About this Retreat
Ron Thomas, PhD, is the Vajrayana Study Coordinator and a mentor for Natural Dharma Fellowship. He is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Harvard University, where he received degrees in social anthropology and clinical psychology. He practiced psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy in the Harvard Medical School system.
For many years, he has explored the spiritual traditions of contemplatives and mystics such as Hildegard of Bingen, lbn al-Arabi, Meister Eckhart and the psychological alchemy of Carl Jung. He formally entered the joyous Vajrayahomna path in the early 2000s, practicing in the Sakya and Kagyu traditions. He has received teachings and empowerments from HH the Dalai Lama, HH the Sakya Trizin, HE Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, Lama Willa Blythe Baker, Khenpo Migmar Tseten and others.
The insights and guidance of past masters Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal, Jigme Lingpa, Longchenpa and Dudjom Lingpa have been especially important to him. He has completed both multi-year Six Yogas of Naropa and Dzogchen trainings under the guidance of Lama Willa Blythe Baker. His deep love for the Vajrayana is expressed in his primary wisdom energy practices of Vajrayogini, Chakrasamvara and Vajrakilaya. A Drupon (Master of the Practice) in the Kagyu lineage, he has organized and led online study courses on classic Buddhist scriptures. He was a long-time member of the International Business and Strategy faculty at Northeastern University. He lives in Cambridge, MA.
Details of this retreat
Live Online + unlimited access to course recordings
January 6 - May 12, biweekly Mondays, 7:00-8:30 pm ET
Come join us for an exploration of the vibrant, incandescent world of Vajrayana, the Diamond Path. Our online reading and study group, facilitated by Ron Thomas, a longtime Vajrayana practitioner and NDF mentor, is an opportunity to delve into these transformative wisdom teachings while building sangha. The ten sessions, beginning January 6, 2025, will meet on alternate Monday evenings. The sessions will feature brief explanatory presentations and small and large group discussions, where participants can share their insights and questions. Our text will be Secret of the Vajra World, by Reginald Ray, widely available in print and e-book formats. Before each session, some questions to guide your reading and discussion will be posted to the study group website. Although occasional absences may arise, consistent attendance is highly desirable, as the readings and discussions build on each other. No prior knowledge or experience is required. All are welcome! The only prerequisite is a willingness to engage with the readings and other members of the study group. The Vajrayana is truly vast and profound—our reading and study group offers an entry point into its wonders.
Here is the tentative list of session topics:
Session #1 : Origins and Spread of the Vajrayana
Session #2: The Three Yanas
Session #3: The View of Vajrayana
Session #4: The Meditation of Vajrayana
Session #5: The Vajra Teacher
Session #6: Entering the Vajra Path
Session #7: Deity Yoga and Yidam Practice
Session #8: The Inner Yogas
Session #9: Mahamudra and Dzogchen
Session #10: The Practice of Retreat
Zoom Link
The Zoom link will be sent several days before the course begins to all those registered by then. If you register after that date, you'll receive the link with your confirmation email shortly after submitting your registration. The same Zoom link will be used each week. If you don't see an email from Natural Dharma Registrar or Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, it may have mistakenly gone to your spam folder or to Promotions or Updates in Gmail.
Important: Please put these two email addresses in your Contact or Safe-Send list to make sure you receive our emails:
register@naturaldharma.org
Program Cost
Our program fees provide essential support to our non-profit operations and NDF’s mission to spread the Dharma in accessible, relevant, and creative ways. Our goal is that no one misses out on our events due to lack of funds. Thanks to our generous donors, we are able to offer tiered pricing and additional support to fit varied financial situations:
May All Beings Benefit! *– supporting access for all and general support for NDF operations
A Middle Way – covering the base cost
Held in Sangha Loving-kindness – offering ease when financial resources are limiting
If the lowest cost tier creates an obstacle to your attendance, please see our financial support options on the registration page. The process is simple and does not require extensive information. Financial aid is immediately approved using discount code options that allow you to contribute the most you are able while honoring your particular resources.
* The difference between the May All Beings Benefit! tier and the Middle Way tier will be considered a tax-deductible donation and will be acknowledged as such in writing. Contributing at this level helps us offer financial aid to other participants. Thank you!!
Access to Recordings
NDF offers unlimited access to recordings, which are accessed in your user dashboard (more information about user accounts provided in a pre-retreat letter). If you have a user account, please register with the same email you use to log into your dashboard. If not, an account will be created for you using your registration address.
Availability will vary depending on the type of event and the backlog for our precious resource volunteers. Thank you for your patience.
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