November 3rd
5-7pm PT [UTC-7]
Kunzang Monlam: The Prayer of Kuntuzangpo
with Pema Khandro
Aspiration Prayer from the Dzogchen Tantra called “The Tantra of the Great Perfection which shows the Penetrating Wisdom of Samantabhadra”
November 4th
5-7pm PT [UTC-7]
The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners: A Guide to Living and Dying
with Lama Lhanang
November 5th
9am – 10:30am PT [UTC-8]
Rainbow Body and Resurrection: Spiritual Attainment, the Dissolution of the Material Body, and the Case of Khenpoi A Cho
with Father Francis Tiso
November 5th
5-7pm PT [UTC-8]
Zhitro for Departed Loved Ones
with Pema Khandro
Additional Recordings, Interviews and Conversations
Instructions & Explanation on the Six Bardos
with Pema Khandro
Buddhist Medicine “Ambrosia & Poison”
with Dr. William McGrath
Death & Dying
with Chagdud Khadro & Pema Khandro
Death & Zen in Dzogchen
with Shugen Roshi & Pema Khandro
Transitional Life Care
with Julie Rogers & Pema Khandro
Post Death
with Dr. Jim Tucker & Pema Khandro
Compassion at the End of Life
with Koshin Paley Ellison and Pema Khandro
Course Details
The profound and inevitable encounter with death has been a subject addressed by great Buddhist philosophers for the last two thousand years. The pinnacle of those teachings were presented in the sacred books that came to be known as the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which was part of a larger tradition of Great Perfection (Dzogchen) manuscripts that addressed the bardos, the phases of change in a life. Those complete teachings describe the phases of change, dissolution, and rebirth. They identify the stages of dying, practices to extend the life force when possible, and practices to die well when possible. They also describe how to help others in their process of departure from a life. This weekend course, hosted by Pema Khandro investigates these moving and precious death, bardo, and rebirth teachings as taught by scholars, and Lamas of the Tibetan tradition. In a format of unprecedented accessibility, this series features self-paced and live classes with Pema Khandro, Lamas and scholars of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as Buddhist funeral ceremony to honor beloved friends, and family who have recently passed away. The course also includes a self-paced course on Buddhist funerary practice, to learn how to help for loved ones who have died in the forty-nine day period as they travel from one life to the next. The oral transmission initiation (lung) will be given by Pema Khandro on the third day of the course.
Timing
Father Francis V Tiso
Father Tiso is a theologian and scholar who specializes in inter-religious dialogue between Tibetan Buddhism and Catholicism. He is a Catholic priest, writer and professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. His research has included the great Tibetan Yogi, Milarepa and the subject of miraculous death in Tibetan Buddhist thought – the rainbow body. His recent work focuses on the connections between concepts of dying in Central Asia during the medieval period and the resurrection of Jesus. He is the author of the book “Rainbow Body and Resurrection,” which includes insights into the geographical connections between Dzogchen and religions across Central Asia.
Pema Khandro, PhD
Pema Khandro is an internationally renowned teacher and scholar of Buddhist philosophy. She is the founder of Ngakpa International and its three projects, The Buddhist Studies Institute, Dakini Mountain and the Yogic Medicine Institute. In her work as a Buddhist teacher she is an authorized Lama and lineage holder of the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions and was enthroned to carry on the lineage of her predecessor, the first Pema Khandro, an early twentieth century yogini from Eastern Tibet. She has led a vibrant world-wide community since 1999. Through the Buddhist Studies Institute, she also offers a complete curriculum of training in Tibetan meditation and Buddhist Philosophy. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s degree specializing in Tibetan studies, and a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Virginia. Her scholarly research focuses on the history of Dzogchen and on Women in Tibetan Buddhism.
Lama Lhanang Rinpoche
Lama Lhanang Rinpoche is a spiritual teacher of the Nyingma Longchen Nying-Thig order of Tibetan Buddhism who has studied with many masters from different lineages. He shares teachings from an unbroken tradition in a way that is fresh, cross-cultural, and current for these times. He is an accomplished instructor of meditation, Anu-yoga, art, Feng-shui, cultural and historical studies as well as a skilled practitioner of Tibetan medicine. Rinpoche addresses the needs of individuals so as to touch them in a gentle and profound way, offering private consultation on business and personal relationships.
Lama Lhanang was born, raised and educated in Northeast Tibet. Today he lives and teaches in California and travels extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe — teaching, consulting, speaking and conducting spiritual ceremonies. In addition to these activities, elsewhere on this website, you’ll find information on Lama’s artwork, Dharma and Wisdom Path Cultural Centers, as well as more detail on Project Wisdom Path.
Lama Lhanang’s philosophy of life centers around happiness: “Happiness is not in the material world, happiness is inner peace. Enjoy what you have. Life is a gift offering lessons in both the good and the bad. Be patient and be simple. Our hearts will grow stronger from the learning.”
Retreat Format
This retreat will be offered on Zoom, an online platform for group gathering.
Participants will need a comfortable, quiet place to sit as well as a computer and internet access.
Zoom Registration to join the course will be given on completion of registration.
Links will also be sent 24hrs and 1hr before the start time each day.
Please email info@buddhiststudiesinstitute.org if you have any questions.
Tuition
This is an open course. Register to come to any or all of the days.
Regular Tuition: $277
Advanced Enrollment Registration by Oct 1st: $199
50% Discount for Snow Lion Members
Free with Sustainer Membership, All Access Pass
*Apply Member Codes at checkout for Membership Discounts
Financial Aid Considerations
The course costs are set at a minimum fee already, with financial aid built into all tuition rates. Because we are a non-profit organization, the costs of all activities and overhead of our organization must be covered by the participants of the courses or donations and all courses are offered at below cost. For those who are experiencing genuine financial hardship and wish to enroll in the course, Scholarship applications are available. Applications must be received in advance. Programs are always free for monastics.
Submit Financial Aid Scholarship Application Here: Financial Aid Application
