Chod

April 13 – 21, 2019 Annual Ngondro and Personal Accumulation Retreat

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

Dudjom Tersar Ngondro Retreat at Pema Osel Ling with
Acharya Sam Bercholz, Lama Sonam Rinpoche,
Frederico Trancoso and Amy Green

 

“If there are any wise persons who desire to be completely freedFrom the hot torments of the fire pit of samsara, they should Rely on this supreme path, Ngöndro, which, like the king of trees, Will revive one in its cool, dense shade, enlightenment.”

~ His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

We have been wandering in delusion in samsara since beginningless time, like being trapped in a dream. The dharma is the method that the Buddha taught to wake us up from this dream. For that purpose he taught the 84,000 teachings of the dharma for beings of lesser and medium capacities, and the 6,400,000 tantras for disciples of the highest faculties. They all have one purpose, to tame the five passions of desire, anger, ignorance, jealousy, and pride in each individual being’s mindstream. The teachings are extremely vast, but the condensed essence of all of them, the pith instruction that encompasses all spiritual traditions, is Ngondro.

All Buddhist and non-Buddhist spiritual traditions see samsara as not a good place to remain and seek to end suffering according to their own capacities and methods. The outer preliminary practices are the four ways to turn the mind to dharma and away from samsara (four thoughts).

The inner preliminary practices begin with going for refuge, the foundation of the path of liberation from Hinayana through Vajrayana. The essence of the path from Mahayana through Vajrayana is to arouse in the mind the thought of supreme enlightenment, Bodhicitta.

In order to attain enlightenment we need to perfect the two accumulations, and mandala offering is the method to quickly accomplish this. The outer mandala offering is the billionfold universe, the inner mandala offering is one’s own body, enjoyable possessions, and accumulations of virtue, and the secret mandala offering is the Dharmadhatu Clear Light Vajra Essence Buddhafield. Actually, everybody needs to accumulate merit, it is not just for those who want to attain Buddhahood. It is the foundation of all worldly happiness, and it gathers the favorable circumstances for attaining enlightenment.

In order to purify unfavorable circumstances we do Vajrasattva meditation. It is a complete tantric practice that includes shamatha and vipassana according to the Vajrayana tradition of the two stages of creation and completion.

Guru yoga is the heart of all practices in the Great Perfection tradition which is the essence of all dharmas and spiritual paths.
Ngondro also includes Phowa, a Great Perfection teaching for swiftly transforming consciousness at the moment of death, even if one dies before being able to accomplish the creation and completion stage practices.

Chod is the practice of severing all types of clinging such as the four maras which create obstacles to samadhi, wisdom, accomplishing meditation practice in this life, and attaining Buddhahood.

As Dudjom Rinpoche said,
“This profound revealed treasure, this preliminary practice arranged here, is the noble path which leads Swiftly and easily to the level of the union of the Four Kayas; It is a chariot, perfectly clear and easily entered, that is brought up here;
All fortunate ones, enter now with joy!”


Written by Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche
and Translated by Cyril Kassoff
March 2015

We have expanded the annual retreat to include the opportunity for students to attend group teaching and practice sessions OR to practice Ngondro independently in private self-paced sessions.

Traditionally, the format of the retreat, has been group teachings and practices for those who wanted to begin or were already doing Ngondro. This year we are offering the same opportunity to receive teachings and guidance from Lamas and senior students, with and additional option for those who want to focus more on personal accumulations in a private retreat setting.

Everyone is invited to attend the teachings and group practices, but it isn’t required. A separate space will be provided for personal practice.

In order to guide your practice more directly, individual interviews will be available. It is also possible to have a private room on a first come first served basis.

More Information here
Register here

Watch video to view accomodations

https://youtu.be/ypqwbGLfXyo

 

What is Ngondro?

~ DudjomTersarNgondro
-His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche

We have been wandering in delusion in samsara since beginningless time, like being trapped in a dream. The dharma is the method that the Buddha taught to wake us up from this dream. For that purpose he taught the 84,000 teachings of the dharma for beings of lesser and medium capacities, and the 6,400,000 tantras for disciples of the highest faculties. They all have one purpose, to tame the five passions of desire, anger, ignorance, jealousy, and pride in each individual being’s mindstream. The teachings are extremely vast, but the condensed essence of all of them, the pith instruction that encompasses all spiritual traditions, is Ngondro. ~ HH Dudjom Rinpoche

All Buddhist and non-Buddhist spiritual traditions see samsara as not a good place to remain and seek to end suffering according to their own capacities and methods. The outer preliminary practices are the four ways to turn the mind to dharma and away from samsara (four thoughts).

The inner preliminary practices begin with going for refuge, the foundation of the path of liberation from Hinayana through Vajrayana. The essence of the path from Mahayana through Vajrayana is to arouse in the mind the thought of supreme enlightenment, Bodhicitta.

In order to attain enlightenment we need to perfect the two accumulations, and mandala offering is the method to quickly accomplish this. The outer mandala offering is the billionfold universe, the inner mandala offering is one’s own body, enjoyable possessions, and accumulations of virtue, and the secret mandala offering is the Dharmadhatu Clear Light Vajra Essence Buddhafield. Actually, everybody needs to accumulate merit, it is not just for those who want to attain Buddhahood. It is the foundation of all worldly happiness, and it gathers the favorable circumstances for attaining enlightenment.

In order to purify unfavorable circumstances we do Vajrasattva meditation. It is a complete tantric practice that includes shamatha and vipassana according to the Vajrayana tradition of the two stages of creation and completion.

Guru yoga is the heart of all practices in the Great Perfection tradition which is the essence of all dharmas and spiritual paths.

Ngondro also includes Phowa, a Great Perfection teaching for swiftly transforming consciousness at the moment of death, even if one dies before being able to accomplish the creation and completion stage practices.

Chod is the practice of severing all types of clinging such as the four maras which create obstacles to samadhi, wisdom, accomplishing meditation practice in this life, and attaining Buddhahood.

As Dudjom Rinpoche said,

This profound revealed treasure, this preliminary practice arra nged here, is the noble path which leads swiftly and easily to the level of the union of the Four Kayas;
It is a chariot, perfectly clear and easily entered, that is brought up here;
All fortunate ones, enter now with joy!

Written by Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche
and Translated by Cyril Kassoff

 

Troma Nakmo Practice and Teaching Retreat

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

The “Sole Mother” or Troma Nagmo, the Black Wrathful Dakini, is one of the most profound termas (treasures) revealed by Trakthung Dudjom Lingpa. This cycle represents the union of method and incisive knowledge as it combines the heart of sutra practice, the Prajnaparamita and the essence of tantra, the mahamudra chod, as the quintessential method of the Secret Heart Essence cycle of the Great Perfection. Chod, or Severance, is the practice that directly severs the root of suffering, self-fixation, with exceptionally expedient wisdom methods. It is well known that through the Troma Nagmo cycle of practice thirteen of Dudjom Lingpa’s disciples attained the rainbow body, and it is predicted that many more will continue to do so for three generations to come.

13165910_10206624572590088_7458370197594176500_nAt the request of Lama Sonam Rinpoche, Sangye Khandro will return this year, 2016, to lead the Troma Retreat. Sangye Khandro will teach from Master Pema Lungtok Gyatso’s extensive commentary to Terton Dudjom Lingpa’s terma revelation, Heart Essence of Saraha. This commentary was composed at the request of the Terton himself and is a comprehensive treatise that underscores
the preliminary instructions in detail that surpasses Patrul Rinpoche’s, Words of My Perfect Teacher. Each word of the terma is embedded in the commentary entitled An Ambrosia Ocean of Sublime Explanations [Dudjom Lingpa’s Chod].

B-DLC-shopify_1024x1024During this practice oriented retreat, we will practice the four feasts each day and the intermediate ngondro will be accumulated along with instructions that will be given during the mid morning and afternoon sessions. Each evening the concise sadhana and tsok will be offered. The intermediate sadhana will launch the retreat and conclude it on the final day.


It is advised to attend every session to derive maximum benefit and keep continuity with the instructions.

New students who have an interest in the Troma Cycle
are welcome and encouraged to attend the retreat.

Troma Nakmo Practice and Teaching Retreat
with Sangye Khandro at Pema Osel Ling
June 14 – 23, 2016


Register ~~~>  You will be directed to the Vajrayana Foundation website.
~~~> Retreat Text and Ritual Implements needed for retreat
~~~> Retreat Schedule

Center Photo: © John Swearingen
Top Photo: Sonam Basiga Tagle Famarin