2024 Three-Year Retreat – Schedule, Prerequisites, and Fees
Tentative Schedule and Outline of Main Practices
The plan is to begin the first phase of the retreat in the Fall of 2024 followed by the second and third phases with a one-year gap between. Specific start and end dates will be announced once the retreat is finalized. The rough schedule and main practices are outlined below:
First Phase: 10 months start date September 2024, ends July 2025
Orientation training, Gampopa, Milarepa and Marpa Guru yogas, Könchok Chidü and Mahamudra
Second Phase: 11 months, start date September 2026, ends July/August 2027
Inner and secret Vajrayogini, Outer, inner, secret and very secret Chakrasamvara
Third Phase: 12 months, start date September 2028, ends August/September 2029
Six Dharmas of Naropa, Jinasagara, Krisnachola drupchen
Prerequisites
The very first step is to have experience practicing shamatha/visashyana and to attend at least one month-long retreat (dathün).
The next step is to request and receive the pointing-out transmission from a teacher/lama followed by permission to practice the Kagyu Ngondro.
After completing Ngondro, you should receive Vajrayogini empowerment and complete the mantras. Attending the fire offering is also helpful.
Need some help planning your path to complete the prerequisites?
Feel free to contact us to discuss your preparation plans [email protected]
Empowerments
Before his death in 2023 Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, who had previously provided all the empowerments for the three-year retreat, identified Dungse Lama Pema, the head lama of Thrangu Monastery in Richmond, B.C. to offer the empowerments.
Lama Pema will offer the empowerments shortly before the first cycle of the retreat, in the Fall of 2024. He will also lead the gate-closing ceremony.
Expenses
Fees for this retreat are CAD$1,200 per month. you should plan for a minimum cost of
CAD$ 12,000 for the first phase, CAD$ 13,200 for the second phase and CAD$14,400 for the third phase of the retreat or a total of CAD$39,600 for the entire retreat.
A deposit of CAD$500 is required when your application has been accepted. This deposit is fully refundable if the retreat is not offered due to insufficient registration.
A payment of 50% of the total retreat fees is required before the beginning of the first phase. The balance is payable before the beginning of the second phase.
IMPORTANT
If you have completed the necessary prerequisites to participate in the retreat but have some financial limitations to paying the fee in two payments, we will consider some form of deposit and an installment payment agreement. There are also some scholarship opportunities available that can be discussed with the Druppon upon approval of your application and the review of your financial circumstances.
Additional Costs
Please also plan on travelling to the Sopa Chöling retreat centre for the empowerment in Spring 2024 for which there is traditionally a teacher’s gift offered.
Participants must also show proof of travel health insurance for each phase of the retreat if travelling from outside of Canada.
| Fees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (CAD$1,200/month) | CAD $12,000 | |
| Phase 2 | CAD $13,200 | |
| Phase 3 | CAD $14,400 | |
| Practice Texts | CAD $2000 (approx) | |
| sub total | CAD $41,600 | |
| ADDITIONAL COSTS | ||
| Teacher’s Gift for Empowerments Spring 2024 | ||
| Travel for the empowerment and each of the three phases | ||
| Health Insurance for non-Canadians | ||
| Costs associated with visa applications for longer stays in Canada |
