Acharya Richard John 2021 Northern California Visit
Acharya Richard John is one of Shambhala’s senior teachers and has a special relationship with our Northern California community. He has been visiting us each year for many years, and we anticipate his annual teachings.
Please join us for a special hybrid series of programs this November.
We will gather in small, COVID-safe groups at our local centers and broadcast online to the greater community. If you wish to be there in person, please contact the center who is hosting the program to be put on the waiting list.
About Acharya Richard John
Acharya John was an early student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He was appointed acharya by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. For many years he has taught Shambhala Buddhist programs throughout North America. He completed the first three-year group retreat at Gampo Abbey, and leads annual 10-Day Mahamudra Retreats at SMC, Dorje Denma Ling, Karme Chöling, and Casa Werma. Richard and his wife Liz live in Halifax, Canada.
Public Programs
What Can We Rely On? Advice from the Buddha and Atisha
November 6th and 7th from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Davis Shambhala Center
One of the Buddha’s most profound and practical teachings has become known as The Four Reliances. This is his heart advice to students who find themselves confused about who and what to trust to guide their path: One or many teachers? The teachings, with their various interpretations? One’s own intuition? The Buddha’s instructions are clear, simple and precise, and immensely helpful in times of chaos.
In the 8th century CE, the great Indian master Atisha initiated a series of pragmatic slogans by which practitioners could turn the mundane chaos of daily life into the path of awakening. Now known as Lojong (mind training), some of these potent slogans can interrupt our distractions and re-establish what is most urgent: the great mind of openness, and the heart of motivation to care for others.
Learn more and register here… https://davis.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=487987
Chariot of Mahamudra
Saturday, November 13th from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Sunday, November 14th from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Sonoma Shambhala Center & Santa Rosa Shambhala
This weekend retreat is open to practitioners at all levels—newer students and tantrikas—who wish to deepen their meditation practice. Mahamudra, the great symbol, is among the most profound traditions of vajrayana Buddhism, but it is also extremely simple and direct.
We will deepen the practices of shamatha and vipashyana meditation to look at the mind and sense perceptions, with emphasis on direct personal experience. Acharya John will give an overview, commentaries and instruction. We will maintain silence during the day, with open discussion each afternoon.
The prerequisite for the retreat is Shambhala Training Level One, but any practitioner may attend with the recommendation of a senior Meditation Instructor.
Learn more and register here… https://sonoma.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=487988
Advanced Programs
Open Sky: Shambhala Training Level V
Friday, November 19th from 7 PM to 9 PM
Saturday, November 20th from 9 AM to 5 PM
Sunday, November 21st from 9 AM to 5 PM
Berkeley Shambhala Center
This is a community Level V; meaning that everyone who has completed this level is invited to join us and take a deep dive into these profound teachings.
Trusting our true nature and letting go into the present moment.
Communicating with the world gently and fearlessly, our awareness is sharpened and we find the open clear sky of mind—a delightful source of wisdom and uplifted energy. We learn to trust our nature enough to let go into the present moment.
This weekend workshop includes meditation training and practice, talks by senior instructors, personal interviews and group discussions. Open Sky is the fifth in a series of five weekend workshops.
Prerequisites are the completion of Shambhala Training Level IV.
Learn more and register here… https://berkeley.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=486540
Vajrayana Programs
The Mahamudra Pith Instructions of Tashi Namgyal
Monday, November 8th from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Davis Shambhala Center
Dagpo Tashi Namgyal is one of the great Kagyu mahamudra yogins, famous for his books Moonbeams of Mahamudra and Clarifying the Natural State. We will practice his extraordinary and accessible Six Pith Instructions for recognizing the nature of mind.
The key to all mahamudra and dzogchen practice and realization is the transmission of the nature of mind by the guru. Having received that, the vajrayana path is based on the student’s understanding, recognizing, and becoming familiar with that which has been pointed out.
Prerequisites: This is restricted to tantrikas who attended Vajrayana Seminary or Sacred World Assembly, or received transmission from a Kagyu or Nyingma Rinpoche. It is important to commit to the entire day.
Learn more and register here… https://davis.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=487986
Knowing What Has Been Pointed Out
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, November 15th, 16th & 17th
Full attendance is required for this program
Sonoma Shambhala Center & Santa Rosa Shambhala
The key to all mahamudra and dzogchen practice and realization is the transmission of the nature of mind by the guru. Having received that, the vajrayana path is based on the student’s understanding, recognizing, and becoming familiar with that which has been pointed out.
This deep practice retreat for committed vajrayana practitioners draws on upadesha, pith instructions, from some of the great masters of mahamudra and dzokchen: Garab Dorje, Lodrö Thaye, Mipham Rinpoche, Padmakara, Yeshe Tsögyal, Takpo Tashi Namgyal, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and others.
Prerequisites
This is restricted to tantrikas who attended Vajrayana Seminary or Sacred World Assembly, or received transmission from a Kagyu or Nyingma Rinpoche. It is important to begin at the beginning, and commit to the entire retreat if possible.
Learn more and register here… https://sonoma.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=488277
