Chöd: From Chögyal Namkhai Norbu - VIRTUAL RETREAT

Please note that this Virtual Retreat takes place over the course of two weekends: January 15-17 & 22-23, 2022
Weekend 1: Saturday, Sunday & Monday
Weekend 2: Saturday & Sunday

Chöd is a unique blend of the Tibetan Shamanic traditions and the Buddhist tradition of compassion and emptiness. This centuries-old practice is sung and is accompanied by the use of a traditional Chöd drum and bell. Healing comes when fear, fixation, and self-clinging are cut through, when we nurture and don’t fight what assails us. This gives rise to the awareness of the empty nature of afflictive emotions. This retreat will take place over the course of two consecutive weekends in January. On Monday,  January 17, there will be a special Dharma Talk in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. included as part of this retreat.

In this retreat you will have the opportunity to:

• Learn the Chöd practice and melodies as transmitted and taught by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche.
• Learn about the life and teachings of the great yogini, Machig Labdrön, who established the Chöd practice.

Who Should Attend? 

• This is a required retreat for the Magyu Mother Lineage Program.
• This retreat is open to all.

 To prepare for this retreat, you will need:

• A Chöd drum and bell, both of which are available through our Dakini store. Note: it is not required that you have both of these items upon attending the retreat, however, eventually they are necessary to do the full practice.
• Optional: To enhance your practice, we’ve also curated a special bundle of accessories for this retreat with items from our Dakini Store. This is a wonderful way to support Tara Mandala. See the Chöd Bundle here.

What is a Virtual Retreat?

Virtual Retreats are Tara Mandala At-Home intensive retreats, teachings and in-depth workshops during which practitioners receive dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience hands-on learning, and connect with other participants through an easy-to-use online platform (Zoom) during consecutive days (with few exceptions) and daylong offerings. This modality of learning is appropriate for practitioners who are able to create a practice container of their own, setting aside a dedicated retreat space, removing themselves from social media, and taking care of necessities with the mind of compassion in action for the specific dates and times that the teachings occur. 

Virtual Retreats are meant to be attended live given that direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. However, access to recordings of the sessions are available for additional viewing for various timeframes specified by the price level selected.

Tiered-Prices

Tara Mandala is working to expand opportunities for access to Buddhist teachings and practices while offering an equity-informed fee structure when possible. With our new tiered pricing, we strive to make the Dharma more accessible to all while furthering the important conversations that must happen around current structures that inhibit equal access to underprivileged communities. We encourage you to select the registration tier at the highest level within your capacity to assist Tara Mandala in covering the costs of offering these wonderful teachings while also benefiting from access to the recordings of the teachings post-retreat. We thank you in advance for your support and your practice!

$252 – Access Level (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 7 days from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level is offered 35% below the cost of holding this retreat to assist participants with financial limitations and encourage the exploration and practice of dharma.

$490 – Tier 1 (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 30 days from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level covers the basic costs for this retreat and allows Tara Mandala to maintain sustainability.

$539 – Tier 2 (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 1 year from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level covers the program costs for this retreat and provides additional support for the year-round work of Tara Mandala.

Choosing the Tier 1 or Tier 2 levels allows Tara Mandala to continue to make dharma teachings accessible and inclusive while also allowing its year-round operations to continue and expand while being a repository for wisdom literature, a center for translation, a beacon for the feminine in Buddhism. Tara Mandala is an  active dharma organization and retreat center that provides refuge for deep practice and transformation. There are many ways to support and engage with Tara Mandala’s worldwide activities. Click here to learn more. We appreciate your support and generosity! 

Offering dana to the teacher: The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the virtual retreat. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here. 

Payment Plans and Financial Assistance
Tara Mandala has two scholarship funds and offers deferred payment plans as resources for anyone with financial limitations. For more information and to apply, visit our Scholarships and Financial Assistance Page. 

Sustaining Sangha:
If you are currently a member of our Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your retreat discount to this program.

Click Here for Our Cancellation and Refund Policy

VIRTUAL RETREAT SCHEDULE
Listed times are the online portions of the retreat. All times are Mountain Time. 
Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

Saturday, January 15:
9:00am – 11:00am: Opening Session and Teaching Session
12:30pm – 2:30pm: Teaching Session
3:00pm – 3:45pm: Practice Session

Sunday, January 16:
7:00am – 7:45am: Practice Session
9:00am – 11:00am: Teaching Session
12:30pm – 2:30pm: Teaching Session
3:00pm – 3:45pm: Practice Session

Monday, January 17:
7:00am – 7:45am: Practice Session
9:00am – 11:00am: Teaching Session
12:30pm – 2:30pm: Teaching Session 
3:30pm – 5:00pm: MLK Day Dharma Talk and Q+A

Saturday, January 22:
7:00am – 7:45am: Practice Session
9:00am – 11:00am: Teaching Session
12:30pm – 2:30pm: Teaching Session
3:00pm – 3:45pm: Practice Session

Sunday, January 23:
7:00am – 7:45am: Practice Session
9:00am – 11:00am: Teaching Session
12:30pm – 2:30pm: Closing Session and Tsog (Ritual Feast) The Transmission (Tib. Lung) will be given during this session, please attend live to receive it.