Entering the Diamond Path: Exploring the Vajrayana (Online Course)

Live Online + unlimited access to course recordings

January 6 – May 12, biweekly Mondays, 7:00-8:30 pm ET

Come join us for an exploration of the vibrant, incandescent world of Vajrayana, the Diamond Path.  Our online reading and study group, facilitated by Ron Thomas, a longtime Vajrayana practitioner and NDF mentor, is an opportunity to delve into these transformative wisdom teachings while building sangha.  The ten sessions, beginning January 6, 2025, will meet on alternate Monday evenings. The sessions will feature brief explanatory presentations and small and large group discussions, where participants can share their insights and questions. Our text will be Secret of the Vajra World, by Reginald Ray, widely available in print and e-book formats.  Before each session, some questions to guide your reading and discussion will be posted to the study group website.  Although occasional absences may arise, consistent attendance is highly desirable, as the readings and discussions build on each other. No prior knowledge or experience is required. All are welcome! The only prerequisite is a willingness to engage with the readings and other members of the study group. The Vajrayana is truly vast and profound—our reading and study group offers an entry point into its wonders. 

Here is the tentative list of session topics:

• Session #1 : Origins and Spread of the Vajrayana
• Session #2: The Three Yanas
• Session #3: The View of Vajrayana
• Session #4: The Meditation of Vajrayana
• Session #5: The Vajra Teacher
• Session #6: Entering the Vajra Path
• Session #7: Deity Yoga and Yidam Practice
• Session #8: The Inner Yogas
• Session #9: Mahamudra and Dzogchen
• Session #10: The Practice of Retreat

Zoom Link

The Zoom link will be sent several days before the course begins to all those registered by then. If you register after that date, you’ll receive the link with your confirmation email shortly after submitting your registration. The same Zoom link will be used each week. If you don’t see an email from Natural Dharma Registrar or Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, it may have mistakenly gone to your spam folder or to Promotions or Updates in Gmail.

Important: Please put these two email addresses in your Contact or Safe-Send list to make sure you receive our emails:

• register@naturaldharma.org

Program Cost

Our program fees provide essential support to our non-profit operations and NDF’s mission to spread the Dharma in accessible, relevant, and creative ways. Our goal is that no one misses out on our events due to lack of funds. Thanks to our generous donors, we are able to offer tiered pricing and additional support to fit varied financial situations: 

• May All Beings Benefit! *– supporting access for all and general support for NDF operations
• A Middle Way – covering the base cost
• Held in Sangha Loving-kindness – offering ease when financial resources are limiting

If the lowest cost tier creates an obstacle to your attendance, please see our financial support options on the registration page. The process is simple and does not require extensive information. Financial aid is immediately approved using discount code options that allow you to contribute the most you are able while honoring your particular resources.

* The difference between the May All Beings Benefit! tier and the Middle Way tier will be considered a tax-deductible donation and will be acknowledged as such in writing. Contributing at this level helps us offer financial aid to other participants. Thank you!!

Access to Recordings

NDF offers unlimited access to recordings, which are accessed in your user dashboard (more information about user accounts provided in a pre-retreat letter). If you have a user account, please register with the same email you use to log into your dashboard. If not, an account will be created for you using your registration address.

Availability will vary depending on the type of event and the backlog for our precious resource volunteers. Thank you for your patience.

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