July 26-27, 2025
THE SECRET BOOK OF SIMHAMUKHA
Simhamukha as the Padma Dakini and as Krodhi Kali of the Cremation Ground in Tibetan Buddhism,
Seminar via Zoom with Lama Vajranatha,
Saturday and Sunday,times 16.00-20.00 CET, with breaks.
This is a continuation of the previous seminar, but one may attend this seminar eventhough one did not attend before. This time we shall focus on the practices of the Wisdom Dakini Simhamukha, such as transmissions for the Padma Dakini, the fierce enchantress who attracts wealth and prosperity and brings others under her power and influenece, and of Krodhi Kali, the Goddess of Wichcraft and Magic, who is the Queen of the Mamo Spirits and Mistress of the Cemetary and Cremation Grounds, who destroys the fear of death. We shall also consider related topics such as her symbolism or recollection of purity, consecratrating the Malqa and the Phurpa, special mantra recitations, and making torma offerings.
June 21-22, 2025
THE SECRET BOOK OF SIMHAMUKHA
The Goddess of Witchcraft and Magic in Tibetan Buddhism
Seminar via Zoom with Lama Vajranatha,
Saturday and Sunday,times 16.00-20.00 CET, with breaks.
Generally, in terms of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dakini represents the autonomous feminine principle of enlightened activity that is beyond the domination and control of patriarchal societry and the rational male ego consciousness. In this case, the lion-headed Wisdom Dakini Simhamukha embodies the wrathful feminine aspect of Guru Padmasambhava. In this seminar we will rely upon the profound exposition of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo in his work “The Secret Book of Simhamukha” for a general survey of the practices, both spiritual and magical, of the sadhana for the Vajra Dakini Simhamukha.
April 26-27, 2025
PRIMORDIALLY PURE AND SPONTANEOUSLY PERFECTED:
The Unification of View and Meditation in terms of Dzogchen Practice according to the Three Statements of Garab Dorje
Seminar via Zoom with Lama Vajranatha,
Saturday and Sunday,times 16.00-20.00 CET, with breaks.
The Dzogchen tradition of Buddhist teaching directly introduces the practitioner to the natural state of the Nature of Mind, which is characterized by Rigpa, or intrinsic awareness, in one’s immediate everyday experience. The essence of this practice is distilled in the Last Testament of Garab Dorje and the brilliant commentary on these three staements by Patrul Rinpoche. This seminar and workshop will focus on the two aspects of finding oneself in the natural state, namely, prtimordial purity, which is the essence, and spontaneous perfection,, which is its nature in terms of meditation practice.
March 8-9, 2025
The Golden Letters:
Dzogchen Meditation Practice according to the Three Statements of Garab Dorje
Seminar via Zoom with Lama Vajranatha,
(Saturday and Sunday,times 16.00-20.00 CET, with breaks).
Dzogchen, which teaches the Path of Self-Liberation, is traditionally regarded in Tibet as the highest and most profound teaching of the Buddha. Dzogchen teachings and practice have been preserved until the present day, especially among the Nyingmapa and Kagyudpa schools of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the Bonpo Lamas. In terms of meditation practice, Dzogchen distinguishes between “the mind”, or the normal thought process that is cyclical and Samsaric in nature, and “the Nature of Mind”, which is the primordial state of enlightenment in the individual, which lies beyond all time, conditioning, and causality. Although inconceivable by the finite intellect and inexpressible in words, as the very ground of our existence as living beings, this Natural State of the Nature of Mind can be directly encountered within our immediate experience. By way of direct introduction and meditation practice, this primordial, yet ever-present, state of Buddhahood, which resides at the very core of every individual living being, is revealed like the brilliant face of the sun in the sky when the dark clouds of ignorance and delusion are dissipated.
This seminar will focus on the translation of the root text of Patrul Rinpoche and its autocommentary as providing a doorway for entering into the meditation practices of Dzogchen, as well as the practice of the Guru Yoga for Garab Gorje.
January 11-12, 2025
Self-Liberation
Discover what lies Beyond the Mind according to Dzogchen
Weekend Seminar via Zoom with Lama Vajranatha,
Saturday and Sunday with breaks, times 16-20 CET
Dzogchen is the foundation and basis of the Tibetan Books of the Dead. This is clearly elucidated by Guru Padmasambhava in his text, “Self-Libration through Seeing with Naked Awareness.” This teaching was profoundly misunderstood when first presented to the West in translation. The practice of Dzogchen is traditionally regarded as the highest and most esoteric teaching of the Buddhas by the two old schools of Tibet, the Nyingmapa and the Bonpo. It is asserted that by way of its practice, one may attain liberation and enlightenment within a single lifetime. The methods of Dzogchen appear to be simple, but they are self-secret without a direct introduction to the Nature of Mind.