We are blessed this year to have three wonderful retreats coming up later this summer and in the fall at the Chamma Ling retreat center in the Sangre de Christo mountains of southern Colorado. The first event will be a Ngondro Practice Retreat led by Lharila Kalsang Nyima from Aug. 27 through Sept. 6, 2009. This is a great opportunity for those who have already received the ngondro teachings/transmissions to develop their accumulations in a small-group setting under the close guidance of a qualified lama. Lharila will be available to clarify questions and deepen understanding of these profound foundational practices of the Bon tradition. The retreat will be limited to 20 people, so don’t wait and miss out on this incredible opportunity. Prior ngondro transmission is required to attend this practice retreat.
From Oct. 1 through 4, 2009, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche will bless Chamma Ling with his unique teachings on the elements, “Connecting Through the Elements: The spiritual path of relationship with nature.” The Elements teachings are drawn from the six yogas of the Bon Mother Tantra (Ma Gyud), and are fundamental to understanding how the subtle energies of the natural elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space affect us emotionally, mentally, and physically. Through the simple practices of the elements one can rebalance the inner elements to become more quiet, centered and poised. Tenzin Rinpoche will add a unique taste to this retreat by teaching outdoors much of the time alongside pure mountain streams, among ancient cedars, surrounded by spectacular mountain peaks. Practicing among nature’s perfect beauty we will be led to reflect on correct relationship to the world, and to bring harmony to our thoughts and actions.
From Oct. 5 through 7, immediately following Tenzin Rinpoche’s retreat, Alejandro Chaoul-Reich will lead “Exploring and Experiencing the Subtle Body: External, Internal and Secret Tsa Lung.” Many who have trained with Alejandro have remarked about his warm, affable teaching style, and his mastery of the subtle energies in the body. His teaching will be an excellent doorway for anyone new to the use of the breath and body in meditation, as well as for those who have had an introduction but wish to gain a deeper understanding of these profound practices.
We hope that you can join us at one or all of these events, or spend some personal retreat time in one of our cabins. The Chamma Ling cabins have become renowned for their beautiful, quiet setting and superb design. This summer, Pema Chodron, director of Gampo Abbey, and Reggie Ray, founder of Dharma Ocean, both chose Chamma Ling for their personal retreats. Come and experience for yourself what they find unique.
For more information about our events, cabins, and other aspects of Chamma Ling, visit www.chammaling.org.
Dec. 27, 2009 – Jan. 1, 2010
The Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung, Part 2
Annual Winter Retreat with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
This retreat is nearly full, so sign up right away to reserve your place or to get on our waiting list. The Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung is the centerpiece of Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s dzogchen teachings and is presented solely at Serenity Ridge each year at our winter retreat. The concise and essential practice manual of the Experiential Transmission, the Chag Tri, provides pith instructions for those who aspire to practice dzogchen, the path of self-liberation.
Part Two presents the third chapter of the Chag Tri, now available in English translation for those who attend the retreat. It includes the practice of zhine as the skillful means to establish a calm abiding mind; the methods for stabilizing the resulting mindfulness through practices of dark retreat, sun and sky gazing; and guidance for recognizing experiences of rigpa – innate awareness. These meditation practices, including physical postures and eye gazes, can introduce the practitioner to the nature of mind.
Prerequisite: It is essential to study and practice the chapters of the Experiential Transmission in sequence. Therefore, participants must have received the teachings for Part One of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung (the Ngondro), before progressing to these Part Two teachings. Practitioners who have already participated in or completed one of our previous cycles of Chag Tri teachings are warmly invited to attend this retreat.
Retreat cost (includes meals): $450 received by Nov. 11; $525 received after Nov. 11
FOR MORE INFORMATION about this retreat or to register, visit Ligmincha.org and click on “Retreats,” or go directly to: https://www.ligmincha.org/component/option,com_retreat/Itemid,131/retreat_id,42/
JUST PUBLISHED JULY 2009:
“Chod Practice in the Bon Tradition” by Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, with forwards by Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.
New! Just published July 2009!
From the back cover:
This book is the first to trace the history of Chod practice in Tibet's indigenous Bon tradition. Chod ("cutting through") is a meditative practice in which the practitioner imagines offering his or her body in sacrifice through elaborate contemplative visualization. Although a meditative practice, Chod is not traditionally done sitting comfortably on a cushion in a shrine room, but instead is often practiced in terrifying places like cemeteries or charnel grounds. The feelings of fear that result are used by the Chod practitioner to "cut through" his or her own ego. Chod contains elements of early shamanism, of sutric and tantric teachings also found in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, and of the Tibetan highest school of dzogchen. "In the last few years the interest in chod has suddenly re-emerged, and a few books have been written about it from the Buddhist perspective. Chaoul's work on chod from the Bon's perspective could not be more timely. His thorough analysis of this syncretic and fascinating religious practice and the use of the metaphor of cutting as a way to go beyond assumed boundaries, provides a broader picture of chod and sheds light on the interrelation of Buddhism and Bon." -- Giacomella Orofino, University of Naples Alejandro Chaoul (http://www.snowlionpub.com/pages/chaoul.html) obtained his Ph.D. at Rice University and has also completed the seven-year program at the Ligmincha Institute for the study of the Bon Buddhist tradition of Tibet. He is assistant professor at the John McGovern Center for Health, Humanities and the Human Spirit in University of Texas Medical School at Houston, where he teaches meditation and yoga to patients. Paperback, 122 pages. Price $18.95
To see more, visit: https://www.ligmincha.org/store/by-type/books/general-tibetan-buddhism/512-chod-practice-in-the-bon-tradition.html