16 August 2019 (Friday) - 24 August 2019 (Saturday)
Teachings and Trainings on The Buddha Path
The Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation is pleased to announce our 2019 Dzogchen Buddha Path European Summer Retreat under the guidance of His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. This retreat will be held at beautiful location in the Austrian countryside. This year presents an ideal opportunity to deepen your understanding and experience of the teachings of the Dzogchen Lineage.
This Summer Retreat will commence on Friday, 16-August and conclude on Saturday, 24-August, 2019. This year’s 8 days of teaching and training will include in-depth and direct teachings on the sacred text The Buddha Path, the Buddhist fundamentals, and will include many practices including mantra recitation, reciting sacred text, visualizations, music making, light offerings, and food offerings.
Seating is limited, so please register early.
About the Teacher
About the Retreat
What to Expect at the Dzogchen Buddha Path Retreat
“Retreat” means withdrawing your body, speech, and mind away from busy, meaningless, and negative activities, freeing yourself to focus on helping all beings. Away from worldly distractions, you can wholeheartedly train your mind in the Way of True Happiness. In retreat you will practice Dharma with more joy, depth, and intensity than you have likely experienced before and the results may surprise you. By training your mind using the skillful means of the Dzogchen Lineage you will take steps toward your own awakening.
Retreat Location
The retreat will take place in the peaceful and beautiful landscape of the forest region north-west of lower Austria, upon the river Danube, near the city of Melk enjoying the view into the pre-alps. The landscape’s peace and tranquility, pure air and water, large and superb forests characterize the area The accommodation is in a big family house. Teaching and practice will take place in a comfortable shrine-tent in the garden of the property.
About the Lineage
It is extremely precious to study under an authentic master, one whose lineage can be traced all the way back to Buddha Shakyamuni. Our precious Vajra Master, H.E. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, is a thirty-third generation lineage holder of the Dzogchen Longchen Nyingthig and the Dzogchen Khadro Nyingthig lineages, selected by previous Dzogchen Lineage Masters in Tibet because of his profound knowledge and realization. With more than seven years of solitary cave meditation experience in the high Tibetan holy mountains, Rinpoche truly embodies the qualities of a realized practitioner and yogi. Also a vibrant and dynamic teacher and scholar, Rinpoche is a lama of the Dzogchen Monastery and professor of the Dzogchen Shri Singha University. He is a published author of numerous books in both Tibetan and English, including The Buddha Path, a practice book that encompasses all of Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha Path is available in English, Chinese, Russian, and German, and is soon to be released in Nepali, Japanese, and Spanish.
Just as great master of the past, Atisha, was revered for always teaching refuge, Khenpo Choga Rinpoche is revered for always training teachers. His heartfelt effort to train knowledgeable, wise and compassionate teachers has reached a critical juncture, and he has authorized authentically trained and certified Dharma Teachers of The Buddha Path to teach under his guidance. Rinpoche has requested that Upasaka Bodhisattva Zangshod (Marc Baldwin) lead this retreat.
More about Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche »
Retreat Pricing
As always the teachings and ceremonies themselves are offered free of charge, but it is traditional in Buddhism for the student to make an individual offering to the teacher during the retreat. You may voluntarily make an offering to the teacher at anytime during the retreat. It is most auspicious to do this at the beginning of the retreat at the end of the opening ceremony.
The retreat fees listed below are used to pay for food, supplies, utilities and maintenance of the facilities. The fee for this retreat is € 520.- per person. For seniors (65 and up), students and unemployed the fee is € 380.- A deposit of half of the fee will hold your spot on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wish to request financial support, we encourage you to do so on the registration page.
When making your travel plans, please plan your schedule so that you arrive at the retreat center before 4PM on the first day, and depart the retreat center after 3PM on the dates listed above. The full facility address is Lohsdorf 4, 3661 Artstetten, Austria.
Please Read the Fine Print
Please carefully review the Retreat Details, Conditions and Policies before registering.
Open Retreat Details Conditions and Policies
Overall Retreat Schedule
This year there is a single retreat duration option available for four days. Retreatants will need to attend all sessions to participate in the retreat. In other words, retreatants cannot miss any of the sessions and then continue to participate in the remainder of the retreat without special permission. You may leave the retreat early, but you should not enter the retreat with that intention.
Attendance
Students without exception will be expected to reside at the retreat center for the duration of the retreat. Specifically, we have a rule that students who leave the retreat once it is in progress are not permitted to return to the retreat. Exceptions are sometimes made in cases of emergency or given advance permission of the teacher guiding the retreat.
What to Bring
Below is a suggested packing list.
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow and pillow case
- Extra blanket or comforter
- Tent if you are tent camping (with ground cloth)
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Toiletries
- Covered water bottle – water in a sealed container is the only drink allowed in the shrine room.
- Ritual objects i.e., your bell and dorje, drum (a puja table will be provided)
- Copy of The Buddha Path practice book (you can purchase a copy at the retreat)
- Sitting cushion or chair of choice (some chairs and cushions are avaiable to borrow)
- Lap blanket, hat, gloves, and scarf
- Warm clothing for daytime
- Warm clothing for sleeping
- Water-proof shoes/boots
- Slippers for inside
- Plenty of socks
- Rain coat/umbrella/poncho
- Coat appropriate to the season
- Enough changes of clothes to get you through a week (very limited access to washer / dryer).
- Notebook and pens
- Computer and charger
What NOT to Bring
Below is a list of things not to bring:
- Food (All food will be provided for you. Because food may attract wild animals, no food is allowed in cabins, tents, RVs, cars or on your person. All food brought to the Retreat Center is to be brought to the kitchen and offered to the cook to be shared by all)
- Cigarettes, tobacco products, or other smoking materials (strictly prohibited)
- Drugs that have not been prescribed to you by your physician
- Weapons such as handguns, rifles, and hunting knifes
- Fireworks
- Drinking alcohol for personal consumption (do not offer alcohol to any teachers here)
- Pets
Possession of drugs, cigarettes, personal alcohol or weapons can be grounds for expulsion from the retreat.
Weather
When packing just before the retreat, you can check the weather forecast online for the nearest town (Melk, Austria).
Health
The retreat provides a healthy environment of good air, good food, enough hours of sleep, positive activities, and beneficial teachings. Apart from that, there are no professional medical facilities within about an hour trip from the retreat center. Retreatants should take care of their own health, bring along any emergency supplies such as antidotes to any life-threatening allergies, and expect to be able to handle the somewhat rigorous teaching and practice schedule of the retreat. If you are taking any type of pharmaceutical that can influence your mental state (including but not limited to anti-depressant, diabetes and thyroid medications), we require that you bring an adequate supply for your entire visit here, and that you consistently follow the usage pattern and medical advice prescribed by your physician. You must inform the Event Director of your special medical conditions when you register.
Children
Children are much-beloved, however we have no special program or supervision for children at the retreat. In the past, children have attended these retreats, but have only been able to do so as full, conscious, responsible participants under the immediate supervision of their parents. If you would like to bring children to the retreat, please call the Event Director first before registering and discuss this with us in detail. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present during the entire retreat. Daycare facilities are currently not available.
Meditation and Sitting Practice
Meditation practice will be incorporated and keyed to the daily teaching subjects, with the goal of moving from a superficial understanding of the Buddha’s teachings to a profound and incontrovertible realization of their truth in our present moment thinking. During teaching and meditation sessions you are welcome to sit in a chair, but most people choose to sit on a cushion on the floor. Many people bring their own personal seating, but chairs and cushions are available here for those who can’t pack them.
Daily Retreat Schedule and Sessions
This will be an active retreat with a 24-hour schedule. Everyone is expected to remain in all teaching and practice sessions without creating disturbances, but it’s okay if you need to briefly step out, for example as a result of a bathroom emergency. There are breaks between sessions. The sessions typically last one and a half to two and a half hours each, with up to five sessions per day. There will be about eight to ten hours of scheduled practices and teachings per day. In addition, during break times, Yoga, music, dancing, art, and other Dharma activities may take place.
As part of your daily practice, from about 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM you will be required to maintain a vow of silence and not engage in any normal waking activities except using the bathroom. These times may vary from day to day, but the idea is that you will be laying down resting your body for 8 hours every night and not unnecessarily disturbing other people.
Additional Requirements
Everyone will be expected to follow the rules of the retreat which are outlined on this page. The rules are subject to revision. Also you must adhere to the schedule of the retreat and unless sick, attend all the scheduled events of the retreat. Yes, you may leave the retreat at any time, but you cannot leave the retreat and then return to the retreat.
To attend the retreat one has to be a non-smoker, drug-free, and mentally stable. Possession or use of smoking materials, illegal or mind-altering drugs, or non-prescribed pharmaceuticals are not permitted. You may of course bring with you and ingest any prescribed medication except medicinal marijuana which is not permitted.
There will be no shopping trips, so you should bring any supplies you need with you for the entire duration of the retreat. You should bring with you to the retreat adequate supplies of things like clothing, bedding, toiletries and medicine.
You must have the willingness and commitment to practice with the group during all sessions of the retreat. You should have good enough physical and mental constitution to be able to sit with us for the daily schedule, and a good enough temperament to be able to get along with others.
Payments
Your payment in full is due upon the acceptance of your application and must be paid in full by 1-August, 2019. In the event that your application is not approved, any retreat payments you have made will be returned to you in full. Your prompt payment when you register will help us to purchase supplies for the retreat in advance.
Cancellation and Refunds
You may cancel any time prior to1-August, 2019 and receive a refund of 100% of any fees you have paid. There will be no refunds after1-August, 2019.
Scholarships
No scholarships or work-study options are available at this time. However, ordained sangha (Buddhist monks and nuns) can make an application to the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation to attend this event with discounts. These applications will be reviewed and applicants informed of availability prior to retreat. We are soliciting donations to help make some limited scholarships available.
Please contact the retreat director if you are able to contribute to the scholarship fund. We aspire to assist diligent students who are have financial need of assistance.
Offerings
Retreat costs do not include any payment or donation to the guiding teacher. Any offering to the teacher or to the hosting organization that you would like to make should be prepared separately from your payment for the fees for this event.
The Buddhist teachings during the retreat are free, but note that within Dzogchen Buddhist tradition, the teacher does not charge the organizers for the teaching services, and therefore individual offerings by retreatants to the teacher are always welcomed and needed in order to support the teacher’s Dharma activities. This is also a gesture of appreciation, respect, and aspiration for the promulgation of Buddha’s teachings.
Q&A
If you have any questions, or are just wondering if this event is for you, you should contact us in advance to discuss. This page will be updated with some of the answers to questions posed, so questions are very much welcomed.
If you have any questions about anything, don’t hesitate to contact the retreat director or assistant retreat director.
How to Register Today
Reservations are required and are currently being accepted. Everyone is welcome to register by filling out the online registration. We need to process as many applications, and receive deposits, as early as possible in order to properly prepare for the retreat. We hope you can help us with this. Retreatants need to register early order to reserve limited attendance and bed space. Please register early.
If you have any questions about anything, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Open Contacts
Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation
Andreas Kvarda, Retreat Director
Email is the preferred way to contact the director.
How to Register
Because space is limited, we may have to decline some applicants, so you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The application period will close on 1-August, 2019. Once you apply, we will contact you to confirm your registration.
Everyone is welcome to apply.
How to Make Payments
Payment is due in full at the time of acceptance of your application. There will be no refunds after the close of the application period.
After your application, please make your payment and arrange your transportation.
Payment Options
Fees
The fee for this retreat is € 520.- per person. A deposit of half of the fee will hold your spot on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wish to request financial support, we encourage you to do so on the registration page.
After registering, the retreat director will contact you for payment.
The Great Merit of Supporting Retreats
Even if you will not be able to attend this retreat, you or anyone else you know may earn tremendous merit by providing facilities for those on retreat. If you would like to contribute financially or with labor, contact us immediately. There are a variety of different projects underway intended to support the retreat experience, including maintenance of the shrine tent and cabins, weatherproofing our facilities, and refinements of the kitchen and dining areas.
There are three ways you can help:
- Come to the retreat center prior to the Dakini Retreat and get the unique benefits of a work retreat.
- Offer donations for raw materials and supplies.
- Sponsor students and volunteers who want to perform work retreats.
Providing immediate assistance will help facilitate improvements in time for Hawii Retreat. If you would like to help or would like more information, please contact the retreat director.
Join the Circle of Compassion
Support the Dzogchen Retreat Center Project
The Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
For the peace and happiness of all beings, the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA is asking for your support to ensure the future of the Dzogchen Retreat Center USA, under the spiritual guidance of Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche.
Your help is urgently needed to ensure the preservation, practice, and transmission of the unbroken Dzogchen Lineage tradition for increasing personal happiness and creating lasting world peace. Please visit our Giving Section to learn more and donate online. Join our ongoing giving program, the Circle of Compassion, or make a one-time donation to the Dzogchen Retreat Center USA Project.
Generosity is the root of wealth and prosperity.
