The Vajra Yoga of Life-Force Control — Skt. Prāṇāyāma, Tib. sogtsol

The third of the Six Vajra Yogas is known as Life-Force Control. Previously the empty-forms were mixed with the perceiving awareness itself. These two are now combined with the inner winds so that there is no separation between the three entities. The ten winds of the left and right channels are unified as they are drawn into the central channel, thereby causing the circulation of the inner winds in the left and right channels to cease. This is achieved by focusing on the navel centre, where the blazing fire of authentic tummo is experienced.

The event encompasses 1) two days with Preliminary Practices, Guru Pūjā, Kālachakra-Tsok, and a walk and practice in the nature with Rinpoche, 2) The Four Higher Empowerments of Kālachakra (Rinpoche will bestow them again for this group for the sake of creating the best conditions for practice), 3) Transmission and Teachings for the Third Vajra Yoga practices (first part only, as the content is extensive), 4) If needed, a personal audience with Rinpoche (upon request), 5) one week of Retreat with practice sessions guided by senior students, as well as 6) food and accommodation at the Dzokden Kalapa Retreat Center. 

SCHEDULE (10 nights)

August 27 — Arrival & Welcome Meeting; Introductory Session | Check-in from 2:00 to 4:00 PM 

August 28 (full moon) — Kālachakra Preliminary Practices, Rituals, Walk and Practice in the nature around the Retreat Center with Rinpoche

August 29 — Four Higher Empowerments for the Third Vajra Yoga participants and Third Vajra Yoga Transmission 

August 29 – September 5 — Third Vajra Yoga Practice Retreat, Third Vajra Yoga Teachings & Personal Audiences with Rinpoche

September 5  —Concluding Tsok (+ break of silence in the evening)

September 6 (Ḍākinī Day) — Last practice session and Karma-Yoga | Check-out from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Note: on the weekend of August 24 – 25, there will be the Vajra Family Gather (register: www.kalapa.org/calendar). If you wish/need to stay additional nights at the Retreat Center before the Third Yoga Retreat (either dormitory or tent), write us ([email protected]) so that we can inform you of the conditions.

If you would like to additionally book the subsequent Practice Retreat Weeks for the Third Vajra Yoga (September 6 – 13, and 13 – 20, register additionally here.)

We recommend that you attend the Practice Retreat in the Winter and/or the Second Vajra Yoga retreat of this year, so that you can be better prepared (however, this is not mandatory.)

How to prepare: We strongly encourage you to prepare yourself as much as you can with all the Kālachakra Preliminary Practices and especially all the practices related to the Second Vajra Yoga. In addition to the sādhanas “Divine Ladder” and “Enlightening the Heart”, you will need to know the sādhana “Secret Ḍākinī Treasure.” For the latter, you must register here for the recorded commentary if you have not already received it previously (there you also find the recorded chanting).

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. Both courses have texts and teachings translated into many languages. Inside, you find the chantings and practical explanations as well. If you wish (not mandatory), bring your own vajra, bell, ḍamaru, or other ritual instruments.

We encourage you to study all the sādhanas and pūjās as much as you can, including the chantings.

Materials: You can borrow from Kalapa Guru Pūjā and Tsok texts. Bring your practice materials such as “The Profound Path of Vajra Yoga,“ the “Secret Ḍākinī Treasure,” and the “Four Higher Empowerments” Booklet. Everything must be on paper because electronic devices are not allowed after the strict retreat begins. You can also bring your restricted booklets for First and Second Yogas as a reference for your practice. Reading materials not directly related to this practice are not allowed during the strict retreat period. Bring also all the meditation implements you received for the related practices.

After the Empowerments on August 29, the strict retreat period will begin. During this period, participants are not allowed to receive visitors or use mobile phones, tablet devices, pads, smart watches, laptops, computers, etc. 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/message +43 676 395 8898, and we will inform you.

The daily schedule consists of four practice sessions of the Third Vajra Yoga practices and occasional teachings, rituals, and audiences. Participation in two daily group practice sessions is mandatory unless health conditions completely prevent you from taking part. The remaining two practice sessions can be practiced in your own room if you prefer. Practice sessions will be conducted in English and Tibetan.

During this retreat, a participant accumulates at least 30 hours of Third Vajra Yoga practice, or more if one does longer sessions or practice/study between group sessions.

The fee for the retreat includes three vegetarian meals and shared accommodation at the Dzokden Kalapa Retreat Center. When registering, please inform us 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. You need to follow the same guidelines as the other retreatants. That said, Rinpoche prefers you stay in the Retreat Center.

FAQ:  Please note that 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 within our context. 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 similar teachings. 2) Leaving earlier is not recommended at all, but if you absolutely cannot commit to attending for the entire period, send a request by informing your reasons and the desired date and time of your earlier check-out so that we can see if that can be allowed as an exception. 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.

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, external volunteers can access electronic devices. This is an extraordinary opportunity to generate merit and create the causes to be able to engage in this practice yourself in the future. Rinpoche 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.

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 possibilities. That being said, we prefer the participation of someone who can commit to the whole period.

If you are part of the EAP — Enlightened Activities Program — and need to gather participation for attending Completion Stage teachings, your participation as a volunteer for this event can be counted: Main Cook — around 128 EAP hours in total | Assistant Cook — around 108 EAP hours in total. See all roles here.

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.

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, keep the right side towards Garanas and follow the signs to “Kalachakra Kalapa Center” uphill for about 8 km to reach the center.

By train: 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, we will send additional info via email some weeks before the event.

With this additional donation option, your generosity will also support other practitioners who may need a reduced registration cost. This includes the full program, a bunk bed in a shared room and 3 meals a day for the duration of the event.

NORMAL registration option – 1550 Euro

This includes the full program, a bunk bed in a shared room and 3 meals a day for the duration of the event.

TENT option – 1400 Euro

This option is for those who prefer to stay in a tent at the retreat center. You need to bring your own tent and your own sleeping bag. This includes the full program, a place to set up your own tent and 3 meals a day for the duration of the event.

Overnight OFF-SITE – 1350 Euro

This registration is for those who prefer to book their stay in an accommodation in a hotel outside the retreat center. This includes the full program and meals while you are on site.

Scholarship REDUCED Registration – 1150 Euro

Reduced registration for those with a very reduced income or honestly facing difficult financial challenges. This registration option includes the full program, a bunk bed in a shared room or a tent spot, and 3 meals a day for the duration of the event.