ONLINE: 2024 Winter Retreat: Resting in the Wonder of the Natural Mind (Weekend Only)

Welcome to an 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 the first weekend of a nine days of dzogchen meditation. Our traditional six-day retreat has expanded in length as a support to deepen our practice together. And we are so happy that you can join us for the initial weekend!

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 online 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 are warmly welcomed. 

Additionally, those who are new to dzogchen meditation are also welcome. Rinpoche strongly encourages you to register for two free online courses that he has created prior to attending: 

•  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.

We are looking forward to having you with us!

Tentative Schedule – EST (New York time)

Link to your local time zone

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

December 28–December 29, 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