DZOGCHEN RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

13th – 20th August in England

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

Event Poster

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

For ALL details see the ENGLAND PAGE

 

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