FALL COURSES 2004

John Myrdhin Reynolds/Lama Vajranatha

TEACHING RETREATS With Lopon Tenzin Namdak:

John Myrdhin Reynolds will be teaching at three retreats in Europe , together with Lopon Tenzin Namdak and Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung:

1. The European Retreat with Lopon Tenzin Namdak in Normandy ,  France

August 23- September 12, 2004

Advanced Dzogchen Teachings from the Experiential Transmission for the Zhang-zhung Nyan-gyud with Lopon Tenzin Namdak,

Preliminary Practices from the Zhang-zhung Tradition with Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung,

Background talks on the Zhang-zhung Tradition with John Myrdhin Reynolds.

L’escale du Vitou, Vimoutiers,

Near Lisieux, Normandy, France.

Info : www.yungdrung-bon.org.

Contact: Christophe Moulin, bon@cmoulin.com.

Advance registration required.

2. The Polish Retreat with Lopon Tenzin Namdak near Warsaw in Poland

September 16-25, 2004

Dzogchen Teachings with Lopon Tenzin Namdak and Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung,

Additional lectures with John Myrdhin Reynolds.

Contact: Piotr Wasyl, lhundrub@poczta.onet.pl.

3. The German Retreat with Lopon Tenzin Namdak in Central Germany

October 2-10, 2004

Advanced Dzogchen Teachings from the A-tri Tradition with Lopon Tenzin Namdak,

Preliminary Practices from the A-tri Tradition with Khenpo Tenpa Yuzngdrung,

Background talks on the Zhang-zhung and A-tri Traditions with John Myrdhin Reynolds.

Pfauenhof, Pauendyck 1,

47665 Sonsbeck-Hamb. (Niederrhein), Germany

Contact: Dorothea Mihm, mihm@praxis-adarsha.de

Tel. 0049-(0)6944-2368.

COURSES WITH JOHN MYRDHIN REYNOLDS:

1. TIBETAN DREAM YOGA PRACTICES

September 28-29-30, 2004 (Evenings 18.00-21.00)

Luxembourg (city)

Normally, we human beings spend at least a third of our lifetime in sleep and dreaming. Nevertheless, it is possible to become awake and self-aware in our dreams and experience what is generally known as “lucid dreaming.” Becoming conscious in our dream without awakening from sleep, we may come to find ourselves in control of our dream and be able to transform it, even practice meditation while asleep and journey in a dream-body to explore other worlds and dimensions of existence. Moreover, dream yoga represents an excellent training to prepare us for dying and the after-death-experience known as the Bardo, where, as is the case with the dream state, we are confronted with our karmic visions. In this course, we shall explore some of the methods found in Dzogchen and Buddhist Tantra by the Tibetan Lamas in order to realize lucid dreams and bring about their transformation.

Contact: Vesna Mirkovic, tsogial_y@hotmail.com

2. SURVEY OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM AND CULTURE

October 12-20, 2004 (Extended course, generally evening sessions)

Budapest , Hungary

November 12: Introduction to Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen; Guru Yoga Practice

November 13: Tibetan Shamanic Ritual and Guardian Practices

November 14: Practices of the Lower and Higher Tantras in Tibet

November 15: Introduction to Dzogchen and Semdzin Practices

November 16: Tantric and Shamanic Practices in Tibet (morning)

November 16: Dzogchen Meditation and Rushan Practices (afternoon)

November 17: Dzogchen and Introduction to the Nature of Mind (morning, afternoon)

November 18: Dakini Practices in Tibetan Buddhism

October 19-20: Dzogchen and Buddhist Philosophy (Abhdharma, Chittamatra, Madhamaka)

Contact Jakab Katalin: jakabk@tkbf.hu

3. DZOGCHEN TEACHING AND PRACTICE FROM THE LONGCHEN NYINGTIK TRADITION OF TIBET

October 22-23-24, 2004

(Friday evening talk 19.00-22.00, weekend workshop 10.00-19.00,10.00-17.00)

Diessen am Ammersee, near Munich, South Germany

Within the Nyingmapa tradition, the oldest Buddhist school of Tibet , there exist many profound transmissions of the Dzogchen teachings known as Semde (the Mind Series), Longde (the Space Series), and Mangagide or Upadesha (the Secret Instruction Series). All of them stemmed from the activities Guru Padmasambhava and his colleagues Vimalamitra and Vairochana who established Vajrayana, the Tantric form of Indian Buddhism, in Tibet in the 8th century. In more recent centuries, one of the most popular transmissions of both Tantra and Dzogchen derived from the pure visions of the greatest Nyingmapa master of the 18th century, Jigmed Lingpa (1729-1798). It is said that he received these teachings directly from the great 14th century master Longchen Rabjampa (1308-1363) who had collected together the Dzogchen Upadesha teachings of Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra from various sources into one great collection, the Nyingtik Yabzhi. In the Longchen Nyingtik, “the Essence of the Mind of Longchenpa,” which crowns and completes the work of Longchen Rabjampa left unfinished in his own lifetime, Jigmed Lingpa condenses and essentializes the Dzogchen Upadesha practices, proceeding directly to the discovery of the Nature of Mind in contemplation practice without one first having to undergo an elaborate meditation process of Tantric transformation. It is just this directness and simplicity which makes the methods of Dzogchen Upadesha so effective in our own times. After a brief survey of the contents of the Longchen Nyingtik collection, the participants in this course will be introduced to and practice some of these methods of Dzogchen Upadesha from this venerable tradition. It is advisable that participants in the course have already had some experience with Buddhist meditation practice.

Contact: Angelika Rode, Rodeangelika@aol.com.

Tel. 0049-(0)8807-5341.

4. DAKINIS—THE FEMININE PRINCIPLE IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM

October 30—32, November 1-2-3 , 2004 (Lectures and Dakini Practice)

(Sat 19.00-21.00, Sun 15.00-16.00, Mon-Tue-Wed 18.00-21.00)

Luxembourg (city)

The Dakini or Khandroma, literally “she who moves through space” or “she who goes in the sky,” is a manifestation of energy in female form. There are worldly Dakinis who are human beings such as female spiritual teachers or else witches possessing psychic powers, but also non-human Dakinis such as goddesses and nature spirits in female form. In addition, there are Wisdom Dakinis who are transcendent or beyond Samsara and represent the manifestations of enlightened awareness in female form, such as the female Buddha Tara, or female Bodhisattvas such as Lakshmi and Sarasvati, or Guardians in female form like Ekajati. In the Tantric Buddhism of Tibet, the Dakini embodies the Wisdom Principle of Buddha enlightenment, for which reason she is said to be the Consort of all the Buddhas. More generally, the Dakini represents the feminine principle that is outside the control of patriarchal society and the rational male ego consciousness. This course will survey the importance of the Dakini Principle in the Higher Tantra practice of Tibetan Buddhism and introduce some of the ritual and meditation practices connected with Dakini Yoga.

Contact: Vesna Mirkovic, tsogial_y@hotmail.com

5. DZOGCHEN, DAKINIS, AND THE OLD RELIGION

November 5-10, 2004 (Lectures and Workshops)

Riga , Latvia

Dzogchen and the Nature of Mind in Buddhist Meditation

November 5-6-7-8  (Friday evening, Saturday-Sunday weekend workshop, Monday morning)

Dzogchen is regarded as the ultimate teaching of the Buddha, pointing directly to the Nature of Mind, in the Nyingmapa, Kagyudpa, and Bonpo traditions of Tibet .  In Tibet , however, there exist two authentic traditions for the transmission of Dzogchen, namely, the Nyingmapa and the Bonpo. Both of these traditions focus on discovering within our immediate experience the Nature of Mind, which lies beyond time and conditioning by society and culture. The intrinsic awareness, known as Rigpa, which represents the innate capacity of the Nature of Mind itself, is ever-present in our daily experience in this life and even after death, like the presence of the sun in the sky beyond the clouds. This weekend course with a Western Ngakpa Lama ordained in the Nyingmapa tradition and a well-known meditation teacher and translator of Dzogchen texts from the Tibetan will focus on the direct introduction to the Nature of Mind and will explore some of the methods of meditation employed in Dzogchen in the context of Buddhist meditation for the self-discovery, as well as basic practices for relaxation and developing concentration.

Dakinis—the Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism

November 8-9 (Evenings 19.00-22.00)

The Dakini or Khandroma, literally “she who moves through space” or “she who goes in the sky,” is a manifestation of energy in female form. There are worldly Dakinis who are human beings such as female spiritual teachers or else witches possessing psychic powers, but also non-human Dakinis such as goddesses and nature spirits in female form. In addition, there are Wisdom Dakinis who are transcendent or beyond Samsara and represent the manifestations of enlightened awareness in female form, such as the female Buddha Tara, or female Bodhisattvas such as Lakshmi and Sarasvati, or Guardians in female form like Ekajati. In the Tantric Buddhism of Tibet, the Dakini embodies the Wisdom Principle of Buddha enlightenment, for which reason she is said to be the Consort of all the Buddhas. More generally, the Dakini represents the feminine principle that is outside the control of patriarchal society and the rational male ego consciousness. This course will survey the importance of the Dakini Principle in the Higher Tantra practice of Tibetan Buddhism and introduce some of the ritual and meditation practices connected with Dakini Yoga.

The Bon Tradition of Tibet and the Old Pagan and Druid Religions of Europe

November 10 (Evening talk 19.00-22.00)

Before Indian Buddhism came to Central Tibet in the 8^th century CE, Tibet had already developed a rich cultural tradition known as Bon, which had ties with Central Asia and the mysterious land of Zhang-zhung to the west of Tibet , as well as with pre-Christian Europe . The teachings and practices of Yungdrung Bon, “the eternal tradition,” stemming from Tonpa Shenrab in Ancient Central Asia, are apportioned among the four Gateways of Bon: Shamanism, Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen. In this talk, we shall compare the Bon tradition of Ancient Tibet with the pre-Christian pagan traditions as practiced by the Druids, shamans, and priests of the Celtic, Germanic, Slavic, and Baltic peoples of Old Europe..

Contact: Arthur Alsin, artalsin@yahoo.co.uk.

6. DZOGCHEN AND BUDDHIST MEDITATION: TEACHING AND PRACTICE

From the Dzogchen Upadesha Tradition

November 12-13-14 , 2004

 (Friday evening talk 19.00-22.00, weekend workshop 10.00-19.00,10.00-16.00)

Kamalashila Institute, Eifel , Central Germany

Dzogchen, "the Great Perfection", which teaches the Path of Self-Liberation, is traditionally regarded in Tibet as the highest and most profound teaching of the Buddha. Introduced into Tibet in the eighth century of our era by the great Buddhist Tantric master Padmasambhava, who came from the country of Uddiyana in Central Asia , Dzogchen has been preserved until the present day, especially among the Nyingmapa and Kagyudpa schools of Tibetan Buddhism. In terms of meditation practice, Dzogchen distinguishes between "the mind", or the normal thought process that is cyclical and Samsaric in nature, and "the Nature of Mind", which is the primordial state of enlightenment that lies beyond all time, conditioning, and causality. Although inconceivable by the finite intellect and inexpressible in words, as the very ground of our existence as living beings, this Natural State can be directly encountered within our immediate experience. By way of direct introduction and meditation practice, this primordial, yet ever-present, state of Buddhahood, which resides at the very core of every individual living being, is revealed like the brilliant face of the sun in the sky when the dark clouds of ignorance and delusion are dissipated. Here, among the three series of Dzogchen teachings, we shall focus on the methods of Dzogchen Upadesha, with an emphasis on practice and how meditation can be integrated into one's daily life.

Eifelkloster, Kirchstrasse 22, 56729 Langefeld, Germany

Info: www.kamalashila.de

Contact: programm@kamalashila.de.

Tel. 0049-(0)2655-939055.

7. BUDDHIST MEDITATION PRACTICE AND HEALING THE BODY AND SOUL

November 19-20-21, 2004

(Friday evening talk 19.00-21.00, weekend workshop 10.00-18.00, 10.00-17.00)

Regensburg, South Germany

Healing lies at the heart of the practice of traditional Shamanism in Tibet , as well as at the core of Buddhist teaching and practice. In this weekend course, we shall investigate the energetic basis of both Tibetan Shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism, including the use of meditation and visualization for evoking Tse or healing energy. Furthermore, we shall focus on such traditional practices as Tseguk (recalling life-energy), Soktik (balancing energies), Tsedrub (self-healing), and Tsewang (transmitting healing energy to others).

Contact: Wolfi, wolfi@grandtouring.de.

8. WHITE TARA HEALING PRACTICE AND SOUL RETRIEVAL

November 27-28, 2004 (Weekend healing workshop, 10.00-18.00)

Bielefeld, Central Germany

The best known form of the female Buddha Tara, literally, „she who saves,“ is the Green Tara who has the special function of protecting the individual from the fears and terrors that afflict human existence. However, the white form of Tara, introduced into Tibet in the 11th century by the great Indian Buddhist master Atisha, is especially connected with the funcions of healing and long life practice, she being, along with Amitayus and Vijaya, one of the three principal long life deites (tsering lha-nga) practiced by the Lamas of Tibet. We shall consider in this weekend course some of the healing practices associated with White Tara in terms of healing oneself (tsedrub) and healing others (tsewang). Furthermore, White Tara, like her consort and male counterpart Avalokiteshvara, is connected with the shamanic practices for recalling the soul (la-gug), as well as healing the soul and restorung it to wholeness and felicity. In Tibetan tradition, the soul or La, often visible to the clairvoyant eye as an aura of shifting colors around the physical body of an animate being, is the energetic vehicle for our emotional life. But, at times, the soul can suffer loss or fragmentation and be adversely affected by negative provocations of energy from both human and non-human sources. Therefore, the healing methods associated with White Tara not only for recalling the soul to wholeness, but also for psychic self-defense and protection, will be considered here in this course.

Contact: Miguel, lebensrad@aol.com; www.institut-lebensrad.de.