About this Retreat
Lama Lhanang Rinpoche is a spiritual teacher of the Nyingma Longchen Nying-Thig order of Tibetan Buddhism. Born and educated in Northeasten Tibet, Rinpoche studied with many masters from different lineages. An accomplished instructor of meditation, Anu-yoga, art, Feng-shui, cultural and historical studies as well as a skilled practitioner of Tibetan medicine, he resides in California and teaches extensively throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Laraaji is a musician, mult-instrumentalist, mystic and laughter meditation practitioner based in New York City. He attended Howard University, a historically black university in Washington D.C. on a scholarship to study composition and piano. Laraaji’s experiments and exploratons with the open-tuned electric autoharp/zither began with a gentle nudge from his divine guidance. In 1976, in Queens, NY, he had gone into a pawn shop to trade his guitar for much-needed cash, but was guided to instead acquire the autoharp/zither in the store window. Heeding this mystical and startling guidance, he left the shop with a Kentucky Blue Grass instrument he had never touched before. But within a few weeks Laraaji had discovered a new sound vocabulary with this 36-stringed American folk instrument.
After much open-minded experimentation with altered tunings, Laraaji arrived at a deeply engaging and exotic new age music performance sound, which he sometimes refers to as “Celestial Vibration”, recalling an earlier paranormal sound hearing experience. Laraaji began studying Eastern mysticism and improvising trance-inducing jams on his modified autoharp, processed through various electronic effects.
In 1979, Brian Eno saw LARAAJI playing in Washington Square Park, NYC and invited him to record an album for his seminal Ambient series Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, released 1980. Since then LARAAJI has recorded over 50 solo and collab albums, the latest of which are three solo piano improvisation LPs, SUN PIANO, MOON PIANO & THROUGH LUMINOUS EYES, VISION SONGS Vol 1 (Numero Group). He also conducts healing laughter playshops around the world. See htp://laraaji.blogspot.com/ and follow @edwardlgordon
His latest collaboration with Endel entitled “You are Relaxed” was released August 22, 2022
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/03/06/the-transcendence-of-laraaji
Arji "OceAnanda" Cakouros is a Sound Healer, Musician, Usui Reiki Master, & Dreamwork Teacher with a private counseling/healing practice based in Niskayuna, NY. Since 2008, she has enjoyed the deep joy and honour of collaborating with Blissmate Sw.Laraaji NadaBrahmananda “LARAAJI”, in many venues worldwide, offering Healing Sound events and Laughter Immersion experiences, as well as a great variety of musical performances, some in conjunction with other artists.
She is included in the Fall 2011 release of "That Healing Feeling", a collaborative recording made with Laraaji and Blues Control musicians Lea Cho and Russ Waterhouse, which received international attention and acclaim, resulting in an eight country tour in 2012:
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16056-frkwys-vol-8/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PitchforkAlbumReviews+%28Pitchfork%3A+Album+Reviews%29
Arji has also served as faculty for both the prestigious international Sound Healers Intensive in Colorado for its final nine years, developed by internationally recognized Sound Healing Pioneer Jonathan Goldman (for which she and Laraaji released a highly acclaimed two Cd set entitled "Laughter & Consciousness"), as well as on the faculty for the Sacred Sounds Institute Intensive held annually at Olympic National Park, Washington state created by the multi-talented pioneer Sound Healer Vickie Dodd.
Other releases with Laraaji include a trilogy of live concert events offered as single CDs or a 3 CD set. They were recorded at DubLab in Los Angeles (Nov. 2013), the historic Bijoux Theatre in Knoxville ( 2014 BIG EARS festival), and most recently at the Indianapolis Museum of Art ( May, 2014). Additionally, her "In a Celestial Cathedral" chant cd with drone by Laraaji, and their "Into the Peace Garden" (July 2016) Colorado concert recording has enjoyed an enthusiastic response. Arji is also featured on a collaborative release with Laraaji and synth trio Dallas Acid entitled “Arrive Without Leaving”... named one of the top ten new releases of 2018 by PITCHFORK. More recently (2022), she and Laraaji are featured on Our Silent Canvas’ release entitled “Circle of Celebration”…a collaborative endeavor under the guidance of Christopher Bono and NOUS.
Details of this retreat
This one-of-a-kind retreat weaves together ancient Tibetan teachings, practices and ceremonies with cutting-edge celestial trance music, therapeutic laughter, sound bath and “playshop” experiences, among other inspiring offerings. Master of the Tibetan Nyingma Longchen Nying-Thig lineage, Lama Lhanang Rinpoche teams up with pioneering ambient musicians and sound healers, Swami Laraaji NadaBrahmananda and Arji OceAnanda Cakouros for an immersive healing retreat experience unlike any other.
Through the skillful use of chant voice, gong tone performance, celestial zither, intuitive voice, gentle percussive sound textures, and nature sounds, a richly supportive atmosphere will be created as an outer setting for deep inner connection and meditative release opportunities, resulting in a light wonderful feeling of natural flow that will illuminate your deeper sensitivities and leave you ready to face your life’s challenges with greater grace and equipoise.
The main retreat offerings include:
Daily Tibetan yoga and meditation
Authentic healing Chod practice
Healing Chod practice is a sonically supported spiritual path that "cuts through" obstacles, negativity and self-delusion, while relying on Feminine Wisdom energy to purify body, mind and spirit. Combining all the powerful elements of Tibetan Buddhism in a single practice, it brings about a direct experience of one’s inner brilliance and original wisdom. It also helps the practitioner accumulate merit.
Tibetan fire puja
Through traditional Tibetan Fire Puja ceremony, one makes offerings to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas firstly, and then to the protectors and very high spiritual gods/goddesses. Offerings are made to all sentient beings as well as an offering to demons and hungry ghosts in order to release any negative karma. It is like paying a karmic debt while the fire devours all that is humbly offered in the spirit of release. A dedication to world peace is an overall objective, through the transformation of lesser energies.
Sonically-supported meditative trance work
Celestial music immersion is a means of relaxing into our stillness in a safe space. This experience of being bathed and held lovingly by the sounds flowing through the presenters allows for a rich meditative opportunity of resultant connection, peace, and bliss.
Open-hearted therapeutic laughter yoga
Laughter yogic release therapy is an opportunity to be expertly guided through an interactive, musically supported laughter release session that will help deliver us into our deeper relaxation and healing inner stillness. We will be guided in using our own voice tone and laughter as vehicles for internal energy medicine and positive psychology. The sessions will include a deeply supportive sonic immersion experience to enhance individual inner alignment and integration of our inner child and adult persona.
A full ambient musical concert evening with Laraaji and Arji.
We also include a few periods of stillness and silence to accompany us as this mystical mountain journey unfolds for our own inner connection and release.
Each of our internationally-recognized presenters will also be available for private healing sessions during the course of your stay (extra fees apply – book via Dewa Spa):
Tibetan Healing Massage with Lama Lhanang: Rinpoche has been trained in the healing art of KuNye Tibetan Massage. His restorative sessions are not simply physical applications of physical massage techniques. As a result of Lama’s deep and extensive practice, empowerments and teachings received from great masters over his lifetime, he brings enlightened energy to every person he meets or massages. Depending on what he perceives to be most beneficial for each person, and what is requested, Lama will either apply a vigorous body massage, gentle energetic touch, or some combination resulting in a very enlivening experience. In addition, he may also use vocalization in the form of chanting, prayers or sounds to accelerate healing and peace.
Tandem Sound Healing Sessions with Laraaji and Arji: Enjoy a private healing session with creative artists and healers Laraaji and Arji. Intentional intuitive instrumental and vocal sounding with optional light Reiki friendly touch will draw you into the present moment and into your meditative consciousness. This healing session consists of deep comfortable relaxation while being bathed in a variety of mystical, rhythmic, soothing sounds and flow tones to open you to your own expansive inner world of creativity and healing. In addition to being a Usui Reiki master, Arji OceAnanda is also a master dreamwork therapist in the ancient Hellenic Asclepian tradition. Feel free to bring a dream image or very brief visionary experience to honor and utilize as a portal, if you are so guided.
If you can only attend 2 or 3 nights of this retreat, you may register for pro-rated partial attendance via our Front Desk at frontdesk@menla.org.
Program Schedule
Wednesday, July 3
3 - 6 pm Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Welcome, Healing Chod Practice with Music (Lama Lhanang, Laraaji, Arji)
Thursday, July 4
7 - 8 am Tibetan Yoga (Lama Lhanang)
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am Tibetan Meditation: Instruction and Practice (Lama Lhanang)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 pm Free Time for Hiking, Spa Treatments, Private Healings with Lama Lhanang, Private Sessions with Arji & Laraaji
4 pm Afternoon Class TBD
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Sound Bath: Entering the Celestial Dream Realm (Laaraji and Arji)
Friday, July 5
7 - 8 am Tibetan Yoga (Lama Lhanang)
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am Tibetan Meditation: Instruction and Practice (Lama Lhanang)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Treatments, Private Healing with Lama Lhanang (1-2pm only this day), Private Sessions with Arji & Laraaji, Hiking, etc.
4 pm Traditional Tibetan Fire Puja weather permitting (Lama Lhanang)
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Healing Chod Practice (Lama Lhanang)
Saturday, July 6
7 - 8 am Tibetan Yoga (Lama Lhanang)
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am Tibetan Meditation: Instruction and Practice (Lama Lhanang)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1 - 3 pm Free Time for Spa Treatments, Private Healings with Lama Lhanang, Hiking, etc.
3 - 5 pm Laughter Yoga and Sound “Playshop” (Laraaji and Arji)
6 - 7 pm Dinner
8 pm Concert Performance: Into the Peace Garden (Laraaji and Arji)
Sunday, July 7
7 - 11 am Check-out of Guest Rooms
7 - 8 am Tibetan Yoga (Lama Lhanang)
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners Book Signing (Lama Lhanang)
12:30 - 1:30 am Lunch & Departure
*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.
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