9-Day Mahamudra Retreat
February 14–23, 2020
Advanced Shambhala, Scholarship Available Programs, Shambhala
This retreat is restricted to tantrikas who attended Vajrayana Seminary or Sacred World Assembly, or who have received pointing out instruction from a Rinpoche in the Kagyu or Nyingma Lineages.
Tuition has been set to $0 and lodging prices for this retreat have been reduced by between 20% and 40%, depending on lodging type, to support the sangha in practicing at Shambhala Mountain Center. Learn more about Financial Assistance and Scholarships.
Mahamudra, the “great seal,” is among the most profound streams of teaching and practice of Vajrayana Buddhism. Revered as a powerful support for all other tantric practices, it is also extremely simple and direct, focused on recognizing and gaining confidence in the nature of mind through direct experience.
This year, the practice text will be Pointing Out the Dharmakaya, the classic liturgy by Wangchuk Dorje, the Ninth Karmapa. We will incorporate pith instructions by Yeshe Tsogyal, Lodro Thaye, Paltrul Rinpoche, Rangjung Dorje, Chogyam Trungpa and Sakyong Mipham.
The Retreat will be mostly silent, with times for circle conversation. Each day will include the physical practices of Lujong, Shamatha Yoga, and Lungtse. We will include the Stroke of Ashe, and there will be two sessions for Scorpion Seal practitioners to do the “morning practices” from SSA.
This retreat is appropriate for Shambhala tantrikas at all levels of practice. First-time participants must begin at the beginning and commit to the entire 9–day retreat. Participants who have already done a Mahamudra retreat using Pointing Out the Daharmakaya may attend as much of the retreat as they wish, starting from the beginning of the retreat. To register, please click on the “Register Now” button above and use the “Comments” box to type “Departure: [type the date you’ll depart], and for Payment select “Personal Check” from the dropdown list to bypass payment. This will register you, automatically notify us, and will not charge your card. We’ll edit your arrival & departure dates and finances, and contact you for credit card information. Thank you!
Prerequisite: Sacred World Assembly or Vajrayana Seminary in the Shambhala Tradition, or pointing out transmission from a Rinpoche in the Kagyu or Nyingma Lineages. Participants will need to bring a copy of the Pointing Out the Dharmakaya liturgy and sourcebook (not the published book) which will be sold at the SMC gift store and is also available from Nalanda Translation Committee.
Retreat Faculty
Richard John
Richard John has been a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche since 1975, and he served as acharya to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche for 20 years. He completed the first three-year group retreat at Gampo Abbey, and has led Buddhist and Shambhala meditation retreats in the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile and New Zealand. Richard and his wife […]