Property:Previousretreatsdetails
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
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I completed my first Three Year Retreat at Karme Ling retreat Center in Delhi New York, where I completed 3 full years of retreat, one you gave me financial support by fully sponsoring my retreat in the USA. I completed the very last practice, Gyalwa Gyamtso, at Sherab Ling, Tai Situ RinpocheÃs Monastery in Northern India. I had the fortune of receiving retreat instructions by the late Drupon Tsering, the manÃs three year retreat Drupon.
I had an interview with Tai Situ Rinpoche and he commanded me to finish my three Year Retreat at his monastery and, specifically, under Drupon Tsering. This was a very rewarding experience given that I had the opportunity to be in a solitary setting and with the help of the community at the monastery. I also had the experience of being with the monkeys and birds that came to take my daily tormas, and protect my retreat from any disturbances or bad omens that could have come my way. This could be the case when you do Vajrayana practices. This was explained to me by Lodro Nyingma Rinpoche when he came to visit our retreat in Delhi, NY. +
I was able to enter and complete the traditional 3 year retreat of the Drikung Kagyu Traditon in Almora / Pithoragarh, Uttarhand, India, from February 2008 to April 2011. Drupon Chamspa Rigzin, H.H. Chetsang Rinpohe, Khenpo Konchok Tashi and H.E. Garchen Rinpoche are who I received all instruction from. +
Most recently in April 2013, I completed a Drikung Kagyu three year retreat. Please see details in "Empowerments and Training." +
Retreats completed (chronologically starting in 1995):
Tibetan Buddhist group meditation retreat, 10 days, Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu Nepal 1995
Lam Rim retreat, one month, Bodhgaya, India, individual 1995
Kopan November course, one month group retreat (combined teaching/retreat), Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1996
Vipassana group retreat, 10 days, Bodhgaya, India 1996
Kopan November course, one month (combined teaching/retreat), Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1997
Vajrasattva group retreat (100,000 completed); Dharamsala, India, June-September 1998
Lam Rim retreat, one month, Solo Khumbu, Nepal (at 12,000 ft) - individual 1998
Tara retreat, 14 days, Bodhgaya, India, - individual 2000
Vipassana group retreat, one month, Myanmar - 2000
Vajrayogini mantra retreat, Bodhgaya, India (100,000 completed) - individual 2001
Vajrayogini mantra retreat, Hawaii (100,000 completed) - individual 2004
Vajrayogini mantra retreat, Colorado (100,000 completed) - individual 2006
Kopan November course, one month (combined teaching/retreat), Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal 2006
Maitreya group retreat, Bodhgaya, India with Lama Zopa Rinpcoche - Dec 2007
Vajrakilaya Drupchen with Garchen Rinpoche, 10 days, Garchen Buddhist Institute, AZ - group 2007
Mahamudra group retreat, 14 days with Yangsi Rinpoche, Portand, OR - 2008
Vajrakilaya Drupchen with Garchen Rinpoche, 10 days, Garchen Buddhist Insititute, AZ - group 2008
Yamantaka Drupchen with Garchen Rinpoche, 8 days, Garchen Buddhist Institute, AZ - group 2009
Note: Until 2006, I took most of my practice instruction from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. He gave individualized ngondro instructions (not following the traditional approach). Since taking Garchen Rinpoche as my root lama in 2007, I have not received instruction to accumulate my ngondro 'numbers'. See 'Dharma practice' section of my application for more information. +
One month retreat spring 2005, Mandala offering accumulations
100-day retreat winter of 2012-13, finishing accumulations of the development stage of Vajrayogini, and receiving instructions for the beginning of the completion stage practices.
One-month retreat March 2016, concentrating on the A-shed syllable of tummo training. +
Two 7-day silent group retreat under Jigme Tromge Rinpoche at the Padmasambhava Peace Institute
100-day solitary retreat at the Garchen Institute as a preliminary for acceptance in the 3 year retreat program +
Listed below are a few of the retreats I have completed. For a complete listing of all retreats completed, please see the dharma curriculum vitae.
1. 7 Day Phowa Retreat (Solitary) Ã In this retreat I practiced the Long Sal Phowa in four 2 hour sessions per day. In between sessions I contemplated my own death to bring a sense of urgency and immediacy to the importance of a successful practice without distraction. I had been waiting my whole life for these instructions and was really grateful to have finally received them and to be able to put them into practice.
2. 100 Day 4 Thoughts Contemplation Retreat (Solitary) - In this retreat I practiced four 2 hour sessions per day guided by Patrul Rinpoche's - The Words of My Perfect Teacher. Each day is a contemplation on approximately 1 1/2 pages. In addition to the formal sessions, I studied foundation texts such as Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation, The Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher and Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche (excellent commentary on the paramitas). I also practiced Phowa. This retreat was the most meaningful experience of this lifetime; I experienced a taste of each practice and was inspired by the potential for deepening the practices.
3. 30 Day Refuge Retreat (Solitary) Ã In this retreat I practiced refuge in four sessions per day that ranged from 2 to 3 hours each. I was really happy to have this opportunity to engage in deep practice and to really connect with the refuge practice. Prior to that time I had been practicing my ngondro in daily sessions and I did not really understand the meaning of refuge. It was during this 1 month retreat that I was able to begin to understand the true meaning of refuge and the importance of the ngondro practice on a much deeper level.
4. Drubchen Practices (Group) Ã It is to the Drubchens that I owe my interest in dharma in this lifetime. I am so grateful to have been able to participate in so many of them over these last five years. It was the practice of Vajrakilaya in November of 2005 that truly purified obstacles to dharma practice and gave rise to the sincere steady wish to engage in retreat practice. Garchen Rinpoche has always taught us that in Drubchens our minds become one and for this I am immeasurably grateful as Drubchens have taught me how to practice.
5. Mahamudra Meditation Retreats (Group) Ã In these retreats, we train diligently in the practice of mahamudra; receiving teachings, practicing as a group, and receiving clarifying instructions based on practice experiences. These retreats have allowed me to begin to engage in authentic mahamudra practice; prior to them I had no idea how to even begin. From the experience gained in these retreats, I am able to apply the practice of mahamudra to all other practices and daily activities.
Three-month solitary ngöndro (preliminaries) retreat — Nagi Gompa, Nepal — 1999
Three-year, three-month solitary retreat — Pharping, Nepal — 2004-2007
One-month solitary concluding retreat — Pharping, Nepal — 2007
One-month solitary sadhāna retreat — Rangjung Yeshe Gomde California, USA — 2014
One-month solitary sadhānā retreat — Soaring Eagle Ranch, CO, USA — 2015
Two-month solitary sadhānā retreat — Williams, Oregon, USA — 2016
Two-month solitary sadhānā retreat — Pharping, Nepal— 2017
Three-month solitary sadhānā retreat — RYGCA, CA, USA — 2019
Three-month solitary sadhānā retreat — Crestone, CO, USA — 2020-2021
Four-month solitary sadhānā retreat — Volcano, HI, USA — 2021 +
Individual retreats from 1-3 months practicing Semdzins, Rushens, Other practices from dzogchen in Romania
Here where I stay most of the time in Palpung Sherabling Monastery, the practices for 3, 4th year of Mahamudra +
I completed the dathun winter retreat in January 2020 and January 2021. It was group retreats but mainly silent. +
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Since the year 2014, I have participated annualy in either a six weeks or three months retreat under the guidance of Lama Tenzin Sangpo. I have also been the translator for all of these retreats. The topic of the retreat was always the Sphere of Refined Gold (thig le gser zhun), the Guidance Text for the Luminous Great Perfection of Rigzin Pema Jungne according to Lame Tukdrup Barche Kunsel by Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. +
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Since 02/2011: Solitary Yidam Retreat, El Silencio, Spain
06/2005-06/2010: Solitary Yidam Retreat, Pharping, Nepal
06/2004-09/2004: Solitary Yidam Retreat, Boudanath, Nepal
10/2003-12/2003: Solitary Yidam Retreat, Lumbini, Nepal
03/2002-06/2002: Solitary Yidam Retreat, Boudanath, Nepal
01/2002-03/2002: Ngšndro Retreat, Boudanath, Nepal
12/2000-02/2001: Ngšndro Retreat, Canberra, Australia
10/2000: Calm Abiding Group Retreat, Canberra, Australia
4/2000: Vajrasattva-Nyungne Group Retreat, Canberra, Australia +
Yes, many a couple of Years agoin Thailand and in Malaysia! +
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2 one month long dathuns at Karme Choling
8 one month long or longer Solitary retreats at Karme Choling
1 three month long zazen group practice at Tassaraja zen center
1 month long Ngondro at Ka-Nying Monastery in Kathmandu Nepal +
1984- 1 month group shamata retreat 1985- 6 month group ngondro retreat (Khenpo Tsawang Rinpoche) 1987- 3 month individual retreat (Ngondro and Yeshe Tsogyal sadhana) 1988 5 week individual tummo and guru yoga healing retreat prior to radiation and cancer treatment, 1990- 1st year 6 week dzogchen retreat with Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche,1991- 3 month group Vajrayogini retreat with Pema Sangzin Khadro, 1992-1994- 2-4th year 6 week dzogchen retreat with Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, 1995- entered long term retreat under the guidance of Chagdud Tulku Rinpocheand Lama Drimed From 1995 until 2001, I remained in strict retreat with 2 1oo day group retreat on the Chetzun Nyingtik cycle and 3 6 week group retreat on Buddahood without Meditation. In 2001, I came close to dying due to severe lung fibrosis and Rinpoche's advice was to close my door and practice the great Perfection until i die. And that is what i have done with support from sangha Slowly, slowly I have gained strength and widened the gap as I go.
tummo and guru yoga healing retreat +
Please continue to scroll down this box for all information;
* 1984: 1 month samatha retreat at Karma Choling
* 1985: 6 month group ngondro retreat with Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche
* 1987: 3 month individual retreat (Ngondro and Yeshe Tsogyal sadhana),
* 1988: 5 week healing retreat, Tummo and Guru Yoga in preparation for radiation and cancer treatment under the guidance of Shenpen Dawa Rinpoche (continue to scroll down in this box)
* 1990: 6 weeks, first year Dzogchen retreat with Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche
* 1991: 3 month group Vajrayogini retreat with Pema Sangzin Khadro
* 1992-1994: 6 weeks, 2nd-4th year Dzogchen retreat with Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche
* 1995-2001: Entered long term retreat at Rigdzin Ling in Junction City, CA under the guidance of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and Lama Drimed ( Chetsun Nyingtik Cycle)
* During this time, as a support, I attended 2 one hundred day group retreats on the Chetsun
* Nyingtik cycle and 3 six week group retreats on Buddhahood Without Meditation.
* 2001: I came close to dying due to onset of severe pulmonary fibrosis. Rinpoche's 1st mo indicated that I should just close my door and do my Great Perfection practices until I die. However, a month later, he did a 2nd mo. Things had shifted significantly and his advice was to loosen the boundaries of my retreat, regain my health and at the same time to continue to practice in the same way. With the awesome support and generosity of my sangha and the guidance of Lama Drimed, I remained at Rigdzin Ling until 2009, slowly, slowly gaining strength and practicing in this way.
* 2012-2014: 3 year solitary retreat deepening in the Chetsun Nyingtik cycle with a grant from the Tsadra Foundation +
April 2019, one month, Drupon Rinchen Dorje, Mahamudra, schedule:
5am-7am, 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm, 7pm-9pm
July 9-August 10th 2019, one month, His Holiness Jangkan Tulku Rinpoche, preliminary practice for togal, schedule:
7am-8pm, 9am-10am, 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm, 6pm-9pm
August 10-November 12th, 2019 100 days,Khenpo Tenzin, four thoughts turning the mind, schedule: 5am-7am, 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm, 7pm-9pm
November 26, 2019-December 22nd, 2019, Drupon Rinchen Dorje, Vajrakilaya One Month Retreat, schedule: 5am-7am, 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm, 7pm-9pm +
1984, dathün (1month group shamatha)
1990, Vajradhatu seminary (3 month group retreat)
1991, in-house ngondrö retreat (1month solitary with group accommodations)
2005, Chakrasamvara (1month solitary)
2007, Chakrasamvara (1month solitary)
2009, Chakrasamvara (1month solitary)
2012, Chakrasamvara (1month solitary)
2014, Chakrasamvara (1month solitary)
2017, Chakrasamvara (1month solitary)
2019, Chakrasamvara (1month solitary)
2019, Mahamudra (1 month group)
2021, Mahamudra (1 month group)
2023, Mahamudra (1 month group) +
Dathun-1993, at Rocky Mountain Shambhala Centre
Dathun-2006, at a place near Victoria in British Columbia, with Eve Rosenthall
Yarne, at Gampo Abbey, with Ani Pema Chodron in 2021-22 for 14 weeks +
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Finished preliminary Vajrasattva, Yamantaka, and basic Kalachakra retreats with Fire puja. Mantras: Vajrasattva 140,000; Yamantaka 109,000; Y#2-10,900,Y#3,10,900; Manjushri 109,000; Kalachakra: 160,000; vishvamata: 32,000;shaktis 80,000; Other Ngondro not required in Kalachakra. However, have been doing daily six session guru yoga for 14 years, which includes Refuge, Bodhisattva, 7 Point Guru Yoga with mandala and other offerings. Also, I do prostrations and have attended retreats emphasizing prostrations especially with Pare Rinpoche. I also circumambulate the Kalachakra stupa here at the Kumbum monastery on a daily basis when I say walking prayers and mantras.
Notes: one 7 day dark retreat; otherwise 1 to 4 hrs daily practice. +
