Purnachandra Fleet Maneuvers and Sail Training

June 19-28, 2020

"It is very important for you to connect with the Dralas, which have particular meaning for the military....The Drala concept should sink into your state of being.  When you wear your uniform or your Guard pin, that actually provokes the outer Drala.  The outer Drala situation is created by the military.  If you are a good Kasung, you have special access to the Dralas, much more so than basic civilians do.  That is important for you to realize."

Makkyi Rabjam Dorje Dradul of Mukpo

The Purnachandra Division is the Naval Arm of the Dorje Kasung.  During this retreat we will use the practice of Sail Training as the skillful means for engaging the teachings of the Makkyi Rabjam, Dorje Dradul on the notion of "enlightened Military."

The fleet will rendezvous at Portland Yacht Club in Casco Bay, Falmouth, ME during the week of June 19th.  During the first two days we will engage in basic sail training excercises exploring Casco Bay mixed with a daily schedule of shamatha-vipashyana meditation.  We will be studying "Town Talks" and other Dorje Kasung teachings.

During the retreat we will make our way to Rockland Harbor in Penobscot Bay making a series of day sails.

Cost:  Crew members will be expected to help cover the costs of food and moorings during the trip.  Captains will cover all costs for their boats.

Buddha in the Palm of Your Hand: The Mahamudra Teachings of the Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin

“By working for the benefit of others we overcome hope and fear and make our meditation practice continuous.  In any transition there is a gap where the absence of the previous reference point has not yet become the next one.  In that space, there is no time.  That is the Buddha’s time.”

Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin

This will be an intensive meditation retreat which will focus on the profound teachings of the Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin.  We will be making use of newly released recordings of the Vajra Regent giving talks on his text "Buddha in the Palm of Your Hand."  Through study, contemplation and meditation we will deepen our understanding of these profound teachings and mix our minds with the Vajra Regent and our Kagyu Lineage.

Cost: $495.00 includes room and board

Fall Dathun

Mixing Mind and Space

November 6, to December 6, 2020

“In the Kagyu tradition a little special technique of breathing practice which is employed is the experiencing of “chung ne dro sum.”  “Chung” is where the thoughts arise; “ne” is dwell and “dro” is where they went; and those three are accompanied by “ying rig se wa.”  Ying means space; “rig” means conscious mind; “se wa” means mixing.  So mixing the mind consciousness.  Sometimes it’s called also “lung sem se wa”—the mind and breathing mixing together.   Whatever it is, the idea is that sense of space.  And one doesn’t have to deliberately try to mix the mind and the breathing with solemn effort particularly.  But like you feel the well-being of your body, in the same way you could feel you are breathing, a general sense of breathing.”

Trungpa Rinpoche

“The View Is the recognition of space as the true nature of mind.  According to the Kagyu gurus, mind is like space.  Space is unobstructed, all pervasive, empty and not produced by causes.  Space accommodates everything—life and death, confusion and liberation.  In that way it is the ground of everything.  At the same time, space is ungraspable by thought and cannot be experienced as a thing.  It is spotless because it has no allegiance and to describe it is impossible.  The best you can say is that space simply is, and in that sense it is primordially pure.

     “We should view our mind in the same way: mind is the ground of everything.”

Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin

Dathun is the foundational retreat of the Vajradhatu sangha of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.  It is a month long immersion in the practice of Shine Lhakthong or mindfulness/awareness which forms the core for our mahamudra and Dzogchen path.  In particular, it paves the way for entrance into the annutara yoga tantra.  Without some kind of accomplishment of shine/lhakthong it is impossible to engage ngondro and the sadhana of Vajrayogini – which are the core practices of Kagyu tantra.

Dathun consists of 8 to 10 hours of group shine/lhakthong practice with oryoki meals.  Group and private meditation instruction is offered regularly.  Dzogchen Meditation Center is closed to the public during this retreat. '

The pre-requisite for this retreat is that the applicant practices shamatha-vipashyana meditation following Trungpa Rinpoche's instructions at least two hours a day as a personal practice and has comnpleted the "Introduction to Dzogchen" weekend retreat.

$1200.00

Includes dormroom  accommodation and meals

Private rooms are available on a first come first serve basis and cost an additional $250.00 per week.