2nd Vajra Yoga of Kalachakra: Practice Retreat
This event is available IN-PERSON ONLY.
Registration at the Dzokden Kalapa website.
This page is for registration for the 2nd VAJRA YOGA Practice Retreat Week(s).
WEEK 2: August 12th – 19th (7 nights)
WEEK 3: August 19th – August 26th (7 nights)
WEEK 4: August 26th – September 2nd (7 nights)
(How to register for one or multiple weeks? When registering below, simply select the start date of your participation, and the numbers 1, 2, or 3 of “tickets” corresponding to the number of weeks that you would like to attend.)
When you register below, simply select the start date of your participation and add it to your chart. To add more dates: repeat the process and add another date to the chart for a subsequent week).
To register for the 2nd VAJRA YOGA EMPOWERMENT, TEACHING, and RETREAT WEEK 1, you also need to additionally register here as well.
We are grateful to be able to offer a Practice Retreat on the 2nd Vajra Yoga of Kālachakra at the Dzokden Kalapa Retreat Center. This retreat is a rare opportunity to practice similarly to how aspiring yogis practice during the traditional three-year Kālachakra retreat, in a uniquely beautiful natural Summer setting. This group retreat will support the participants in establishing their 2nd Vajra Yoga practice. By having a solid foundation for their own individual practice after the retreat, practitioners will be better able to complete the 2nd Vajra Yoga and prepare for the next Vajra Yoga. You are welcome to take part in any of the weeks of your choosing.
This is the first time we have the precious chance to offer such a long retreat on the 2nd Vajra Yoga in Europe, so do not miss this precious opportunity!
Online Meditation Guidance from Shar Khentrul Rinpoché + In-person Retreat
Each participant can request a personal audience with Rinpoché (remotely via Zoom) to discuss their meditation progress and help alleviate any obstacles to their practice. Rinpoché may also join remotely to give a group teaching (upon participants’ request) if he feels that it is necessary. Rafa Lobsang Dorje will lead the practice retreat in person with Rinpoché’s blessing.
REQUIREMENTS
All participants must have received the 2nd Vajra Yoga of Kālachakra by Shar Khentrul Rinpoché. If you have not received them yet and have the aspiration to do so, we welcome you to check the requirements and present yourself as a candidate by clicking here.
How to Prepare and Materials
How to Prepare and Materials
Please make sure to register for, study, and practice as much as you can the GURU PŪJĀ and the KĀLACHAKRA-TSOK to prepare yourself so that you know these rituals and their meanings very well beforehand. If you wish (not mandatory), bring your own vajra, bell, ḍamaru, or other ritual instruments.
You can borrow printed texts of Guru Pūjā and Tsok from the temple to use during the event. Please bring your printed practice book “The Profound Path of Vajra Yoga,” your blindfold, and your meditation belt. You can bring also Rinpoché’s commentary “The Hidden Treasure,” “Unveiling Your Sacred Truth 3,” and the 1st Vajra Yoga Booklet as a reference for your practice. Everything must be on paper because electronic devices are not allowed. Reading materials not directly related to this practice are not allowed.
Retreat Information and Guidelines
Retreat Information and Guidelines
The retreat will be closed and in silence. Participants are not allowed to receive visitors or use mobile phones, tablet devices, pads, smart watches, laptops, computers, and so forth. We can store these in our office if you wish. If someone needs to contact you in case of an emergency, they can email [email protected] or call +43 676 395 8898 and we will inform you. Rinpoché advises participants to follow the retreat guidelines respectfully, not only for the success of their own practice but also to avoid disturbing others.
The daily schedule consists of four practice sessions and additional activities such as occasional pūjas, watching Rinpoché’s recorded teachings, personal audiences, and so forth. Participants are welcome to address their questions related to the practice in written form to the retreat leader. They can request personal audiences with Rinpoché (remotely via Zoom) as well. Participation in two daily group sessions is mandatory unless health conditions completely prevent you from taking part. The remaining two sessions can be practiced in your own room if you prefer. Practice sessions will be conducted in English and Tibetan. If you absolutely prefer, you can bring copies of the texts in your own language as well and read them silently while the group recites in English.
Check-out after breakfast on the last day of the week of your choice (If you absolutely need to leave earlier, that is possible. Just inform us in advance of your plans.)
Registration
Registration
The fee for the retreat includes three vegetarian meals and shared accommodations at the Dzokden Kalapa Retreat Center. Please inform us ([email protected]) in advance if you have allergies, food intolerances, or other important health or mental conditions that we need to consider. We cannot offer space for individual rooms for participants of this event. However, you can alternatively bring your own tent and sleep outside near the Kālachakra Stūpa (see registration options below).
Off-Site Accommodations: If you absolutely need an individual room, many options for accommodations are available near the retreat center’s area, in the Garanas region, and in the town of Bad Schwanberg. In this case, please search for and book the necessary reservations yourself.
DANA for KHENTRUL RINPOCHÉ: Khentrul Rinpoché has kindly agreed to give audiences remotely and to support the retreat leader and organizers. If you wish to additionally show your generosity to Rinpoché’s precious teachings and his immense efforts for the Kālachakra Dharma, you can offer Dana for Rinpoché on the Dzokden website here.
FAQ: Please note it takes incredible merit to have the conditions for this project to happen: 1) We have made a large effort to keep the cost reasonable. We encourage practitioners to save up and create the conditions to participate. In the past, people have given everything they had to the Vajra Master for this opportunity. 2) If you cannot commit to attending for the entire period, please let us know in advance the exact date and time of your earlier check-out. Leaving earlier is not recommended by Rinpoché but we can make an exception if you have no other option or really cannot stay the entire period (please let us know the reasons by email). Please note that we cannot offer you a special registration cost. The cost is for the entire event, regardless of whether you can stay for the entire period or not
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
We need one volunteer to cook breakfast, lunch, and a light dinner for the participants, and a second volunteer as a cook helper. The volunteers will be able to enjoy all the areas in the retreat center except for the Kālachakra Temple where the participants will practice. Unlike the participants, the external volunteers can access electronic devices, the internet, and so forth. This is an extraordinary opportunity to generate merit and create the causes to be able to engage in this practice yourself in the future. Rinpoché strongly encourages us to support our dharma brothers and sisters by volunteering.
During your stay, we can provide free access to an online course or recorded retreat at our digital learning center if you would like to support your practice and study while you are volunteering.
Alternatively, if you are going to receive the 2nd Vajra Yoga teachings the week before as a participant and want to volunteer for this practice retreat week after full-time for the whole period, you can also participate in the sessions of the event in the temple for free whenever you have a break from your volunteer work.
If you are considering this opportunity, please write as soon as possible to [email protected]. You can also volunteer for only a portion of the event; you can offer as much as possible according to your capability. That being said, we prefer the participation of someone who can commit to the whole period.
How to get to Kalapa
How to get to Kalapa
Dzokden Kalapa Retreat Center, Garanas 41, Bad Schwanberg, zip code 8541, Austria, Südweststeiermark. The nearest airport is in Graz, Austria. To travel to Kalapa by train, start at the main train station in Graz. From there, take the S6 or S61 S-Bahn towards Wies-Eibiswald for about an hour to the Bad Schwanberg station. (Timetable information)
To travel from the Bad Schwanberg train station to the retreat center, a relatively inexpensive taxi service supported by the government is available that will take you directly to the Retreat Center, which is referred to as “Buddhistisches Zentrum” by this taxi service. For more information, please visit their website: Regio Mobil. The taxi must be ordered at least some hours in advance, but visitors are recommended to do so much earlier or on the days before you intend to arrive. On weekdays, this taxi service operates between the hours of 6.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m. On weekends it does not operate during the evening. As the journey is quite long (about 20 minutes), the service should be scheduled for at least half an hour before the closing hours provided above. For trips on Sundays or public holidays please schedule the taxi service by 5 p.m. on the day before you intend to arrive.
To order: +43 (0)50 16 17 18 Cost: €6.00 total regardless of how many people are taking the taxi. Our Station Number for the Regio Taxi: 41080 / Buddhistisches Zentrum.
Alternative: if you are arriving or departing outside the Regio Mobil taxi working hours, you can book another taxi service e.g. the Wein Mobil taxi for €37,50, working hours from 10:00 to 23:30. In this case, the station number is D927. The reservation is made by calling the same number as above.
By car: From the Graz-West motorway junction (A2/A9), get on the A2 towards Klagenfurt/Italy and take the Lieboch exit. Then, continue on Federal Road 76 towards Eibiswald. After about 30 km, you will reach Bad Schwanberg. At the end of the main square in Bad Schwanberg, turn left towards Garanas. After the bridge, turn right towards Garanas and follow the signs to “Kalachakra Kalapa Center” uphill for about 8 km to reach the center.
Registration Cost
Registration Cost
Sangha Supporter fee (for one week) – 636 Euro
This program fee includes a place in a shared room and full board of 3 meals a day for 1 week. You also support other practitioners who may need a reduced registration.
Normal Retreat Fee (for one week) – 400 Euro
This program fee includes a place in a shared room and full board with 3 meals a day for 1 week.
Tent Accomodation (for one week) – 350 Euro
This program fee includes a tent spot inside the retreat center and full board of 3 meals a day for 1 week.
Reduced Program Fee (for one week) – 300 Euro
Reduced registration for those with reduced income or facing financial challenges. This registration option includes the full program, a bunk bed in a shared room (or a tent spot — please let us know your preference!), and 3 meals a day for the duration of the event
