Preliminary Retreat: 8th - 11th August
The Retreat for the Dzogchen Mandala will be preceded by a four-day intensive, 8-11 August, dedicated to the preliminary analytical investigation stage of these mengak teachings.
Led by Rigpa Senior teachers, this retreat is essential for anyone who has not yet received these teachings on the analytical investigation. For those of us who have previously received these teachings, practising this again in a retreat environment, and continuing to peel away the layers of the conceptual mind, will only enhance and accelerate our understanding and experience of the main Dzogchen practice of trekchö. It is appropriate for all Dzogchen Mandala students but is essential for any Dzogchen Mandala students who have not previously received these teachings.
Main Retreat: 12th - 21st August
The annual Dzogchen Mandala retreat is not just any retreat. It is a continuation of the vision that our masters had for us: that we might, through our devotion and wholehearted practice of these most sacred teachings, attain enlightenment in this very life. This retreat, led by Patrick Gaffney and senior teachers, is the chance to come together and deepen our practice and experience of the most cherished pith instructions of Sogyal Rinpoche’s Dzogchen lineage. These extraordinary ‘mengak’ teachings on trekchö, which Rinpoche received from Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje, are what Rinpoche most deeply wished his Dzogchen Mandala students to realize. Together with the senior teachers, Patrick will be guiding us in the special pith instructions related to trekchö and sharing the most precious teachings from Sogyal Rinpoche, which will include heart advice, down-to-earth practical guidance and fine-tuned instructions on how to actually practice Dzogchen meditation.
Application process
Step 1: Apply for permission to attend the retreat online. Lerab Ling advises that you must apply before 31 July to allow enough time for your application to be processed before the start of the retreat. If you are approved for online participation the next steps are:
Step 2: Register and Pay. When your application for online participation is approved, you will receive a personalised link to register and pay for the retreat. Once you pay, you will be given a code to access the Dzogchen Mandala Retreat Lerab Ling program via your Prajna account. When you register with Lerab Ling, its registration system
allows 48 hours to pay or the registration lapses and you will have to start again
Step 3: Register for the Australian Online Program here on this page. This program includes delayed streaming of the Lerab Ling afternoon session (which occurs in the middle of the night Australian time) and the Australian daily sadhana practice program, streamed live from Garab Ling, Blueys. When you register on this page, we will send you a zoom link for the Australian program sessions.
Cost
The fee for the Dzogchen Mandala Retreat and four day pre-retreat, payable to Lerab Ling, is 592 euros.
The fee for the Dzogchen Mandala Retreat only, payable to Lerab Ling, is 464 euros.
We ask you for an additional suggested donation of $AUD108 towards the cost of providing the delayed retreat from Garab Ling (Blueys).
If you are unable to afford the full retreat fee, Lerab Ling has a student support policy. A 15% discount is available if you enter the discount code CONCESSION when you register. If you require a greater discount than this, you can apply for one using an online form on the Lerab Ling website. You must apply before you register for the Dzogchen Mandala Retreat and as soon as possible, to allow time for your request to be processed.
If either of these options are not enough support for you, you please contact Malcolm Ray to discuss other alternatives: malcolm.ray@rigpa.org.au.
We will email you the Zoom meeting room and passwords before the start of the retreat.
General Information
Can I attend the teachings and practices with other students?
Rinpoche always encouraged us to be a close and cohesive mandala as Dzogchen students, and for this reason we are encouraging you to receive the delayed streaming teachings and practice together, if that is possible.
There are still some beds in shared rooms available at Garab Ling, Blueys. There are many other accommodation options in the area, from camping and caravaning to Airbnb and Stayz holiday letting, if you wish to join the retreat at Garab Ling, Blueys in person each day.
If you are interested and able to come up to Garab Ling, Blueys and would like to discuss this, please email Malcolm Ray, malcolm.ray@rigpa.org.au or call 0418 832 667.
In-person Retreatants
If you are attending in person you will need to arrive in time to set yourselves up in your rooms at Garab Ling, Blueys or other accommodation to ensure you are present for the beginning of the retreat.
The food is simple vegetarian and will be prepared by Nils who has catered for our recent retreats at Tuncurry and events at Blueys. If you select catering when you register, Nils will be providing lunch and a light evening meal. The first meal is lunch on 8th August and the last is dinner on 21st August. You will need to make arrangements for your own breakfast. You can indicate further dietary requests on the registration form. Also note: if you are staying at Blueys you can bring food to store in the fridge or at your offsite accommodation.
What will the daily delayed streaming Retreat schedule be?
We will join Patrick's teachings in the evening live from Lerab Ling. The teachings from Lerab Ling from the previous afternoon will be delay streamed in the morning.
Everyone who registers will receive further details on the
likely schedule closer to the time of the retreat.
I hope you will all be able to attend the Dzogchen Retreat this year. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns: email Malcolm, malcolm.ray@rigpa.org.au.
