In-person offered in English and Tibetan only. We do encourage international students to attend. We can supply the empowerment booklet in some languages. This event is possible thanks to our partnership with Shambhala International.
September 25-26th (2 days) This is for registration for the Kalachakra Four Higher Empowerments and mini-retreat. This will take place directly following the Kalachakra Empowerment in Boulder. If you have been previously approved or received the Higher Empowerment you can register without request. If you receive the Higher Empowerment you are able to register for any of the Dark Room retreats in the future. If you would like to go to Kalapa in Austria to do the Dark Room (3 isolations) practice retreat, you can do so for weeks 2-4 because you have received the empowerment previously. Register for the August Dark Room retreats in Austria
Rinpoche has kindly accepted a request to bestow the Four Higher Empowerments of Kalachakra in the USA for the first time since 2018. After receiving these empowerments, you will have all the qualifications to prepare yourself to enter the profound completion stage of Kalachakra in the future. To ensure that students succeed in their paths, Rinpoche bestows these Higher Empowerments only to pre-approved students who genuinely wish to deepen their practice of the Kalachakra path. This is an important step to reinforce the bond between the vajra master and student in working together towards enlightenment. You are more than welcome to present yourself as a candidate to receive these empowerments by sending your application here. To make sure that we can evaluate your application in time, please send it in as soon as possible. However, if you have already been approved, you can simply register for this event directly.
(Note: the Kalachakra Four Higher Empowerments are not the same Kalachakra Empowerments that Rinpoche given in Hong Kong in 2020 and in other places such as in Vienna in 2019, which are called “The Seven Empowerments of a Growing Child”.)
About the Empowerments and Retreat “Up to this point, our use of conceptual methods has been instrumental in removing our many layers of misconception, but as they are embedded in the dualistic mind, these methods function as a subtle barrier to experiencing our definitive nature. For this reason, we need to abandon them in favor of a direct approach that works without conceptual fabrications. We can achieve this transformation from conceptual to non-conceptual in two steps. Firstly we are introduced to the Kalachakra view by receiving the Four Higher Empowerments. Secondly, with the establishment of this view, we use the unique meditation technique of the Three Isolations (Wensum) to cut the proliferation of thoughts and abide in the nature of the mind.” (Khentrul Rinpoche, “Unveiling Your Sacred Truth 3”)
The program fee for the retreat encompasses 1) Secret Dakini Oral Transmission, 2) The Kalachakra Four Higher Empowerments, 3) Teaching-Transmission of the Wensum (Three Isolations) Practice, 4) a printed booklet about the Empowerments and Practice. Accommodations and food are not provided.
SCHEDULE: September 25-26th
9:00 am – 9 pm Monday and Tuesday. The last session is optional for those who need to leave earlier to return to their accommodation.
How to prepare for this retreat If this will be your first time taking part, we strongly encourage you to prepare yourself as much as you can with the Kalachakra Preliminary Practices. In addition to the longer sadhanas “Divine Ladder” and “Enlightening the Heart”, you will need to know the sadhana “Secret Dakini Treasure”. For the latter, you must register here for the oral commentary Rinpoche gave recently if you have not already done so. We encourage you to study all the sadhanas as much as you can, including the transliterations and chantings, because there will be some sessions of chanting in Tibetan without a recording during the retreat.
Materials Bring your practice book “The Profound Path of Vajra Yoga”. You can also bring Rinpoche’s commentary “The Hidden Treasure” as a reference for your practice. Other reading materials not directly related to the Wensum practice are not allowed during the retreat period. You will also need the Secret Dakini Treasure eBook.
Retreat Information and Guidelines 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.
Payment Options Once you have been approved for the empowerment and the 2-day retreat (accommodations not included), please choose the program fee that fits your financial circumstances. Rinpoche always reminds people to pay attention to what they prioritize and put their money on as the number 1 reason people ask for Financial aid is that they prioritized everything else in their life much higher than Dharma.
Accommodations
The location is central in Boulder. There are many cafes and places to eat around the location. For those trying to save money, we encourage airbnb and cafe. If you are on a limited budget we can try to find a community member for you to stay with. Please email [email protected] if you need further recommendations for accommodations.
Singapore, Hong Kong, China: 9PM SUNDAY Central Europe: 3PM SUNDAY Brazil: 10AM SUNDAY West Coast, USA: 6AM SUNDAY East Coast, USA: 9AM SUNDAY Toronto, CA: 9AM SUNDAY
Prayers for Jonang Leader HH Jigme Dorje Rinpoche Entering into Parinirvana with Khentrul Rinpoche
The most excellent leader of the Jonang Lineage, the Abbott of Dzamthang Monastery, His Holiness Jigme Dorje Rinpoche chose to pass into parinirvana on the auspicious day of Kalachakra New Year. Khentrul Rinpoche will lead us in prayers for this most precious teacher and holy being this weekend. May we have the merit for his swift return and to fulfill his aspirations.
Facebook Live and Zoom
Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85156994655 Passcode: 636636 Webinar ID: 851 5699 4655
Follow in the footsteps of Shakyamuni Life through Nepal and India with Khentrul Rinpoché. During this 16-day pilgrimage participants will study and practice the pinnacle of the Buddha Dharma while on an immersive journey to the country’s most sacred sites and the 4 key sites of the Buddha’s life.
Lumbini – the birth place of the Tathagata to Queen Maha Maya Bodh Gaya – the vajra seat where the Tathagata became fully enlightened Sarnath – where the Buddha turned the Wheel of the Dharma. Kushinagar – where the Buddha passed into Parinirvana
This journey is open to those new to Buddhism or long-term practitioners who want to connect with the life of Shakyamuni to help with their inner transformation. We will start at the seat of the Buddha’s enlightenment in Bodh Gaya India. Rinpoche will give teachings on Buddha Nature and enlightenment to inspire us forward. Khentrul Rinpoche says the most important thing to know when we set off on a journey is the destination and in this case the final destination is Buddhahood. Once we are clear on our destination, then we can follow our guide to get there.
Along our journey, we will visit many sacred sites including the great university of the panditas at Nalanda, the Vulture Peak Mountain where the Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma by teaching the Heart Sutra, the ancient city of Varanasi where we will visit Sarnath, and Deer Park where the Buddha gave his first teaching on the 4 Noble truth and through Kathmandu Valley to see the wish-fulfilling stupa.
Every step along the way, Khentrul Rinpoche will give teachings to help connect us with the sacred meaning of each location in order to help us unveil our own sacred truth. In addition to the spiritual aspect of the tour, you will be able to enjoy authentic Indian and Nepalese nature, culture, and cuisine.
Cost: $4000 AUD (Includes shared accommodation, all teachings, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Airfare is not included.)
The tour includes:
15-night stay in India and Nepal
Daily guided teachings, meditations, and or reflections by Shar Khentrul Rinpoche Jamphel Lodrö and Senior students
Authentic traditional accommodations, all meals included
All transportation within India and Nepa
Entry fees to all sites
Who can come?
This pilgrimage is open to everyone. It is a great opportunity for those who want to learn about Buddhism for the first time or who would like a chance to spend more time and connect with Khentrul Rinpoche.
Tour Details
Tentative Schedule
This tour is the tentative schedule. The tour is subject to change but the general destinations will not. The arrival and departure dates and locations are fixed. We are still finalizing the exact route of the tour so please be aware.
Day 1 (27th October) – Arrival in Bodh Gaya India Check in to your room. Enjoy a welcome dinner and teaching with Khentrul Rinpoche under the Bodhi Tree near the Mahaodhi Stupa where the Buddha Realized Enlightenment. Rinpoche will give a teaching on Buddha Nature and what it means to be enlightened. When setting out on any journey, the most important thing to understand is to be clear on the destination.
Day 2 (28th October) – Explore Bodh Gaya – The Place the Buddha’s Enlightenment We will spend the day exploring Bodh Gaya together visiting nearby temples, and the large Buddha, and spending more time at the stupa.
Day 3 (29th October) – Rajgir & Vulture Peak Mountain We will travel to the area to take a hike up Vulture Peak Mountain to have a teaching where Buddha taught the Heart Sutra. Khentrul Rinpoche will give a teaching on the Heart Sutra from the Zhentong Perspective. We will continue on to visit the Saptpani caves in the area and enjoy the nearby Bamboo Forest.
Day 4 (30th October) – Nalanda University The great Panditas of the past taught at the famed Nalanda University which is considered to be the first university in the world. We will spend time studying the Dharma, saying prayers, and connecting to the wisdom of the masters who spent time in the historic place.
Day 5 (31st October) – Travel to Varanasi
Day 6 (1st November) – Varanasi: Explore Saranatha and Deer Park Enjoy an early morning boat ride on the river Ganges while visiting important temples and palaces around the holy city. Then we will visit Sarnath and Deer Park.
Day 7 (2nd November) – Varanasi to Sravasti We will travel to the place where Buddha spent 25 years in Retreat.
Day 8 (3rd November) – KUSHINAGAR – Place of Passing into Parinirvana of Lord Buddha We will travel to the place where the Buddha passed into Parinirvana.
Day 9 (4th November) – Travel toward Lumbini Here you can find several peaceful modern temples and stupas including three main historical sights: Ramabhar Stupa, Mahaparinirvana Temple, and Mathakuar Temple. The half-ruined, Ramabhar Stupa is where Buddha’s body is said to have been cremated and monks and pilgrims can often be seen meditating. Set among monastery ruins, Mathaukar Temple marks the spot where Buddha made his final sermon and now houses a 3m-tall blue-stone Buddha statue.
Day 10 (5th November) – Lumbini Day of Pilgrimage On this day we will visit Shakya Tank, a pool where Queen Maya is believed to have bathed before giving birth, the Maya Devi Temple & Ashokan pillar.
Day 11 (6th November) – Lumbini: Birthplace of Buddha We will stay and practice prayers in Lumbini while Rinpoche teaches the illusory nature of reality.
Day 12 (7th November) – Pokhara Valley We will enjoy a boat ride on the beautiful lake, and visit Matepani Gompa, the most famous monastery in all of Pokhara. We will take a leisurely hike with Rinpoche to enjoy the scenic splendors of the valley.
Day 13 (8th November) – Pokhara We will explore the peace stupa (Shanti Stupa) and spend the day enjoying the Bazaars and outdoor lake area. Rinpoche will give teachings while we connect with the beauty and nature of the Himalayas.
Day 14 (9th November) Patan and Kathmandu Valley We will visit the ancient city of Patan. This is the place that has many statue artisans and Thangka painting schools. We can also explore nearby Bhadgaon known for its medieval art and architecture.
Day 15 (10th November) – Exploration of Kathmandu Valley We will spend a day visiting Swayambhunath – one of the world’s most famous Buddhist stupas, the Wishfulfilling Stupa at Boudhanath, one of the largest and most important Buddhist stupas in the world and nearby monasteries. The Kathmandu Valley is considered to be the valley of the Dakini, Vajrayogini. We will visit her temple. If possible we will arrange an introduction to the dance as a spiritual practice. The rest of the day will be free for you to walk about in the colorful and exotic bazaars.
Day 16 (11th November) – Departure from Kathmandu We will check out of the hotel and make our way home.
Food & Accomodations
Indian and Nepali diet is typically vegetarian and spicy. We have arranged for a vegetarian trip. The food will range from simple to more extravagant based on where we are staying. Some Pictures provided:
Accommodations
As we travel around India and Nepal, we will be staying in a mix of modern hotels and guest houses. In the cities, we may have rooms with western toilets and hot water. Rooms are either a twin share or a dorm-style.
If you are traveling with a friend and would like to stay with them, please write in and request. We will do what we can to keep you together.
Price
The price for this journey is $4000 AUD per person (shared occupancy). A non-refundable $1500 deposit holds your space. We will email you an invoice (via PayPal) at least a week before each due date. The tour is non-refundable. If you have special circumstances then we can discuss and refund it based on unexpected circumstances. We can not refund you for a change of mind.
Payment Schedule
Description
Amount
Due Date
Payment #1 (20% – non-refundable)
AUD$1000
Paid at registration
Payment #2 (40% – non-refundable)
AUD$1500
1st of July
Payment #3 (40% – non-refundable)
AUD$1500
15th of September
Methods of Payment
You can make payments for this tour via any of the following methods:
Credit Card or Paypal: Check out on the form below
Direct Debit: Tibetan Buddhist rime Institute Inc. Bank: ANZ. BSB: 013-479 Account: 4944-47223 (Please include your surname as a reference)
Wire Transfer: Acc: Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute. Bank: ANZ. Branch: Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria Australia. Swift Code: ANZBAU3M. BSB:013 457. Account No: 4944 47223
Registration Process:
Book a ticket on this website, for the non-refundable AUD$1000 using one of the methods described above.
Once we have confirmed the payment, we will contact you via email to confirm your registration.
Price Includes:
3 Meals per day
Transportation to sites within India and Nepal
All accommodations
All site entrance fees
All tips at hotels and restaurants
Cultural performance
Price does not include:
International airfare
Mongolian visa fee if needed
Travel and health insurance
Photography fees at sites
Tip to local guide and driver
Dana to Rinpoche
Beverages in addition to water
Advice for Travel
International Flights
You are responsible to book your own international flights. Please arrange your own transportation to and from the start and finish location. If you need to have extra accommodation before or after your trip please reach out to us and we will help you if we are able to.
Passport/Visa
First and foremost, your passport MUST be valid at least 6 months beyond the end date of the trip, and you’ll need two empty pages in the Visas section of your passport (make sure they are in the Visa section, not the Amendment or Endorsement section). Most countries require a visa for India and Nepal. Please check with your local embassy for details. Please do not rely on visas that can be gotten at border crossings.
Medical
You can read the American CDC’s recommendations here. We advise you to check with your local doctor to decide what is best for you.
It is useful to bring a small first aid pack which includes: Nausea and diarrhea medicine, travel sickness tablets, glucose powder, paracetamol tablets, saline eyewash, cold and flu tablets, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and any other supplies you feel you may need or have been advised to bring. We will not be at high altitudes but we will be traveling up and down through various altitudes that can generate sickness in some people.
Travel Insurance
We suggest medical insurance which includes evacuation and trip cancellation insurance, as well, as you never know what obstacles life can toss at you leading up to a trip. However, we do not require this coverage, we only suggest it highly. We will be in remote areas that may not have modern medical facilities. Please plan accordingly.
Miscellaneous items
When attending the teachings, you will require something to sit on, so bring a meditation cushion with you and a plastic sheet in case it rains. You will most definitely need insect repellent. Other items which will come in handy are an umbrella, sunscreen, towel, hat, sunglasses, toilet paper/tissues, batteries, headlamp, camera, SD card for extra storage, torch, chargers, adaptors, pen, paper/writing book, favorite snack food, access to $500 for extra food and miscellaneous expenses.
Drinking-Water
We recommend drinking only bottled water, and you will want to rinse your toothbrush off in bottled water. Bottled and boiled water will be available throughout the trip.
Money
You can either exchange cash in Mongolia or use local ATMs. It’s best to bring some with you as we won’t have time to exchange money in many places. All of your meals and transportation are covered, so you just need personal spending money.
WIFI
For most of the trip, there will not be wifi available.
Suggested Reading
Suggested Reading
There is no required preparation. If you want to familiarize your mind with any of the material related to the trip we have selected a few of the texts. Unveiling Your Sacred Truth 1, 3 or 3 by Khentrul Rinpoche The Kalachakra Path offers a profound method for actualizing your greatest potential and contributing to greater peace and harmony within this world. For the first time ever, this extraordinary path is revealed in a step-by-step manner, allowing students to gradually approach this uniquely comprehensive system in a structured and methodical way.
Rules and Conditions
General rules
The rooms are for at least 2 people.
All meals are included in the tour costs and are pre-ordered. If you have any special requests please contact your tour guide representative the day before.
Please be punctual and attend all sessions where possible. It is your responsibility to be at the bus when it leaves.
It is recommended that any personal items be kept in a locked bag. The Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute cannot be held responsible for any items left around the property that is stolen or damaged.
Food Or Medical Issues
If you have a serious food allergy or medical condition we should know about please inform us by email to discuss it as soon as possible.
This is not a strenuous trip. We will be driving for several multi-hour stretches times on this trip, so guests should be able to sit in a vehicle for up to 5 hours at a time (although we can stop for bathroom breaks and leg-stretching along the way). At times, during the practice or teaching sessions, we will be sitting on the ground for hours at a time. Please bring a cushion or folding chair if you need one.
Offerings
Traditionally, an offering is made to the teacher at the conclusion of the Tour (please note that this is entirely optional) as a gesture of appreciation. You can offer whatever you think is appropriate. However, here are a few suggestions – a card, flowers, money, food, or other items. A Tibetan offering scarf (khata) is given to the teacher as a blessing as part of the ceremony and can be borrowed or purchased from retreat volunteers or you may like to bring your own.
Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime journey with Khentrul Rinpoché to the seat of the Buddha’s enlightenment in India. During this week-long retreat participants will connect to the Shakyamuni Buddha through the study and practice of the 1000 Buddha empowerment, puja, and sadhana at the most sacred site at and near the Mahabodi Stupa. This is the first time that Khentrul Rinpoche has offered this empowerment and has chosen the most auspicious location for the blessings of the Buddha.
Our journey takes place at the Bodhi Tree, nearby temples, and Mahabodhi Stupa where we will retreat and receive 1000 Buddha teachings. Accompanied by many monks we will perform pujas and offerings to the Buddha. In this practice, we can connect to all aspects of our Buddha nature and learn how we can use tantra to transform our emotions and samsaric limitations into the stainless qualities of Buddha nature. Each of the Buddha families represents different aspects of our enlightened nature. As we learn to identify and work with these aspects we can learn to use our daily life as the conditions and opportunities we need for enlightenment. Doing this practice in such a holy place as a pilgrimage is karmically purifying.
India is an important place for fully understanding this opportunity to use the emotions and aspects of our daily life for transformation. While Tibet has for many years maintained the Sutra and Vajrayana teachings largely in the monastic communities, India has preserved the rich variations of tantra embedded directly in their daily life and culture. Khentrul Rinpoche sees this as an inspiration for Buddhist Vajrayana. He is passionate about students being able to transform in their daily lives because if we are to keep the precious teachings of Buddhist tantra flourishing we need to keep it alive in living lay practitioners’ culture.
Cost: AUD TBD announced on April 1 (Includes shared accommodation, all teachings, empowerments, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Daylong site-seeing in the Bodh Gaya area. Airfare is not included.)
The tour includes:
7-night stay in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India
Daily sadhana practices, guided meditations, and reflections guided by Spiritual Director, Khentrul Rinpoche,, and Senior students
1000 Buddha Empowerment (Initiation), Puja, and Sadhana Instructions
Authentic traditional accommodations, all meals included
1 Day of Site seeing holy sites in the area
Optional opportunity to book a personal Tibetan astrology reading
Who can come?
Pilgrimage, 1000 Buddha Empowerment, and retreat are open to everyone.
Tour Details
Tentative Schedule
Day 1 (20th October) – Arrival in Bodh Gaya After participants have arrived we will allocate accommodations. For those who wish to help set up the offerings, you can let us know and spend the day arranging them. Once everyone is settled in, we will have dinner together. At an evening teaching, Khentrul Rinpoche will open our event with a welcome speech and prayers. Day 2 & 3 (21st- 22nd October) – 1000 Buddhas Empowerment Ceremony Enjoy breakfast and prayers together. We will all take part in the 1000 Buddha Empowerment ceremony. Each evening we will have the chance to recite prayers together. Day 4 & 5 (23rd – 24th October) – 1000 Buddhas Puja Khentrul Rinpoche and monks will chant and perform the Puja offerings for us. If there is time we will also visit the Mahabodhi Stupa grounds to practice the Sadhana together. Day 6 (25th October) – Teachings and Practices in Bodha Gaya We will take the day to explore the holy sites of Bodh Gaya and receive teachings and practice the 1000 Buddha Sadhana together. Indian cultural experience in the evening if planning permits. Day 7 (26th October) – Day of Site Seeing to Holy Sites We will take a tour via bus to some of the more distant nearby holy sites of Bodh Gaya such as the nearby holy caves that the Buddha meditated in before realizing enlightenment. Closing dinner ceremony. Day 8 (27th October) – Departure Retreat Completed We will check out of the hotel and make our way home. Take home a blessed souvenir home from the event to connect with this holy space.
Food & Accomodations
Food Indian diet is typically vegetarian and spicy. We may have the opportunity to have Tibetan cooking as well. We have arranged for a vegetarian trip as much as possible. We can not accommodate allergies. Accommodation Accommodations in Bodha Gaya are basic and not luxurious. The rooms will have bathrooms and western-style toilets. Rooms are either a twin share or a dorm-style. If you are traveling with a friend and would like to stay with them, please write in and request. We will do what we can to keep you together.
Registration
Price The price for this journey is $ AUD per person (shared occupancy). A non-refundable $1,500 AUD deposit holds your space. We will email you an invoice (via PayPal or stripe) at least a week before each due date.
Payment Schedule
Description
Amount
Due Date
Payment #1 (20% – non-refundable)
AUD$?
Paid at registration
Payment #2 (40%)
AUD$?
1st of July
Payment #3 (40%)
AUD$?
15th of September
Methods of Payment You can make payments for this tour via any of the following methods:
Credit Card or Paypal: Check out on the form below
Direct Debit: Tibetan Buddhist rime Institute Inc. Bank: ANZ. BSB: 013-479 Account: 4944-47223 (Please include your surname as a reference)
Wire Transfer: Acc: Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute. Bank: ANZ. Branch: Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria Australia. Swift Code: ANZBAU3M. BSB:013 457. Account No: 4944 47223
Registration Process:
Check out rimebuddhism.com website, with the non-refundable AUD$? using one of the methods described above.
Once we have confirmed the payment, we will contact you via email to confirm your registration.
Price Includes:
1000 Buddha Empowerment(s) from Khentrul Rinpoche
3 Meals per day
Transportation to sites within India
All accommodations
All meals
All site entrance fees
All tips at hotels and restaurants
Indian cultural performance if possible
Price does not include:
International airfare
Transfer to and from the airport
India visa fee if needed
Travel and health insurance
Photography fees at sites
Tip to local guide and driver
Dana to Teachers or Rinpoche
Astrology or Massage bookings
Beverages in addition to water
1000 Buddha Empowerment
You will be guided in a clear step-by-step way through the empowerment ceremony so that you can understand what is happening and what you are receiving. Through lectures, discussion, silent meditation, mantra, and ritual offerings, form a deep connection to your own inner realm of peace and harmony. Who Can Attend There are no prerequisites and afterward no commitments other than the ones you choose to take. This path is flexible; it allows you to engage with it wherever you are at. Empowerment can be taken as a blessing or empowerment. The refuge, bodhisattva, tantric vows, and uncommon vows of Kalachakra will be given along with the initiation for those taking this as empowerment.
Advice for Travel
International Flights You are responsible to book your own international flights. There is a local airport in Gaya as well as a train station. It is also possible to arrive from Patna. Passport/Visa First and foremost, your passport MUST be valid at least 6 months beyond the end date of the trip, and you’ll need two empty pages in the Visas section of your passport (make sure they are in the Visa section, not the Amendment or Endorsement section). Most countries require a visa for India. Please check with your local Indian embassy for details. India now offers e-visas which can be applied for online and will meet most of the tourist needs. Medical
You can read the American CDC’s recommendations here. We advise you to check with your local doctor to decide what is best for you. It is useful to bring a small first aid pack which includes: Nausea and diarrhea medicine, travel sickness tablets, glucose powder, paracetamol tablets, saline eyewash, cold and flu tablets, mosquito repellent, sunscreen and any other supplies you feel you may need or have been advised to bring.
If you have a serious food allergy or medical condition we should know about please inform us by email to discuss it as soon as possible. This is not a strenuous trip. We will be sitting a lot. Please bring a cushion or folding chair if you need it for the sitting. On the site-seeing day we will be driving for several multi-hour stretches times on this trip, so guests should be able to sit in a vehicle for up to 5 hours at a time (although we can stop for bathroom breaks and leg-stretching along the way). Travel Insurance We suggest medical insurance which includes evacuation and trip cancellation insurance, as well, as you never know what obstacles life can toss at you leading up to a trip. However, we do not require this coverage, we only suggest it highly. We will be in remote areas that may not have a modern medical facility. Please plan accordingly. Clothing
Arriving in Bodha Gaya in October, the temperature is +32°C during the daytime and +21°C at night. The area is very dusty. In India clothes that can be hand washed are best. Also, dust can be difficult to remove from clothing so it is advised to keep that in mind when packing. Miscellaneous items
When attending the teachings, you will require something to sit on, so bring a meditation cushion with you and a plastic sheet in case it rains. You will most definitely need insect repellent. Other items which will come in handy are umbrella, sunscreen, towel, hat, sunglasses, toilet paper/tissues, batteries, headlamp, camera, SD card for extra storage, torch, chargers, adaptors, pen, paper/writing book, favorite snack food, access to $500 for extra food and miscellaneous expenses. Drinking-Water
We recommend drinking only bottled water, and you will want to rinse your toothbrush off in bottled water. Bottled and boiled water will be available throughout the trip. You can use water purification tablets and UV light purifiers. Money
You can either exchange cash in India or use local ATMs. All of your meals and transportation are covered, so you just need personal spending money. WIFI
For most of the trip, there will not be wifi available. Offerings Traditionally, an offering is made to the teacher at the conclusion of the Tour (please note that this is entirely optional) as a gesture of appreciation. You can offer whatever you think is appropriate. However, here are a few suggestions – a card, flowers, money, food or other items. A Tibetan offering scarf (khata) is given to the teacher for a blessing as part of the ceremony and can be borrowed or purchased from retreat volunteers or you may like to bring your own.
Marichi is the life-long personal protector from Khentrul Rinpoche. She is also considered the proteress of the Sublime Realm of Shambhala. Rinpoche will bestow her Empowerment and transmit a Marichi sadhana written by him which is based on his own visionary experience with this buddhist goddess.
THE BUDDHIST PROTECTRESS MARICHI In some lineages of the Vajrayana Buddhism, Marichi is considered to be one manifestation of Tara, appearing for example as the 21st Tara. There are other forms from her found also in other spiritual systems. She is the colour of the sunset, a wondrous, glowing orange. She comes with the sun and, as the sun, her blessings pervade everywhere.
This sadhana is also extremely helpful for those working with the Drolmi Kazug Puja. Beyond the empowerment and oral transmission of the Marichi Sadhana, Rinpoche will also give an introductory teaching on her and will join us in a Q&A session during the retreat. The practice sessions on the weekend will be transmitted online as well.
RINPOCHE’S PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH MARICHI Marichi (also known as Marīcī and Özer Chenma) came to Rinpoche’s life when he was a young boy herding yak cattles in Tibet. Without fences, it was quite difficult to take care of them. Some yaks hide themselves from the boy Rinpoche under rocks, and so used to spend the night in danger of being attacked by wolves. To help protect them, his family shared with him the Marichi mantra and the faith in her when he was still very young.
“I do not know exactly why, perhaps because of having no doubt when doing this or because of a special connection, when I recited her mantra and did the ritual according to the traditional manner of protecting the yaks, I have 100% guarantee that the yaks would be safe during the night. I never had problems with yaks being killed by the wolves since then, really never. So I kept that in mind and I recited innumerable mantras, many times, when I took care of them. So, afterwards, anytime when we had an obstacle I always relied on her.”
“So this is why Tibetan says that praying for Marichi helps. But, of course, it does not help everyone individually, as it depends for example on the individual connection and on the level of faith. You must have no doubt at all. I have indestructible faith in Marichi since my childhood, so this helped me to develop many connections with her during my life.”
WHO IS THIS FOR or HOW TO PREPARE MYSELF? There are no prerequisites at all. It is suitable for all levels of practitioners. Previous Buddhist study and practice are helpful but not mandatory. If you want to prepare yourself, you can do the online course for the “21 Taras Practice Retreat” available at our learning center.
Central Europe Feb 4th, 2023 Marichi 21st Tara Empowerment 6:00 am – 8:00 am – Marichi Empowerment 8:30 am – 10:30 am – Marichi Teaching
BRT - São Paulo, Brazil
BRT – São Paulo, Brazil Feb 4th, 2023 Marichi 21st Tara Empowerment 2:00 am – 4:00 am – Marichi Empowerment 4:30 am – 6:30 am – Marichi Teaching
EDT USA & Toronto
EST / AST – East Coast USA, Toronto Feb 4th, 2023 Marichi 21st Tara Empowerment 12:00 am – 2:00 am – Marichi Empowerment 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm – Marichi Teaching
West Coast, USA
PT – West Coast Feb 3th, 2023 Marichi 21st Tara Empowerment 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm – Marichi Empowerment 11:30 pm – 1:30 am (Feb 4th, 2023) – Marichi Teaching
HOW THE ONLINE EMPOWERMENT WILL WORK 1) Register for each attendee that will be receiving the empowerment. You will be added to the course on learn.dzokden.org 2) You must receive the empowerment online in real-time. We do not record the empowerments. Just attending an empowerment does not mean you receive it. You must know what is going on. To ensure everyone will receive the empowerment, Rinpoche will kindly make his instruction booklet available to you as an eBook so you can follow along so you know exactly what is happening. You are not allowed to share this program book with anyone else or give them access to the empowerment. This is private for your personal use. Rinpoche typically gives the eBook out the night before but if this is a technical problem for you. 3) You will receive access to the zoom for each of the sessions.
SUGGESTED OFFERINGS We have created 3 offering levels to help make this affordable to a range of attendees as we must raise funds to cover the cost. The cost has been adjusted for the cost of living in various countries. Thank you for understanding so that we can make this accessible to our global family. If your ability to pay makes it difficult to attend this program, we will make every effort to make attendance possible. OFFERING DANA TO RINPOCHE As this is an online event, you can make the offering of Dana to Rinpoche here:
Along our journey, we will visit many sacred sites including the great university of the panditas at Nalanda, the Vulture Peak Mountain where the Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma by teaching the Heart Sutra, the ancient city of Varanasi where we will visit Sarnath, and Deer Park where the Buddha gave his first teaching on the 4 Noble truth and through Kathmandu Valley to see the wish-fulfilling stupa.
Unveiling Your Sacred Truth 1, 3 or 3 by Khentrul Rinpoche The Kalachakra Path offers a profound method for actualizing your greatest potential and contributing to greater peace and harmony within this world. For the first time ever, this extraordinary path is revealed in a step-by-step manner, allowing students to gradually approach this uniquely comprehensive system in a structured and methodical way. 
