mountain

Seeking a land manager for twenty hours a week in exchange for someone who wants to do off grid living with your own self-sustaining mobile home/RV system on Dakini Mountain property and free Buddhist Studies Institute courses. No RV hookups are here but it is the one of the most beautiful places on earth. Applicants must have farm experience, landscaping skills, construction, building knowledge, handyman skills etc, as well as capacity to be self-motivated, self-starting, work with others, take direction well and problem solve. Past experience as well as three employment references are required. Please send your resume, a photo, along with the name and contact for three employment references to Info@DakiniMountain.org.

Do you have Business and/or Real Estate Expertise?

Seeking conversation partners in reshaping the future of Dakini Mountain – seeking to converse with people with experience in real estate and running businesses as we re-vision how Dakini Mountain will take shape during the pandemic and beyond. Contact Info@DakiniMountain.org.

Happy Losar to all Friends and Sangha Members,

Happy Lunar New Year, year of the Female Iron Ox!

In Tibetan the term ‘losar’ literally means ‘new year.’ It refers to the lunar new year, a time for new beginnings. Last year had so many difficulties and challenges, so much raw emotion that was unleashed. As we begin the new year, may the difficulties be left behind but may the learning and wisdom that began last year remain and increase.

May we begin the new year by following the tradition of doing virtuous actions, the effects of which are said to be multiplied in the first days and weeks of the new year. Traditionally this includes making offerings to the shrine and to the three jewels, saving lives, practicing generosity of many forms.

This year the importance of nurturing harmony in the world has been made more evident than ever. This can be part of our virtuous work. We can start by making amends with family and friends, to take seriously that the wish “may all beings have peace,” should be actualized in our direct relationships with family, friends, neighbors and sangha members. To cultivate peace in real relationships takes work, it takes time, humility and compassion for ourselves and others. It requires inner work as well as the bravery to work through things together. May we speak words of kindness, forgiveness and care. May we set boundaries well and care for our mental, spiritual and physical health. May we be there for ourselves and others. May we bravely nurture friendships new.

This year I am celebrating Losar at Khandro Ling in Virginia, but you are invited to join me in celebrating tomorrow evening, when we will have an online Losar celebration for members.

May you have much peace, health and joy in the new year. May all your wishes be fulfilled.

Tibetan New Year – Losar Celebration for Members

Tibetan New Year

Losar Celebration for Members

Feb 12, 6pm PT

Tibetan New Year – Losar Celebration for Members
Learn More About Membership

All Members of Ngakpa International and the Buddhist Studies Institute are welcomed to join our annual Tibetan New Year Celebration – Online!

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Entering the Heart of the Vast Expanse

Purifying the Mind

Feb 22-24, 2021, 1-3pm PT

Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro Training

Vajrasattva Meditation and Purification of Karma

Ngondro are the foundational practices for purifying, training and empowering the mind.

---

ONLINE OPEN TEACHINGS

*All times are listed in Pacific Time UTC-8 (Timezone Converter)

The 100 Days of Practice is being extended year round!

Starts Feb 12th, 12pm

Daily Meditation
A short free daily practice online and community time with certified meditation teachers.

Thursdays – Through April, 8am
A Course in Valid Cognition with Geshe Sonam
Winter Pramana Study

Feb 12, 6pm-8pm

Tibetan New Year – Losar Celebration for Members

Annual Member Celebration

Feb 24-26, 1-3pm

Ngondro Training
Purifying the Mind: Vajrasattva Meditation & Purification of Karma

Mar 17, 6pm

Being with Illness & Dying, with Pema Khandro and Esteemed Guests

By Donation. A free event open to the public. 

Mar 19-21, 10am-6pm

The Bardo Retreat with Pema Khandro

Pema Khandro will teach on the six bardos, Buddhist instructions for how to live wakefully in the phases of change within our lives. 

Apr 23-25, 10am-6pm

Finding Comfort and Ease

Dzogchen Meditation Retreat

April 25

Dharma Dialogue Series

Pema Khandro will be featured in this Dharma Dialogue Series on Women in Buddhism. 

 

---

MEMBERS-ONLY CLASSES

Learn More about Membership

1st and 2nd Wednesdays – Vajrayana Training with Pema Khandro

For students on the path of Vajrayana and Great Perfection (Dzogchen) 

3rd and 4th Wednesdays – Ngakpa Training with Pema Khandro

In-depth study of the Ngakpa Tradition

Every Monday until Feb 12 (Tibetan New Year) – Meditation Mondays

Group Meditation with Janak Kimmel & Guest Teachers

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DAKINI MOUNTAIN NEWS

Seeking Land Manager for Dakini Mountain

Seeking a land manager for twenty hours a week in exchange for someone who wants to do off grid living with your own self-sustaining mobile home/RV system on Dakini Mountain property and free Buddhist Studies Institute courses. No RV hookups are here but it is the one of the most beautiful places on earth. Applicants must have farm experience, landscaping skills, construction, building knowledge, handyman skills etc, as well as capacity to be self-motivated, self-starting, work with others, take direction well and problem solve. Past experience as well as three employment references are required. Please send your resume, a photo, along with the name and contact for three employment references to Info@DakiniMountain.org.

Do you have Business and/or Real Estate Expertise?

Seeking conversation partners in reshaping the future of Dakini Mountain – seeking to converse with people with experience in real estate and running businesses as we re-vision how Dakini Mountain will take shape during the pandemic and beyond. Contact Info@DakiniMountain.org.

Dear Friends and Members,

What are the supportive conditions for meditation?? It is a traditional question that is the first topic to be addressed in Tibetan meditation instruction manuals. For those of you who are joining me for the upcoming online Dzogchen retreat, entitled “The Deep Retreat,” I want to invite you to set up a special place for the retreat in your home. You can set aside a dedicated space for the retreat such as a room, a closet, a tent in the backyard, an office… whatever quiet place you can find to dedicate to the practice. Doing this will make a difference. The purpose of this retreat is to deeply relax, to find a deep sense of serenity in our body and mind. It will be easier to do that if you have a dedicated space. 

Even if it is not possible to have a separate space, a partial space in a room can be designated by setting up a meditation seat and small shrine, as well as a table for your computer. I recommend having everything you might need to make it through the retreat days there — some blankets and pillows for yoga, some water, your headset or microphone and computer, a cushion to sit on for practice, a notebook and pen, your bell and drum if you have them, and some incense for the morning smoke offerings that we do daily on retreat. The staff and I will guide you through the rest, so just set up a place as supportive as possible.

Approximate Daily Schedule:

10:00am -12:00pm Dzogchen Meditation & Philosophy with Pema Khandro

12:00pm – 12:45pm Group Meditation with Janak

12:45pm – 2:00pm Lunch Break

2:00pm – 2:30pm  Community Tea Time

2:30pm – 4:00pm Restorative Yoga with Tsal’gyur

4:00pm – 4:30pm Heart Sutra Chanting with Satya

4:30pm – 5:30pm Dzogchen Meditation with Pema Khandro

5:30pm – 6pm Q&A with Pema Khandro

*Mindful use of Social Media 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Private meetings with Pema Khandro

Monday, Feb 8

10am – 2pm and 3:30pm – 6pm

*For Deep Retreat participants only

Click Here to Sign Up

Praying for your health and healing, or at the very least, for wisdom in the face of whatever comes,

How To Set Up a Sacred Space for Retreat

 

Simple Meditation Seat

 

Yoga Space

 

Dear Friends and Members,

One of the fascinating aspects of the pandemic for me has been to witness how we all deal with vulnerability, personally and collectively. There are so many reasons to notice that we cannot control everything — from others’ views about masks to so many details of our pandemic lives. Sometimes when we are not comfortable with vulnerability we shut down or withdraw. We could get mad and lash out, or we might even get hooked by one of our addictions as a way to avoid dealing with the stress. But, there are also more functional possibilities. There are more sane possibilities. It is possible to show up wakefully, and breathe through our vulnerability, to show up to our life one breath at a time. Sometimes that is a big enough goal. One breath at a time. 

During my recent pod-cast mini-series for LionsRoar.com, I also spoke with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo about her illness in the cave when she was on retreat. She meditated alone in a cave for twelve years. It is such an act of austerity to go live in a cave in the snow, by oneself, to be so self-reliant and isolated. I was curious about how health had factored into this and how she was weathering the pandemic. I had wanted to ask her about this topic for some time so this conversation was a precious opportunity. 

You can listen here.

To me, Jetsunma is a symbol of practice, and that is how I am making it through this past year, by holding fast to practice. I am inviting all of our friends and community to join me in practice in a couple of weeks. I will teach Dzogchen, and we will study dharma and engage in some restorative yoga. This is an additional event to our yearly Dzogchen Retreat, because I want to make further space for the calm and healing that is so needed right now. Here is a link to learn more about that:

The Deep Retreat with Pema Khandro

There is something about meditating in a cave so many thousands of miles away from distractions that is much more supportive for practice. However, a householder’s practice can also be serious practice. It can also be deep and focused. It has its own gifts. This is the beauty of the tradition of Tibet’s Buddhist Yogis that we follow. For this upcoming retreat on February 5-7th we are not going into a cave for 12 years, but we are going into some deep meditation, as householders, within our own homes, yet, while maintaining a focused space for practice. To support this, we are collectively going to go on a social media fast for the weekend. The goal will be to minimize all the things that pull our attention in so many directions so that we can quiet the mind. Our attention has been in a sense, colonized by corporate interests, by social media addiction and by all sorts of media — not to mention the cacophony of struggles that we live in. For the weekend we are going to put a pause on that, and decolonize our bodies and minds removing ourselves from the traffic jam of information. For those of you who need to stay plugged in for whatever reason, we will have an optional hour of mindfulness for a social media session. For those of you who would like to join in on the social media fast, there will be support for staying off all weekend, or minimizing it to an hour per day. Of course, this is optional; take the retreat in whatever way best serves you.

Praying for your health and healing, or at the very least, for wisdom in the face of whatever comes,

The Deep Retreat with Pema Khandro

The Deep Retreat

Online Restorative Meditation Retreat 

February 5th-7th

10am-6pm San Francisco / 1pm-9pm New York / 6pm-2am London

Sliding Scale Tuition: $270-$395

*Financial Aid and Scholarships Available

After a year of obstacles and stress, we invite you to join us for a weekend of restoration, serenity and serene contemplation of the ultimate purpose of life.

Buddhist Philosophy

Pema Khandro teaches on The Mirror Illuminating the Heart, Dzogchen Nyingthig teachings on the vast view. These beautiful teachings consider the fundamental nature of mind and reality.

Group Meditation Classes
Pema Khandro teaches from the 27 Practices for training for Dzogchen meditation from the sems nyid ngal gso, Longchenpa’s instructions on Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind.

Heart Sutra Chanting

Remember the profound teachings that unravels it all at the root. Afternoon Heart Sutra chanting will be led in English by Dr. Satya.

Dharma Conversations

Spiritual community is an important aspect of Buddhist practice, and it is even more important during the times of pandemic when in-person gatherings are limited. Join your fellow community members in dharma conversations during afternoon tea breaks (bring your own tea!). These are guided, small group conversations led by the teaching assistants.

Restorative Yoga

Unwind, let go of stress and give your body support. This simple, slow, bliss yoga class is designed to give rest and release to your body and mind. Each afternoon session will begin with an optional yoga class for you to do at home led by Buddhist Studies Institute Faculty. 

Deep Practice

Unplug. Disconnect. Take space for inner silence and chanting meditation. Share silence together. Enjoy deep dharma study. This retreat includes guidance and support for taking a break from social media and news to create space for reflection and to de-clutter the mind. There is an optional one-hour social media period suggested each day for those who want to reduce but need to stay plugged in.

ONLINE OPEN TEACHINGS

*All times are listed in Pacific Time UTC-8 (Timezone Converter)

 Now – Feb 12th Tibetan New Year (Losar)

New Years Meditation Marathon
Free, Short, Daily.

Thursdays – Resuming on Jan 7th, 8am
A Course in Valid Cognition with Geshe Sonam
Winter Pramana Study

Feb 5-7, 10am-6pm

The Deep Retreat with Pema Khandro
Dzogchen Meditation Retreat

Feb 12, 6pm-8pm

Tibetan New Year – Losar Celebration for Members

Annual Member Celebration

Starts Feb 12, 12pm
Daily Meditation
A short free daily practice online and community time with certified meditation teachers

Feb 24-26, 1-3pm

Ngondro Training
Purifying the Mind: Vajrasattva Meditation & Purification of Karma

MEMBERS-ONLY CLASSES

Open Teaching with Pema Khandro

REGISTER NOW

January 27th, 6pm-6:30pm PT / 9pm-9:30pm ET

A 30 minute guided meditation and online teaching with Pema Khandro.

Free and open to the public.

This is a monthly class to support your meditation practice and meet the challenge of integrating meditation into a full, dynamic life. This class will include meditation instruction, Buddhist teachings, and remedies for navigating through challenges to practice.

The Deep Retreat with Pema Khandro

The Deep Retreat

Online Restorative Meditation Retreat 

February 5th-7th

10am-6pm San Francisco / 1pm-9pm New York / 6pm-2am London

Sliding Scale Tuition: $270-$395

*Financial Aid and Scholarships Available

After a year of obstacles and stress, we invite you to join us for a weekend of restoration, serenity and serene contemplation of the ultimate purpose of life.

Buddhist Philosophy

Pema Khandro teaches on The Mirror Illuminating the Heart, Dzogchen Nyingthig teachings on the vast view. These beautiful teachings consider the fundamental nature of mind and reality.

Group Meditation Classes

Pema Khandro teaches from the 27 Practices for training for Dzogchen meditation from the sems nyid ngal gso, Longchenpa’s instructions on Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind.

Heart Sutra Chanting

Remember the profound teachings that unravels it all at the root. Afternoon Heart Sutra chanting will be led in English by Dr. Satya.

Dharma Conversations

Spiritual community is an important aspect of Buddhist practice, and it is even more important during the times of pandemic when in-person gatherings are limited. Join your fellow community members in dharma conversations during afternoon tea breaks (bring your own tea!). These are guided, small group conversations led by the teaching assistants.

Restorative Yoga

Unwind, let go of stress and give your body support. This simple, slow, bliss yoga class is designed to give rest and release to your body and mind. Each afternoon session will begin with an optional yoga class for you to do at home led by Buddhist Studies Institute Faculty. 

Deep Practice

Unplug. Disconnect. Take space for inner silence and chanting meditation. Share silence together. Enjoy deep dharma study. This retreat includes guidance and support for taking a break from social media and news to create space for reflection and to de-clutter the mind. There is an optional one-hour social media period suggested each day for those who want to reduce but need to stay plugged in.

ONLINE OPEN TEACHINGS

*All times are listed in Pacific Time UTC-8 (Timezone Converter)

 Now – Feb 12th Tibetan New Year (Losar)
New Years Meditation Marathon
Free, Short, Daily.

Thursdays – Resuming on Jan 7th, 8am
A Course in Valid Cognition with Geshe Sonam
Winter Pramana Study

Feb 5-7, 10am-6pm

The Deep Retreat with Pema Khandro
Dzogchen Meditation Retreat

Jan 27, 6pm-6:30pm

Excellent Path – Open Teaching

A 30 minute guided meditation and online teaching with Pema Khandro. Free and open to the public.

Feb 12, 6pm-8pm

Tibetan New Year – Losar Celebration for Members

Annual Member Celebration

Starts Feb 12, 12pm
Daily Meditation
A short free daily practice online and community time with certified meditation teachers

Feb 24-26, 1-3pm

Ngondro Training
Purifying the Mind: Vajrasattva Meditation & Purification of Karma

MEMBERS-ONLY CLASSES

Dear Friends,

I still remember when the pandemic was first announced – our first meeting when our team was faced with so many decisions. We eventually scrapped the year’s calendar we had planned and re-imagined our activities one month at a time until we faced that the whole year would be online. Instead of flying to California to stay at Dakini Mountain for our summer retreats, I remained in Virginia. That was the beginning of letting go of everything we had imagined for the year. 

When the pandemic first hit we had just finished a year-long study on the Buddhist philosophy of impermanence. And suddenly, impermanence seemed so obvious to everyone. The stories of losses started coming in from the community. The loss of social life to the lock downs, the job losses and the loss of structure and security. Sadly, the loss of loved ones too. I grieve with you for the family members and friends we lost this year.  May they rest in peace and find freedom.

The biggest challenge our team faced early on in the pandemic was how to go forward with our consecration of Dakini Mountain. It was a day we had been waiting for and looking forward to for so long. We knew that auspicious energy would be needed for Dakini Mountain since it became clear that we would have to cancel our entire retreat season. In the end we re-imagined the consecration through a weekend long online event – a Vajrayogini retreat taught by myself and Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche. I taught the Vajrayogini Chod cycle with Rinpoche giving the empowerment into Vajrayogini generation stage. The weekend culminated with the consecration at Dakini Mountain. Here is a photo of that beautiful event. 

Throughout the summer, in place of the retreats we offered three series featuring 12 guest teachers. The first series was In the Presence of Dying, which featured talks on Buddhist views and practices for death and dying. This was followed by a daylong teaching on instructions for dying from Dzogchen. I also taught the Zhitro practice, which is the Tibetan funerary rite to guide the deceased ones through the post-death state.  If you missed the teaching on Dying but wish to attend, I will be teaching this for Zen Mountain Monastery in New York via an online program – click here to find out more. And this winter I will give an advanced class on Dying, Death & Living in the Bardo.

Can Vajrayana be taught online?

We also had, for the first time, our Dzogchen retreat online. This is usually our big annual retreat in person together, and would have been at Dakini Mountain, but we brought it online. It was a stunning experience for me actually. The students who were committed and focused on the retreat, dedicating their time in a focused way and showing up to every practice had a deep and profound experience. It was so moving. Before the pandemic, the thought of doing Dzogchen online was of course out of the question. There are traditional reasons for this which orbit around what constitutes transmission, the essential ingredient in Vajrayana practice. But this year the opinions about this shifted and opened up in the Vajrayana communities. I saw the intense dedication of the community who practiced and studied through so many obstacles. Through job losses, wildfires, illness, loss of loved ones and intense uncertainty, we all kept practicing. Seeing this, I felt the highest integrity would be to support the students who wanted to keep their commitment to practice through this crisis. So we did the annual Dzogchen retreat online and it was a beautiful experience. It was touching to see the home shrines of the participants and to feel our connection to one another.

Can Buddhists be Angry?

In September, we had a series focused on the “Bodhisattva in Troubled Times,” to address this issue. The point of this program for me was to reflect with our guests on the complex relationship between anger and our bodhichitta- the altruistic enlightened intent. Some people believe the stereotype that Buddhism is all about suppressing anger, and there are forms of Buddhism that have anti-anger rhetoric. Meanwhile, others criticize Tibetan Buddhist tantra for its radical engagements with wrath, anger, power and at times the rhetoric of domination and control. For my community, the role of anger in terms of moral outrage was very clear in the wake of racial violence in the U.S. The anger and moral outrage rallied awareness and momentum for change. 

So how does this all interface with the bodhisattva ideal? What is the role of anger if we seek to live compassionate altruistic lives? In Buddhist tantra we think of anger in terms of the “Vajra” family in the five Buddha families, an energy that can arise as clarity or it may trigger a cascade of aggressive neurosis. It is an energy that requires great care, meticulous presence, lest we lose our altruistic enlightened intent. I suggested that we can realize that anger may be natural, acceptable, and have its place in healing and social change, while at the same time recognizing that we must be very careful with it. Like a sharp weapon, we carry it mindfully realizing that we could easily hurt ourselves and others. We recognize that it is, as one of the sangha members so aptly put it, a bardo. In other words, it is an impermanent state, one that has to be met with care and wisdom. 

In October, we turned to the topic of Buddhist Sexuality reflecting on everything from non-celibate practice to sexual abuse and responses to sexual abuse in Buddhist communities. This had been preceded by study of texts about sexuality in Buddhist tantra that we conducted during the Vajrayana training. But the ultimate context of this was the #metoo movement in Buddhism. We covered so much but there is so much more to cover and I hope we will do that in the times to come. I realized through this program, how much emotional labor it takes to talk about these issues, especially because my scholarly research is also touching on this subject. But I had this sense that the emotional labor is worthwhile, for the awareness and potential for change it produces. For me, the motivation is that Buddhist community would be a safe place for women and for all vulnerable people since abuse harms every kind of person.

We also had our annual Vajra Sangha retreat online. This is an event where usually the Vajra Sangha members all come to stay with me at Khandro Ling and is one of the most memorable events of the year. But this year, with the pandemic and everyone’s safety in mind we canceled that and instead had a one-day Vajra Sangha day of practice, teaching and reflecting. Although we met online this time, there was still some sense of the special energy we have together. Actually I was startled by that, how we could cultivate a sense of connection and a palpable sense of the sacred space we hold together – even though it was through an online medium. 

Season of Practice

As we turned towards the winter, despite the pandemic we have continued in our annual tradition of a “season of practice” from November to February. This is a period from November until Losar, the Tibetan New Year (this year on February 12). Thanks to our project, the Buddhist Studies Institute, this season has been one of support for practice on multiple fronts.

100 Days of Practice Daily Meditation

For the first time we decided to create an online daily free meditation class for the entire practice season. Usually we all brave this period alone and it has been beautiful to see this period led by our Meditation Instructor Training Alumni as well as Group Leaders. 

This year the 100 days of practice has been led by Janak, Tsal’gyur, Fa Jun, Zat, Dedzin, Norbu, Kundini, Namkhai, Tashi, Detsal, Kalsang, Darius, Ngawang and Sonam. It is continuing every day at 12pm San Francisco time (PST), 3pm New York (EST), and 8pm London (GMT).

It has featured the refuge, bodhichitta and bodhi vows followed by twenty-four minutes of Zhine, Calm Abiding meditation. It is twenty-four minutes because that is the length of our daily practice cycle – one minute for every hour of the day. This is followed by a short reading of one of the five precepts and then followed by group conversation. Congratulations to everyone who has been attending. I imagine that these last two weeks are the hardest to maintain as we headed deep into winter and the holidays. But this is how discipline is forged, one day at a time, regardless of obstacles and distractions. 

Discipline and structure keep us in tune with life’s meaning.

Ngondro – Iron Mice Sangha

In 2020, we also started a year-long Ngondro training to support a group to finish ngondro. It began in November in this year of the Iron Mouse. We have been wanting to do an online ngondro program for a long time and now we finally have set it in motion. Ngondro is the foundational training for Vajrayana. But to accomplish Ngondro requires determination, it is a practice which is traditionally repeated 100,000 per practice totaling 400,000 – 500,000 repetitions per practice. It is hardcore training of the body and mind!! But it is more than just repetition – at best it is a sense of lingering with great attention in the poetry, prayers, songs and postures of Tibetan Buddhist meditation. Therefore, it is beautiful for those who can allow it to be.

We have been doing the Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro, which means the preliminaries of the Heart of the Vast Expanse. As you are reading this now, someone is doing Ngondro. We have a whole group performing it daily so that the whole group will be ready for the second module in February.
You can read more about it here and you can still join.

If you are in the Ngondro program and have fallen behind, you can still catch up before the next module by doing 185 repetitions a day starting January 1st. 

For those of you doing Ngondro now, we added additional Ngondro videos to watch at home. You can watch them here.

Meditation Instructor Training

We are also in the midst of Meditation Instructor training attended by students from around the world. It started in October and goes through February. This is a 150-hour training for experienced meditators and teachers to integrate Buddhism’s most powerful supports into their meditation instruction – from ethics to empathy, Trauma-informed practice to Buddhist philosophy, it provides this firm support for teachers to develop skills to teach meditation at its highest level. For some of our instructors in training, they are in quarantine, others live in countries where there is no coronavirus crisis right now. Whatever their circumstances they are all coming together diligently to practice, study and develop their leadership skills. You can read more about it here.  Or if you’d like to meet the new instructors, they will be leading MIT as student-teachers for the New Year Meditation Marathon (the last forty days of our 100-day period).

Dakini Mountain

Dakini Mountain has also made it through this year despite California having its worst fire season ever – 4.1 million acres burned. Dakini Mountain is our new retreat land and it is in Northern California in the Tahoe National Forest, the native land of the Washoe and Nisenan tribes. Although we canceled our in-person retreats, the land has been the site of intense focus and time-consuming efforts on the part of our team (and especially my right-hand-woman, Aruna). The wildfires in California darkened the skies but did not reach this land, and we were blessed that Dakini Mountain did remain safe. My heart goes out to everyone who lost their homes or who were adversely affected by the fires. So many of our sangha members had to temporarily relocate until the fires calmed down. While the fires were blazing, a water crisis touched Dakini Mountain. This happened more than once in 2020 as we discovered broken pipes and a troubled irrigation system that needed a lot of work. We were able to start a fire clearance to protect the land and started repairs on the water system and if we meet our fundraising goal of $20,000 by January 1st, we will cover the cost of these repairs and stage 1 fire clearance – Click Here to Donate. The land itself has been changing dramatically through the seasons. Here is a photo from last winter of Dakini Mountain in the snow to give you a sense of what happens there. Rigdzin pond becomes ice and the land gets blanketed by snow which sparkles like diamonds. 

Yogic Medicine Institute

Even though our retreats were closed, we did conduct some small versions of the Panchakarma retreats in personalized form. This is the Ayurvedic detoxification, cleansing and rejuvenation program led by the Yogic Medicine Institute. It is an intensive process and three to five of our sangha staff these retreats. They work incredibly hard and the results are stunning. The people who come for PK at Dakini Mountain leave looking ten years younger. I am so proud that we were able to offer this support for healing and health during the pandemic when it is so important. Satya and Aruna have been coordinating these events with great skill and care.

The 21 Taras

Our final event of the year was the 21 Taras transmission with Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche. May this be the beginning of many more occasions where we sing this beautiful prayer together. This was also my birthday celebration – thank you to everyone who sent notes and messages, who donated and supported this year and this event. I am touched by your care and feel grateful for our beautiful connections. 

“Homage Tara, swift heroic, eyes like lightning instantaneous,

Sprung from opening stamens of the lord of three world’s tear-born lotus.

Homage she whose face combines a hundred autumn moons at fullest…”

If you would like to listen to us singing it you can listen here.

Through all this practice and activity that has taken place we have had a dedicated team of volunteers, leaders and staff. I feel grateful and honored to be working with a community of such kindness and collaboration. I know that the programs have brought comfort, inspiration and stability to so many and that is only possible thanks to the generosity of donors, volunteers, leaders and staff.

Thank you especially to everyone who donated to the Dakini Mountain Emergency Fund for my birthday. Thank you for your notes, letters and well-wishes, it touches me deeply. I am honored to be connected to such a lovely community. 

Also, thank you to our Leadership – Aruna, Satya, Janak, Tsal’gyur, Dedzin and Kundini for helping make our programs possible. Your service is greatly appreciated.

It is the end of the year but still so much uncertainty lies ahead. In the U.S. where the coronavirus is raging and many of us are on lock down or curfews, there is this looming sense of the unknown. But one thing we learned this year remains with us – the sense of interdependence, the urgent need to relieve suffering. The importance of continuously training our body and mind.

Whatever comes, this too is what we have been training for. To face whatever comes with bodhichitta, to meet life wakefully and bear what is as best we can. 

Yours always,