June 12-20 - Troma Nagmo, with Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche
June 21-27 - Black Hayagriva, with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche
June 28-30 - Shitro Ngakso (One Hundred Peaceful & Wrathful Deities)
July 3-11 - Collection of Seven Treasures Guru Rinpoche Drupchen
July 11 - Register for Dance Day Only
Register for the full retreat (June 12 - July 11)
(To register for individual retreats click each one above.)
“Summer Retreat is our Dharma Party, where we gather together. It makes me happy. It also makes HH Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche happy because even though their physical body is not with us, their wisdom mind is always watching from Dharmakaya and their compassion and penetration of wisdom blessings is continuous. With practice, teachings, faith and devotion, their wisdom blessings penetrate deeply so we can truly hit the target. I am encouraging all of you to come to Summer Retreat.”
~Lama Tharchin Rinpoche
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche began Vajrayana Foundation’s annual month-long Summer Retreat over 25 years ago as his main vehicle for passing the Dudjom Tersar practices on to the Sangha. In this, he was tirelessly assisted by resident lamas, Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche and Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche, who continue to carry out Rinpoche’s intentions to this day.
Summer Retreat is open to everyone. You are welcome to come for the entire Summer, a single retreat, a few days or a couple of sessions --- as your schedule allows --- either as a commuter or as an onsite guest.
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Troma Nagmo, the Black Wrathful Mother, represents the feminine embodiment of wisdom and is the innermost secret aspect of the dakini practice in the Dudjom Tersar lineage. It is the practice of Chöd, or severance, which uses exceptionally expedient wisdom methods to directly sever the root of suffering, dualistic clinging to a self.
“You who aggressively devour dualistic concepts with your sharp, white, bared fangs are ornamented with fearsome accouterments and are completely surrounded by the wisdom fire of the kalpas.” (Pema Lungtok Gyatso, Dudjom Lingpa’s Chöd: An Ambnrosia Ocean of Sublime Explanations, 2014)
Troma is one of the most profound termas (hidden treasures) revealed by Dudjom Lingpa. The Troma Cycle encompasses the full path to enlightenment, from Troma Ngondro through Trekchod and Togal. It is well known that through the Troma Nagmo cycle of practice, thirteen of Dudjom Lingpa’s disciples attained the rainbow body, and it is predicted that many more will continue to do so for three generations to come.
The entrance to the entire cycle is through the Troma Empowerment, which will be given Saturday afternoon, June 15th by Shingdup Tulku Rinpoche, head of Zangdokpalri Monastery, established by Dudjom Rinpoche in Kalimpong, India.
During this 9-day retreat, Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche will give introductory Troma teachings and instructions specific to the Troma Preliminary Practices (Ngondro). Those participating in this retreat will receive a thorough and practical grounding in the Troma preliminary practices and will gain familiarity with the chöd (or severance) practice of the Four Feasts, as well as the concise and intermediate-length Troma sadhanas. There will be daily opportunities for personal Ngondro (including Dudjom Tersar or other Ngondro) accumulations.
While Troma Ngondro is generally undertaken only after completion of the Dudjom Tersar or other general Ngondro, students who have an interest in the Troma Cycle are urged to attend the retreat and may work on their current Ngondro practice during personal accumulation times.
Read a Biography of Shingdup Tulku Rinpoche
