5th Annual Dzogchen Retreat at Wangapeka Retreat Centre, New Zealand

March 18: Introduction to Pervasive Totality: the View, Meditation and Conduct of the Dzogchen Path.

March 19: Morning and Evening—The 37 Practices of All the Bodhisattvas by Tokme Zangpo.* Learning to contemplate on the countless facets of relative and ultimate compassion-wisdom. Setting forth our intention in a profound direction.

March 20-21: Morning—Longevity and Deathlessness practice of Amitayus-Padmasambhava. A empowerment, blessing and ganacakra for long-life and the realization of the deathless nature. Inner yoga and ultimate bodhicitta. Practice day on March 21.

March 22-April 1: The Drikung Dzogchen empowerment and meditation of Dorje Drolö, the most secret syllable HUM. Transmission, explanations, group and solo practice sessions during 11 days of silent retreat. Dorje Drolö is one of the eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava. It is a fierce practice, but also love filled and deeply compassionate for all. Guru Padmasambhava said in one of the Nyingma treasures, that to ripen our talents we need fierce means, one of the four Buddha activities.

April 2-3: Trekchö pith instructions and practice—discovering and abiding naturally in primordial wakefulness, for all beings. Direct instructions in Dzogchen Trekchö (‘thoroughly cutting through’) based on Patrul Rinpoche’s root text, commentary on Garab Dorje’s Three Words that Strike the Vital Point and Lho Drikung Ontul Rinpoche’s pithy instructions. 4 classes.

April 4 5: Red Dorje Phagmo (Vajra Yogini). Empowerment and instructions and some group sessions. Outer and inner yoga. A prerequisite empowerment and transmission for a planned future retreat on the Drikung Dzogchen practices of the Black Troma form of Dorje Phagmo a treasure of Padmasambhava, revealed by Terton Mebar Rinchen Phuntsog in the 16th century.

April 6th: morning. Blessings. reading and brief commentary on the Mangala Sutta.

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.

** A translation will be provided of The 37 Practices of All the Bodhisattvas by Tokme Zangpo.

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Course Cost:

We are still finalizing costs for this retreat as Lama Mark’s overall 2020 teaching schedule takes shape, but approximate costs are now expected to be:

For Wangapeka members: NZ$1980

For non-members: NZ$2180

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 2020.  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.

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Enquiries & Registration:

For all enquiries, please contact Jonathan:

e: info@openbreath.org

p: +64 21 1860 476

To register please fill out our online registration form

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Transport

Wangapeka Retreat Centre is approximately 75 min drive from Nelson.  We will be coordinating shuttles & car-pooling options in the weeks prior the start of the retreat.  If you do require transport to and from the centre, please email the course manager with your flight times, etc when you have these confirmed.  Cost usually works out to be between $50-$75 per person each way.

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Lama Mark (Lama Yongdu Chokyi Gyaltsen) has been studying and teaching Buddha-dharma for over forty years. For thirty years his main root teacher was the great Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche who taught all three cycles of the Buddha’s teachings, including Abhidhamma, Vipassana in the lineage of Mahāsi Sayādaw, generation and completion stage practices of the Tantrayana and Mahamudra/Dzogchen of many lineages, especially of the Karma Kagyu and Sakya. More recently under the guidance and request of Drikung Lho Ontul Rinpoche, Lama Mark has been principally teaching the richness of the Drikung Mahamudra and Drikung Yangzab Dzogchen traditions.

Lama Mark has a deep and long term interest and collaboration in a number of scientific fields and the arts which he integrates with the teaching of Buddhism.

His compassionate activities demonstrate a profound commitment to freeing beings from innumerable suffering states. Lama Mark’s emphasis with practitioners and students is on uncovering pure Dharma to reveal its extraordinary benefits and share the great joy of its deep study, meditative practices and integration into all aspects of our lives.

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Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre

355 Wangapeka River Rd, RD2
Wakefield, 7096
New Zealand