Vajra Master Shar Khentrul Rinpoche (via Zoom from Australia) has kindly accepted the request to give two teachings at the start and conclusion of the event, including an oral transmission and a Q&A session. Rinpoche will bestow an introductory teaching offering an overview of the Jonang Ngondro, focusing on foundational topics such as Renunciation, Refuge, etc. In the concluding teaching, Rinpoche will bestow:

-Oral transmission of his own prayer, Immediate Blessings—this short prayer is an additional support for students to connect with the Jonang lineage and overcome obstacles in their practice -Commentary on the Aspiration to Accomplish the Six Vajra Yogas, providing an overview of the entire profound Completion Stage and inspiring students to prepare for receiving these practices in the future

Rinpoche has written numerous books on the Jonang Ngondro, including the detailed commentary The Hidden Treasure of the Profound Path and the three-volume series Unveiling Your Sacred Truth. When teaching live, however, Rinpoche always teaches in a new way, showing different angles to help his students gain deeper insight into the meaning and practical application of the practices. 

Rafa Lobsang Dorje will lead the retreat on-site with Rinpoche’s blessing. Lobsang Dorje has been guiding groups and teaching the Jonang-Ngondro subjects since 2017. He has been Retreat Leader at Dzokden Kalapa since 2021 and has led multiple retreats on the Wensum & the Vajra Yogas. 

Depending on availability and suitability, further Dzokden Golden Age Guides might also be invited to lead practice sessions.

DETAILED SCHEDULE in CET (Vienna) TIME

Note: info in italics is relevant only for those attending in person or for activities without broadcast

January 4

14:00 – 16:00 — Check-in 16:15 – 16:45 — Kalapa Shop open 17:00 – 17:45  — Welcome Meeting 18:00 – 18:30 — Dinner 19:30 – 21:30 — OPENING TEACHING BY RINPOCHE 

January 5

06:30 – 08:15 — 1st Practice Session REFUGE 08:30 – 09:00 — Breakfast 09:00 – 09:45 — Karma Yoga 10:00 – 11:15 — 2nd Practice Session REFUGE 11:45 – 13:00 — 3rd Practice Session REFUGE (self-practice, no broadcast) 13:00 – 13:30 — Lunch 14:30 – 15:15 — Dharma Exchange (in person, TBA depending on suitability) 16:00 – 17:45 — 4th Practice Session REFUGE 18:00 – 18:30 — Dinner 18:45 – 19:15 — Self-study time 19:30 – 21:15 — Teaching with Lobsang Dorje: REFUGE & BODHICHITTA

January 6:

06:30 – 08:15 — 1st Practice Session BODHICHITTA 08:30 – 09:00 — Breakfast 09:00 – 09:45 — Karma Yoga 10:00 – 11:15 — 2nd Practice Session BODHICHITTA 11:45 – 13:00 — 3rd Practice Session BODHICHITTA (self-practice, no broadcast) 13:00 – 13:30 — Lunch 14:30 – 15:15 — Dharma Exchange (in person, TBA depending on suitability) 16:00 – 17:45 — 4th Practice Session BODHICHITTA 18:00 – 18:30 — Dinner 18:45 – 19:15 — Self-study time 19:30 – 21:15 — Teaching with Lobsang Dorje: VAJRASATTVA HERUKA

January 7:

06:30 – 08:15 — 1st Practice Session VAJRASATTVA HERUKA 08:30 – 09:00 — Breakfast 09:00 – 09:45 — Karma Yoga 10:00 – 11:15 — 2nd Practice Session VAJRASATTVA HERUKA 11:45 – 13:00 — 3rd Practice Session VAJRASATTVA HERUKA (self-practice, no broadcast) 13:00 – 13:30 — Lunch 14:30 – 15:15 — Dharma Exchange (in person, TBA depending on suitability) 16:00 – 17:45 — 4th Practice Session VAJRASATTVA HERUKA 18:00 – 18:30 — Dinner 18:45 – 19:15 — Self-study time 19:30 – 21:15 — Teaching with Lobsang Dorje: MAṆḌALA OFFERING

January 8:

06:30 – 08:15 — 1st Practice Session MAṆḌALA OFFERING 08:30 – 09:00 — Breakfast 09:00 – 09:45 — Karma Yoga 10:00 – 11:15 — 2nd Practice Session MAṆḌALA OFFERING 11:45 – 13:00 — 3rd Practice Session MAṆḌALA OFFERING (self-practice, no broadcast) 13:00 – 13:30 — Lunch 14:30 – 15:15 — Dharma Exchange (in person, TBA depending on suitability) 16:00 – 17:45 — 4th Practice Session MAṆḌALA OFFERING 18:00 – 18:30 — Dinner 18:45 – 19:15 — Self-study time 19:30 – 21:15 — Teaching with Lobsang Dorje: GURU YOGA

January 9:

06:30 – 08:15 — 1st Practice Session DOLPOPA GURU YOGA 08:30 – 09:00 — Breakfast 09:00 – 09:45 — Karma Yoga 10:00 – 11:15 — 2nd Practice Session TĀRANĀTHA GURU YOGA 11:45 – 13:00 — 3rd Practice Session GURU YOGA (self-practice, no broadcast) 13:00 – 13:30 — Lunch 14:30 – 15:15 — Dharma Exchange (in person, TBA depending on suitability) 16:00 – 17:45 — 4th Practice Session FOUNDATION GURU YOGA 18:00 – 18:30 — Dinner 18:45 – 19:15 — Self-study time 19:30 – 21:30 — CONCLUDING TEACHING WITH RINPOCHE: Oral Transmission of “Immediate Blessings,” Commentary on “Aspiration to Accomplish the Six Vajra Yogas,” and Q&A.

January 10: (no broadcast)

06:30 – 08:15 — Practice Session (self-practice, no broadcast) 08:30 – 09:00 — Breakfast 09:00 – 10:00 — Karma Yoga & Wrap up 10:00 – 11:00 — Kalapa Shop open & Check-out

This is not a strict retreat like the other Completion Stage Retreats at Kalapa. However, if you are attending in person, you are expected to participate in all scheduled sessions (teachings, practices, and discussions), unless prevented by health conditions. (Full-time volunteers on-site may attend according to their availability.)

Early Arrival / Late Departure: If you wish/need to stay one or multiple additional nights at the Retreat Center before/after the event, write us ([email protected]) so that we can inform you of the conditions.

Physical & Mental Health: Attending a retreat is a serious undertaking that will require your mental and physical health. If you are currently experiencing, or have recently experienced, any significant physical, psychiatric, or psychological illness, it is your responsibility to obtain written permission beforehand from your healthcare provider or your therapist to participate. 

Silence: Group silence begins each evening at dinner (18:00) and continues until the start of Karma Yoga (09:00) the following morning.

Electronics: The use of electronic devices is generally permitted during this event. However, phone and video calls are not allowed in common areas or shared dormitories. If you absolutely need to make a call, please do so outside the center or in your room if you have a single room.

Leaving the Retreat Center: Participants are encouraged to remain within the retreat center boundaries. However, it is permissible to stay elsewhere overnight (e.g., in a hotel) if necessary or to take short walks in the surrounding nature. If you absolutely need to arrive after the event start or leave before event conclusion, please inform us in advance.

DRA: If you have already received the Four Higher Empowerments from Rinpoche, you may book the DRA (Dark Retreat Apartment) if you prefer a more private stay during the retreat.

Off-site Accommodations: If you absolutely need an individual room, options for hotel accommodation are available in Bad Schwanberg town. Please search for and book the reservations yourself if you have a car to drive daily forth and back. You need to pay additionally for in-person attendance.

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. If you are considering this opportunity, please write as soon as possible to [email protected]. 

Audio, Video & Zoom

We are looking for a full-time volunteer to manage the technical setup throughout the event, including the audio system (mic setup and sound), video cameras, TV, Zoom hosting, and uploading the session recordings. Previous experience is preferred, but not required if you are highly motivated to learn in advance. We provide a tutorial and support to help you prepare. If you commit to this role for the entire event, you can attend the retreat free of charge. If you are participating in the EAP, this role also counts for approximately 60 EAP hours. 

Cook Volunteer

We are also looking for a full-time volunteer to serve as the main cook for the entire event (breakfast, lunch, and a light dinner). If you commit to this role for the full retreat, you can attend the retreat free of charge. If you are participating in the EAP, this role also counts for approximately 60 EAP hours.

To register, select the registration option below that best suits your current circumstances. By proceeding to register, you confirm that you are aware of and accept our Cancellation & Refund Policy.

If you wish to attend in person, you need to select both: 1) one registration option, and 2) in addition, the option “in-person attendance.” 

(In addition to these two, if you can and wish to stay in the DRA, you need to book and pay that separately after registration.)

Special opportunity — Full scholarship for translators for this event: If you are a volunteer translator at Dzokden and can commit to translating the whole event (21 sessions, around 4 sessions daily), you can participate online totally for free without needing to register. This arrangement is offered to all translators for this event due to the large number of sessions.

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.