chod and phowa retreat 2020 – the translator

khenpo sonam photo

Rinpoche’s translator for this retreat will be Khenpo Sonam, a resident teacher at Lhundrup Choling Center in Los Angeles, California. Khenpo Sonam is from Bhutan and studied for his Khenpo degree in Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. He has studied with a number of masters including Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche, Khenchen Rigdzin Dorje Rinpoche, and his Root Lama, Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche.  Khenpo Sonam arrived in the United States in 1999, spending nine years in Pema Osel Ling Dharma center in Northern California before moving to Los Angeles.

chod and phowa retreat 2020 – updates

About the cost of the retreat

We have received several questions about the cost of the retreat. The money raised will be given to Rinpoche as an offering from the retreat participants. The suggested offering is based on a sliding scale; please offer what you can.  No one will be turned away based on ability to pay. If you have have questions about the retreat cost, please contact Betsy at betsy@betsybergstrom.com

A message from the retreat organizer

We are asking those who have previously registered for the April 2020 Chod and Phowa teachings to email betsy@betsybergstrom.com to insure that we have your most current email address and can update you with Zoom info and texts when they are ready to send out. Thanks for your patience in waiting until the timing and circumstances were aligned to hold this Chod and Phowa teaching and empowerment with Lama Tsering Norbu Wangdu Rinpoche and translator Khenpo Sonam on Oct 3 and 4, 2020. Any payments you made toward Dana are applied to this October training. Please contact Betsy using this email address if you have any questions.

Information about Rinpoche’s translator can be found here.

chod and phowa empowerment – october 3rd and 4th

 

Rinpoche will give the empowerments for Chod and Phowa on October 3rd and 4th of this year. We will receive teachings on two of Rinpoche’s heart practices, the Chod practice called Roaring Laughter of the Dakinis and Phowa Which Accomplishes Buddhahood Without Meditation. Please join us for this rare opportunity to learn Chod and Phowa from an authentic master and yogi.

The retreat will be held online via Zoom each day from 1000AM until 400PM Pacific Time with several breaks. The cost is $250 and there is a sliding scale available. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Copies of the practice texts will be made available to participants before the retreat, along with instructions on how to join the retreat via zoom.

Visit www.betsybergstrom.com or contact Betsy Bergstrom at betsy@betsybergstrom.com for more information and to request a registration form for the retreat. You must pre-register to attend and the number of seats is limited.  

 

 

vajra armor mantra

Rinpoche has suggested that we make the recitation of the Vajra Armor Mantra (Dorje Gotrap) part of our daily practice. Pema Ledrestel originally offered this mantra to his community as a practice of cutting through the hope and fear that we often feel in times of trouble.

Rinpoche said visualizing Guru Rinpoche while saying the mantra is helpful but saying it with devotion to the lineage masters and the intention to cut through hope and fear is surely enough.

If you right-click on the image, you can save it to your computer. Please give a copy of the mantra to anyone you think will find it to be helpful.

empowerment postponed

Given the rising rate of corona virus infections in Oregon and Washington and the increasing risk of serious illness to retreat participants, Rinpoche has decided to postpone the Chod and Phowa Empowerment until September.

Rinpoche asks that each of us keep up our meditation practice and take care of ourselves, families, and community by following the advice of public health officials. He is holding each of us in his daily practice.

You may check www.betsybergstrom.com for the latest updates regarding the retreat. We will also post the new dates here as soon as we have them.