Project Goals
Retreats
Vairotsana Translation Institute
Yuthok Natural Health Care Center
Cultural Healing Program
World Peace Program
I. Long-term Retreats
The Dzogchen Retreat Center will provide the opportunity and environment
for groups and individuals to practice Buddhist meditation according
to the living traditions of the Dzogchen Lineage. Organized Dharma
teaching and training will be the main activity of this Retreat
Center. Dharma retreat means practicing in a designated location,
free from distraction, for an uninterrupted period of time. Many
retreatants have attained enlightenment under the guidance and supervision
of a Vajra Master of the Dzogchen Lineage.
Long-term retreats are essential to allow students the time to develop
their practice and stabilize the results of their meditation. This
is precisely the reason why great Buddhist masters throughout history
have encouraged retreats. Long-term retreats allow for continued
close contact with a qualified teacher and for uninterrupted progress
on the Buddha path, which is the positive thinking of renunciation,
compassion, faith, loving-kindness and wisdom. Extended retreats
enable students to accomplish the stages of enlightenment swiftly.
When students have completely mastered their training and realized
the true nature of mind, they will become the Dzogchen Lineage holders
of the next generation.
Long-term retreats, lasting from 100 days to three years, will be
exactly based upon the traditional practices and schedules of the
Dzogchen Retreat Institute of Tibet. These retreats will emphasize
the preliminary and main practices of the teachings known as Dzogchen
Khadro Nyingthig and Dzogchen Longchen Nyingthig, the most advanced
and essential teachings of the Dzogchen Lineage.
We invite you to participate in the first long-term retreat of
the Dzogchen Retreat Center
II. Short-term Retreats
The Dzogchen Retreat Center will also offer special short-term
Dharma training and meditation retreat programs for individuals
and families seeking Dharma education, or for those who need a temporary
place of retreat and relaxation. Based on its capacity, the Retreat
Center will provide structured programs lasting from three days
to three months. These programs will feature full daily schedules
of Dharma
study, meditation, and holistic treatment, as well as recreational
activities. In this way, visitors will be able to develop wisdom
and loving-kindness, let go of the stress of modern life and learn
to be content with the joys of simple, healthy, and peaceful living.
All visitors must apply and register in advance. While on retreat,
visitors are expected to limit their personal possessions specifically
to prescription medications, and a few holy Dharma tools. Accommodation,
food and sacred tools for practice will be provided by the retreat
center. People of every race, faith and nationality are welcome.
III. The Home of the Vairotsana
Translation Institute
The Vairotsana Translation Institute will be established within
the Dzogchen Retreat Center. This Institute will translate and preserve
original Buddhist texts from Tibetan into English and other languages.
The Institute will also manage and transcribe the many Dharma teachings
of Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche that now exist only in audio and
video formats.
The complete teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni now exist only in Tibetan
in the form of over 370 large volumes of ancient texts. These holy
texts were hand carved into wooden templates in Dhege of Eastern
Tibet many centuries ago. However, the Buddhist educational system
in Tibet is declining and Tibetan culture and language are in danger
of extinction. It is imperative that we completely translate these
sacred books into a global language like English while Tibetan scholarship
still exists. So far only very few of these texts have been translated
into other languages.
The accuracy of translation depends on the translator’s language
skills, their understanding of Dharma, and a close working relationship
with a qualified master. Therefore, within the Dzogchen Retreat
Center, the Vairotsana Translation Institute will train new translators
and interpreters for the preservation of ancient wisdom
and the benefit of future generations.
IV. The Home of the Yuthok Natural
Health Care Center
Within the Dzogchen Retreat Center we will establish the Yuthok
Natural Health Care Center for healing body and mind. This Center
will conduct research and professional programs synthesizing the
traditional Dzogchen healing
mandala and modern science.
The Yuthok Natural Health Care Center will utilize: light, color,
sound, recitation, Dharma songs, musical instruments, incense, holy
clothes, peaceful weapons, jewels, crystals, divine nectars, harmless
chemicals, Dharma techniques, nutrition, herbal medicines, oils,
massage, energy healing, elemental energy, blessings, secret movements,
exercise, breath, Vajra dancing, yoga, art, pilgrimage, fasting,
dreams, philosophy, meditation, visualization, Dharma ceremonies,
sacred union and Buddhist stories. Trained professionals will practice
these specific techniques
promoting physical health and mental tranquility for the benefit
of all beings.
V. Cultural Healing Program
The Dzogchen Retreat Center will be a wisdom station for healing
individuals, families and society. According to Dzogchen teachings,
all beings are inseparably related. For this reason we all need
to help one another. When one person has a problem, it is everyone’s
problem.
When individuals solve their own problems, they are immediately
benefiting all others beings. When people suffer from anger, jealousy,
anxiety, depression, sadness, desire, or other afflictions, they
need a sacred place free from distractions in order to contemplate,
meditate, and stabilize themselves. But there are not many places
where one can practice and heal. The Dzogchen Retreat Center will
provide a solution.
This Retreat Center will thus provide a sacred space to effectively
train individuals to
decrease and eliminate their negative thinking. Once an individual
has overcome his or her own problems, they can truly help family,
friends, and society. When their retreat is complete, these uniquely
trained individuals will go into the world and contribute to the
uplifting of the intellectual and spiritual well being of humanity.
They will show others how to help and lead society in a positive
direction.
The suffering of the world may seem overwhelming. Although some
might think that a single retreat center cannot make a difference,
with time, this center will positively impact all beings through
the beneficial activities of individual practitioners and the blessings
of the Dzogchen Lineage. We believe that the Dzogchen Retreat Center
will exponentially spread peace and happiness throughout the world.
VI. World Peace Program
“Selfishness is the path to suffering. Generosity is the path
to peace. Generosity awakens primordial wisdom. Primordial wisdom
is the nature of mind.”
Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche
Although there are many ways to help others, building a sacred place
for the practice of positive thinking and the stabilization of loving-kindness
is the most effective way that we can benefit humanity and attain
world peace.
Dzogchen teaches that generosity is the very first step of Dharma
practice. Generosity is an open and giving mind. Helping others
increases our inner happiness. Without generosity, it is impossible
to spread peace and happiness further in our society.
Looking back on our lives, how much time and resources have we already
spent on
meaningless or even harmful activities? Contributing to beneficial
activities, such as this Dzogchen Retreat Center Project, accumulates
great merit. The positive energy of virtuous thinking carries us
from suffering to happiness, and from happiness to the ultimate
goal of world peace.
Under the guidance of H.E. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, the Dzogchen
Retreat Center Project is born of pure intention, correct vision,
and excellent method, which are all directed toward actualizing
true peace in this world. Right now, this Dzogchen Retreat Center
Project is offering us the opportunity to make a profound gesture
of generosity to the world. We invite all to join this project so
that together we can create a wonderful retreat center. In this
sacred place, we can joyfully unite people from around the world
for the realization of true
peace.
World peace always. Always world peace.
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