Our PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES
Foundational Meditation - Calm Abiding
Meditation in the Diamond Way - Preliminaries
Meditation in the Diamond Way - Preliminaries
A foundational practice common to all traditions, Samatha, calm abiding practice serves as the a method in gaining relief from many of the mundane issues in our lives and as foundation for higher insight. Visit us for upcoming schedules and timings.
Meditation in the Diamond Way - Preliminaries
Meditation in the Diamond Way - Preliminaries
Meditation in the Diamond Way - Preliminaries
Vajrayana and in particular Atiyoga teachings follow a holistic approach in meditation in which negative emotions and distractions are thoroughly addressed at its root. Thus the scope of concentration is widened creating a stable ground for wisdom to manifest. The practice of preliminaries which include a set of reflection, meditations serve as prerequisite for higher Atiyoga teachings as well as a complete path on its own leading to calmness and insight.
Wisdom Dakini Practices (Throma Nagmo)
Meditation in the Diamond Way - Preliminaries
Wisdom Dakini Practices (Throma Nagmo)
As one gains familiarity through the completion of preliminaries, one then has the opportunity to delve into the esoteric meditation practices following with empowerment and instructions of a lineage teacher. The practices that follow are taught to facilitate one's recognition of natural state of awareness in a swifter and effective way.
Healing Practices
Texts and Translations
Wisdom Dakini Practices (Throma Nagmo)
Vajrayana Sadhana practices also include many healing methods for the practitioner as well as those who come in touch with the practice and practitioners. These are usually led by practitioners who have completed certain levels of practice and the subjects of healing are brought under their visualization and dedication. Visit us to participate and get updates on our upcoming healing practices.
Texts and Translations
Texts and Translations
Texts and Translations
We aim to translate ancient texts and make them available to benefit widely. Please contribute and participate. You can also download and utilize translated texts with permission.
Seminars and Dialogues
Texts and Translations
Texts and Translations
We also offer meditation seminars aimed at working professionals who wish to receive a palpable introduction to the ancient wisdom for reducing stress, negative emotions and even trauma. We will utilize secular tools and techniques that can benefit people and yet with its root in ancient practices, we will maintain the authenticity of the practices.
Charity projects
Charity projects
Charity projects
Get involved in charitable projects and activities
calm abiding meditation
It is a foundational mediation practice central to all Buddhist traditions. In this practice, one undergoes training on focused attention on a chosen object or space with states of body, speech and mind until one gains unmoving concentration. One practices away from distractions, in a conducive environment, assuming postures of the body, gaze and object of focus. As one progresses on stages of practice, distractions from negative emotions and ordinary appearances which initially arise like waves of an ocean or lake begin to subside. One settles in the state of calmness as if a gentle lake or ocean surface. There emerges experiences of joy, clarity and non thought. Observing it without attachment, one is eventually led to insight and sublime seeing. This practice serves as useful method for relieving us from many of our destructive emotions and traumas in day to day lives. For devoted practitioners, it serves as the basis for higher training, insight and transcendence.
The dates and schedules coming soon. Please keep in touch.
Meditation in The DIAMOND way
The stages of practice in general
The Vajrayana tradition is also known as the 'Diamond Vehicle' and encompasses a comprehensive path to enlightenment with various stages; each with specific practice manuals and guides. In general, the path for a devoted practitioner proceeds through the following stages.
Preliminary Practices:
As the foundational practice, it includes a set of reflections and meditations which make the mind supple and receptive to higher teachings. The preliminaries cover two phases. In the outer general preliminary, it involves reflection on rarity and the value of a life with the freedoms and advantages to practice, on impermanence, on actions, cause and effect, and on inadequacies of mundane life. One invokes a sense of renunciation and an urge towards virtue and higher knowledge. One then relies on a teacher and engages in further meditative practices such as taking refuge (which involves committing to the practice, teacher and the assembly) ; generating the mind of awakening 'bodhicitta' ; accumulating merit through mandala offerings ; purification of obscurations with meditation on Vajrasattva (state of purity) ; and Guru yoga, uniting with the wisdom mind of the enlightened masters. Often each element of the five fold practice is accumulated five hundred thousand times or as seen fit by the teacher before proceeding to the subsequent practices. At the conclusion of the preliminaries, one also practices the cutting through or "Chod' for swift realization of the natural state. The transference of consciousness practice is also included, which enables those who are unable to practice the path to full awareness, to still be able to transcend and reach enlightenment at the moment of death. These practices can be done in a retreat environment or at one’s own home dedicating certain times of the day before and after work. The preliminary practices involve training on all key aspects of Buddhist meditation practice. Even though it is known as preliminaries, the past masters suggest that it serves as a complete path of transcendence on its own.
Generation phase:
In this stage, one visualizes a chosen meditation deity and their pure sphere invoking an enlightened vision of phenomena. It may be artificial and imaginary in the beginning, but because they pertain to the enlightened vision of previous masters, one ultimately becomes familiar with and later one with the vision. You adopt new habits of perception, refining ordinary habits and engage at an ever more subtle level of experience.
Completion phase:
As one progresses to a stage where the pure vision becomes a living experience, one proceeds to further levels which involve meditating on subtle energies of the body, channels, and essences. Ordinary perceptions of body, speech and mind begin to dissipate, revealing their inner subtleties, along with supreme bliss and wisdom.
Great Perfection, Atiyoga:
As one progresses with the above stages, you become familiar with the visual and other sense aspects of wisdom through meditative experiences. These act as pointers to the ultimate nature of reality. You are introduced to the nature of mind directly by an experienced teacher. You then become familiar with, establishing a direct vision of the ultimate nature of mind, the absolute wisdom beyond reference points. The practice in order to realize and establish it involves the ‘cutting through of solidity’ to original purity (Trekchö ) and a 'leap over' to spontaneous presence (Thögal). One undergoes specific postures, gazes and object of focus to activate this spontaneous, luminous aspect of mind. As the practice culminates, one transcends beyond all bondage of the subject object duality, remaining in non-dual wisdom beyond constructs. The final phases of practice are traditionally done in a retreat environment.
Ultimately, the preliminary practices serve as the important prerequisite to the subsequent practices. As one engages in later stages, guidance and instructions from an experienced teacher is essential. Various texts as mentioned above, are used as manuals, as a compliment to the oral instructions of a teacher whose energetic connection provides the real impetus for genuine results of the practice .
Preliminary practices 'ngondro'
When one is motivated to delve deeper into practices, one receives commentaries of preliminaries 'Ngondro' from a teacher and practices in their accumulation in the seclusion of home or retreat. To aid in the practices and initiate the beginners, we plan to organize regular group practices and sessions on preliminaries. We will follow the concise preliminary text of Dudjom Rinpoche which is suited to the modern day practitioners and yet is complete in its practice elements. Its completion serves as the foundation and prerequisite for higher Atiyoga teachings of the tradition. There have been many instances in which people have attained enlightenment on the practice of preliminaries alone.
* Picture courtesy: Shree Bhakta Prajapati, an artist and practitioner, from his original painting named 'Buddha Nature."
Wisdom Dakini practices (Throma 'Upper lineage')
Brief introduction
Over the ages, various enlightened masters in the ancient times transmitted their vision and practices to their close disciples. These took the shape of esoteric practices incorporating reflections, visualizations, recitations and meditations. In the past, these practices were extremely private and were often transmitted to a single disciple in a master’s lifetime or to a certain few. It however became more open in later centuries even though it still follows the same prerequisites and commitments. The meditation cycle of Throma Nagmo, one of such esoteric practices was revealed through Mahasiddha Saraha, one of the 84 greatest adepts of ancient India and Nepal and a teacher of Nagarjuna. The teachings were eventually transmitted to Dudjom Linga in the 17th century. At least thirteen disciples of Dudjom Lingpa are believed to have attained rainbow with the practice. Degyal Rinpoche Kunkhen Etaraja one of those disciples, brought the teachings to Mt Kailash region and West Nepal where it is still practiced as a living tradition and is known as the 'Tod Lug' 'Upper lineage' of Throma Nagmo in relation to the 'Mad Lug' (Lower Lineage) that continued with the other disciples of Dudjom Lingpa.
The cycle of Throma Nagmo has a complete practice from the preliminaries to generation, completion stages culminating in 'cutting through of solidity to original purity (Thekchod) and leap over to spontaneity (Thogal) practices. These are practiced in extensive solitary retreats and under guidance of experienced teachers. In the 10th and 15th day of the Tibetan month, practitioners also gather and perform the practice in a gathering 'Thsok' which is considered to be powerful in accumulating merit, wisdom and also effective in healing and averting obstacles. It is also dear among the lay followers due to its poetic verses and pleasant melodies.
We will try to organize and broadcast monthly group Sadhana of Throma Nagmo as far as possible in the following dates:
When : On the 25 day of the Tibetan month
Prerequisite: There is no restriction for general attendance but for engaging in it as a meditation practice, one needs to receive empowerment of Throma Nagmo in Dudjom Tersar tradition.
Registrations : Participants need to register and will be given Zoom meeting or Livecast information along with links to online texts.
The text: There are three versions of the text, Extensive, medium length and concise. We will mostly use the concise version which takes about (1- 2 hrs).
You can follow the chant master with the text and their related meanings and visualizations. There is no fee for participation but it is a tradition to contribute with offerings within your capacity. You can donate by Paypal , credit card or let us know what works best.
healing practices, prayers
Introduction
Vajrayana Sadhana practices also include many healing methods for the practitioner as well as those who come in touch with the practice and practitioners. These are usually conducted by practitioners who have completed certain levels of practice and the subjects of healing are brought under their visualization and dedication. You can request such practices or attend one of our scheduled healing workshops. The following are some of the practices we offer.
Chod Healing
Chod' or 'Cutting Through' is a cycle of meditation practice central to this tradition. It cultivates the Atiyoga view and utilizes adverse circumstances such as fear, illness and negative emotions to foster realization on the path of meditation. The practitioner engages with the union of the view of Atiyoga and meditation, at the center of which is great compassion. With dedication, the practice can lead to direct and swift realization. Due to its simple and direct approach, it is popular among yogis and due to its effect and melodious, poetic verses, it is also well loved by lay practitioners in the mountain communities.
Transference of consciousness - Phowa
Phowa is the practice which prepares one to leave the body consciously at the moment of death and can be learned in a relatively short time. It is practiced along with Chod and is effective in facilitating in the recognition of natural state of mind. The Chod version of Phowa is very profound. The practitioner engages with the union of the view of Atiyoga and meditation with great compassion at the center. It is highly regarded as a practice leading to direct and swift realization. Hence it is also recognized as an approach to Buddhahood without meditation. It is popular among yogis as well as lay followers in the mountain communities.
Please stay in tough for our upcoming programs and events.
Other rituals, aspirations for well being of people, land and so on
You can request for prayers and organization of such rituals.
seminars and dialogues
We also offer meditation seminars aimed at working professionals who wish to receive a palpable introduction to the ancient wisdom for reducing stress, negative emotions and even trauma. We have consulted with realized masters to utilize secular tools that can benefit people and yet maintain the authenticity of the practices.
charity and Generourity
The hermits in the Himalayas live in the simplest of the lives and yet they are some of the most joyful people to be around. Their way of lifestyles in a way maintains the sanctity and pristine environment at one side and their wisdom serves as the inspirations for people in the vicinities. We aim to preserve this way of harmony between nature and beings. However, we live in a interconnected world and social environmental impacts are greater than ever. We therefore appreciate any help in projects supporting the rural communities and the hermits.
On the approach of teachings in general
The journey of transcendence in a progression of nine vehicles
According to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, all the Buddhist teachings can be collected into nine yanas, or vehicles. Since it is that which transports beings along the paths and grounds towards enlightenment, it is referred to as a vehicle. The following is a brief presentation of the yanas.
Three outer vehicles leading from the origin of suffering
The three causal vehicles of characteristics are the śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha and bodhisattva vehicles. They are so-called because they lead us to freedom from suffering by abandoning actions and obscurations which are the cause or ‘origin’ of suffering. The motivation in the sravakas stage is the feeling of renunciation, the wish to escape from the sufferings of mundane phenomena. The activity involves observing discipline with regards to body, speech and thought. Meditation is on calm abiding śhamatha or tranquility, gradually evolving into insight. In the next stage of pratyekabuddha, one meditates further on the twelve links of interdependent origination. As one evolves, one’s view is further refined and becomes more subtle. At the Bodhisattva level, the focus is on generating compassion, with six transcendent perfections such as generosity, ethical disciple, forbearance, diligence and concentration, culminating in transcendent wisdom beyond constructs.
The three outer tantras
Then the next level of vehicle includes entering into the teachings of tanra, the inner continuum. There are three outer classes of tantra: kriyā, caryā , and yoga tantra. Here, the stress is on ascetic conduct and ritual purification similar to the Vedic tradition. The practice of meditation in the beginning involves visualization of wisdom deities, ‘gyanasattva’ as the king and oneself 'samayasattva as the subject and thus one meditates and seeks accomplishments. As one evolves, one begins to gain familiarity, closeness and eventually one visualizes the wisdom deity dissolving into oneself as water being poured into water. One thus meditates from the gross to the subtle and from external to internal.
The Three Inner Tantras
There are three systems of meditation: The Father Tantra, Mother Tantra, and the Nondual Tantra. The Father Tantra is mainly about the generation phase of visualizing the deity as being luminosity inseparable from the great openness, emptiness. The Mother Tantra is primarily about the completive phase of meditating on bliss inseparable from this great openness, emptiness. The Nondual Tantra involves meditation on the generative and completive phases in union. According to the tradition of the Nyingma School, these three are called Mahayoga, Anuyoga, Atiyoga. The basic view of Mahayoga , ‘great yoga’ is to realize the inseparability of apparent phenomena and great openness which is absolute truth. You learn to meditate on everything as the appearance of pure phenomena which is relative truth. This involves practicing total non-differentiation, and non-discrimination such as between dirty and clean, self and others. In the Anuyoga vehicle, you train in establishing the sphere of unborn space and its unobstructed luminosity. The inseparability of the two leads to the sphere of great bliss. The practice involves meditation on subtle channels, air, and the essence within our being.
Atiyoga
All the preceding paths have evolved as foundations of entry into Atiyoga. The special instructions of Atiyoga establishes the view that all phenomena are spontaneously enlightened from the beginning. The practice involves establishing primordially pure wisdom through the natural revelation of the ‘cutting through the solidity’ of phenomena and ‘passing spontaneously to the direct, clear light manifestation of the enlightened state. The result of Atiyoga is the realization that the spontaneous, primordially awakened state is right here and now, that there is no need to look and search beyond it. It is the recognition of purity and spontaneity in which the mundane world is naturally nirvana.
The stages of practice
The Vajrayana tradition or also known as the 'Diamond vehicle' encompasses a comprehensive path to enlightenment with various stages, each with specific practice manuals and guides. In general, the path for a devoted practitioner follows the following stages.
Preliminary practices:
As the foundational practice, it includes a set of reflection and meditations which makes mind supple and receptive to higher teachings. In fact, the preliminary practices involves training on all key aspects of Buddhist meditation practice and on its own also serves as complete path of transcendence. Preliminaries cover two phases. In the outer general preliminary, it involves reflection on rarity and value of life with freedoms and advantages, on impermanence, on actions, cause and effect, on defects on mundane life. One invokes a sense of renunciation and an urge towards virtue and higher knowledge.
One then relies on a teacher and engages in further meditative practices such taking refuge (which involves committing to the practice, teacher and the assembly) ; generating mind of awakening 'bodhicitta' ; accumulating merit through mandala offering ; purification of obscurations with meditation on Vajrasattva (state of purity) ; and Guru yoga, uniting with the wisdom mind of the enlightened masters. Often each element of the five fold practice is accumulated five hundred thousand times or as seen fit by the teacher before proceeding to the subsequent practices. In the conclusions of preliminaries, one also practices on the cutting through "Chod' for swift realization of natural state and also on the transference of consciousness practice which enables those unable to practice the path to fully still can transcend at the moment of death. These practices can be in a retreat environment or one’s own home dedicating certain times in day beyond work.
Generation phase:
In this stage, one visualizes chosen meditation deity and their pure sphere invoking an enlightened vision of phenomena. It may be artificial and imaginary in the beginning but since they pertain to the enlightened vision of the past masters, one ultimately becomes familiar and one with the vision. One adopts new habits of perception, refining ordinary habits and engages at more subtle levels of experience.
Completion phase:
As one progresses to a stage where the pure vision becomes a living experience, one proceeds into further levels which involves meditating on subtle energies of the body, channels, and essences. Ordinary perceptions of body, speech and mind begin falling apart into their inner subtleties, along with supreme bliss and wisdom.
Great Perfection, Atiyoga:
As one progresses with the above stages, one familiarizes with the illustrative aspect of wisdom through meditative experiences. These act as pointers to the ultimate nature of reality. One is introduced to the nature of mind directly by an experienced teacher. One then familiarizes, establishes into the direct vision of the ultimate nature of mind, the absolute wisdom beyond reference points. The practice in order to realize and establish it involves ‘cutting through of solidity’ to original purity (Trekchö ) and 'leap over' to spontaneous presence (Thögal). One undergoes specific postures, gazes and object of focus to activate this spontaneous, luminous aspect of mind. As the practice culminates, one transcends beyond all bondage of the subject object duality, remaining in non-dual wisdom beyond constructs. The final phases of practices are traditionally done in retreat environment.
So, the preliminary practices serve as the prerequisite for the subsequent practices. As one engages in later stages, guidance and instructions from an experienced teacher is the key. Various texts as mentioned above are used as manuals as a complimentary to the oral instructions of a teacher which is the key.
The major teaching cycles transmitted through Dudjom Lingpa
- The Profound teachings of Naturally Liberated Wisdom Mind. This includes the practices of Avalokitesvara.
- The Wisdom Net of Pure Visions. This contains 'Cutting Through' Chö practices based on sadhana of Tröma Nakmo
- The Vast Space Treasury of the Nature of Reality which also contains Chö practices based on Tröma Nakmo
- The Profound Secret Doctrine of the Heart Essence of Dakinis which contains the Namchak Pudri Vajrakilaya practice.
The following are some of the major texts and teachings
- Nang Jang (Translated in English as Buddhahood Without Meditation), key instructional text on cutting through solidity (Threkcho) practice of great perfection.
- Neluk Rangjung (Natural abiding - Translated in English as The Vajra Essence, Dudjom Lingpa’s Visions of The Great Perfection)
- Sherik Dorje Nӧnpo Gyü ( Translated in English as The Vajra of Conscious Awareness Tantra)
- Collected teachings, commentaries of Degyal Rinpoche including Zungdzin Thrulpa Rangdrol (Natural Liberation of Dualistic Confusion)
The Lineage Teachers
- HH Dudjom Sange Pema Shedpa Rinpoche
- Shiva Rinpoche, reincarnation of Golok Serta Rimpoche
- Pema Riktsal Rinpoche
- Degyal Rinpoche Jigme Orgen Choedak
- Tsokhang Rinpoche Orgen Drimed
- Geypa Rinpoche
- Sangye Rinpoche
- Rangrig Rinpoche
- Thondup Rinpoche
- Lama Gyatso Rinpoche
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