Because our essential nature is always available, we are inspired to practice in order to experience it fully. Longchenpa, Tibet’s unparalleled fourteenth-century master of Dzogchen, offers seven simple and profound trainings aimed at facilitating such experience. These seven are our focus. In the eighteenth century, the renowned Jigme Lingpa received direct teachings from Longchenpa during retreat, became his dharma heir, and wrote an extensive commentary on these seven, including five pith practices that will also receive special attention during our time together. We will also draw from oral commentary on this teaching by a contemporary incarnation of Jigme Lingpa, Adzom Paylo Rinpoche.
Each training moves from effort to ease, taking core principles of Buddhist practice as touchstones for Dzgochen and culminating in unique trainings of non-conceptuality.
This retreat is ideal for new and ongoing students, with time for discussion and select exploration of Longchenpa’s Dzogchen teachings. The practices you learn can be deepened at home after the retreat and can support practices you may already be doing. To enhance the crystallization of practice within us, we will maintain noble silence from after dinner through lunch each day.
