Our retreat program
For more info on the exact dates and prerequisites of upcoming retreats, as well as special events, please visit the main association's website:
Dorje Drolo Drupchö
Week-long retreat, every December/January
@Rigdzin Thegchok Ling, in Lausanne, Switzerland
A drupchö is a group ritual practice presided by a Vajra master, during which the long sadhana of a particular deity is recited, along with performing offerings, reciting mantras and focusing on the meditation and visualisation of that particular deity.
This particular retreat is of the male wrathful deity Dorje Drolo, and comes from the Dudjom Tersar.
Troma Nagmo Drupchö
Week-long retreat, every April/May
@Rigdzin Thegchok Ling, in Lausanne, Switzerland
A drupchö is a group ritual practice presided by a Vajra master, during which the long sadhana of a particular deity is recited, along with performing offerings, reciting mantras and focusing on the meditation and visualisation of that particular deity.
This particular retreat is of the female wrathful deity Troma Nagmo, and comes from the Dudjom Tersar.
5-year Retreat program
Week-long retreat, intensive teachings
every April @Rigdzin Thegchok Ling, in Évolène, Switzerland
every August @Rigdzin Dudjom Drodul Ling, in Pergola, Italy
Each year, clear instructions are given on various stages of the practice (Vajrayana, Dzogchen). Students must commit to a period of 100 consecutive days of home retreat, practicing 2h/day at the same time every day. Others commit to 50 or 100 days of strict retreat in one of the meditation caves in our retreat centre in Spain, Namkha Dzong Orgyen Khandro Ling.
Year 1 : Ngondrö (Preliminary practices)
Year 2 : Kyerim (Generation stage)
Year 3 : Dzogrim (Completion stage)
Year 4 : Thegchö (Thorough Cutting)
Year 5 : Thögal (Direct Crossing)
Namkha Dzong Summer program
Arapatsa Summer retreat, for young people
Phowa retreat, Transference of Consciousness
Arapatsa is the community's special summer retreat for young people. Very young children up to age 11 can attend accompanied by a parent. Young people from 11 and up to 18 can join by themselves. The kids attend classes in the morning (Dharma, Tibetan language, meditation), and have plenty of fun by the pool or at the beach in the afternoon. They are supervised by some of the community's teachers and practitioners.
Phowa practice, or Transference of Consciousness, is a powerful means of ejecting the consciousness from the crown aperture at the time of death, thus bypassing the bardos and avoiding rebirth in the lower realms of cyclic existence. The retreat comprises sessions of teachings and explanations, as well as extensive training.