Online Courses

Bardos relate to both living and dying, creating and dissolving.  In 2020, we collectively had the rug pulled out from underneath us by the COVID-19 virus. During this retreat, we will investigate the bardos and what they can teach us about life and impermanence. *Due to the ever-changing travel restrictions, globally and in Canada, this course is now offered online.  Exploring the Bardo of Now During this retreat, we will investigate the bardos and what they can teach us about ordinary life. We’ll draw on Vajrayana Buddhism, contemporary psychology and modern exploration practices to learn how to make peace with the bardos and live more fully in the present moment. Free Infographic: What Happens to Consciousness During the Death Process? Add your information below to receive the infographic. You will also get amazing dharma content from Planet Dharma, directly to your email inbox. We promise not to spam!Why Exploring the Bardo of Now? June 19-25, 2021Why a meditation retreat on the Bardos?Bardos relate to both living and dying, creating and dissolving.  Bardos can appear at any time, and may make us feel we have lost all of our stability and reference points. However, they also offer us an opportunity to explore what is dying and prepare for a new birth.  Bardo study is relevant to people of all ages, regardless how old they are or how close to dying they are. Who is this retreat ideal for?This retreat is ideal for relatively new students who are interested in exploring Buddhist principles that include both Eastern and […]

August 21-31, 2021 Beneath the confusion and distraction of our minds, the Mind itself is empty, spontaneous and compassionate.  The practice of Dzogchen helps us cut right through the confusion to this original, pure and luminous nature of Mind.   This retreat, with meditation masters Acharya Doug Duncan And Catherine Pawasarat Sensei, is for any meditator looking to go deeper to the essence of practice.   Dzogchen The Natural State  The Three Words that Strike the Vital Point is one of the principal teachings of the practice of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection.  Patrul Rinpoche’s Special Teaching of the Wise and Glorious King, with commentary, is treasured as one of the most crucial instructions in the practice of Dzogchen. It’s pith teachings give simple yet deeply profound guidance on directly recognizing the mind’s innate purity and clarity. In the confusion of our times, a myriad of teachings and techniques surround us. The direct teachings of Dzogchen offer a refreshing clarity.Opening to the Clear Light of the Mind Dzogchen Meditation Retreat   (Online/ UK Residential / At Clear Sky) 21 – 31 August 2021        **See ‘Covid-19 Retreat Modifications’ below photos: Online and UK Residential Retreat (Updated June 20, 2021)“How wonderful!  Nothing whatsoever, a glaring openness.  An openness that is penetrating; a penetrating openness that is indescribable … Direct recognition within yourself; that is the first vital point.” -- Patrul Rinpoche from The three words that strike the vital point, a root text expounding Garab Dorje’s teachings on Dzogchen – the Great Perfection. […]