Live online, Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00 pm ET
No class on 11/26
Perhaps one of the hallmarks of being human is a sense that we are not good enough as we are. This hidden belief drives us to seek paths of healing, purification and transformation, to seek ways to become more awake, wise and whole. While this impulse may act as a powerful stimulus towards the spiritual path, the teachings of Dzogchen, or the Great Wholeness takes a unique perspective on this hidden belief.
In this eight-week course, Lama Liz and Lama Willa will introduce the path of the Great Wholeness by way of Garab Dorje’s Three Vital Points, Anam Thubten’s Citadel of Awareness and Shabkar’s classic Dzogchen text The Flight of the Garuda.
Please join us to explore these topics:
A basic history of the Dzogchen tradition
Dzogchen view, meditation and action
Discernment between mind and awareness
The essential points of Dzogchen meditation practice
These unique teachings offer a hypothesis that no one is fractured or broken. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. This thing called “waking up,” these teachings suggest, is not a matter of clearing away darkness, or filling in deficiencies. It may be a matter of noticing that we have always been, from the very beginning, primordially whole. Hence this tradition refers to itself as “the great wholeness."
The key to glimpsing the great wholeness is not doubling down on one’s spiritual practice, tightening up one’s concentration, and becoming “great meditators.” Because this wholeness is already present as everyone’s birthright, the emphasis is on letting be, loosening up, opening up and turning the gaze inwards to glimpse an inner friend that has always been present, our primordial, wakeful awareness.
Through study and practice, participants will engage with the principals, practices and view of Dzogchen online via live teachings, a book study group and guided practice.
All are welcome! This is designed as an introductory course and prerequisite for application to NDF’s Dzogchen program, while offering experienced practitioners deeper understanding.
Please have these core texts on hand for the first session:
Citadel of Awareness by Anam Thubten
Garab Dorje’s Three Vital Points (handout will be sent by email)
The Flight of the Garuda by Shabkar (PDF will be sent by email)
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 this email address 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 available 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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