Dzogchen Studies

Online with Tulku Pema Khandro, PhD.

May 20th & June 24th, 2026

This course offers a sustained engagement with the philosophical and contemplative foundations of Dzogchen through the writings of Longchenpa (1308–1364), the great Nyingma master whose works remain the most comprehensive and authoritative systematization of the Great Perfection ever produced. Drawing primarily from the Seven Treasuries (mdzod bdun) and the Trilogy of Natural Ease (ngal gso skor gsum), students will explore the core architecture of the Dzogchen view — the nature of the ground (gzhi), the dynamics of spontaneous presence (lhun grub), the distinction between mind (sems) and wisdom awareness (ye shes), and the pivotal role of recognition and non-recognition in shaping the full spectrum of awakened and deluded experience. The course situates Longchenpa’s contributions within the broader landscape of Nyingma thought while attending to what makes his voice singular: a rare union of philosophical precision, poetic beauty, and contemplative depth.

Alongside this textual study, the course introduces the principles and practice of Breakthrough meditation (khregs chod, trekchö) — the foundational Dzogchen practice of cutting through the layers of conceptual elaboration to rest directly in the naked nature of awareness. We will examine how Longchenpa’s philosophical exposition of the ground is not merely theoretical but is designed to orient the practitioner toward this direct recognition, and how trekchö practice in turn illuminates the meaning of the texts from within. Students will come away with both a robust intellectual understanding of the Dzogchen view and a felt sense of how that view comes alive in practice.

Dzogchen Studies – Prerequisites

Prerequisites – these ensure a shared foundation for deeper study.

Breakthrough Trekchod Intensive (live or self-paced)
Attendance of at least one Dzogchen intensive from either Choying Dzod or Tsig Don Dzod (live or self-paced) taught by Pema Khandro, Khenpo Yeshi Rinpoche and David Germano
Previous or concurrent Ngondro Training recommended.

The Lineage Holder and Teacher

Tulku Pema Khandro, Ph.D.

Tulku Pema Khandro, Ph.D 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, whose primary practices were Dzogchen and Chod.

Pema Khandro has led a vibrant worldwide 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. Today she is a Professor of Buddhist studies. Her scholarly research focuses on the history of Dzogchen and on Women in Tibetan Buddhism.

May 20 & Jun 24, 2026

5-6:30pm Los Angeles (UTC-7)
8-9:30pm New York (UTC-4)
2-3:30pm Hawaii (UTC-10)
Thur 11am-12:30pm Sydney (UTC+11)

Tuition & Registration

Tuition
Sliding scale pricing is offered to support broad access. Please choose the rate that aligns with your financial reality, including factors like income, exchange rates, or other life circumstances.

Member Benefits
Members receive 10-100% discounts on standard tuition. Apply your member code at checkout. Learn More about Membership.

Financial Aid
As a non-profit organization, program costs are supported through tuition and donations. For those experiencing extreme financial hardship, limited scholarships may be available for some programs. Assistance must be requested in advance. Financial Scholarship Application

Monastics
Programs are always free for monastics. Monastic Scholarship Application

The Buddhist Studies Institute is a project of Ngakpa International, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to sustaining the householder yogi traditions of Tibet.

General Tuition
$125
Enter Member Discount Codes at checkout

Reduced Tuition
$90
Enter REDUCED discount code at checkout

Hardship Tuition
$65
Enter HARDSHIP discount code at checkout

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