Vajrayoga Yamantaka Intensive with His Eminence the 11th Lelung Rinpoche
With The 11th Lelung Tulku Tendzin Phüntsok Löden Rinpoche, Robert A.F. Thurman and Michele Loew
July 31 - August 6, 2023
We are honored and delighted to welcome to Menla His Eminence the 11th Lelung Rinpoche, one of the three principal incarnations of Tibet, who will bestow the Yamantaka abishekam “empowerment” to participants and give precious teachings on the mild and fierce Mañjushrī deity practices.
Rinpoche will open the door to these wisdom teachings during this practitioners’ retreat, which will include Mañjushrī mantra accumulation, mild and fierce, and fire offering pujas. This is a very special and rare opportunity to learn from one of the highest lineage holders in the Tibetan tradition.
The Lelung Reincarnation line begins with the Lhodrak Khenchen Namkha Gyaltsen, who was known as an emanation of Vajrapani Bodhisattva. In the 1390s, he became an important teacher and colleague of the great Lama Tsong Khapa Losang Drakpa (1357-1419), who was key to the Tibetan Ganden Renaissance of the 15th and following centuries that resulted in the spiritual “inner modern” Tibet which flourished from the 17th century until the Chinese invasion and occupation from the 1950s and still persists in exile diaspora in India and other free countries around the planet.
Like most of the greatest teachers of Tibet, the Lelungs have a nonsectarian history of linking Nyingmapa Dzogchen traditions and Gelukpa Unexcelled Yoga traditions. Subsequently, the Lelungs interconnected frequently with the Dalai Lama and Panchen Rinpoche incarnations, therefore being considered among the top reincarnation lineages. In this special Vajrayoga retreat, Rinpoche will also offer some rare Vajrapaṇi and even Sārasvatī permissions. Robert Thurman will support him in clarification and engaging dialogue, and Michele Loew will guide the morning sadhana and Vajrayoga physical practices. We hope you will join us for this wonderful and transformational retreat.
This retreat is intended for intermediate-to-advanced practitioners with sufficient prior learning and practice to engage in tantric practices.
This page is for registration for in-person attendance of this retreat at Menla. If you would prefer to attend online/virtually, please click here.
A limited number of need-based partial scholarships are available for this retreat. Please email Michael Burbank at mburbank@menla.org to apply.
Schedule
Monday, July 31
- 3 – 6 pm Arrival & Check-in
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Welcome & Opening Discussion
Tuesday, August 1
- 7 – 8:30 am Vajrayoga Practice (Loew)
- 8:30 – 9:30 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Morning Session
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 2 – 4 pm Yamantaka Initiation
- 4 – 6 pm Free Time for Spa Appointments, Relaxation, or Self-Study
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Evening Discussion with Q&A
Wednesday, August 2
- 7 – 8:30 am Vajrayoga Practice (Loew)
- 8:30 – 9:30 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Morning Yamantaka Practice
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Appointments, Relaxation, or Self-Study
- 4 – 6 pm Afternoon Yamantaka Practice
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Evening Discussion with Q&A
Thursday, August 3
- 7 – 8 am Vajrayoga Practice (Loew)
- 8 – 9:15 am Breakfast
- 9:15 am – 10:45 pm Fire Puja Indoors Session (Conf Center)
- 11 – 12:30 pm Fire Puja Outdoors Session (Field by Spa)
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 2 – 3:30 pm Afternoon Teaching
- 3:30 – 6 p.m. Free Time for Self-Practice, Spa Appointments, or Relaxation
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Self-led Practice
Friday, August 4
- 7 – 8:30 am Vajrayoga Practice (Loew)
- 8:30 – 9:30 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Morning Manjusri Practice
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 p.m. Free Time for Spa Appointments, Relaxation, or Self-Study
- 4 – 6 pm Afternoon Manjusri Practice
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Evening Discussion with Q&A
Saturday, August 5
- 7 – 8:30 am Self-Practice
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Morning Saraswati Practice
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Appointments, Relaxation, or Self-Study
- 4 – 6 pm Afternoon Saraswati Practice
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Evening Discussion with Q&A
Sunday, August 6
- 7 – 11 am Check-out of Rooms
- 7 – 8:30 am Self-Practice
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 10 – 12 pm Closing Discussion
- 12:30-1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.
Leaders
The 11th Lelung Tulku Tendzin Phüntsok Löden Rinpoche was born in the 16th rabjung of the Iron-Dog year 1970. Since childhood he had visions of deities and lamas as well as many distinctive and wondrous signs. He attended primary school until the third class after which he left for monastic education. In the 16th rabjung of the Iron Bird 1981, seeking the audience of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he went to Dharamsala to receive a blessing. He then joined Trehor house within Drepung Loseling, one of the three great monasteries (Gelugpa seats) in the South of India. As per the…
Learn more about The 11th Lelung Tulku Tendzin Phüntsok Löden Rinpoche
Robert Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as co-founder and President of Tibet House US and it’s Menla Retreat & Spa. A world-wide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, activist for the plight of the Tibetan people, translator of Buddhist texts, and writer of popular Buddhist books. He recently has been awarded the Padma Shri Award, India’s fourth highest civilian honor for achievement in enriching Indian education and literature. His most recent book is the 300 page graphic novel, Man of Peace: the Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Suggested Books & Audio by…
Learn more about Robert A.F. Thurman
Michele Loew is an international yoga teacher and the founder and director of The Yoga Space in Portland, Oregon. She is known as a teacher’s teacher and is respected for her 200 Hr. & 500 Hr. Yoga Schools and her ability to combine Western knowledge of the body (anatomy & physiology and modern kinesiology techniques) with the Eastern tradition of yoga. She has practiced and taught Hatha & Vinyasa yoga since 1998, having studied extensively in the Iyengar and Ashtanga traditions as well as the Sri Vidya lineage & since 2014, the Kalachakra Yogas. She is known for her keen…
Learn more about Michele Loew
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