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Save the Date April 20th to Receive Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

As part of the 2025 Annual Dudjom Ngondro Retreat, we offer and warmly invite you to join us for a special Refuge Ceremony and Bodhisattva Vows offered by Tulku Thadral Rinpoche on Tuesday, April 20, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Pacific Time. 

What is Refuge?

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Ceremony of Refuge is a significant ritual where an individual formally takes refuge in the Three Jewels (or Three Refuges), which are considered the core principles and guiding forces of the Buddhist path. The Three Jewels are:

  1. The Buddha – The awakened one, who embodies the potential for enlightenment. Taking refuge in the Buddha means trusting in his teachings and understanding that the path to enlightenment is possible for all beings.

  2. The Dharma – The teachings of the Buddha, which provide the wisdom and guidance needed to overcome suffering and ignorance. Taking refuge in the Dharma means committing to studying and practicing these teachings.

  3. The Sangha – The community of practitioners who follow the Buddha’s teachings. The Sangha serves as a support system and a source of inspiration on the path. Taking refuge in the Sangha means finding guidance and companionship in a community of like-minded individuals who are also on the path.

What is the Bodhisattva Vow?

The Bodhisattva Vow is a profound aspiration to attain enlightenment not only for oneself but for the benefit of all sentient beings. It opens the heart and mind to boundless compassion. By taking this vow, we commit to the path of wisdom and compassion for the welfare of all.

Whether you are new to Vajrayana Practices or wishing to renew your vows, this is a precious opportunity to receive these vows directly from Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, a highly respected lineage holder in the Dudjom Tersar tradition.

All are welcome!
 Receive the Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows
Please note, you must receive the vows in real time.
Please make every effort to be on time..

For First-Time Refuge Recipients:
If you are taking Refuge for the first time, please sign up to receive your digital Refuge card, which will includes the Refuge Vows, your global Refuge name (male and female), date you through ok the Refuge Vows, a beautiful photo of Shakyamuni Buddha and Tulku Thadral Rinpoche’s signature authenticating that you have received the Refuge Vows..

Sign up here to receive your digital Refuge Card

Can You Share Some Testimonials from Previous Attendees for the Annual Ngondro Retreat?

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

Previous attendees of the Dudjom Ngondro retreat often highlight the transformative impact of the experience. Many describe feeling a deep sense of connection to the teachings and the sangha, which fosters a supportive and nurturing environment. Participants frequently mention the authenticity of the guidance provided by the lamas and the immersive nature of the retreat, which helps them deepen their practice and understanding of Ngondro.

One attendee shared that the retreat helped them overcome personal obstacles in their spiritual journey, while another expressed gratitude for the opportunity to receive direct transmissions and teachings in such a serene setting. The sense of community and shared purpose is often praised, as it creates a space for mutual encouragement and growth.

“As a Ngöndro practitioner, I highly recommend attending the Vajrayana Foundation’s Ngöndro Retreat. Since I started my Ngöndro practice at the end of 2019, I have been attending this retreat every year, initially online during the pandemic and later in person. Being at Pema Ösel Ling, connecting with the Lamas and the Sangha, is a powerful experience.”

— Esther Oswald

“I felt a sense of softening and relief during my brief stay, and all that occurred happened so easily and meaningfully. It changed me and brought me a sense of deeper peace in my heart.”

— Sarah Marcus

“I was able to attend retreats over the years, which were so inspiring. I had the opportunity to receive teachings from some of the greatest masters, and the experience deeply enriched my practice.”

— Anonymous

Whether you are just beginning or continuing your Ngondro, we warmly invite you to reconnect with your practice in the blessed environment of Pema Osel Ling.

Every year, practitioners from around the world gather here to receive profound teachings, deepen their practice, and experience the power of sangha.

We hope you’ll join us for this rare and precious opportunity to engage in the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro in an atmosphere of genuine support and transmission.

Retreat Dates: April 12 ~ 20, 2025

Location: Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz Mountains

Registration & Info: https://www.vajrayana.org/events/293/

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. We look forward to practicing together!

What Is the Community Like at the Dudjom Annual Ngondro Retreat?

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

The community at the annual Ngondro retreat is known for being deeply supportive and spiritually enriching. Participants come together with a shared commitment to their practice, creating an atmosphere of mutual encouragement and growth. The retreat fosters a sense of belonging, as practitioners connect with others who share similar spiritual aspirations.

You’ll find a mix of experienced practitioners and newcomers, all guided by skilled teachers who provide authentic teachings and personal insights. This diversity allows for a rich exchange of experiences and perspectives, enhancing the collective journey. The retreat also emphasizes collaboration, with group practices and discussions that strengthen the bonds within the sangha (spiritual community).

📸 Thinley Norbu by Claire Thompson
Sam Bercholz by Ivan Bercholz

The Vajrayana Foundation Annual Ngondro Retreat will be held from April 12 ~ 20, 2025 at Pema Osel Ling and by YouTube Livestream. The Annual Retreat will follow previous year’s format of Weekend Teachings with Sam Bercholz, Teachings, Questions and Answers, Personal Interviews and focused Accumulation Practice Sessions with Tulku Thadrul Rinpoche, Drubpon Pema Rigdzin, Amy Green, Choying Wangmo and Stefan Graves. Tulku Thadral Rinpoche will bestow The Refuge Vows (with hair cutting and naming ceremony) the Bodhichitta Vows and the Orgyen Menla Empowerment. See details and register at ~~~> https://www.vajrayana.org/events/293/

The April 12-13 weekend seminar with Sam Bercholz offers an in-depth exploration of key themes from Thinley Norbu Rinpoche’s Cascading Waterfall of Nectar, focusing on the integration of view and practice as the path from confusion to wisdom. Through study, contemplation, and meditation, we will examine how mistaken perceptions and dualistic thinking obscure the natural clarity of mind. Guided teachings will illuminate the Mahayana and Vajrayana perspectives on view, helping participants recognize the interdependence of all phenomena and the innate purity of awareness. The weekend will blend practical meditation techniques with textual reflection, allowing participants to directly experience the wisdom that arises when conceptual confusion dissolves.

Open to practitioners of all levels, this seminar provides a supportive space to cultivate a deeper understanding of the Dharma and embody the compassionate insight Thinley Norbu Rinpoche so eloquently presents. It’s recommended to bring your copy of the Cascading Waterfall of Nectar.

The Dudjom Annual Ngondro Retreat Schedule Overview

The Annual Retreat begins April 12–13 with the weekend seminar:
“From Confusion to Wisdom: Integrating View and Practice” with Sam Bercholz.

From April 14–19, the retreat continues with in-depth Ngondro Teachings by Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, Amy Green, Lama Sonam Rinpoche, Drubpon Pema Rigdzin, and Ngondro Accumulation Practice Sessions led by Choying Wangmo and Stefan Graves.

This year, we are pleased to welcome Lotsawa Matthew Wells as the translator for Tulku Thadral Rinpoche and Lama Sonam Rinpoche. Throughout the week, there will also be opportunities for personal interviews with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, Amy Green, Lama Sonam Rinpoche, Choying Wangmo, Pema Rigdzin, and Stefan Graves.

On the final day, April 20, the morning session will feature:
• Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows bestowed by Tulku Thadral Rinpoche
• Ngondro Oral Reading Transmission for Dudjom Tersar, Sater, and Troma Nagmo bestowed by Tulku Thadral Rinpoche

After the lunch break, Tulku Thadral Rinpoche will bestow the Orgyen Menla Empowerment, concluding the retreat with Thinley Norbu Rinpoche’s Tsok Khang Dechen with Tsok.

Details and Registration at ~~~> https://www.vajrayana.org/events/293/