ONLINE: 2024 Winter Retreat: Resting in the Wonder of the Natural Mind

Welcome to this online dzogchen retreat, open to everyone! In winter, nature turns inward to renew itself before the emergence of spring. As in nature, we, too, benefit from taking time to turn inward—to reflect, meditate, and nourish ourselves in community. As we find our centeredness through resting in stillness, silence, and spaciousness, we discover the sacred expanse of our own being and the rich resource of those who gather in this way. We rest, renew, and generate fresh visions for our lives. We activate our aspiration to benefit others. 

For this 2024 Winter Retreat, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche warmly invites you to join him online for nine days of dzogchen meditation. Our traditional six-day retreat has expanded in length as a support to deepen our practice together. 

Dzogchen teachings, known as the teachings of “great perfection,” are considered the highest teachings in Bön and Tibetan Buddhism. The teachings hold the view that each of us and all of  reality is inherently complete and perfected as it is. Nothing needs to be transformed or renounced, simply recognized for what it truly is. Without accepting or rejecting any of our experiences, thoughts, or emotions, the essential dzogchen practice is a practice of allowing everything to be just as it is, without the elaboration of our habitual patterns or the conceptual mind. In this natural space of openness, we abide, fully present with wisdom and compassion. 

In this retreat, Rinpoche will present and guide a selection of dzogchen practices from the ancient Bön text of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung, the core of Rinpoche’s teaching at our winter retreats for the last 30 years. Experienced practitioners who have attended any of the 5-year cycles of the Experiential Transmission, as well as those who are new to dzogchen meditation are warmly welcomed. 

If you are new to these teachings and practices, Rinpoche strongly encourages you to register for two free courses prior to attending the winter retreat:

•  Starting a Meditation Practice through Ligmincha Learning, and
•  Focusing and Calming Your Mind: The Tibetan Practice of Zhiné, through Glidewing

Live translation into German, Polish, Russian, and Spanish will be available on Zoom.

Looking forward to having you with us!

Tentative Schedule

Link to your local time zone

December 27, 2024
7:00 p.m.–8:o0 p.m. Welcome/Talk

December 28, 2024
7:40 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Teachings/Practice
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice
12:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Teachings/Practice
4:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Practice

December 29–December 30, 2024
7:00 a.m.–7:40 a.m. Practice
7:40 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Teachings/Practice
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice
12:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Teachings/Practice
4:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Practice

December 31, 2023
7:00 a.m.–7:40 a.m. Practice
7:40 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Teachings/Practice
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice
12:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Du Dok (end of year ritual)
4:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Break
4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Teaching/Practice

January 1, 2025
7:00 a.m.–7:40 a.m. Practice
7:40 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Sang Chӧd & Teachings
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice
12:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Teachings/Practice
4:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Practice

January 2–3, 2025
7:00 a.m.–7:40 a.m. Practice
7:40 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Teachings/Practice
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice
12:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Teachings/Practice
4:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Practice

January 4, 2025
7:00 a.m.–7:40 a.m. Practice
7:40 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Final Teaching/Practice & Close of Retreat
11:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Break
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Tsok
1:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Khata offering
1:30 p.m. Lunch

Rinpoche will offer a refuge ceremony to anyone with an interest in taking refuge at the end of winter retreat on January 4.