Introduction to Dzogchen: Coming Home to Innate Wholeness (Online Course)

Live Online + unlimited access to course recordings

An 8-week course, Wednesdays, 5:00–6:30 pm ET

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Perhaps one of the hallmarks of being human is a sense that we are not good enough as we are. This hidden belief drives us to seek paths of healing, purification and transformation, to seek ways to become more awake, wise and whole. While this impulse may act as a powerful stimulus towards the spiritual path, the teachings of Dzogchen, or the Great Wholeness takes a unique perspective on this hidden belief.

These unique teachings offer a hypothesis that no one is fractured or broken. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. This thing called “waking up,” these teachings suggest, is not a matter of clearing away darkness, or filling in  deficiencies. It may be a matter of noticing that we have always been, from the very beginning, primordially whole. Hence this tradition refers to itself as “the great wholeness.”

The key to glimpsing the great wholeness is not doubling down on one’s spiritual practice, tightening up one’s concentration, and becoming “great meditators.” Because this wholeness is already present as everyone’s birthright, the emphasis is on letting be, loosening up, opening up and turning the gaze inwards to glimpse an inner friend that has always been present, our primoridial, wakeful awareness.

In this eight-week course, Liz and Willa will introduce the path of the Great Wholeness by way of Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s book Fearless Simplicity and Shabkar’s classic Dzogchen text The Flight of the Garuda. Topics will include:

• basic history of the Dzogchen tradition 
• the Three Vital Points of Garab Dorje
• Dzogchen view 
• meditation and action 
• discernment between mind and awareness 
• the essential points of Dzogchen meditation practice 

Through study and practice, participants will engage with the principals, practices and view of Dzogchen online via live teachings, a book study group and guided practice.

Please have on hand these core texts: Fearless Simplicity by Tsoknyi Rinpoche and The Flight of the Garuda by Shabkar

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

It is Natural Dharma Fellowship’s aspiration that no one be turned away from our teachings because they are unable to pay the full price. In order make our offerings affordable for all who wish to attend, we suggest a three-level fee structure:

• May All Beings Benefit! – supporting access for all and assisting with the care and maintenance of Wonderwell Mountain Refuge
• A Middle Way – covering the base cost
• Held in Sangha Loving-kindness – offering ease when financial resources are limiting

Our pricing options are based primarily on the length and type of an event and are intended to give you an idea of the costs involved. The amounts listed are suggestions. You may write in any amount that fits your financial situation. Any amount offered above the Middle Way level will be considered a tax-deductible donation and will be acknowledged as such in writing.

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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