2025 Ngondro Retreat Faculty
Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, Sam Bercholz, Lama Sonam Rinpoche
Amy Green, Drubpon Pema Rigdzin
Stefan Graves, Chöying Wangmo
2025 Annual Ngondro Retreat, with Orgyen Menla Empowerment
April 12-20
In-Person and Online
Registration, Pricing, Schedule
Register for the Ngondro Retreat
Pricing | Schedule | Text and Resource List |
Pre-Retreat Information | About the Ngondro Retreat
We want everyone who has a sincere interest in practicing Dharma to attend whether online or in person. Email us at office@vajrayana.org if you need a reduced fee in order to attend.
April 12 - 13
"A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar"
Teachings with Sam Bercholz
April 14 - 19
Teaching and Practice Instruction
with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, Lama Sonam Rinpoche, Amy Green, Drubpon Pema Rigdzin, Choying Wangmo and Stefan Graves
April 20, 8 a.m. - Noon
Oral Transmissions (lungs) for the Concise Dudjom Tersar, Sa-Ter and Troma Nagmo Ngondros
Refuge Ceremony and Bodhisattva Vows
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April 20, 3 – 5 p.m. Orgyen Menla Empowerment Empowerment with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche
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Ngondro, the preliminary or foundational practices of Vajrayana Buddhism, is a profound and powerful means of affecting transformation through purification and the vast accumulation of merit.
"If there are any wise persons who desire to be completely freed
From the hot torments of the fire pit of samsara, they should
Rely on this supreme path, Ngondro, which, like the king of trees,
Will revive one in its cool, dense shade, enlightenment."
---His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
The first weekend, April 12 - 13, features teachings by Sam Bercholz, senior student of many Nyingma and Kagyu lineage holders, including root lamas Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, who personally authorized him to teach. The teachings will include commentary on Dungse Rinpoche's A Cascading Waterfall Of Nectar, as well as Sam's personal dharma stories. Sam requests that each participant have a copy of A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar, available at Dharma Treasures.
Sam says about his teachings,
This weekend seminar offers an in-depth exploration of key themes from Thinley Norbu Rinpoche’s Cascading Waterfall of Nectar, focusing on the integration of view and practice as the path from confusion to wisdom. Through study, contemplation, and meditation, we will examine how mistaken perceptions and dualistic thinking obscure the natural clarity of mind. Guided teachings will illuminate the Mahayana and Vajrayana perspectives on view, helping participants recognize the interdependence of all phenomena and the innate purity of awareness. The weekend will blend practical meditation techniques with textual reflection, allowing participants to directly experience the wisdom that arises when conceptual confusion dissolves. Open to practitioners of all levels, this seminar provides a supportive space to cultivate a deeper understanding of the Dharma and embody the compassionate insight Thinley Norbu Rinpoche so eloquently presents.”
April 14 - April 20
The retreat will continue with Ngondro commentary and practice instruction with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche, and Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche's senior student, Amy Green, and our drupon Pema Rigdzin.
Afternoon and evening Ngondro accumulation sessions will be led by our Ngondro Program Coordinators Choying Wangmo and Stefan Graves
Please register to receive the live streaming links. The teachings will be recorded and available at the same YouTube links for at least one month after the retreat. All donations support the streaming of Dharma programs and help support the ongoing expenses of Pema Osel Ling. If you are not able to offer at one of the suggested levels, please contact office@vajrayana.org.
Lungs (Oral Transmissions):
For those wishing to receive the lungs for the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro, Sa-Ter Ngondro and Troma Nagmo Ngondro on April 15, please note that you must receive the lungs in real time, so please make every effort to attend that session.
Tulku Thadral Rinpoche's Biography and Long Life Prayer
Lama Sonam Rinpoche's Biography and Long Life Prayer
Sam Bercholz' Biography and Long Life Prayer
For information on our Ngondro Program please click here.
To make offerings for Tsok, Butter Lamps, Streaming or personal offerings for the teachers or the translator, please visit https://www.vajrayana.org/pema-osel-ling-offerings/