FUTURE IN-PERSON and ONLINE RETREATS

  • All In Person Retreats Require Registration.
  • Arrival date for each event is the day before what is posted below.
December, 2023

*Mindfulness Meditation Ongoing Series | Khenpo Tenzin | in-person & online
*Full Winter Event: December 29 – January 4 | in-person & online
IN PERSON check in on December 28
*Partial Winter Event: Mani Drubcho | December 29 – 31 | in-person & online
IN PERSON check in on December 28

January, 2024

*Partial Winter Event: Teachings | January 1 – January 4 | in-person & online
IN PERSON check in on December 31

February, 2024

*Yamantaka Drubchen| February 1 – February 9 | H.E Garchen Rinpoche and Lamas| in-person FULL / CLOSED
The protection practice will be made available for those online.
IN PERSON check in on January 31

*Losar – Tibetan New Year Celebration| February 10 | H.E Garchen Rinpoche and Lamas| in-person FULL /CLOSED

Donations

We offer all our live-stream Dharma programs for free. If you would like to make a donation to Garchen Buddhist Institute it would be greatly appreciated. Your donations will be used to help support the Institute in its various offerings and activities for the benefit of all beings.

Click Here to Donate

WINTER EVENT
Mani Drubcho
Teachings on Kuntuzangpo Prayer
& The Ground, Path and Fruition Prayer
Qi Gong for Mani Mantra
Question and Answer

with H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
Guests – Khenpo Yeshi
& Kathleen Davis

 Full Winter Event: December 29 – January 4
Partial Winter Event: Mani Drubcho: December 29 – December 31
Partial Winter Event: Teachings : January 1 – January 4

In Person and Online

Check in for IN PERSON Full Winter Event and Mani Drubcho is 1pm-5pm on December 28th
Check in for IN PERSON Teachings Section is 1pm-5pm on December 31st

We are delighted to announce our Winter Event which includes the Mani Drubcho – a Chenrezig practice retreat, teachings on the Kuntuzangpo Prayer, the Ground, Path and Fruition Prayer, Question and Answer sessions and Qi Gong instruction for the Mani Mantra!

It will be a powerful and special time to deepen our connection with the Buddha of Compassion- Chenrezig, which helps to increase and strengthen our love with the unfailing guidance and inspiration of H.E. Garchen Rinpoche and the support of the Garchen Institute Lamas. The importance of practicing the Mani Drubcho every year was emphasized by the revered Mahasidda Drubwang Rinpoche. Garchen Rinpoche says that it is critical that this tradition continue for the welfare of all sentient beings.

In addition a Qi Gong practice for the six syllable Mani mantra that originally was transmitted by Khenpo Munsel, Garchen Rinpoche’s root guru, will be taught by Kathleen Davis. This rare, energetic form of the Six Syllable Mantra includes the three secrets of body, speech and mind. The practice combines an outer layer of qigong for health and an inner layer to unveil wisdom and enhance compassion.

Starting on New Year’s Day, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche will give commentary on one of the most profound and beloved prayers that we regularly recite – The Prayer of Kuntuzangpo. The Primordial Buddha Samantabhadra is at the heart of all our practices and it is imperative to understand it’s deeper meaning. We are unbelievably fortunate to be able to receive the realized insights of H.E. Garchen Rinpoche on such an essential prayer.

We are delighted to welcome our guest teacher Khenpo Yeshi who is well known for his extensive knowledge of Dzogchen texts and practices.  At the request of Garchen Rinpoche, Khenpo Yeshi will teach on the Ground, Path and Fruition Prayer and answer questions.  We are most fortunate to receive teachings from such a renown and accomplished scholar and teacher.

It is a really precious time to be at the Garchen Institute for such a powerful dharma retreat of practice and teachings. On the afternoon of the last day of this year there will be an annual report on the activities of the Garchen Institute for the sangha.

We look forward to gathering with you all soon in person and online
to expand our love and wisdom together!

Click here to register for Full Winter Event: December 29 – January 4

Click here to register for Partial Winter Event: December 29 – December 31

Click here to register for Partial Winter Event: January 1 – January 4

Registration is not required for Online Participants

White Tara

Immeasurable Love
hosted by
Drikung Dharma Surya Center

H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
is bestowing the teaching

December 9
Online only

This event will not be streamed live.

White Tara

LAMA CHOPA & DHARMAPALAS (DHARMA PROTECTORS)

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche
and the Garchen Institute Lamas

Next Session – December 3
10am – 12pm MT (UTC-7)

White Tara
Join Us In-person

Please RSVP if you plan to attend in person and eat lunch. We will be providing a delicious lunch by donation, and we need to know how much food to prepare. You can RSVP by clicking here. No need to RSVP is you are not eating lunch.

KN/N95 Masks are required in the temple if H.E. Garchen Rinpoche is in attendance. Thank you for you kind cooperation.

Texts
Each Sunday we will use the texts in the following order:

  • Yellow Prayer Book – opening prayers
  • White Tara Sadhana with inserts OR Lama Chöpa
  • Weekly Additional Practice –
    here we will practice one of the texts marked with an *
  • Summoning Good Fortune
  • Blue Prayer Book – dedication prayer
  • Yellow Prayer Book – long life prayers
  • Yellow Prayer Book:
    View
    Download

    White Tara Sadhana:
    View
    Download

    Praise of the 21 Taras
    View
    Download

    Benefits of Praises to 21 Taras
    View
    Download

    *Dharma Protectors (Dharmapalas):
    View
    Download

    *Lama Chopa
    View
    Download

    *Lama Chopa – Chinese
    View
    Download

    *Serkhangma Prayer
    View
    Download

    *Burning Away Afflictions (Jangchok for the Living and/or the Dead):
    View
    Download

    Dzambala – Summoning Good Fortune (page 63 of this text):
    View
    Download

    Blue Prayer Book:
    View
    Download

    MEDITATION SERIES ON MINDFULNESS

    with Venerable Khenpo Tenzin

    Next Class: December 3
    3pm – 4pm MT (UTC-7)

    Classes Every Sunday when there is no other event

    (Click here to check calendar)

    White Tara

    AYRA TARA PRACTICE

    for H.E. GARCHEN RINPOCHE’S LONG LIFE

    with the Garchen Institute Lamas

    December 5
    8am – 9am MT (UTC-7)

    White Tara
    Texts
    We will use the following texts:

  • Yellow Prayer Book – opening prayers
  • White Tara Sadhana with inserts OR Lama Chöpa
  • Blue Prayer Book – dedication prayer
  • Yellow Prayer Book:
    View
    Download

    White Tara Sadhana:
    View
    Download

    Praise of the 21 Taras
    View
    Download

    Benefits of Praises to 21 Taras
    View
    Download

    Blue Prayer Book:
    View
    Download

    MEDICINE BUDDHA PUJA

    to HELP END THE PANDEMIC
    with the Garchen Institute Lamas

    Next practice: December 20
    8am – 9am MT (UTC-7)

    Message from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche

    To all my dharma friends in the world,

    I request you all to begin the accumulation of 100 million Medicine Buddha mantras on the occasion of H.H.  the Drikung Kyabgon Chokyi Nangwa’s 80th Birthday Celebration. 

    Also now it seems that unless we perform many strong pujas and practices it will be very difficult to stop the pandemic in the world.  And if we cannot stop it, then a lot of precious human lives get wasted and it’s very difficult to end it because of the karma and obscurations of sentient beings.  If we were to recite 100 million Medicine Buddha mantras that would help bring an end to the pandemic.

     In brief anyone who wishes to stop the spread of this deadly disease should recite the Medicine Buddha mantra.  It doesn’t matter what lineage or faith you practice or who you are – the person or the lineage makes no difference.  When you recite the Medicine Buddha mantra then ideally you will not get the disease and even if you get it, you will not die from it. So that is how the mantra recitation makes a difference. So please keep this in mind. 

    When you submit your mantra accumulations it is like putting money in your bank. If you only have your personal bank account the interest that is earned is small. However by everyone submitting their mantras together it is like putting all our money in the same bank account and then more interest is earned and the merit becomes much more powerful.

    Some people do not know how to dedicate their virtuous activites. However if you submit your mantras all together, then your merit will be dedicated properly and never be exhausted. Just like a small river can dry up but a vast ocean will never dry up.

    The Garchen Institute will host a Medicine Buddha Puja once a month.

    Be sure to keep submitting your mantra accumulations!

    Calling on the worldwide sangha to come together to help extinguish the pandemic!

    White Tara
    Q&A with Garchen Rinpoche
    Texts
    • Gar  Monastery Blessed Gong  Audio
    • Yellow Prayer Book – opening prayers
    • Medicine Buddha Sadhana – A Deep Blue Stream of Lapis Lazuli
    • Serkhangma Prayer
    • Rainfall of Benefit and Happiness
    • Blue Prayer Book – dedication prayer

    Gar Monastery Blessed Gong Audio
    Download

    Yellow Prayer Book (2022 new version)
    View
    Download

    Medicine Buddha Sadhana
    View
    Download

    Serkhangma Prayer
    View
    Download

    Rainfall of Benefit and Happiness
    View
    Download

    Blue Prayer Book
    View
    Download

    Medicine Buddha Mantra Accumulation

    2023 ONLINE RETREAT PROGRAM

    Preliminary Practice Retreats

    So many students have the aspiration to put into practice the extraordinary teachings that H.E. Garchen Rinpoche has tirelessly given over the last 20 years in the West. Whether you are new to Buddhism or have received many teachings and empowerments, the preliminary practices are profoundly essential on the path of awakening.

    Garchen Institute is pleased to continue our Preliminary Practice Retreat Program Online to help students fulfill their aspirations.  These online retreats of varying lengths encompass the scope of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and, in particular, those of the Drikung Kagyu tradition as taught by H. E. Garchen Rinpoche.

    We will begin by offering preliminary practice retreats, also called ngöndro retreats, in the spring of 2023. These retreats provide structure and support and are the method for developing the foundation of all practice. The full program of preliminary practice retreats are designed to build on each other.

    Online Preliminary / Ngondro Practices 2023

    This program gives you the flexibility to accomplish your Ngondro as your life and schedule allow. Each participant will customize their own retreat schedule according to their individual circumstances.  Accumulations of 100,000 are required for each preliminary.

    An Introduction to the Preliminary / Ngondro Practices will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. No registration required. Click here to watch the livestream on February 28th, 2023 from 10am-12pm.

    REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
    The retreats and dates:

    I. Refuge and Prostration:  March 4 – June 10, 2023 – Retreat is over

    II. Vajrasattva:  June 17 – September 23, 2023 – Retreat is over

    III. Mandala Offerings:  September 30 – November 18, 2023 – Retreat is over

    IV. Guru Yoga:  November 25 – December 30, 2023  – Registration is closed

    Venerable Khenpo Tenzin will guide participants with a live Zoom opening teaching and one additional live question and answer Zoom session. All other weeks a prerecorded video link(s) of  Khenpo Tenzin leading the practice and giving instruction will be sent to each participant.  Registration is required and participants must commit to doing the entire retreat and watch all video links for each retreat. This retreat will be restricted for the particpants and will not be accessible on our YouTube channel for the public.

    We are offering all of our online dharma programs for free.  However we are only able to do so because of the generosity of the sangha. The suggested donation of $200 for each ngondro retreat will help cover the offerings and costs to provide this programing.  Please know that this is only a suggestion and donations of any size are gratefully accepted. Click to Donate

    If you are interested in attending the future ngondro retreats please email registration@garchen.net

    The length of each ngondro retreat is longer than usual because Khenpo Tenzin recognizes that each person’s conditions will vary and some may work full time, part time, or be retired.  You will be required to do a minimum of one session of practice everyday for each ngondro retreat.

    We encourage anyone who has been wanting to dive deeper into practice to take advantage of this unique opportunity!

    Q&A with Garchen Rinpoche
    White Tara

     ONLINE SUNDAY PRACTICES

    Sunday Practice with H.E. Garchen Rinpoche and Garchen Institute Lamas
    10am – 12pm

    Guided Meditation Series with
    Venerable Khenpo Tenzin
    3pm – 4pm

    This Sunday program is only available when there is not another event scheduled at the Institute.
    Click our Event Calendar for more clarity on the schedule.

    Each Sunday we will do a different practice on a rotating basis.
    That rotation will look like this:

    •  Arya Tara & Jangchok for the Living (Burning Away Afflications, prayers for the living)
    •  Arya Tara & Jangchok for the Dead (Burning Away Afflications, prayers for the dead)
    •  Lama Chopa and Dharmapalas (Dharma protectors)
    •  Arya Tara & Jangchok for the Living and so forth.

    Click the Texts for Sunday Practice below to view or download all the texts you will need.

    To submit names for the Jangchok for the Living or the Dead, please email your list of names to: dedications@garchen.net

    • Please group your names by Living or Dead, clearly stated.
    • Names are listed by commas or semicolons if needed, for example:  Jane Smith, Julio Lopez, Pham Duc Lam… it helps us tremendously if you list your dedication names similarly.
    • You are welcome to submit names in your native language character or type.
    • Dates, locations, relationship are not included in the list

    Thank you so much. May all beings benefit, and be relieved of suffering and its causes!

     

    MANJUSHRI YAMANTAKA

    Online Empowerment and Retreat in our YouTube Library
    H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
    and Garchen Institute Lamas

    * It is possible to receive this empowerment and do this practice after our 2023 online Yamantaka Drupcho in February. We encourage you to participate live at that time. Signup will be posted in the coming weeks. Click here for more info.