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Description: This program is designed to allow students to sample teachings from all areas of Nyingma studies, coming to a more comprehensive and deeper knowledge of the Nyingma tradition. Working closely with an advisor, students select courses from any of the following, with a focus on intermediate and advanced offerings: Nyingma Meditation, Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga), Nyingma Psychology, Time, Space, and Knowledge, Skillful Means, Nyingma Practices, Tibetan Language and Dharma Studies. Some students may choose to concentrate on a single area, such as Nyingma Meditation or Tibetan Language; others may choose studies in several different areas. Objective: Depending upon course selections, on completion of the Two-Year Nyingma Studies Program, students will have a foundational understanding of the basic areas of Nyingma studies.   Length: Minimum 2 years; maximum 4 years. Cost: $2,750. Program components: 12 classes, 8 workshops, 2 retreat weeks.

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12 elective classes (10 ten-week classes and 2 four or five week classes):

NPR102 Devotional Chanting             (times to be announced)                                                     Chanting Buddhist prayers calms the mind and opens it to deeper dimensions of consciousness and meaning. This course includes periods of chanting followed by sitting meditation. Students will be introduced to important prayers and mantras. NPR105 Sacred Sites, Symbols, and Teachings (times to be announced) This course explores the teachings and stories connected with the major holy places of the Buddha. Students will also learn about the images and symbols that are associated with Buddhist holy places. NPR106 Symbols in Tibetan Sacred Art (times to be announced) Deeply symbolic, the forms and colors found in Tibetan Buddhist art express a 'vocabulary' of the sacred. In this class, full-color slides illuminate Tibetan symbolism. NPR107 Tibetan Teachings on Death and Dying (5 weeks) (times to be announced) The Tibetan Buddhist tradition gives detailed instructions on how to prepare for death. This class will present an overview of some of these teachings and descriptions of the 'bardo,' the state between incarnations.

NPR108 Special Topics in Nyingma Practices (times to be announced) Drawing on a literature that spans a thousand years, a variety of Nyingma Practices will be introduced. MED201 Intermediate Meditation: Sustaining Meditation (FALL: October 2-December 4, 2008; October 8-December 10, 2009; Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM) This class is for students who have begun a meditation practice and are ready for further guidance and inspiration. The goal is to sustain effortless meditative concentration. Prerequisite: one year of meditation experience or consent of Instructors. MED202 Intermediate Meditation: Overcoming Obstacles (WINTER: January 10-March 13, 2008; January 8-March 12, 2009; Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM) In this class students will learn to identify and overcome the most common obstacles to meditation: sleepiness, overactive thoughts, and 'dreaminess.' The class also includes practices and teachings that further develop concentration and awareness. Prerequisite: one year of meditation experience or consent of Instructors MED203 Intermediate Meditation: Meditations to Open the Heart (SPRING: March 27-May 29, 2008; March 26-May 28, 2009; Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM) Genuine satisfaction, love, and beauty are found within the heart. Silent and guided meditations open the heart to feeling in this class. Students develop new integrity and balance. Prerequisite: one year of meditation experience or consent of Instructors.

MED204 Intermediate Meditation: Discovering Mind (SUMMER: June 12-August 14, 2008; June 11-August 13, 2009; Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM) Through meditation the mind is experienced as alive, sensitive, and brilliant. In this class, students will be led through contemplative practices that reveal deeper levels of mind than are ordinarily recognized. Prerequisite: one year of meditation experience or consent of Instructors. MED205 Intermediate Meditation: Knowing Mind Differently (SEPTEMBER: September 4-25, 2008; September 10-October 1, 2009; Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM) In this experiential philosophy class, two views of how we know ourselves are juxtaposed: reflections of the European philosopher Rene Descartes and meditations from Tarthang Tulku's Openness Mind. Prerequisite: one year of meditation experience or consent of Instructors. MED206 Experiencing Openness (times to be announced) Students look directly at the patterns of thought that trap them in tension and frustration, and work with practices to loosen and relax old strategies. Meditative techniques emphasize opening to a new way of being in the world. Prerequisite: two years of meditation experience or consent of Instructors.

MED207 The Deepening Stream (times to be announced) As students continue to deepen practice, they learn meditative practices to 'unfreeze' stuck places, allowing inner energy to flow. The goal is to move beyond the polarity of fascination and anxiety into an integrated awareness. Prerequisite: two years of meditation experience or consent of Instructors. MED208 Reality and Illusion (times to be announced) What is a dream? What is reality? Students work with meditative practices that challenge the basic notions of being. The goal is to begin to be aware of the continuity of experience. Prerequisite: two years of meditation experience or consent of Instructors. MED209 Beyond Meanings (times to be announced) What happens if we move beyond the content of thought to the energy within thought? Meditative practices in this class are designed to allow students to play with 'meaning,' opening them to the possibility of a silent inner space of knowing. Prerequisite: two years of meditation experience or consent of Instructors.

MED301 Advanced Meditation (FALL: September 29-December 1, 2008; October 5-December 8, 2009; Mondays, 6:15-7:45 PM) Advanced meditation teachings are based on traditional Tibetan texts. Students are introduced to new techniques that increase mindfulness and insight as they deepen the meditative experience of bliss and openness. The focus this quarter is on introducing new modes of non-conceptual study. Prerequisite: three years of meditation experience and consent of Instructor. MED302 Advanced Meditation (WINTER: January 7-March 10, 2008; January 5-March 9, 2009; Mondays, 6:15-7:45 PM) Continued study of traditional texts with appropriate meditative exercises. The focus this quarter is on increasing student's ability to meditate for longer periods of time without distraction. Prerequisite: three years of meditation experience and consent of Instructor. MED303 Advanced Meditation (SPRING: March 24-May 26, 2008; March 23-May 25, 2009; Mondays, 6:15-7:45 PM) Continued study of traditional texts with appropriate meditative exercises. The focus is on bringing meditation into all areas of conscious experience. Prerequisite: three years of meditation experience and consent of Instructor.

MED304 Advanced Meditation (SUMMER: June 9-August 11, 2008; June 8-August 10, 2009; Mondays, 6:15-7:45 PM) Study of traditional philosophical texts with appropriate meditative exercises. The focus is on increasing insight into consciousness and widening vision. Prerequisite: three years of meditation experience and consent of Instructor. MED305 Advanced Meditation (SEPTEMBER: September 1-22, 2008; September 7-28, 2009; Mondays, 6:15-7:45 PM) Concentrated and advanced study of a single advanced meditation topic, such as the four energy centers, experience of time, or healing through meditation. Prerequisite: three years of meditation experience and consent of Instructor. MED308 Special Topics in Advanced Meditation (times to be announced) Special techniques presented in this course are based primarily on the Tibetan oral tradition or on texts for which there is no current published English translation. Prerequisite: three years of meditation experience and consent of Instructor. KNR201 Intermediate Kum Nye: Inner and Outer Massage of Feeling (WINTER: January 9-March 12, 2008; January 7-March 11, 2009; Wednesdays, 8-9:30 PM) This class provides a foundation for understanding the basis and development of Kum Nye, and the three levels on which its exercises can be experienced. Breathing, awareness, movement, and self-massage practices promote deep relaxation. Prerequisite: one year of Kum Nye practice.

KNR202 Intermediate Kum Nye: Balancing and Integrating Body and Mind (SPRING: March 26-May 28, 2008; March 25-May 27, 2009; Wednesdays, 8-9:30 PM) Kum Nye exercises are introduced that allow feelings and sensations to flow more freely within and between body and mind. Students reach a more natural state of balance. Prerequisite: one year of Kum Nye practice. KNR203 Intermediate Kum Nye: Stimulating Inner Energy (SUMMER: June 11-August 13, 2008; June 10-August 12, 2009; Wednesdays, 8-9:30 PM) When inner energy is flowing smoothly, there is health and vitality. This class works with exercises that stimulate the free flow of inner energy. Prerequisite: one year of Kum Nye practice.

KNR204 Intermediate Kum Nye: Opening the Energy Centers (SEPTEMBER: September 3-24, 2008; September 9-30, 2009; Wednesdays, 8-9:30 PM) Practices in this class stimulate awareness of the 'energy centers' of the head, throat, heart, and belly. Tension in these areas is loosened. Prerequisite: one year of Kum Nye practice. KNR205 Intermediate Kum Nye: Transforming Inner Energy (FALL: October 1-December 3, 2008; October 7-December 9, 2009; Wednesdays, 8-9:30 PM) Intermediate practices for this Quarter activate and balance inner energy, harmonizing body, mind, and environment. Practice leads to greater mental and physical vitality. Prerequisite: one year of Kum Nye practice.

KNR202 Intermediate Kum Nye: Balancing and Integrating Body and Mind (SPRING: March 26-May 28, 2008; March 25-May 27, 2009; Wednesdays, 8-9:30 PM) Kum Nye exercises are introduced that allow feelings and sensations to flow more freely within and between body and mind. Students reach a more natural state of balance. Prerequisite: one year of Kum Nye practice. KNR203 Intermediate Kum Nye: Stimulating Inner Energy (SUMMER: June 11-August 13, 2008; June 10-August 12, 2009; Wednesdays, 8-9:30 PM) When inner energy is flowing smoothly, there is health and vitality. This class works with exercises that stimulate the free flow of inner energy. Prerequisite: one year of Kum Nye practice.

NPS106 Nyingma Gateway: Love of Knowledge (FALL: September 29-December 1, 2008; Mondays, 8-9:30 PM) This course was designed by Tarthang Tulku to introduce a new way of understanding love and knowledge. Unique meditation, movement, and awareness practices blend with lecture and discussion become a gateway to understanding the Tibetan Nyingma approach to life. NPS201 Path of Self-Mastery (times to be announced)                                                     The human heart and mind have the power to recover integrity and depth. The path of self-mastery frees one from the self-imposed demons of emotionality. In this class, passages from the words of the Buddha illustrate and deepen the teachings and practices of Nyingma Psychology. May be repeated since content changes. NPS202 Inner Mandala (FALL: October 5-December 7, 2009; Mondays, 8-9:30 PM)          The intricate forms of the Tibetan mandala reveal a multilayered world of meaning. Each color, image, and design speaks in a symbolic language designed to lead the viewer to deeper levels of awareness, appreciation, and understanding. The message is compelling: our 'ordinary' way of being, with its attendant pain and suffering, can be totally transformed. In this class, the symbolic form of the mandala will be a lens through which we view emotions, perceptions, and actions.

DHS101 Words of the Buddha (times to be announced) The Buddha expressed an enlightened wisdom that has been preserved in thirty-six Tibetan volumes known as the Kanjur . This course offers readings and reflections on selections from the Buddha's words. The particular texts studied will vary and this course may be repeated with the Instructors' consent. DHS102 Tibetan Sacred Texts (times to be announced) Through poetry, story, exposition, biography, and history Tibetan writers convey the power and beauty of the teachings of enlightenment. This course presents selections from Tibetan texts, focusing on timeless themes of wisdom and compassion. The particular texts studied will vary and this course may be repeated with the Instructors' consent.

DHS103 Spiritual Masters of Tibet and India (times to be announced) Buddhist masters are renowned for their spiritual accomplishments and for their vital lineages of practice and writing. This course looks at the lives, times, and writings of the greatest masters of Tibet and India, including Padmasambhava, Longchenpa, and Asanga. DHS104 Teachings for Difficult Times (times to be announced) Throughout the ages, Buddhist masters have faced and overcome enormous difficulties. The stories of their lives can inspire and inform our own efforts to transform difficulties. This course will present meditations to calm the mind (shamatha) as well as discussion on how mindfulness and other teachings can give us the strength to face inner and outer obstacles. DHS105 Depths of Experience (times to be announced) A new vision of being emerges as we examine the constituents of body/mind/world. We question the "self" and refine our ability to inquire and examine. Prerequisite: consent of Instructor.

DHS106 The Great Vision of the Mahayana (times to be announced) The stages of the Mahayana path will be explored through studying teachings on openness and compassion, the six paramitas, and the vows of the Bodhisattva. Prerequisite: consent of Instructor. DHS204 Four Foundations of Mindfulness (SEPTEMBER: September 2-23, 2008; Tuesdays, 6:15-7:45 PM) The Buddha taught that mindfulness--the steady and sustained contemplation of the body, feelings, mind, and phenomena--leads to wisdom. Training in these "Four Foundations of Mindfulness" leads to an unshakably present state of mind and is the foundation for further study and practice. DHS211 Buddhist Studies Tutorial (ALL QUARTERS: Tuesdays, 8-9:30 PM) In this intermediate and advanced tutorial, students closely read primary sources which can include Indian Buddhist works in translation (such as the Bodhicharyavatara) or Tibetan Buddhist works such as the Ngal-gso-skor-gsum . If a text or commentary has not been published in English translation the instructor will provide a translation of the sections of the text relevant to the class. Class may be repeated since content changes quarterly. Prerequisite:consent of Instructor.

DHS212 Special Topics in Intermediate and Advanced Dharma Studies (times to be announced) Includes topics such as the four thoughts that turn the mind to the Dharma, the Four Noble Truths, the history of Dharma, and the major philosophical schools. May be repeated since content changes. Prerequisite: DHS101-105 or equivalent, or consent of Instructors. TIB101 Beginning Tibetan, Level I (FALL: 2008 & 2009, times to be announced) The alphabet is introduced along with pronunciation, basic grammar, and vocabulary. TIB102 Beginning Tibetan, Level II (WINTER: January 10-March 13, 2008, Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM; 2009, times to be announced) Using examples and short selections from texts, students continue working with grammar and syntax. Prerequisite: Beginning Tibetan, Level I or consent of Instructor.

TIB103 Beginning Tibetan, Level III (SPRING: March 27-May 29, 2008, Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM; 2009, times to be announced) Students begin to master the ability to read classical written Tibetan using selection from texts. Prerequisite: Beginning Tibetan, Level II or consent of Instructor. TIB104 Beginning Tibetan, Level IV (SUMMER: June 12-August 14, 2008, Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM; 2009, times to be announced) Continued reading and grammar. Prerequisite: Beginning Tibetan, Level III or consent of Instructor. TIB105 Beginning Tibetan, Level V (SEPTEMBER: September 4-25, 2008, Thursdays, 8-9:30 PM; 2009, times to be announced) Continued reading and grammar. Prerequisite: Beginning Tibetan, Level IV or consent of Instructor. TIB201 Intermediate Tibetan, Level I (FALL: 2008 & 2009, times to be announced) Readings from the Diamond Sutra introduce students to the style of Buddhist Sutras, translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan. Prerequisite: TIB101-105 or equivalent, or consent of Instructor. TIB202 Intermediate Tibetan, Level II (WINTER: January 11-March 14, 2008, Fridays, 6:15-7:45 PM; 2009, times to be announced) Readings from Jataka tales show the beauty of Tibetan story-telling. Prerequisite: TIB201 or equivalent, or consent of Instructor.

TIB203 Intermediate Tibetan, Level III (SPRING: March 28-May 30, 2008, Fridays, 6:15-7:45 PM; 2009, times to be announced) Readings from selected longer texts illustrate the different styles of Tibetan literature. Prerequisite: TIB202 or equivalent, or consent of Instructor. TIB204 Intermediate Tibetan, Level IV (SUMMER: June 13-August 15, 2008, Fridays, 6:15-7:45 PM; 2009, times to be announced) Readings from Tibetan poetry. Prerequisite: TIB203 or equivalent, or consent of Instructor. TIB205 Intermediate Tibetan, Level V (SEPTEMBER: September 5-26, 2008, Fridays, 6:15-7:45 PM; 2009, times to be announced) Short, selected readings. Prerequisite: TIB204 or equivalent, or consent of Instructor. TIB301 Tibetan Tutorial (ALL QUARTERS: Fridays, 4:30-5:45 PM) The Tibetan tutorial introduces students to translating Tibetan. Longer philosophical and practice texts are read with substantial in-class participation from students. May be repeated since content changes. Prerequisite: TIB201-205 or equivalent, or consent of Instructors.

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program classes

program workshops

program retreats

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8 elective workshops chosen from the following:

(Note: unless otherwise indicated, workshops begin at 10 AM and conclude at 4:45 PM.)

NPR403 Devotional Practices (times to be announced) Opening the heart through ritual and visualization has been shown to awaken inner confidence and expand spiritual awareness. In this workshop a variety of traditional devotional practices will be taught. NPR404 Chanting the Twenty-one Praises of Tara (times to be announced) The compassionate Bodhisattva Tara has a special place in Tibetan Buddhist practice, and her most famous prayer, The Twenty-one Praises of Tara, is said to bring immediate blessings and protection. This workshop will teach students how to chant the prayer in Tibetan, and will describe the meaning and associated visualization practices. NPR405 The Bardo is Now! (SPRING: March 29, 2008) Special meditation practices in Tibetan Buddhism are associated with the bardo , the period between death and rebirth. Nyingma masters instruct us not to wait until this difficult time, but instead to see change--death and rebirth--in every new moment. This workshop presents practices designed to heighten our ability to make positive choices at crucial times in our lives. Prerequisite: 1 year meditation experience or consent of the Instructor. NPR407 Tibetan Sacred Art Workshop (WINTER: February 2, 2008) Tibetan sacred art has been used for centuries to heal and balance the mind and the body. This workshop balances viewing slides and images from Tibetan art with lecture and instruction on how to awaken our sense of vision through sacred art. Visualization, mantra, and drawing practices are introduced.

MED408 Deepening Meditation (SUMMER: times to be announced) Calming and Insight meditative techniques help you to break through barriers in meditation practice. You will learn the antidotes to apply to overexcitement and dullness in meditation. Prerequisite: 1 year of meditation experience or consent of the Instructor. MED409 Silent Mind; Peaceful Mind (FALL: November 22, 2008; November 21, 2009) By letting go of expectations the mind becomes silent, peaceful, and aware. Meditation practices that transform mental experience can lead to this form of perfect equanimity. Prerequisite: 1 year of meditation experience, or consent of the Instructor. MED410 Ground of Being (FALL: December 6, 2008; December 5, 2009 ) Advanced meditation contacts states of mind free from desires and conflicting emotions.   'Mind' is directly experienced as a process emerging from the ground of being. Workshop includes Kunzhi practices and a brief introduction to the Yogachara school of Buddhist thought. Prerequisite: 3 years of meditation experience, or consent of the Instructor MED411 Nectar for Refining the Mind (FALL: December 13, 2008; December 12, 2009) Advanced meditation techniques combine with discussion of the "great armor" of emptiness, freedom, and openness as it is described in the Prajnaparamita. Prerequisite: 3 years of meditation experience or consent of the Instructor

MED412 Sacred Breath (times to be announced) A day to breathe deeply, envisioning that with each breath you take on the suffering of living beings as limitless as the sky. This practice, known as Tong len, deepens meditative concentration and compassionate love. MED413 Filled with Devotion (WINTER: 2009, times to be announced) The final chapter of the sacred text known as the Uttaratantra, titled 'Benefit', describes how one 'filled with devotion' and with certainty in the Dharma creates immense merit in the world. This advanced meditation workshop invites faith based on insight. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in MED30, DHS206, or consent of Instructor. MED414 Contemplating Awakened Heart (WINTER: 2009, times to be announced) As we comprehend the possibility of enlightenment, we also see how far we are from embodying an awakened mind. In this advanced workshop we work with meditation practices that sustain inspiration and open the heart and mind. Guru yoga practices serve as a direct link to the beauty of realization.   Prerequisite: concurrent registration in MED301 or consent of Instructor.

MED415 Cutting Off Negative Thoughts (SPRING: times to be announced) Meditative action is the process of bringing even adverse conditions onto the path to enlightenment. The torment of negative thoughts dissolves as insight into the nature of mind and the action of karma arises. The heart's natural capacity for love and compassion awakens. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in MED301, DHS207 or consent of Instructor. MED416 Special Topics in Advanced Meditation (WINTER: January 26, 2008) Topics in advanced meditation drawn from traditional sources. Prerequisite: 3 years of meditation experience or consent of the Instructors KNR408 Exploring New Dimensions of Feeling (times to be announced) As Kum Nye practice deepens, new feeling tones emerge. Your whole body can come alive with a symphony of rich and relaxed feeling.   Prerequisite: 1 year Kum Nye practice.

KNR409 Opening Energy Centers (times to be announced) Precise exercises work with the circulation of inner energy to increase sensitivity within and between the four "energy centers" - head, throat, heart, and navel. Prerequisite: 1 year Kum Nye practice. KNR410 Energizing Body and Mind (times to be announced) This workshop introduces exercises that directly stimulate inner vitality. Students contact a pure 'neutral energy' that flows effortlessly between body, mind, and world. Prerequisite: I year Kum Nye practice. NPS403 Fear and Illusion (SUMMER: times to be announced) Fear can obstruct the best intentions and paralyze the ability to act. Using experiential exercises and discussion, students examine how fear takes hold and manifest within body and mind. Then they work with meditations that challenge fear's hold.

NPS404 Topics in Transforming Emotions (times to be announced) Human emotions can be skillfully transformed through innovative Nyingma Psychology practices. This workshop focuses on topics that lead to emotional health. NPS409 Attaining Inner Confidence (times to be announced) An infinite source of well-being lies within body and mind. This workshop teaches students how to develop confidence to access and follow the knowledge in their hearts. Students learn ways to expand mindfulness and openness at all times. NPS411 Loving Yourself, Loving Others (times to be announced) We can find unconditioned love for ourselves and for others. Mantra, visualization, meditation, and movement exercises help develop and expand compassion and love beyond all boundaries.

DHS406 Four Immeasurable States of Being (SUMMER: August 9, 2008) Love, compassion, sympathetic joy, and impartial equanimity can be practiced in a manner that extends beyond all limits. These four ways of pure abiding mutually interact and purify each other. Practicing them, students can discover an inner wellspring of wholesome peace that goes beyond the limits of the ordinary world, for the benefit of all. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in DHS203, DHS211 , or consent of the Instructor. DHS407 Making Mind the Matter (WINTER: January 23-24, 2009) In order to make the Dharma relevant to our lives, we explore the activity of our mind. Working specifically with the 'three trainings' of shila, samadhi, and prajna, we gain insight into how samsara is being fabricated and by whom, and what patterns of ego, personality, and identity are being put in place. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in DHS206 or consent of the Instructors. DHS409 The Six Transcending Perfections (times to be announced) Six areas of Bodhisattva practice extend all the way to enlightenment: giving, ethical discipline, patience, vigorous effort, meditative concentration, and wisdom. For millennia beginning practitioners have embraced these practices and matured into great masters. The teachings that have come down to our time vividly present the meaning and beauty of this compassionate way of life. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in DHS211 or consent of the Instructor.

DHS410 Developing Bodhichitta (SUMMER: times to be announced) Bodhichitta, the "Seed of Enlightenment", can take root and flourish. The choice is up to us. Students study verses from Shantideva's Introduction to the Bodhisattva Way, teachings on how to give rise to Bodhicitta and compassionate love. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in DHS211 or consent of the Instructor. DHS411 Buddhist Studies Tutorial Workshop (FALL: November 15, 2008; November 14, 2009) A close study of primary texts and teachings. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in DHS211 or consent of the Instructors. TSK401 Healing and Pain (SPRING: March 21-22, 2008) Four specific meditation and visualization exercises will be presented that can touch and transform emotional and physical pain. Discussion will challenge commonly held assumptions about pain. TSK402 Names and Namelessness (times to be announced) The active naming and identifying capacities of mind can cover over the source of meaning. TSK teachings probe the workings of the mind and help students uncover a space before and beyond labels and projections

TSK404 A Return to Light (times to be announced) The TSK vision describes a 'light transmission' that is activated through knowledge. Students return to the 'lightness' of being through practices that illuminate the interplay of mind and world.

TSK405 Conducting Perfect Knowledge through Time (times to be announced) Breaking through solid limits, students learn to enter a different dimension of time, where freedom opens into the perfection of being. This workshop focuses strongly on experiential exercises and interactive discussion.

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program classes

program workshops

program retreats

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2 retreat weeks chosen from the following:

Note: the program cost includes nonresidential retreats only;
residential retreats require an additional fee for room and board.

KNR501 Tasting Relaxation (WINTER HOLIDAYS: December 27, 2007-January 2, 2008; December 29, 2008-January 3, 2009 ) In this retreat, students learn to relax so deeply that they can 'taste' the healing nectar of relaxation as it flows through body and mind.   Gentle movement, breathing, and awareness practices are introduced to help students discover this relaxation. KNR504 Special Topics in Intermediate and Advanced Kum Nye (SPRING: May 5-10, 2008) This retreat makes use of the full range of intermediate and advanced Kum Nye exercises to help each student integrate a rich array of positive feelings into body, senses, and mind.

KNR502 Kum Nye: Breath, Energy, Feeling (SUMMER: June 9-14, 2008) In this Tibetan yoga retreat, students use breath and movement exercises to stimulate and direct the energy of body and mind, visualization practices to awaken and sustain inner vitality, and meditation practices to foster serenity. KNR503 Kum Nye: Attuning to the Present Moment (SUMMER: June 16-21, 2008) This retreat makes use of the full range of Kum Nye exercises to help each retreatant integrate a rich array of positive feelings into body, senses, and mind.

KNR414 Opening the Field of Awareness (SUMMER: August 22-24, 2008) (counts as half a retreat week) Students work with introspective practices that focus on how the senses interact with mind and self. These practices work to break free of the ordinary chain of perceptions that lead to misery. Students learn to rest within the open space of awareness, simply 'seeing,' 'feeling,' and 'knowing' beyond interpretations or labels. NPR501 Preparation for the Time of Death (SPRING: March 24-29, 2008) Meditation practices given in this retreat will help to prepare for the time of death. Rather than waiting for an unknown destiny, students learn to turn inward and learn the nature of their minds. What they discover heightens appreciation for the value of every moment and every type of experience.

NPR502 Invoking Blessings (SPRING: May 17-19, 2008) (counts as half a retreat week) This retreat is held at the time of the Buddha's enlightenment according to the Tibetan calendar. With devotional chant and visualizations, we focus on the Buddha. Students will study a text by Lama Mipham on how to visualize and invoke the Buddha. NPR402 Finding Compassionate Love (FALL: November 28-30, 2008) (counts as half a retreat week) We can learn to love ourselves and others more deeply through actively cultivating compassionate love. This kind of love heals the painful divisions between living beings, allowing us to forgive others and to cleanse ourselves of ill will. The workshop introduces gentle visualization, mantra and meditation practices given by the enlightened Buddha.

NPR406 Medicine Buddha Practice (SPRING: April 10-13, 2008) (counts as half a retreat week) Tibetan healing mantras and visualizations that evoke the blessings of the Medicine Buddha have been used for centuries to cure illness and increase well-being. This workshop offers instructions in traditional Medicine Buddha practices.

DHS412 Dharma Studies Workshop (FALL: October 23-26, 2008) (counts as half a retreat week) Topics in traditional Buddhist studies are offered with an emphasis on how the teachings are integrated into patterns of behavior. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in DHS211, Human Development Training Retreat, or consent of the Instructors.

Two-Year Nyingma Studies Program students
may take the following retreats only with the consent of the Instructors:

DHS501-505: Embodiment: An Awakened Vision These weeks of retreat are a journey into the Buddha's vision of what embodiment means. Students will use teachings and practices from Nyingma Psychology to integrate body and mind; will learn to release unnecessary tension and stress through Tibetan Yoga; will study the teachings of the Buddhist Abhidharma found in the mKhas-'jug by the great teacher Lama Mipham; will learn about the symbolism of the form of the Buddha as presented in traditional art and sculpture; will learn to recognize the stages on the path   and its view, result, and application; will deepen experiential knowledge of the mind through training in meditation. DHS501 week one, Recognizing the Potential of Body and Mind : July 28-August 2, 2008 DHS502 week two, Stages on the Path : August 4-9, 2008 DHS503 week three, Awakening Vision : August 11-16, 2008 DHS504 week four, Joy of Being : August 18-23, 2008 DHS505 week five, Embodying Wisdom: August 25-30, 2008

DHS 506-510: Transmitting Insight; Penetrating Illusion At every moment we receive messages transmitted from our body, from our mind, and from the world around us. These messages form the basis of all that we know and do. The Dharma teaches us to 'watch the watcher,' to bring our attention to how the senses operate and how knowledge of ourselves and the world develops. In these weeks of retreat students will learn: how knowledge is transmitted from the outside world to the senses and from the senses to the mind and heart. (Through study of the sense-fields and experiential exercises from Tibetan Yoga.); how to attune themselves to their senses in ways that evoke insight to penetrate illusions; the teachings of the three marks of existence and the four thoughts that turn the mind to the Dharma, reversing the operation of suffering; basic teachings from mind training (Lojong) and Nyingma Psychology that help to integrate heart and mind. DHS506 Week one, Tuning the Senses: July 27-August 1, 2009 DHS507 week two, Turning the Mind to Joy: August 3-8, 2009 DHS508 week three, Integrating Body with Mind, August 10-15, 2009 DHS509 week four, Discovering the Marks of Existence, August 17-22, 2009 DHS510 week five, Listening and Lightening Mind: August 24-29, 2009

DHS 511-DHS515: Who Owns Mind? These weeks of retreat use tools of analysis and introspection to explore consciousness, looking for the source of thoughts, feelings, impulses, and actions. Using classical 'insight' meditation students will be guided in a search for an independent 'self' who controls and owns the mind and experience, glimpsing how mind, free of the confines of 'self', might function. Students will also: study teachings on karma and klesha; cultivate the 'four immeasurable' qualities of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity that expand the mind and heart; Deepen mindfulness; learn about the Bodhisattva's aspiration and the role that faith and devotion play in Dharma study DHS511 Week one, Mind's Hall of Mirrors, July 26-31, 2010 DHS512 week two, Base of Suffering, August 2-7, 2010 DHS513 week three, Reversing the Direction, August 9-14, 2010 DHS514 week four, Expanding Heat and Mind, August 16-21, 2010 DHS515 week five, Mindfulness and Faith, August 23-28, 2010

DHS516-520: Compassion in Action Buddhist teachers have said that, "The depth and vastness of the Dharma restore the foundation, purpose, and direction of human life, inspiring a way of living oriented toward loving-kindness, compassion, and selflessness." In these weeks of retreat students will explore what it means to live a life dedicated to compassion and wisdom, looking at the biographies of great masters, men and women from India and Tibet. They will also continue to cultivate inner capabilities for compassionate wisdom and deepen the knowledge of cause and effect through studying interdependent coproduction (Pratitya samutpada). Finally, they will look at the way this vision is manifesting in the Western world. DHS516 week one, Interdependent Arising, TBA, 2011 DHS517 week two, The Compassionate Response, TBA, 2011 DHS518 week three, How the Buddha Taught, TBA, 2011 DHS519 week four, Stories of Liberation, TBA, 2011 DHS520 week five, An Unending Path, TBA, 2011

DHS531-525: Cultivating the Seed of Enlightenment All living beings have the nature of a Buddha, yet this nature is obscured by veils of obscurations. Traditional teachings and practices help students develop confidence in their ability to discover Bodhicitta (the 'seed of enlightenment'). Mind training practices will help to overcome the destructive forces of anger, attachment, and ignorance in our lives. These weeks of retreat also explores: the qualities of a spiritual teacher and the qualities of a worthy student; how to practice guru yoga and go to refuge; the twelve actions of a fully enlightened Buddha; meditations from the Path of Heroes such as Tong-len; Practices that heighten awareness of the 'seed of enlightenment'. DHS521 week one, Miraculous Body of Knowledge. TBA 2011 DHS522, week two, Working the Mind, TBA 2011 DHS523, week three, Entering Openness, TBA 2011 DHS524, week four, Practices from the Heart, TBA 2011 DHS525, week five, The Sunlight of Merit and Wisdom, TBA 2011

DHS526-DHS530: Gateway to Knowledge Students deepen their search for awakened mind through an in-depth study of topics from the Gateway to Knowledge (Tib. mKhyas-'jug) by the great Tibetan teacher Lama Mipham. These will include 'what is possible and what is impossible'; time; and the arising of the system of suffering. Meditation practice will focus on analyzing the constituents of inner and outer phenomena and the sense fields. Kum Nye practice will help to deepen the analysis. DHS526, week one, The Transmission of Insight : June 23-28, 2008 DHS527, week two, Fields of Awareness : June 30-July 5, 2008 DHS528, week three, Attuning to Dharma: July 7-13, 2008 DHS529, week four, Time and the Arising of Suffering: July 14-20, 2008 DHS530, week five, The Possible and the Impossible: July 21-26, 2008

DHS531-DHS535: Deluded Mind/Awakened Mind All the teachings of the Dharma are informed by knowledge of the inner workings of consciousness. As the mind is cultivated through meditation and analysis, what seems confused or difficult becomes workable. 'Deluded mind' is no longer an obstacle: all that arises can be brought onto the path of liberation. In these weeks of retreat students will learn: advanced teachings from Nyingma Psychology on how to penetrate the veils of ignorance within ordinary consciousness; Lojong teachings from the Path of Heroes with an emphasis on meditation practice; and traditional teachings from Tibetan authors on the nature of mind. DHS531 week one, Parting the Veil of Delusion: June 22-27, 2009 DHS532 week two, Regaining the Power of Mind: June 29-July 4, 2009 DHS533 week three, Distinguishing Phenomena and Pure Being: July 6-11, 2009 DHS534 week four, Refining   Mind: July 13-18, 2009 DHS535 week five, Guidelines for Self-Master: July 20-25, 2009

DHS536-DHS540: The World as Sacred Space Powerful Buddhist symbols point toward a comprehensive vision in which the universe itself arises as a mandala--a sacred space in which the journey to awakening is assured. Students will explore this vision, studying accounts of what a mandala is and how experience can be transformed. This will lead to an in-depth exploration of the meaning of sacred Buddhist symbols, especially focusing on those that have been created by the Nyingma organizations. Students will also study: the form of the mandala and how it informs the operation of Buddhist organizations; the symbolic language of Tibetan art; teachings on the efficacy of Tibetan ritual projects such as prayer-wheels and prayer flags; teachings on the Buddha Fields. DHS536 week one, Symbols of Enlightenment: June 21-26, 2010 DHS537 week two, The Emerging Mandala of Being: June 28-July 3, 2010 DHS538 week three, Land of Bliss: July 5-10, 2010 DHS539 week four, The Power of Prayer: July 12-17, 2010 DHS540 week five, Awakened Aspiration: July 19-24, 2010

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