Based on feedback from the vajrasangha over the past couple of years, we’re restructuring our summer vajrayana programs to better support our practice and training.
Vajra Assembly will remain the entry into the vajrayana and take place July 10 — 23. As always, existing tantrikas are encouraged to return to this intimate program as participants or staff and to receive transmission from the perspective of a vajrayana practitioner — something that returnees have reported is very powerful.
As in previous years, following Vajra Assembly we will have three weeks (July 24 — Aug 14) of vajrayana retreat, our annual time to gather as a vajrasangha to practice together and enjoy the deep nourishment of the vajrasangha. During the first week, two concurrent programs will take place: a Vajrayana Practice Intensive (VPI) and Meditation Instructor Training (MIT).
The week-long Vajrayana Practice Intensive is an opportunity for simple, focused practice — a time during which we can immerse ourselves in our ngöndro, Vajrayogini, or formless practice. While a majority of the schedule will be practice, the intensive will be led by David Iozzi, and each group will be supported by group-specific teaching, discussion, and study (note: vajrayogini teachings, discussion, and study will be self-organized by the vajrayogini mandala). Vajrayana students who have completed Vajra Assembly but have not yet completed a VTI are required to attend the Vajrayana Practice Intensive in order to deepen their experience in the vajrayana mandala prior to attending this year’s VTI. Vajrayana students who have attended a VTI in the past, and who aren’t attending the MI Training, are invited to join the practice intensive and deepen their practice as a participant or staff member.
MI Training will again be led by Caroline and run concurrently as a completely separate program from the practice intensive. This will allow the MI Training and the practice intensive to follow their own schedules, strengthening the container for both. As in previous MI Trainings, students will be offered the opportunity to deepen their understanding, skills, and experience of spiritual mentoring and meditation instruction in our lineage. Attendance at a previous VTI is a prerequisite for MI training. Those who have already been trained as an MI in Dharma Ocean but have been inactive or need to refresh or update their previous training are encouraged to attend.
The Vajrayana Training Intensive (VTI) will take place during the final two weeks and will be led by Reggie. As always, we’ll engage with our current Vajrayana practice, and we’ll deepen our understanding of the “unconventional vehicle” as Reggie delivers a new cycle of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s Vajra Dharma as it is unfolding in a living way in our Dharma Ocean mandala. At this VTI, we will again offer a Vajrayogini practice intensive, and Reggie will join the mandala periodically throughout the intensive.
Summary of Prerequisites
Vajra Assembly: Requirements for attending Vajra Assembly can be found on the Vajra Assembly program page.
Vajrayana Practice Intensive: In order to attend the Vajrayana Practice Intensive, students must have completed a prior year Vajra Assembly or VTI. Vajrayana students who have completed Vajra Assembly, but who have not yet completed a VTI, are required to attend the Vajrayana Practice Intensive in order to attend this year’s VTI.
Meditation Instructor Training: Completion of a previous VTI is a prerequisite for participating in the MI Training.
Vajrayana Training Intensive: Completion of Vajra Assembly or a previous VTI is required for participation in this year’s VTI. As noted in the Vajrayana Practice Intensive section, those who have completed Vajra Assembly, but who have not yet completed a VTI, may also attend VTI but only if they attend this year’s Vajrayana Practice Intensive as part of their retreat.
Available Registration Options
If you’ve completed Vajra Assembly but haven’t completed VTI, please register for the following options:
If you’ve completed a prior year VTI, please register for one of the following options:
