About this Retreat
Khentrul Rinpoché spent the first 20 years of his life herding yak and chanting mantras on the plateaus of Tibet. Inspired by the bodhisattvas, he left his family to study in various monasteries under the guidance of over twenty-five masters in all the Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Due to his non-sectarian approach, he earned himself the title of Rimé (unbiased) Master and was identified as the reincarnation of the famous Kalachakra Master Ngawang Chözin Gyatso. While at the core of his teachings is the recognition that there is great value in the diversity of all spiritual traditions found in this world, he focuses on the Jonang-Shambhala tradition. Thought to be extinct by many Western scholars, he found it held the most advanced teachings of Kalachakra (wheel of time), containing profound methods to harmonize our external environment with the inner world of body and mind.
Since 2014, he has traveled to more than thirty countries, guiding students to realize their own sacred truth of limitless potential through a clear, systematic step-by-step presentation of the Kalachakra Path to enlightenment. By teaching people how to cultivate a flexible mind and remove bias, Khentrul Rinpoché aspires to create compassion-based communities, transforming this world into a golden age of global peace and harmony.
Robert Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as co-founder and President of
Tibet House US and it's
Menla Retreat & Spa. A world-wide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, activist for the plight of the Tibetan people, translator of Buddhist texts, and writer of popular Buddhist books. He recently has been awarded the Padma Shri Award, India’s fourth highest civilian honor for achievement in enriching Indian education and literature. His most recent book is the 300 page graphic novel,
Man of Peace: the Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Suggested Books & Audio by Robert A.F. Thurman:
Man of Peace: Illustrated Life Story of Tibet’s Dalai Lama (Book),
Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within (Book),
Anger: The Seven Deadly Sins (Book),
Inner Revolution (Book),
Circling the Sacred Mountain : A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas (Book),
Essential Tibetan Buddhism (Book),
The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between (Book)
The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism (Book),
The Central Philosophy of Tibet (Book),
The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: A Mahayana Scripture (Book),
Life & Teachings of Tsong Khapa (Book),
Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World (Book) &
Liberation Upon Hearing in the Between: Living with the Tibetan Book of the Dead (Audio).
To Learn More About Robert A.F. Thurman please visit: Website |
Twitter |
Facebook |
Instagram
Details of this retreat
Learn the Most Powerful Spiritual Protection Practice Done before the Kalachakra Empowerment
Vajravega, the wrathful form of Shri Kalachakra and the King of the Wrathful Deities, is the protector aspect in Kalachakra. There are many benefits to establishing a connection with Vajravega. The essence of Vajravega is that he represents the non-conceptual primordial wisdom that arises when the winds enter the central channel. This is the method by which the root ignorance of conceptuality is cut. It is also the basis or container where the precious six vajra yogas arise. When we establish a wheel of protection with Vajravega, we are symbolically stopping the arising of dualistic appearances and abiding within the non-conceptual wisdom. Vajravega is considered the King of Spiritual Protection, and his 60 retinues are incredibly powerful.
Khentrul Rinpoche has never before agreed to bestow this practice on students before keeping it to a very limited number. This powerful practice forms a vajra-protective sphere containing Vajravega and 60 protectors. It is performed at the start of a Kalachakra empowerment ceremony to secure the space. It is also done in some of the extensive Kalachakra Sadhanas. Robert Thurman requested the Vajravega Jenang and other special practices on the mind Mandala. For this reason, Yeshe Wangmo requested Rinpoche grant this wheel of protection practice that is so special and rare. Khentrul Rinpoche agreed to give this specific practice especially due to Robert Thurman’s initial request for Vajravega.
Who is Vajravega?
https://youtu.be/KweyCnXLx5w?si=sUk5E_TORhK1xS4V
For those joining in person, there will be several in-person-only activities. Retreatants will be a part of creating the empowerment mandala and tormas of the retinues as well as a Kalachakra Royal Jinsek Fire Puja, among other exclusive offerings.
It is very important and special for us to connect with this aspect of Kalachakra in our lifetime to benefit from the connection in the Bardo state after death. While we must do our best to create karmic propensities to realize our own sacred truth during this life, if we do not then in the Bardo state after death, we may be able to recognize Vajravega in the sea of wrathful Deities and be liberated. For this reason, we also have several smaller practices that can help increase our connection and familiarity with Vajra Vega.
Mudra and ritual instruction classes will be led by Yeshe Wangmo.
Included in the Retreat both Online and In-Person
- Vajravega Jenang (wrathful Kalachakra) Blessing Empowerment
- Oral Transmission and practice text of Praises of Vajravega
- Oral Transmission and practice text of Short Practice of Vajravega
- Oral Transmission and practice text of Vajravega’s Wheel of Protection Sadhana
- Khentrul Rinpoche will give a short Commentary on the Wheel of Protection Sadhana
- Teachings by Bob Thurman on underlying Kalachakra philosophy, future Shambhala predictions, role of Vajravega and retinue of Gods and Dharma Protectors, Dharma Protectors and the importance of their rituals
- Lesson in how to make the torma and tea offering to Dharma Protectors
- Specific Mudras related to Vajravega and the Wheel of Protection and the 12 Kalachakra Offerings according to Jonang
- Instruction on how to perform the ritual with the mudras are lead by Yeshe Wangmo
Included In-person Retreat Only
- The Kalachakra Royal Jinsek Fire Puja
- Torma Making Class
- Vajravega’s Retinue and Vajravega’s Torma
- Sand Mandala Construction
WHO CAN COME
In-Person students must have already taken the Kalachakra Empowerment (wang) or plan to take it in the future. The participant must already believe that the Kalachakra tantra is an important practice they wish to continue with in this life. Khentrul Rinpoche is being generous in offering the in-person attendees the opportunity to attend this retreat even just with the intention to take it in the future, rather than insisting on prior initiation as is customary
Online participants must have already taken the Kalachakra Wang before.
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES TO BRING
Damaru
Bell and Dorje
Serkyem (Golden Tea Offering Set)
HYBRID FORMAT
This workshop will be online and in person. Oral transmissions and empowerment must be received in real-time (i.e. not via video replay). Recordings will be added to learn.dzokden.org after the retreat. Everyone enrolled in person or online will be able to access the course.
This page is for in-person attendance registration. If you cannot attend in person and wish to join us virtually online, please visit our Teachable platform at Menla Online.
Schedule
Monday, August 19
3 - 6 pm Arrival & Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Welcome and Intro Teaching on Kalachakra, the Path, and How Vajravega and Protectors Fit in (Rinpoche/Thurman)
Tuesday, August 20
7 - 8 am Early Morning Yoga
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Making Vajravega Tormas, Sand Mandala, Hall Set up
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 Free Time for Spa Treatments, Relaxation, etc.
4 - 6 Making Vajravega Tormas, Sand Mandala, Hall Set up
6 - 7 Dinner
7:30 pm Teaching on Vajravega, Protector Deity, and Forms of Protection on the Spiritual Path
Wednesday, August 21
7 - 8 am Early Morning Yoga
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Vajravega Initiation (Rinpoche)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 Free Time for Spa Treatments, Relaxation, etc.
4 - 6 Intro to the Mahayana Philosophical Support for Kalachakra and the Role of Kalachakra as Vajravega (Thurman)
6 - 7 Dinner
7:30 pm Practice Session and Oral Transmission of Praises of Vajravega and on the Short Sadhana (Rinpoche & Wangmo)
Thursday, August 22
7 - 8 am Early Morning Yoga
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Oral Transmission and Intro to the Vajravega Wheel of Protection Commentary (Rinpoche)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 Free Time for Spa Treatments, Relaxation, etc.
4 - 6 Vajravega Sadhana Practice and Lesson on Making Torma and Tea Offerings (Thurman/Wangmo)
6 - 7 Dinner
7:30 pm Vajravega Sadhana Practice (Wangmo)
Friday, August 23
7 - 8 am Early Morning Yoga
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Continued Commentary on Vajravega Wheel of Protection (Rinpoche)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 Free Time for Spa Treatments, Relaxation, etc.
4 - 6 Vajravega Sadhana Practice (Thurman/Wangmo)
6 - 7 Dinner
7:30 pm Vajravega Sadhana Practice (Wangmo)
Saturday, August 24
7 - 8 am Early Morning Yoga
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Kalachakra Royal Jinsek Fire Puja (Rinpoche)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 Free Time for Spa Treatments, Relaxation, etc.
4 - 6 Wheel of Protection Practice (Thurman/Wangmo)
6 - 7 Dinner
7:30 pm Kalachakra, Peace and the Golden Age (Rinpoche/Thurman)
Sunday, August 25
7 - 11 am Check Out of Rooms by 11am
7 - 8 am Early Morning Yoga
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Final Practice Session (Rinpoche/Thurman/Wangmo)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.
Verified
