The Six Yogas, also known in Tibetan Buddhism as the Six Dharmas, are transmitted in two great systems — one from Niguma and one from Naropa — lineages that at times overlap yet each carry their own distinctive brilliance. Join scholar and lineage-holder Tulku Pema Khandro, Ph.D., together with the Umdzes (practice leaders of the Buddhist Studies Institute), for an immersive journey into the history and living practice of the Six Yogas.
Weekend Immersion
November 7-9
9am-12pm PT
Led by Tulku Pema Khandro, PhD
Daily Practice Extension
November 10-23
9-10am PT
Led by BSI Umdzes
Prerequisites
Open to all sincere practitioners.
Ngondro Training.suggested.
The Six Yogas
Timeless methods for transformation in times of change and uncertainty
The Six Yogas is a weekend immersion which includes in-depth training in the most cherished esoteric practices of Tibetan Buddhism. This course addresses the core issues facing a life, and presents potent methods for integrating spiritual practice into every day life. The system includes meditations for living, dreaming, and dying. It features the practice of Tummo, or Inner Fire meditation, Illusory Body practice, Dream Yoga, Clear Light Meditation, Bardo, the dying practices and Phowa, the transference of consciousness at the time of death.
Each practice is part of an overarching system for experiencing liminality, change, and uncertainty in states of free and total presence.
Join scholar and teacher, Tulku Pema Khandro, Ph.D., and the practice leaders of the Buddhist Studies Institute in this journey into the six yogas including their history, their implicit contexts, the practices, and their adaptations over the thousand years that they have been taught. Trained both as an academic and as a lineage holder of the tradition, Pema Khandro provides a rigorous and compassionate approach to the study of Buddhism.
Teacher and Umdzes
The Six Yogas training is designed and taught by Tulku Pema Khandro, Ph.D. with daily practices sessions led by Umdzes of the Buddhist Studies Institute.
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.
Umdzes
Practice Leaders of the Buddhist Studies Institute
In Tibetan monasteries, the Umdze (dbu mdzad, ritual chant leader) guides the flow of rituals through precise melodies, rhythm, and timing. At the Buddhist Studies Institute, our Umdzes carry this spirit of guidance in a yogic context. They are seasoned practitioners — students of Tulku Pema Khandro for decades — who lead group practice with devotion, continuity, and care. They are yogis living in the modern world, offering an accessible yet authentic bridge into Vajrayana meditation and ritual.
Prerequisites
Completing Ngondro Training is recommended, but not required, following the tradition of the Six Yogas as a stand alone system that was historically taught without other preliminaries. Today, the traditional pre-requisite for the Six Yogas is completion of ngondro. However, since it is difficult to get these instructions students are permitted to attend and study before completing ngondro as long as they complete ngondro before pursuing further intensive practice of this cycle outside the intensive. Graduates of ngondro from the Buddhist Studies Institute are encouraged to attend as this course offers a comprehensive introduction to Vajrayana as a way of life.
Tuition
- EARLY ENROLLMENT
Ends September 30 - $325
- GENERAL TUITION
October 1-31 - $399
- LATE ENROLLMENT
Nov 1-7 - $475
Financial Aid Considerations All 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.
Financial Aid Application: https://forms.gle/xwYaTamt2autMLKa9
Monastic Scholarship Application: https://forms.gle/yudBajX8wXXXsB2FA
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Will Sessions Be Recorded?
Sessions are recorded and typically available within 24 hours of the live class online. Recordings are available for 1 year to participants and Members of the Buddhist Studies Institute at the Snow Lion and Sustainer Levels of Membership.
What if I’m new to Vajrayana?
This weekend immersion is open to both experienced practitioners and sincere newcomers. You will receive accessible guidance, contextual teachings, and support from the Buddhist Studies Institute’s practice leaders. Beginners will gain a powerful introduction to Vajrayana as a living tradition, while long-time practitioners will encounter deeper layers of practice.
Do I need Ngondro Training first?
Ngondro (the Vajrayana preliminaries) is the traditional prerequisite for the Six Yogas. However, because these teachings are so rare and precious, sincere students are welcome to attend even if they have not yet completed Ngondro. If you are new, you may study now and complete Ngondro before engaging in further intensive practice of this cycle. For graduates of Ngondro, this course is an ideal way to deepen your Vajrayana path.
How do the practice sessions work?
Following the weekend teachings, two weeks of daily practice sessions (led by BSI’s Umdzes, or practice leaders) provide the chance to apply what you’ve learned. These sessions take place online each morning, offering guided practice, prayers, and community support. They create momentum and continuity so the teachings are not only studied but embodied in daily life.
Join us for this rare opportunity to study the Six Yogas with Tulku Pema Khandro, Ph.D.
Cultivate clarity, compassion, and presence for every stage of life
