Entering the Vajra World 2024: Preparatory Class

Deepening our understanding of the Sutrayana teachings and forming community for the retreat

Prerequisite: Open to those registered or waitlisted for the 2024 “Entering the Vajra World” retreat at Drala Mountain Center
Sundays Noon-1:30 PM EDT from April 7th through June 30th, 2024
87 participants
Current Status
Not Enrolled
Price
By Donation
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The first year of this course concluded on June 30th, 2024. Thank you everyone for your heartfelt engagement and exertion. See you all at the Drala Mountain Center on July 19th! ❤️

Recordings from 2024

Recordings of Classes 1-12 are posted on the Curriculum tab.

(NOTE: you must be logged into your Ocean account and registered for this class in order to access the recordings) Also note: Class 6 Refuge Vow, Class 11 Bodhisattva Vow, and Class 13 Final Exam were not recorded.
Registered class participants will continue to be able to access the recordings and other resources on the Curriculum tab indefinitely.

Participant Directory

The Participant Directory is now posted on the Curriculum tab. It contains names, locations, and email addresses for those who opted in to sharing that information with the other retreatants.

Course Outline

ASSIGNMENTS: Note that for each class we have assigned readings as well as audio and/or video teachings by Trungpa Rinpoche. All of the assigned readings are from the Profound Treasury of Dharma (PTOD) volumes one and two. All of the audio and video teachings by Trungpa Rinpoche are available for free on the Chogyam Trungpa Digital Library.

RESOURCES: Also visit the Curriculum tab for links and downloads of resources for the class, including a downloadable / printable version of this outline. We will be adding more resources as the class progresses.

Introduction:

Shravakayana

  • Class 3 (April 21st): What is Genuine Dharma?
  • Class 6 (May 12th): Refuge Vow Ceremony
    • Preceptor: June Crow
    • Those who have not already taken the Refuge Vow will take the vow in this ceremony. All others from the retreat community are invited to witness, support, and congratulate the new refugees!
    • The vow ceremony will NOT be recorded.
    • RECOMMENDED READING: Heart of the Buddha, Chapter 5: Taking Refuge. Also available in The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa, Volume 3,  and as an online article on Lion’s Roar: https://www.lionsroar.com/the-decision-to-become-a-buddhist/

Mahayana

  • Class 10 (June 9th): Meditation and the Development of Shunyata
    • Teacher: Molly DeShong
    • Reading: PTOD Vol. II, “Point One: The Preliminaries, Which Are a Basis for Dharma Practice,” pages 289-290
    • Reading: PTOD Vol. II, “Point Two: Resting in Ultimate Bodhichitta,” pages 291-301
    • Watching: Viewing and Working with the Phenomenal World: Talk 7: Shunyata
    • *** IMPORTANT: Those planning to take the Bodhisattva Vow should plan to stay after this class (June 9th) from 1:30 to 2:30 PM Eastern Time so that the preceptor can meet with each of you individually prior to the actual vow ceremony.
  • Class 11 (June 16th): Bodhisattva Vow Ceremony
    • Preceptor: Andy Karr
    • Those who have not already taken the Bodhisattva Vow will take the vow in this ceremony. All others from the retreat community are invited to witness, support, and congratulate the new bodhisattvas!
    • The vow ceremony will NOT be recorded.
    • RECOMMENDED READING: Heart of the Buddha, Chapter 6: Bodhisattva Vow. This is also available in The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa, Volume 3,  And it is available as an online article on Lion’s Roar: https://www.lionsroar.com/the-bodhisattva-vow/

Vajrayana

Final Exam

  • Class 13 (June 30th): Final Examination
    • First of all: don’t worry! This will be a low stress, informal discussion format.
    • We will break into groups of 4 or 5, each facilitated by one of the retreat faculty. The facilitator will ask each participant to present their understanding of one of the questions from the study guide (see below). Your response does not need to be scholarly or comprehensive, and you are completely welcome to use notes. The facilitator may then ask others in the group to contribute to a short discussion on the topic, or ask followup questions to draw out different aspects of the topic.
    • Here is a link to the study guide:
      If you are unable to attend the exam on Sunday, June 30th, please let me know so we can schedule a makeup opportunity.

 

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