Ngondro Retreat

Dates:Dec 28, 2024 – Jan 3, 2025|

Location: Pema Osel|

Teachers: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and Dungse Jampal Norbu

In our Longchen Nyingtik lineage, we study the ngondro practice from Patrul Rinpoche’s nineteenth-century text, The Words of My Perfect Teacher.  Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and Dungse Jampal Norbu will lead the Ngondro Retreat in which a full reading of this text and a detailed commentary are given. The transmission for the Longchen Nyingtik Ngondro liturgy, a terma revealed by Jigme Lingpa, will also be bestowed.

Rinpoche strongly encourages the entire sangha to receive this transmission and teaching every year regardless of our current level of practice. He reminds us that accomplishment in Dharma is like dyeing a red cloth. The first time the cloth is dipped into the dye it takes on a pinkish hue, the next time it becomes a bit more vivid, until finally, after immersing it repeatedly in the dye, it becomes completely red. In the same way, by repeatedly receiving teachings and transmissions on essential topics, particularly on The Words of My Perfect Teacher, we become more saturated with the blessings of the lineage.

The retreat includes two teachings per day by either Kongtrul Rinpoche or Dungse-la. Dungse-la will be giving the full reading transmission and the majority of the teachings from Pema Osel. Kongtrul Rinpoche will also be at Pema Osel and will give four teachings. In addition, a three-hour Guided Practice session will be held each morning. There will also be daily Practice Review sessions led by senior students designed to help practitioners understand and become more familiar with the practice itself.

All attendees are encouraged to have a copy of The Words of My Perfect Teacher.

 

PREREQUISITES

This retreat is intended for MSB members who have attended sessions and are practicing ngondro or who would like to begin the practice. Rinpoche also encourages disciples who have completed their ngondro accumulations to attend this retreat since ngondro is a lifelong practice. Full attendance is required to formally begin the ngondro practice. Please check with your lineage instructor or SPR for more information.
 

DAILY SCHEDULE

Saturday, December 28, 2024 – Friday, January 3, 2025

Times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

7:00-10:00am   Guided Practice Session
10:00-11:00am  Breakfast
11:00 am-12:30pm  Practice Review with Senior Students
12:30-2:00pm  Lunch
2:00-4:00pm  Transmission and Commentary
4:00-5:00pm  Break
5:00-7:00pm  Transmission and Commentary

LITURGIES AND VISUALIZATION PHOTOS 

If you are just starting the ngondro practice, please order the ngondro liturgy and visualization photos by December 10th at the latest from the MSB Store so that you receive them through the mail before the retreat begins. To purchase them you must first sign in to the Member’s Site.

To purchase the Ngondro liturgy, go to this link.
To purchase the visualization photos, go to this link. 
 
To purchase the Ngondro liturgy in digital format, go to this link.
 
FINANCIAL AID
The retreat price covers all expenses as well as support for our teachers and Pema Osel, our center in Vermont. We hope that most people are able to pay the full amount. However, no one will be turned away for financial reasons. If you can’t pay in full, don’t let that be an obstacle.  When registration opens financial aid will also open.
 

LINK FOR GUIDED PRACTICE AND PRACTICE REVIEW SESSIONS
The two morning sessions will be run as Zoom meetings. This format provides us with the opportunity to have face-to-face contact with other participants as well as the ability to have discussions during the practice review session. The link will be the same for both sessions, and will be provided in the Welcome email registrants will receive prior to the beginning of the program.

RESOURCES
If you are currently practicing ngondro, we highly recommend the Ngondro Compilation, a remarkable collection of teachings, carefully selected and compiled from over twenty years of Rinpoche’s commentary on The Words of My Perfect Teacher.

If you have further questions, please email Pema Osel’s Event Coordinator.

“When we practice ngondro, we truly step into
and connect with the Longchen Nyingtik lineage.
It is with this practice that we will put down the roots
of Dharma in our mind, and in the West.”
~ Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
 

In-Person and Live Streaming Registration

In-Person Registration $385

Includes access to Live Stream and Study Set. Please note that lunches are not included.

For the registration Access Code, log on to the member’s site and go to this page.

In-Person Registration

Financial Aid
Click here for the Financial Aid Application for both In-Person and Live Stream attendance. You will need to create a Wisdom Productions account, or log in to your account, to access the application. Please submit your application by December 21st, 5:00pm EST.

Live Stream Plus Registration  $299

Includes access to Live Stream and Study Set.

$55 for Digital Download (audio only)

The Live Stream takes place on the Wisdom Productions website.

For the registration Access Code, log on to the member’s site and go to this page.

Live Stream Registration