DZOGCHEN RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

13th – 20th August

LHAK-THONG WÖD-SEL
(Direct Experiencing of the Clear Light)

Event Poster Here

Yung Drung Bon is the Native Ancient Buddhism of Tibet. Its teachings taught by Buddha Tonpa Shenrab consist of Dho (Sutra), Ngak (Tantra) and Sem (Dzogchen) . They were brought to Tibet some 5000 years ago from Zhang Zhung-Shambala and are alive to this day!

Proper understanding and experiencing of these teachings are essential. Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to this:

1. Through Shey-dra (monastic debate school). Here, the main purpose is to study the philosophy of the teachings. Once one has completed one’s studies via this route, one is awarded the Geshe degree which is roughly equivalent to the western Master of Philosophy degree.

2. Through Drub-dra (meditation school) where one mainly engages diligently in meditative practices with devotion - leaving aside the philosophical ecstasy of teachings once and for all.

Amongst the three tawas (views), the Dzog-chen tawa is supreme since its meditation casts aside and totally surpasses all concepts of Samsara and Nirvana such as karma (the law of cause and effect), Buddhahood, Enlightenment etc.

The Dzog-chen tawa is most definitely not suitable for everyone – especially not for those who are out with their Dzog-chen shopping baskets - since such people are only intent on picking up and sampling philosophical and academic items from the supermarket shelves. It is suited rather to Dzog-chen pa(s) who discard the Dzog-chen shopping-basket approach in favour of engaging humbly and invisibly in serious meditative practices – i.e. those who firstly work toward laying their foundations through practising to complete the Dzogchen Ngondro (100,000 times each) followed by Zhiney as a stepping-stone for Dzogchen Ngo-zhi meditations, such as treg-chhod and thod-ghel etc.

Dzog-chen or the Nature of the Mind is, of itself, pristine and pure and, as such, does not need anything. However, by contrast, the Dzogchen-pa’s mind is clouded and in order to rectify this, he or she needs to purify his or her karma, and generate Sem-kyed (boddhi chitta), Kyab-dro (seeking refuge in the supreme objects) and Lamei Neljor (Guru Yoga) as the foundation.

The founder of Yungdrung Bon, the Teacher Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, taught ‘Bon Theg-pa Rim-gu’ (The Nine Gradual Views of Bon). Within the nine, the ninth is the Supreme View, known as Dzog-chen. Dzog-chen is the direct and swift path. According to the Dzog-chen view, unlike the other paths and their respective views, Dzog-chen practitioners (Dzogchen-pas) can apply the one single pointed view (Thig-li Nyag-chik kyi Tawa) for total realization. This means that the Dzogchen-pa could attain Jalu Wöd-ku Chenpo (The Great Rainbow Light Body) here within this very life. Such a View is not a mere concept as historically many Dzogchen-pas - including the 20th century Master, Sharza Tashi Gyaltsen (1855-1935) - have attained this. Its teaching is all about discovering one’s own "Nature of The Mind" (Sem-kyi Ne-luk) as the Core Meditation.

This is a continuation of Dzog-chen teaching. The topic is Lhak-thong Wöd-sel, for which a loose translation would be Penetrative Insight Meditation.

Over the years, under the umbrella of Dzog-chen Ngo-zhi, Zhi-ney (calm abiding) and the introduction to the Sem-kyi Ney-look (Nature of the Mind) have been explained at various retreats throughout the UK, Europe and America. Lhak-thong Wöd-sel is a natural progression. This teaching is vast and will be taught continuously in 2 divisions:

(a) Lhak-thong Wöd-sel - experiencing in general terms
(b) Lhak-thong Wöd-sel - experiencing in particular.

Mun-tsham (dark retreat) and Dzog-chen Tsa-lung (Aa-ti Yoga) are both integral parts of the practice of this teaching.

These teachings will be taught and practised under the direct supervision of the Lama during a residential retreat conducted along traditional lines.

Pre-requisites:

In order to attend and derive full benefit from this retreat, one must have received the loongs (transmissions) of Dzog-chen Ngon-dro and Zhi-ney and be practising accordingly. For those who wish to participate, but who have not yet received these loongs, the best way to do so is to attend some of the Dzog-chen Ngon-dro and Zhi-ney weekend teachings that are scheduled to take place in various venues prior to the retreat. In the event that this is not possible, one may book a 2 hour session with Rinpoche to receive Dzog-chen Ngon-dro and a separate two hour session to receive Zhi-ney.

Dates: Friday, 13th – Friday 20th August Poster Here

Venue: Blackton Grange, Baldersdale, Co Durham, Northumberland, DL12 9UP

Directions / information about the venue: CLICK HERE

Fees: The fees for the retreat are as follows: A fixed Teaching fee of £355 for non-members, and £295 for TYBSC members. Additionally, for board at the venue plus all food - vegetarian and fully organic - there will be a fee of £235.00 per person to cover costs. If the retreat becomes fully booked, and all costs are covered, this fee may be reduced.

A non-refundable deposit of £200 is required, and must be received by the Treasurer (details below) before your place will be deemed to be secured. Full payment of the balance will be due by 31 July, 2010.

Booking arrangements: Please forward your name, address, e.mail address, telephone number(s) and a note of any health or dietary issues to: Val Roger(Tashi Yudron): val_roger@o2.co.uk Tel: 07595508702. This will ensure that you will receive periodic updates, joining instructions etc. and will also assist us to try to ensure the smooth running of the retreat. If there is anything in relation to the retreat that you are unsure of / require further information about, please do not hesitate to ask.

N.B. Bookings will be considered to be provisional until such time as payment is received to secure your place - q.v payment arrangements below.

Payment arrangements: Please contact the Treasurer, Sarah Yeshe Lhamo on 07815 190476 / e.mail sarahyeshelhamo@googlemail.com to organise payment of deposit etc. Payment can be made by cheque, BACS transfer or Paypal. Regrettably, due to Paypal's charging structure, payments via Paypal will be subject to a 5% surcharge. International students should contact Sarah directly for payment options.

Cheques should be made payable to TYBSC and should be sent to:

The Treasurer, TYBSC, 40 Liddle Close, Carlisle, CA3 0DS

Queries re- the financial aspects of the retreat should be addressed to Sarah.

N.B. In the event that one would like to attend the retreat but is experiencing difficulty in meeting the above payment arrangements, one should contact Rinpoche in the first instance and explain one’s circumstances to him. He will then explore with one whether a payment solution might be found. To contact Rinpoche for this purpose, please e.mail him through the TYBSC Administrator on tybscuk@hotmail.com with the words ‘Please forward to Rinpoche’ in the subject box.

INVITATION TO JOIN OUR WEEKLY

"DRUB-DHE" MEDITATION

Time: starts 7:25pm sharp until about 10pm (same with all our U.K and European groups.) Free - donations welcome to cover venue cost. Venues: see below for English groups various venues and respective contact details.

DRUB-DHE PRACTICE

Monday evening meditation is designed for students to practice Dzogchen Ngondro. It is also a public meditation assisted by students as a courtesy of TYBSC and open to general public - regardless of faith and gender.

In London the Monday evening meditation continues with Dzogchen Ngo-zhi designed for Drubdra students *only* to practice. This is not open to general public unless one has received at least Dzogchen Ngondro.

DRUB-DHE NGO-ZHI PRACTICE ROTA.