Buddhist Studies Institute

Ngondro Training Starts Today!

Module 1 Field of Buddhas

Monday, February 27th – Online

5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern

Entering the Heart of the Vast Expanse

Join an international group of like-minded travelers on a profound journey into the heart of Vajrayana meditation.

The Heart of the Vast Expanse is a cherished cycle of the Nyingma lineage that prepares for the path of Dzogchen. It is also known as the Longchen Nyingthig, (klong chen snying thig) Ngondro. This is a cycle revealed by the brilliant eighteenth century Buddhist yogi, Jigme Lingpa, poet, leader, historian, and treasure revealer, whose texts synthesize the teachings of Nyingma luminary, Longchenpa.

Ngondro Module 1 – Field of Buddhas

This module focuses on the purification of speech as the basis for Buddhist tantric practice. It then focuses on generating the refuge field. This is a practice of getting resourced, learning one’s own lineage and understanding the field of support for one’s spiritual journey. This section concludes with a focus on raising the altruistic, enlightened intent, bodhichitta. Bodhichitta is the ground, the fuel and purpose of life and it is the essential ingredient in tantric meditations.

Ngondro Is Meant To Be Done In A Community

This comprehensive course on Ngondro will be taught in four modules to support the accomplishment of practice over the period of one year. Join the Ngondro Training at the first Live Webinar Class of any module. Get support to accomplish the mantra accumulations with a weekly online practice group and an accountability partner. Find clarity by bringing questions to a live monthly class with Pema Khandro.

Without proper instruction ngondro can be incredibly complex and difficult. This course offers a simple, thorough, direct and supported experience of ngondro – making the heart essence of Vajrayana accessible for serious practitioners.

Testimonials From Recent Ngondro Grads

“What a precious opportunity it has been to receive the transmissions, dharma teachings and practices of the Longchen Nyingtig Ngondro from Pema Khandro Rinpoche! Having completed Longchen Nyingtig Ngondro even just once has been foundational to my life and my practices.” ~K

“Being able to persevere and go beyond so many limitations in both body and mind, and through that glimpsing some profound potentials of the path. This entire year has been my refuge, the practice will continue to reverberate even once I complete the recitations, and I think that it’s given me an orientation for my life going forward.” ~C

“This was such a great experience that it made me think a lot about the possibility of this practice, of the high level of beauty, magic, integrity, and tenderness – all of it’s there. It is a better world. It’s a world that I can go to and that’s really like a refuge. I didn’t know what a difference I would feel when I started this. The shimmering of life is dulled down for all these weird reasons, and this is a great remedy for that.” ~I

“I got a lot more kindness for myself, which I was in need of. I built a digital Sangha. The words that I’m saying at the beginning [refuge], were just words, and now feel true, it’s such a warm, lovely feeling, and it makes me excited to keep learning and exploring my practice.” ~G

“Deep and rich, in so many dimensions – to be practicing either literally or just in daily experience, it’s very meaningful and significant, and I felt a lot of growth through that.“ ~R

All of the ngondro meditations are highly psychological and psycho-physical. They deal with the fundamental issues of a spiritual life, ones identity, body, relationships, past and future.

Buddhism & Sexuality Starts This Week!

March 3rd – 5th Online

9am – 12pm pacific / 12-3pm eastern

Hosted by Pema Khandro

Did the Buddha teach consent? What do celibacy and sacred sexuality have in common? What does Buddhism say about polyamory, polygamy, and monogamy? Where do queer sexualities fit in yab yum imagery? What’s the difference between neo tantra and Buddhist tantra? Where does Buddhism draw the line on sexual abuse and violence? Join three scholars of Buddhist Studies to explore the profound topic of the history of Buddhist sexualities pertaining to:

Celibacy
Sacred sexuality in Buddhist Tantra
A simple approach to embodied integration with nature in Dzogchen

Chakrasamvara Empowerment & Teachings

with Drupon Dorjee Rinpoche & Pema Khandro

April 7 – 9, 2023

Join us for this special event, the Chakrasamvara Empowerment, an initiation into the inner tantra practice of generation stage meditation, led by Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche and Lama Pema Khandro. This exceptional program will feature three mornings of instructions, empowerment and meditations of Chakrasamvara. It will be led by Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche who will give the empowerment and Lama Pema Khandro who will give the instructions for practice. We are honored to host the most excellent interpreter, Ina Bieler! The empowerment will be translated into lucid and easy to understand English.