Our Programs
This summer we present our fullest program season in many years. Blessing us with an extended program on June 11-17, 2012, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche is offering a three-day Kurukulle Drupcho and three day Uttaratantra Shastra teaching. On June 29-July 1, Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel will offer a three day teaching on “Are We Really Practicing?” In the month of July, we rejoice that Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche is returning after many years to offer a 5 day “Phowa Retreat” from July 3-7th and a two day program of empowerments and teachings on July 8-9, 2012. We are also excited to host H.E. Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche for a three-day teaching on the “Four Dharmas of Gampopa” from July 27-29, 2012. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche will return on August 5th – 14th, for a three-day public program on Green Tara: The Treasury of Triple Excellences with empowerment, a full-day Ocean of Amrita Puja, and offer a five-day Dzogchen Intensive.
RYG CA will again be holding the Kumara Summer Program for four, eight or twelve week sessions over the summer, and is excited to be newly offering the Dīpaṃkara Translator Internship Program (June 18-July 31) this year.
As these teachers and their presentations are vital to the progress and development of our practice, creating the circumstances for receiving them is very important. Please consider allowing time in your schedule for these important events and setting aside the finances that would allow you to do so.
RYG CA has developed a staffing system to encourage volunteers who would like to participate in the Gomde community and support the operation of the seminars. Many of these jobs come with discounts for those in need. Please visit the Work Exchange/Scholarship page for descriptions of the services needed.
Childcare creates an added difficulty for those parents trying to schedule and prepare for a summer seminar program. Fortunately Rangjung Yeshe Gomde is close to an award winning and longstanding children’s performance and arts camp. Practitioners with families may want to consider enrolling their children in the Camp Winnarainbow program 20 minutes south in Laytonville while they spend time in practice at Gomde. For more information visit campwinnarainbow.org. Several of the camp sessions span the teaching schedule.
Kumara Summer Program
We invite interested students to participate in the seventh year of the Kumara Summer Program, a combination of study, meditation, and service. The program offers committed young Dharma students an opportunity to spend the summer on Gomde’s beautiful retreat land in an atmosphere of practice, learning and work. This unique program is motivated to build… more »
Instructions on the Practice of Kurukulle
Lama Tsultrim Sangpo
Kurukulle, an important practice of the lotus dakini from the Chokling Tersar tradition, focuses on magnetizing the supportive conditions for the study and practice of tantric Buddhism. Recently a number of Rangjung Yeshe Gomde’s teachers have encouraged us to take up this practice which is beneficial both for one’s individual practice and for sustaining the entire Buddhist community.
Kurukulle Drupcho Registration
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
During this feast offering practice, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche will lead students in accumulating mantras for world peace and to overcome obstacles on the path to liberation. The practice of Kurukulle comes from the collection of termas, or hidden treasures, known as the Chokling Tersar. Kurukulle is the feminine embodiment of enlightened wisdom and appears as a… more »
Kurukulle Drupcho and Uttaratantra Shastra
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
During Kurukulle feast offering practice, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche will lead students in accumulating mantras for world peace and to overcome obstacles on the path to liberation. The Uttaratantra Shastra is a detailed commentary on the third turning, thoroughly explaining the all-pervasive luminosity that is the enlightened essence of all our minds. Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche will give transmission and comment on this work, one of the Five Treatises composed by the Buddha’s regent, Arya Maitreya.
Kurukulle Drupcho with Uttaratantra Shastra Registration
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Kurukulle Drupcho – June 11 – 15 During this feast offering practice, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche will lead students in accumulating mantras for world peace and to overcome obstacles on the path to liberation. The practice of Kurukulle comes from the collection of termas, or hidden treasures, known as the Chokling Tersar. Kurukulle is the feminine embodiment… more »
Uttaratantra Shastra Registration
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
In his third turning of the Wheel of Dharma, the Buddha taught that all sentient beings without exception possess enlightened nature. The Uttaratantra Shastra is a detailed commentary on the third turning, thoroughly explaining the all-pervasive luminosity that is the enlightened essence of all our minds. Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche will give transmission and comment on this work,… more »
Are We Really Practicing?
Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel
All the great meditation masters point out the importance of honesty for practitioners. In this spirit we have to be able to ask ourselves, “Are we really practicing?” This is a subtle and indispensable question from the beginning to the end of the path. Elizabeth will examine this topic in what will be a lively… more »
Phowa Retreat
H.E. Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche
Rangjung Yeshe Gomde CA is deeply honored to host H.E. 4 th Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche’s first ever Phowa Intensive Retreat in the West this July 3-9, 2012. Rinpoche will compassionately transmit the very special practice known in Tibetan as Phowa, the transference of consciousness. This simple, concise, yet profound practice will ensure the dying practitioner,… more »
Death, Dreams, and Visions in Tibetan Buddhism
Jacob Dalton
Tibetan Buddhists view the moment of death as a rare opportunity for transformation. This talk examines how Tibetans have used death and dying in the path to enlightenment and will focus on the various means employed by Buddhist practitioners to prepare for this crucial moment through tantric meditation, imaginative rehearsals, and explorations of the dream state…. more »
The Four Dharmas of Gampopa
H.E. Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche
After years of prayer and aspiration, Gomde CA is excited to announce that H.E. Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche will be returning to our precious retreat land to teach on “The Four Dharmas of Gampopa” on July 27-29, 2012. One of the few female Tibetan Buddhist lineage holders, Jetsun Khandro speaks fluent English and understands Western… more »
Teachings on the Ocean of Amrita Puja
Lama Tsultrim Sangpo
This weekend of teachings on the Ocean of Amrita (also commonly referred to as the “Ngakso”) will be led by our resident lama, Tsultrim Sangpo. Lama Tsultrim will explain the general structure and significance of this profound practice from the Chokling Tersar which combines the sadhana of Padmasambhava with that of the one hundred peaceful… more »
Green Tara, Ocean of Amrita, and Dzogchen Intensive
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
This year, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche is offering teachings on Green Tara: The Treasury of Triple Excellences, followed by the traditional Ocean of Amrita Puja, and Dzogchen teachings on the “The Heart of the Matter” by Tsele Natsok Rangdröl.
Green Tara: Treasury of Triple Excellences and Ocean of Amrita Puja Registration
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
Teachings, practice and empowerment centering around the inspirational figure of Green Tara. Tara embodies the most compelling and vital qualities of the feminine: beauty, grace, care, and protection. She is also a true warrior, vanquishing fear and ignorance. Rinpoche will teach on the practices of a profound terma from the Chokling Tersar: The Essential Instruction… more »
Green Tara, Ocean of Amrita Puja and Dzogchen Registration
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
Green Tara: Treasury of Triple Excellences/Empowerment and Puja – Aug 5-8 Teachings, practice and empowerment centering around the inspirational figure of Green Tara. Tara embodies the most compelling and vital qualities of the feminine: beauty, grace, care, and protection. She is also a true warrior, vanquishing fear and ignorance. Rinpoche will teach on the practices… more »
Dzogchen Intensive Registration
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
The Heart of the Matter: The Unchanging Convergence of Vital Points That Shows Exactly How to Apply the View and Meditation of the Definitive Meaning. Text by Tsele Natsok Rangdröl. Prerequisites for this program include: *Having taken refuge and bodhicitta vows. *Having begun the ngondro practices with a commitment to complete them. *Attendance at a previous… more »
Ocean of Amrita Puja (Ngaksopuja)
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche will lead participants of both the Green Tara and Dzogchen programs in a special day-long Vajrayana ritual that was a favorite practice of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Guests are welcome to attend only for the day as well. From the Ngakso text, written by Chokyur Lingpa: To mend violated samayas is ‘mending,’ and… more »
