4th Annual Dzogchen Retreat

Completely Profound Enlightened Intent

with Lama Mark Webber

Friday 1 March – Sun 31 March, 2019

Wangapeka Retreat Centre, South Island, New Zealand

The theme for this year’s Dzogchen retreat—Completely Profound Enlightened Intent—is taken from the lineage name, Gonpo Yangzab, the Dzogchen transmissions found within this month of meditations.

Intention is at the heart of all we do, think, feel, where we go, what we say and what we become. Unbinding our intentions from habit patterns that block an emerging continuum of wholesome states is a great start. In addition, we will learn to harness and aim our good intentions and conduct towards the search and discovery of primordial, unchanging awareness—an ineffable vast expanse with infinite compassionate activities.

All-pervasive compassionate awakeness is known as bodhicitta. This aspiration and conduct is completely profound enlightened intent, our program.

Retreat Program

March 1, 2019: Evening—Introduction to the View, Meditation and Conduct of the Dzogchen Path.
Completely Profound Enlightened Intent. Understanding interdependent causality.

March 2, 2019: Morning—Torma Empowerment, transmission and explanation of the practice of the Yangzab Dzogchen Longevity and Deathlessness practice of Amitayus-Padmasambhava.
Unifying Inner yoga and ultimate bodhicitta.

March 3-4: Profound Enlightened Intent: contemplating the innumerable facets of Bodhicitta.
5 classes over two days. The reading transmission and explanations of the 356 verses of Bodhicitta, called the Jewel Lamp by Lama Khunu Rinpoche*, and The 37 Practices of All the Bodhisattvas by Tokme Zangpo.**
Learning to contemplate on the countless facets of relative and ultimate compassion-wisdom.

March 5-7: Meditations on the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind from Samsara & The Unity of Mindfulness/recollectiveness and Bodhicitta.
Learning how to generate a continuum of relative and ultimate Bodhicitta in our body, speech and mind.
Lama Mark will show us classic and novel ways to enhance and deepen mindfulness as an expression of Bodhicitta.
Intensive individual and group practice.

March 8-9: Three Roots (Tsa Wa Sum) Torma Empowerment, transmission and explanations of the practice in the Gongpo Yangzab Dzogchen tradition.
Outer and inner yoga practice. Group and individual practice.

March 10-13: The Empowerment of Chenresig. And reading transmission of the practice text.
In addition, instructions and practice of the hollow luminous Yidam body, vase breathing, channel and bindu.
The empowerment and practices are essential for the Phowa meditation starting on March 15th.
Mini 3 day Drupchen, each of us complete 100,000 recitations of Chenresig.

March 14-20: Phowa—consciousness transference for one self and others.
Transmission of Orgyen Nuden Dorje’s Phowa treasure, called “The Ruby Garland” and associated texts. Teachings on the signs and stages of dying, bardo and primordial wakefulness. Including assistance and guidance to those dying.
Group sessions and individual practice. A completion stage practice that is an excellent preparation for Trekchö.

March 21-30: Trekchö pith instructions and practice—discovering and abiding naturally in primordial wakefulness, for all beings.
Direct instructions and individual guidance in Dzogchen Trekchö (‘thoroughly cutting through’) using Patrul Rinpoche’s root text and a commentary called the Special Teaching of the Wise and Glorious King, instructions on Garab Dorje’s Three Words that Strike the Vital Point.
6 classes and mostly individual retreat.

March 31: A Smoke Offering and purification to auspiciously end the retreat.

Preference will be given to those who can attend the full retreat, but a 1 or 2 week option may be available by special arrangement if there is space available.

* This text is available as: Vast as The Heavens and Deep as the Sea, Verses in Praise of Bodhicitta, Khunu Rinpoche, Wisdom. Boston. Please purchase a copy for the retreat.
** A translation will be provided of The 37 Practices of All the Bodhisattvas by Tokme Zangpo.

Course Cost:

We are still finalizing costs for this retreat as Lama Mark’s overall 2019 teaching schedule takes shape, but approximate costs are now expected to be:

For Wangapeka members: NZ$2,450

For non-members: NZ$2,650

This fee includes all accommodation, prepared meals, cooks fee, materials as well as a contribution towards Lama Mark’s anticipated travel costs.

These course fees do not include any payment for the teacher / teaching.
In accordance with Buddhist tradition, Lama Mark offers the teaching of Dharma out of generosity.
There will be opportunity to offer dana / donation for Lama Mark in return, in appreciation of the teachings and to help support the continued flow of Dharma.
Please give as generously as you can (within your own means, of course…).  As a rough guide, we suggest allowing for about NZ$30 per day, but this should be considered in light of your individual means.

A deposit of $500 is required to secure your place on the course.  This is fully refundable if you withdraw before 1 February 2019.  Beyond this date it is 50% refundable.

Financial assistance may be available for those who would be unable to attend the retreat without support.  Conditions apply. Please contact the retreat organizer if you are interested in submitting an application

Enquiries & Registration:

To officially register for this retreat, please use Wangapeka’s on-line form: www.wangapeka.org/registration-form/

Please consider becoming a Wangapeka member – click here for details: www.wangapeka.org/membership-2/