About Our Retreats

Because of on-going construction we only have room for 5 retreatants in any of our advertised retreats at this time.

Dzogchen Meditation Center is a retreat center of the Surmang Kagyu Order.  Applying to attend a retreat at Dzogchen Meditation Center presumes that the applicant is interested in becoming a member of this order.  We are not open to the general public.

All retreats at Dzogchen Meditation Center engage the view and practice of the Nyingma and Kagyu Schools of Tibetan Buddhism as taught by Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.  

We do not engage in or encourage the use of online retreats.  All of our retreats are residential, sealed retreats.  

Retreats begin on Friday at 7:00 pm and end on Sunday at 2:00 pm.  Participants are invited to arrive by 5 pm for orientation and dinner.  They may also stay later than the official close of the retreat with the permission of the retreat facilitator.

Participants are not allowed to arrive later than 7 pm on Friday or leave before the official end of the retreat.

We require that all prospective participants not use cannabis.  Cannibis is a substance that blocks the user's ability to synchronize body and mind which is a fundamental component of our practice. 
   
In general, we follow "functional talking" for all practice retreats.  We do not allow the use of the internet, cell phones or other forms of entertainment during practice retreats.

We follow the main practice guidelines and oral instructions of the Vidyadhara Trungpa Rinpoche and Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin.  In particular, we emphasize the practice of Shamatha/Vipashyana at all stages of the practitioner's path and engage the tantric practices of the Kagyu and Nyingma Lineages. We offer retreats which are designed to help practitioners complete the tantric path of the Karma Kamstang -- the Kagyu Ngondro, Vajrayogini and Chakrasamvara Sadhanas which were the main tantric practices bestowed on the Vajrahatu sangha by Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the Vajra Regent Osel.

Dzogchen Meditation Center is a small, privately owned and operated retreat center not connected with any religious organization.  All retreats are closed to the general public.  Attendence at closed retreats is based on previous training and the ability of participants to follow retreat guidelines and protocals at DMC.  Dzogchen Meditation Center reserves the right to deny training opportunities to anyone who cannot follow these retreat guidelines.

Meeting an Authentic Teacher

Taking notes

Gaining information

Evaluating the outer projection

Is purchasing the Holy Dharma in the marketplace

All gurus are your primordial guru

They are all Padmasambhava

If you left those teachings 

Feeling naked and groundless 

That was meeting your teacher. 

When you sit you meet the same teacher. 

That naked mind is prajna

Being in a situation in which you discover it is called meditation practice 

Practice again and again

Recognize that nakedness

Again and again

It's not created

Does not depend on words or ideas. 

Wanting to possess it is

The wrong end of the stick

Feeling humiliated

Is chasing memory

To put clothes on it.

There isn't anything more to do. 

You met the authentic guru. 

Now do it again and again.