8 February – 6 March: Queenstown.
(Lama Mark has also offered to give personal retreat guidance for those people in retreat in the cabins at Arthurs Point)
- Feb. 18th (Thursday evening) Introductory Talk: What is Buddhism? What is Buddhist Meditation? What is it for? How does it work?
- Mini-retreat: Weekend of 4 classes (Feb 27-28) What causes stress? Understanding how we suffer, how serious it can get, and how the cycle is gradually dismantled. Two evening classes, two morning practice sessions.
- Weekend Retreat (March 4-6): Empowerment and Practice of Kalden Drendze (Standing Guru Rinpoche), from the terma of Lho Nuden Dorje in the lineage of the Dzogchen Yangzab. (Friday night empowerment, practice and teachings Saturday and Sunday)
- Starting the evening of Feb. 20th A series of classes introducing The Gongchig: The Single Intent, the Sacred Dharma
The Gongchig, or The Single Intent was composed by the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön in the 12th- 13thCentury. This blend of Sutra and Tantra gains its name from the fact that Jigten Sumgön’s and the Buddha’s intentions were the same.
The 152 main vajra-statements (rdo rje’i gsung) presented have sparked debates by their profound yet sometimes radical nature. Receiving this teaching offers permission to study and practice from the Root Text and commentaries.
Jigten Sumgon, Gongchig. The Single Intent, the Sacred Dharma, with a commentary entitled, The Lamp Dispelling the Darkness by Rigdzin Chokyi Dragpa. From Tibetan to English by Markus Viehbeck. ISBN 978-3-933529-28-2
The work may be ordered directly from the publishers at info@otterverlag.de Please order this book at least three months (shipped by freighter) ahead of teachings in Qtn.
6-10 March: Pause in teachings
11 March – 10 April: (Location to be announced). Introduction to Dzogchen: The Common and Extraordinary Foundations of the Yangzab tradition.
During this retreat, Lama Mark will offer the instructions and blessings to study and practice the outer and inner foundational meditations of the Drikung Kagyu Yangzab Dzogchen tradition as transmitted by His Eminence Lho Ontul Rinpoche.
These precious teachings of Padmasambhava, known as the Yangzab terma cycle was revealed in the 17th century by the throne holder of the Drikung, Gyalwang Rinchen Phuntsok. The Yangzab cycle is deeply connected with the more well known Khandro Nyingtig terma cycle, from which so many teachings, commentaries and empowerments were written by Longchenpa and other esteemed masters. Both were found in the same cave above Terdrom in Tibet. These teachings are considered by the Nyingma school of Buddhism to be of the most profound and direct path to Buddhahood, and carry great blessings. Lama Mark will give Yangzab empowerments and teachings from both Yangzab and Khandro Nyingtig traditions.
For those attending, please order the book for the retreat: Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, Great Perfection, Outer and Inner Preliminaries, Snow Lion. Please order this book at least two months ahead of teachings. Other texts and sadhanas of the Yangzab lineage will be available at the retreat.
11-14 April: Break
15 April – 8 May: Te Moata. The Empowerment, Teachings and Practice of the Twenty-one Taras
“The meditations of the Twenty-one Taras (female embodiments of wisdom and compassion), through the terma lineage of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa are a powerful entry gate into liberation from fears, anxieties and all kinds of obstructions; they help in building great emotional and mental strength. By becoming each figure in the mandala, different types of obstacles are dissolved and strengths and talents open. This is a mandala of compassionate awake activity. Each figure is an aspect of the central green figure of Tara (Tara – “to cross over”). Around her are four different Taras representing the Four Buddha Activities of: peacefulness, unfoldment/increase, power, and fierce cutting through all obstacles. Then there are the remaining sixteen Taras that help remove deep seated fears and anxieties and bring about immense strength. In addition to explaining the rich and ancient tradition of Tara, this is an ideal time to share some modern psychological and physiological views about anxiety and fear, trauma and the remarkable plasticity and openness of our nervous system.” – Lama Mark
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