The Diamond Path in a World on Fire (Residential)

This is the RESIDENTIAL component of the hybrid retreat. If you’d like to register for the ONLINE component, please click here.

In this annual Vajrayana retreat, we will explore the particular power of the Vajrayana to directly address and transform our relationship to the chaos and disruption that are unfolding so rapidly and devastatingly on the current world stage. Centuries ago, the Buddha prophesied that the time of the Vajrayana was coming, a time when the emotions of sentient beings and the conditions in which they are living would require an alchemy forceful enough to allow us to ride the waves of our energies back to their source – the deep waters of compassion within. As the Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron, has said, “bodhisattvas are forged in the fire,” and our world is on fire.

The skillful means of the Vajrayana are the vehicle we need now to learn how to live with and for each other, with love and care, thereby discovering our capacity to act effectively in the world from a place of resilience, kindness, and openness. By training to relax and remain aware through all the upheavals we encounter, we fortify our ability to find freedom in the realities of change and dissolution. We discover that at the heart of being human lies our natural condition – naked, aware, and fully responsive to life as it is.

Please join us to:

• Deepen your Vajrayana practice in community with Vajra siblings
• Engage in group textual study as contemplative practice
• Integrate tantric practice into our daily lives

To help us to explore these practices and teachings more deeply, this retreat will include Dharma talks, practice sessions, ritual practice, breakout groups, and close reading sessions of the essential practice handbook, Creation and Completion by Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. Practitioners should plan to purchase this text before the retreat.

In addition, Lama Liz will offer transmissions to those who are ready to move on to their next stage of practice. She will also meet with those joining the path to introduce their practice for the coming year.

Practitioners should plan to purchase this text before the retreat: Creation and Completion by Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche.

This retreat is open to NDF Vajrayana practitioners enrolled in the 2025 program and those who have been approved to start the path in the 2025.

Typical Retreat Schedule

(All times are Eastern time zone)

First Day — Orientation at 6:45 pm. Opening session begins around 7:00 pm.

Full-Day Schedule — Morning meditation 7:00 am; Breakfast break 8:0-9:30 am; Lunch break 12:00-2:00 pm; Dinner break 5:30-7:00 pm. Evening session 7:00-8:30 pm

Last Day —The closing session end at 12:00 pm.

These times are just for reference. An expanded schedule will be provided in pre-retreat information emailed during the week prior to the event.

Important Health Information

The NDF Health Committee continues to monitor evolving public health conditions and trends, as we keep the safety of our Sangha at the forefront of our decision-making. At this time, COVID-19 testing is no longer required. Masks are optional and encouraged if you are at higher risk. We encourage you to stay at home if you are symptomatic to protect others.

Scholarships

Cancellation Policy

We understand that personal circumstances may require you to cancel your registration. In these cases, please contact us right away at register@naturaldharma.org. Cancellations affect our ability to offer rooms to others and create additional work for our staff, therefore we charge the following fees to help mitigate these costs.

For cancellations (based on program start date):

• > 45 days: 100% refund minus a $75 admin. fee.
• 31-45 days: 50% refund of the required deposit; or 75% refund if registration paid in full.
• 21-30 days: 50% refund of total registration cost
• < 21 days: nonrefundable

If you must cancel due to an emergency or extenuating circumstances, please contact us at register@naturaldharma.org.

Access to Recordings

NDF offers unlimited access to recordings, which are available 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.

Natural Dharma Fellowship Full Calendar