NSS FAQ

Saturday, July 13 (Opening Day)

• 9:30 am: Lhasang
• 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Talk
• 12:00 pm: Lunch
• 1:00 pm: Lhaksam Service Period
• 2:00 pm: Sitting Meditation
• 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Talk
• 5:00 pm: Closing Chants

Sunday, July 14 – Saturday, July 20

• 8:30 am: Opening Chants/Sitting Meditation
• 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Talk
• 12:00 pm: Lunch
• 1:00 pm: Lhaksam Service Period
• 2:00 pm: Sitting Meditation
• 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Talk
• 5:00 pm: Closing Chants

(Saturday 20th 8:30 am: No opening chants/sitting meditation)

Sunday, July 21 (Closing Day)

• 8:30 am: Opening Chants/Sitting Meditation
• 10:00 am: Talk, Lineage Ceremony, Tsok, and Conclusion
• 1:00 pm (estimated): Lunch
• 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Take down community tent and clean up (all participants invited to join)

Teacher’s Schedule:

• Found on main NSS event page

Driving Directions to Phuntsok Choling located just outside of Ward, CO.

Address: Phuntsok Choling 45640 CO-72, Ward, CO 80481

Option 1: From North Boulder

• Start at the Four Mile Creek Parking Lot
• Head down Lee Hill Road and Broadway in North Boulder
• Follow this link for directions: Google Maps link

Option 2: From Central Boulder

• Start at the Four Mile Creek Parking Lot
• Head down Boulder Canyon Drive in Central Boulder
• Follow this link for directions: Google Maps link

Option 3: Coming from Estes Park

• Head south on CO-7 E/S St Vrain Ave.
• After 19 miles turn right onto CO-72 E.
• After 8 miles turn left into the parking lot. This will be marked field about .5 miles before the google maps destination point. 
• Follow this link for directions: Google Maps Link

Continuing on Peak to Peak (Hwy 72)

• After passing the sign for Ward and the turnoff for Brainard Lake, look for the Millsite Inn pub/cabin on your left
• About 1.1 miles past the Millsite Inn, slow down when you see the 50 mph sign
• Take the next right turn after the old barn (mailbox number 45640) and the Folsom Ranch sign
• Follow the dirt driveway past the first buildings
• When the road forks, continue straight on the lower road (do not turn left through the wooden gate)
• Drive to the natural turnaround and turn your car around
• Park on the right-hand side of the lower road near the wooden staircase
• Walk up the staircase to reach the registration table

Below is a list of accommodations in the area near Phuntsok Choling – just outside of Ward, CO.

House Share/Rental:

Search these sites for rentals available around Nederland, Ward or Allenspark for checking the distance to the center.

You can also search for rentals in Boulder and Longmont where many of the local sangha live, and possibly coordinate rides.

(These are good if you get a group of people to share. There are also single and double rentals.)

www.airbnb.com

http://www.vrbo.com

http://www.cozycozy.com

http://www.vacationrenter.com

Places in Nederland (check reviews):

Nederland Property Management

SkyRun Rentals

(303) 625-9814

Arapaho Ranch Cabins

1250 Eldora Road, Nederland, CO 80466

(303) 258-3405

www.ArapahoRanchCabins.com

Goldminer Hotel

601 Klondike Ave, Nederland, CO 80466

(303) 258-7770

goldminerhotel.com

Boulder Creek Lodge Nederland  

55 Lakeview Dr., Nederland, CO 80466, USA

(303) 258-9463 

www.thebouldercreeklodge.com

Mountain View Chalet

817 Bobcat Trail, Rollinville, CO 80403

(720) 289-1665

http://www.vrbo.com/161073

Sundance Lodge

23942 Hwy 119

Nederland, CO 80466

http://www.sundancelodgecolorado.com

(303) 258-3797

Places in Allenspark

Pinebrook Vacation Rentals

PO Box 193, Allenspark, CO 80510

(303) 747-2325

(877) 900-2325

Email contact form on website to book.

http://www.pinebrookvacationrentals.com/

Allenspark Lodge B & B      

184 State Hwy 7 Bus Rt/Main St.

PO Box 247

Allenspark CO 80510

(303) 747-2552

allensparklodgebnb.com aplbnb@aol.com

Meeker Park Lodge

11733 State Highway 7 Allenspark, CO 80510

http://themeekerparklodge.com

(303) 747-2266

The Special Live Talk by Pema Chödrön on Thursday, July 18. Registration will open in early May. This is an in person event at Phuntsok Choling but will also be available via live stream.

No, Pema Chödrön’s dharma talk is a special fundraiser event, separate from the Nyingma Summer Seminar (NSS) registration. All proceeds from her talk will go towards supporting the activities of Mangala Shri Bhuti, a organization dear to her heart. Pema Chödrön has a strong connection with MSB: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche is one of her teachers, and she spends much of her time in retreat at Samten Ling, one of MSB’s main centers.

At Phuntsok Choling, we prioritize the health and safety of our attendees. Here’s our COVID-19 policy for in-person events:

If you have a positive COVID-19 viral test, or have symptoms, stay home until your symptoms improve and you have been fever free (without medication) for 24 hours. People most at risk for severe illness, including those older than 65 years and people with weakened immune systems, may want to consider more precautions. When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next five days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.

By following these guidelines, we can all help minimize the risk of transmission and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. You can find more information here.

To keep up with any emergency information, check this page. We will update the MSB X account (formally Twitter) if there is an emergency. You do not need an X account to access.

• Catered, vegetarian lunch will be available everyday. You must order in advance. Find details on the main NSS events page coming soon.
• We will serve complementary water, tea and coffee throughout the program.
• ​Bottled water, soft drinks and ice cream will also be available for sale.
• If you have special dietary needs, please come prepared with your own food.

The fair weather in the Boulder area is one of its attractions—often mild, sunny and dry throughout the year. Though we’re only forty-five minutes from Boulder, the mountain weather at Phüntsok Chöling is much less predictable, because of the dramatic elevation change. This is likely to produce a much greater variability in temperature (especially at night), and in precipitation. Rain or an afternoon thunderstorm are frequent possibilities during the summer, and snow is likely anywhere from September through April. Nights and early mornings can be chilly at any time of year at Phüntsok Chöling, so it’s always useful to have something warm for layering. The sun can be intense at all times of the year, and, at higher elevations, because the atmosphere is thinned, sunscreen protection is especially important.

The altitude at Phüntsok Chöling is over 9,000 feet. For comparison, Boulder is 5,430 feet and Denver is 5,280 feet. If you live at a location near sea level (e.g. Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, St. Louis), you are likely to experience some noticeable physical effects from the higher elevation. Please expect these, so you won’t be overly concerned. Most people will have some shortness of breath, especially with any exertion (climbing stairs; carrying luggage); and some people report feeling headaches or upset stomach for the first day or two after arriving. Sleeping may also be fitful or interrupted. The acclimation period varies from one person to the next, but for most people, their discomfort is limited to the first 36 hours, though you still may get winded easily for much longer.

​Some travelers may prefer to spend an extra day or two in Denver or Boulder in order to make the transition more smoothly. Many of the effects of altitude change are due to relative dehydration because of the drier climate and the body’s adjustment mechanisms. Please keep in mind that much of the acclimation process can be accelerated by drinking plenty of water—more than you may be accustomed to drinking. In fact, some travelers avert much of the initial discomfort by drinking plenty of water prior to and during the day of travel, and arrive very well-hydrated. 

The parking area is a few hundred feet from the main shrine hall. The terrain is rocky and the elevation is over 9,000 feet. There are steep stairs and gravel pathways. Sturdy walking shoes are essential in the summer. The outhouses are along a dirt pathway 50-feet from the shrine room or shrine tent in the summer.

Phüntsok Chöling is committed to being accessible and inclusive for all individuals, including those with limited mobility or hearing impairments. If you have any special needs or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us in advance so we can accommodate your requirements and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

We welcome individuals with disabilities and will do our best to provide reasonable accommodations and support. Please reach out our Events Coordinators with any questions or concerns, and we will work with you to address them.

• Notebook, pens
• Personal water bottle
• Food for lunch, snacks
• Sunglasses, sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellant
• Clothing that you can layer (average summer temperatures are between 43-86º F)
• Shawl/blanket (cool in mornings/evenings)
• Rain poncho/small folding umbrella
• Katag (prayer scarf) and envelope for final day’s teacher offering
• Walking shoes or sandals that can easily be taken on and off (shoes are not permitted in the shrine room)
• Meditation cushions are provided, but if you would like to bring your own, please do.

For a safe and enjoyable experience for all, please leave the following items at home:

• Pets 
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Weapons of any kind

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

In the summer, teachings are held outdoors in our large shrine tent. During other programs, teaching and practice are held indoors in the center’s shrine room. The shrine room is a sacred space in which we connect with the Three Jewels (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha), hear the teachings, and ultimately connect with our own enlightened nature.

The following are guidelines that help us remain mindful and respectful of the precious opportunity we have to hear the teachings and study and practice the Dharma:

• Please remove your shoes before entering the shrine room and place them on the designated shoe racks. Personal belongings (lunches, backpacks, coats, etc.) should also be left in the designated area.
• When entering and leaving the shrine room, it is customary to offer a gesture of respect. This can be done by placing your palms together at your heart and bowing slightly.
• Conversation should be kept to a minimum in and around the shrine room. During breaks and lunch, people often practice or study in the shrine room.
  Turn off all cell phones and watch alarms.
• Dress appropriately. Revealing clothing such as halter tops and shorts are not appropriate attire. Hats should be removed before entering the shrine room.
• Chant books, texts, liturgies, and sacred images should be treated with respect. Do not place them directly on the floor or step over them.
• It is considered disrespectful to point one’s feet at the shrine, sacred image, or towards the teacher. Likewise, one never lies down in the shrine room. During long teachings, one can become uncomfortable. It is okay to adjust your posture, but not go into a complete slouch, recline, or point your legs at the shrine or Rinpoche.
• When Rinpoche enters or leaves the shrine room, one should stand with one’s palms together at one’s heart and head bowed respectively.
• After Rinpoche is seated, it is customary to offer three prostrations to show respect. The teacher embodies the essence of all Buddhas throughout the three times. He is the union of the Three Jewels: his body is the Sangha, his speech the Dharma, his mind the Buddha, from Patrul Rinpoche’s Words of My Perfect Teacher.
• Please remain in the shrine room during meditation/practice sessions and talks. Please do not enter the shrine room once meditation has begun. You may sit quietly in the post-meditation area until the session has ended. Should you need to leave during a session, please do so quietly so as not to disturb others.
• Please hold questions until the teaching is completed. Rinpoche usually allows ample time for questions and answers and will invite questions.
• When the teaching/practice session is over, please let Rinpoche leave the shrine room first. After Rinpoche leaves, please wait until the person making announcements finishes before leaving.