Tag Archives: amsterdam

Vajra Dance & Contemplation Weekend in Amsterdam February 2-4 2024

Dear Dancers,
With joy we invite you to a Vajra Dance & Contemplation Weekend in Amsterdam, February 2 till 4, organized by Rangdrolling, with Natalia Gershevskaya and Maarten Schoon.

In this weekend we will practice Vajra Dance thuns and sitting contemplation practices such as Guruyoga and Semdzins, focusing on integrating with sound. We will also refresh and then practice one thun of the Expanded or Irregular Vajra Dance of the Three Vajras.

If you would like to learn the Vajra Dance, but are not yet working with Transmission from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and Yeshi Silvano Namkhai, please contact us.

Song of the Vajra by Giorgio Dallorto

Dates and Times
Friday February 2: 14:00 – 17:30
Saturday February 3: 10:00 – 17:00 (2 sessions and lunch break)
Sunday February 4: 10:00 – 17:00 (2 sessions and lunch break)

Location
Broedplaats HW10  – Studio 14
Hendrik van Wijnstraat 10
Amsterdam
https://goo.gl/maps/ijsDX39neNL2kuym8

Costs
The weekend is donation based. All participants will be asked to donate. Please donate according to your possibilities. Your participation is more important to us than the amount that you donate.

Suggested donation:
80 Euro for the whole weekend
20 Euro per session

Please register to let us know how many dancers are joining!

Registration and questions to info@dzogchen.nl

Tara Practice & Vajra Dance Weekend in Amsterdam September 1-3

With joy we invite you to a Vajra Dance weekend in Amsterdam, organized by Rangdrolling, with Natalia Gershevskaya and Maarten Schoon.

We will refresh our knowledge of The Vajra Dance That Benefits Beings.
This is an opportunity to start to learn this Dance.

Over the weekend we will focus on the practice of Vajra Dance and sitting practice of Green Tara, dancing the Song of the Vajra.

If you would like to learn the Vajra Dance, but are not yet working with Transmission from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu or Yeshi Silvano Namkhai, please contact us.

Dates and Times

Friday September 1: 15:00 – 19:00
Saturday September 2: 10:00 – 17:00 (2 sessions plus lunch break)
Sunday September 3: 10:00 – 17:00 (2 sessions plus lunch break)

Location

Broedplaats HW10 – Studio 14
Hendrik van Wijnstraat 10
Amsterdam

https://goo.gl/maps/ijsDX39neNL2kuym8

Costs

The weekend is donation based. All participants will be asked to donate. Please donate according to your possibilities. Your participation is more important to us than the amount that you donate.

Suggested donation:
80 Euro for the whole weekend
20 Euro per session

It is possible to donate with a bank transfer or cash during the weekend.

Please register to let us know how many dancers are joining!

Registration and questions to info@dzogchen.nl

Instructions on Dzogchen Practice: Working Through Obstacles, with Elías Capriles

We are happy to announce this course in Rangdrolling Amsterdam with instructions on the practice of Dzogchen, and overcoming obstacles and distracting states that arise during the practice of contemplation.

There are a few updates!

The course will start on Wednesday evening August 24th, 2022, 19:00, with an open lecture introducing Dzogchen and the course; and continue till Sunday August 28th. For the time schedule see below.

Suggested donations are listed below. If you only attend the Wednesday evening you can donate any amount you feel is appropriate. Thank you!

Click here to register for this course.

In the course Elías Capriles will present his book: The Source of Danger is Fear: Paradoxes from the realm of delusion and instructions on the practice of the Dzogchen Upadeshavarga.

The book was written after a retreat period of Dzogchen Practice based on the instructions given mainly by Dungse Thinle Norbu Rinpoche and later also by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche.

In this book Elías gives advice on how, through the practice of Dzogchen contemplation, we can release the knots in which we tie ourselves, states in which relaxation and presence are hindered.

Update: We re-printed the book. Elías has updated it and it has been prepared for printing. The books have arrived and they are beautiful! You can buy it during the course and we will also send it to your address in Europe. Note that following at least one of the courses is required for buying the book.

We will practice Semdzins and Rushens together during the course.

At the bottom of this page, you can find much more information about the book, and an extended biography of Elías Capriles.

This course is meant for people who have received Dzogchen Transmission from a qualified Dzogchen teacher, or who have a serious intention to receive Dzogchen Transmission from one.

You can attend the course live or via zoom. 

This course is presented in collaboration with Dargyäling Cologne, who will host a companion course from August 18th till August 21th, 2022. Please send an e-mail to kurs@dzogchen.de to receive information on the course in Cologne.

Dates and Times (small changes in the time schedule are possible, they will be updated here)
Times are in Central European Summer Time, UTC+2:00 (Amsterdam, Paris, Rome).
Wednesday evening August 24 2022, 19:00 till 20:30 with space for questions afterwards,
Update: The Wednesday evening session will be an open lecture introducing Dzogchen and this course, for the general public.
Thursday August 25 till Sunday August 28 2022, 10:30-12:30 and 15:00 till 17:00.

Location
Rangdrolling, Amsterdam
Nemoland / De Groene Hemel
Address: Overbrakerpad 2, Amsterdam.

The course will also be broadcast via zoom. Please register to receive the link.

Contribution Fees (note: these are suggested donations, see below)

If you only attend the Wednesday evening, you can donate any amount you find appropriate. The below amounts are for the whole course.

Non-member of the International Dzogchen Community: 150€
Meritorious member of the International Dzogchen Community: 50€
Sustaining member of the International Dzogchen Community: 90€
Ordinary member of the International Dzogchen Community: 120€

Daily Contribution FeesNon-memberMeritoriousSustainingOrdinary
Price for 1 day45€20€30€40€
Price for 2 days80€35€50€70€

Note, the above contributions are recommended donations. If you can, you are encouraged to donate more. Donating for teaching is a very meritorious action. However if you cannot afford these amounts due to financial limitations or difficulties, a discount is always possible. Please contact us and we will look at this together with you.

Payment
Bank details:
IBAN: NL72 INGB 0006 0658 80
BIC: INGBNL2A
In name of: Int. Dzogchen Community of Rangdrolling
With mention: Elías Capriles Course 2022

PayPal: info@dzogchen.nl
With mention: Elías Capriles Course 2022

Click here to register for this course.

If you have any questions, e-mail Rangdrolling Amsterdam info@rangdrolling.nl .
May it benefit all!

Biography of Elías Capriles

Elías Capriles is a Santi Maha Sangha Teacher appointed by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu,
whom he met in 1978 in Boudhanath. He practiced Dzogchen in successive strict 3
months retreats on the Himalayas between 1977 and the end of 1982, after receiving
Trekchö (Khregs chod) instructions from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche and Dungse Thinle
Norbu Rinpoche. He also received teachings and transmissions from H.H. Dilgo
Khyentse, Dodrub Chen Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche and Pema Norbu Rinpoche.
As a whole, he has had twenty books published, as well as five Internet books, over
forty academic papers and twelve book chapters, dealing with Dzogchen and Tibetan
Buddhism; transpersonal psychology; ontology; philosophy of history; aesthetics;
political philosophy; epistemology; sociology; axiology, etc. Various of these are on
Buddhism and Dzogchen (including a poetry work) and Buddhist philosophy (it is
relevant to mention an as yet unachieved work called Buddhism and Dzogchen — Vol.
I: Buddhism that is freely available on the Web).
He is retired from the Chair of Eastern Studies and the Center for Studies on Africa and
Asia the University of The Andes, Mérida, Venezuela, where he taught Philosophy,
Buddhism, Asian Religions, Globalization and Asian Aesthetics and Arts.
He has offered conferences in many Universities across the Americas, Europe and Asia,
and has also led workshops and courses in many countries.
He managed “spiritual emergency refuges” where “psychotics” would go through the
natural self-healing process in which they unwillingly embarked, and has been an
ecological activist.
He is a member of the Board of the International Transpersonal Association; among his works on this subject, most recent and best known is the four-volume work The Beyond
Mind Papers: Transpersonal and Metatranspersonal Theory (Blue Dolphin, Nevada
City, CA, 2013). His most recent book is Chamanismo y Dzogchen (Barcelona, La
Llave, 2019).

Extensive Information About the Book

THE SOURCE OF DANGER IS FEAR
Paradoxes of the Realm of Delusion and
Instructions for the Practice of the Dzogchen Upadesha

The book starts with an extensive 40-page introduction, treating subjects central to the Dzogchen Teachings. Then it continues to describe knots and give instructions on Time, Pleasure and Pain, Boredom, Desire, ‘Fear, Insecurity, Suffering and Refuge’, Tension, Contemplation and Uptight Mindfulness, Meaning, Purification, etc.
(For a full list, see the table of contents below.)

Here are some comments by Elías on the origin and contents of the book and how it was approved by Rinpoche, a text from the cover of the book that gives more background, and the complete table of contents. 

Elías about the book:

This is a book that describes the knots in which we tie ourselves up, creating tensions, anguish and suffering—yet it also shows how the knot may untie itself if we perform a simple action, comparable to pulling the end thread of a lace. In fact, it describes the knots in which I tied myself and the instructions that came to my mind when I was practicing in intense retreats in the Yölmo area in Nepal and up the mountain from there.

When I lost that book, I asked a girl who is British and who had a copy to send it to me. I was surprised when I received it from the hands of ChNN. I used the auspicious coincidence to ask him whether he had found any errors in what he read, and he said “NO”. Then I asked him for permission to publish it through the publishers of the DzC in Spanish, which at the time was “Editorial Reflejos”, and he said “yes”. But then when I began to distribute it, ChNN wrote to me saying I could not distribute it that way, and that I could only give it to those who have previously received that teaching from me.

(If you have attended a course about the book, you can e-mail dargyaeling@dzogchen.de to order it. We currently only send the book to addresses in Europe, but write anyway so we can keep you informed about future possibilities.)

From the cover:

Elias Capriles studied Dzogchen with some of the greatest lamas of the twentieth century and, after receiving specific Trekchod instructions from Khyabjés Thinley Norbu and Dudjom Yeshe Dorje, did repeated three-months Nyingthik retreats in hermitages and caves in the higher Himalayan range. In 1978 he attended the teachings of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in Boudhanath and forged a relationship with the Master, who on Elias’ invitation visited Venezuela in 1986 and founded the Dzogchen Community there.

Elías received nearly all available Buddhist Dzogchen transmissions from some of the top Masters of the last century, including Kyabjés Dudjom Yeshe Dorje, Dilgo Khyentse, Dodrub Chen, Chatral Sangye Dorje and Padma Norbu, as well as Dzogchen teachings from the first three of the above Masters and personal help from Chatral Sangye Dorje.

During his intensive Trekchod practice in his repeated three-months retreats, in his practice Elías met different apparent knots whereby saṃsāra and the ensuing suffering maintain themselves. This book describes those knots—which it calls “laces˝ because they can be undone by means of a most simple action—followed by the instructions that came to Elías’ mind for resolving them, and with the help of which they spontaneously resolved themselves.

Contents:

INTRODUCTION 7
History of the Book 9
Structure of the Dzogchen Path 10
The Base, its Three Aspects and the Three Modes
of Manifestation of Energy 13
The Kāyas as Stages of the Path 24
The Energy Volume Determining the Scope of Awareness 29
Inner Ngöndro, Rushen and Chod 35
Three Types of Avidyā and Three Types of Thought 40
Structure of the Book as it Stands Now 48
The Title of This Book 51
Words in Parentheses 52
Acknowledgements 53

TIME 55
PLEASURE AND PAIN 59
BOREDOM 61
DESIRE 63
FEAR, INSECURITY, SUFFERING AND REFUGE 65
TENSION 75
SELF-IMPORTANCE 84
BLAMING OTHERS 86
HATRED 89
CONTEMPLATION AND UPTIGHT MINDFULNESS 92
SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS 97
DELUSION, DISTRESS AND HERE-NOWNESS 101
LACKING 104
OTHERS, PRIDE AND VALUE 106
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS 109
WORRYING FOR OTHERS 112
ILLNESS AND PAIN 114
Dealing with Pain 116
Contemplation and Illness 118
GOOD AND EVIL 120
MEANING 128
MORALIST TEACHINGS AND RELATIVE PRACTICES 130
ABHOR THE PASSIONS? 135
PURIFICATION 139
OPENING UP 141
UNEASINESS IN MEDITATION 144
BOREDOM IN MEDITATION 149
TOO MANY PASSIONS AND DELUSIONS
IN CONTEMPLATION 151
PROFOUND INSTRUCTIONS 153
PEACEFUL MANDALAS 155
WRATHFUL MANDALAS 157
CONCLUSION 161

APPENDIX 163
SOCIAL LACES 163
ECOLOGY AND SURVIVAL 165
SOCIAL CHANGE 167

NOTES 171

Mandarava Long-life Practice, Chüdlen and Tsalungs retreat | Nina Robinson |

We are happy to invite you to the retreat Mandarava Long-life Practice, Chüdlen and Tsalungs in 23rd – 27th October 2019 with Nina Robinson at Rangdrolling, Amsterdam.

During the retreat we’ll try to learn something about all the different aspects of this practice: its meaning and benefits, the symbolism of the mandala, the melodies, mudras and use of ritual instruments.
We’ll also practice the Sogtig breathing for the Chudlen practice and, if time, some Tsalungs as taught by Rinpoche in the 2018 Mandarava Drubchen retreat in Dzamling Gar, Tenerife.
*****
We’ll start the retreat at 6.30 in the evening of 23rd October 2019 with a Ganapuja of Mandarava.
On the following days there will be explanations and practice 10 – 12 am and 3.30 – 5.15 pm, leaving space in the evening for Yantra Yoga and/or Dance of Vajra, or Khaita. Sessions will be more or less 2 hours
**********

The Mandarava Long-life, chüdlen and tsalung practices come from the Longsal Teachings of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu.
They belong to the Upadesha series of Dzogchen.

The following are words of Rinpoche extracted from various teachings.

“The Tibetan word for Upadesha is Men-ngag. Ngag means voice; men is the negative. That means these teachings should be kept secret; when practitioners receive these teachings they shouldn’t talk about them everywhere and use them everywhere; they should keep them secret.”

“The practice of Mandarava is a path for having total realization and also, relatively, for having a longer life and prosperity. But the main point is to attain realization of the state of Mandarava.
“Another characteristic of Men-ngag methods is that they are more effective and lead to quicker realization. Of course you need a concrete base for that. If you have that base, when you receive the teaching and do the practice in the correct way you can have quicker realization.”

“The Tsalungs are specific methods ….. for applying how to integrate into a state of contemplation through channels and chakras.”

“In the Dzogchen teachings it is considered important to at least do the most simple form of Chüdlen because it is a great help in the development of clarity.”

NINA ROBINSON’s BIO:

Nina Robinson was born in England in February 1937. She has done many different kinds of work, including raising a family, making ceramics and teaching it. After briefly following various Buddhist teachers she met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and attended the teachings he gave in June 1980 in a camping retreat he gave in northern Italy. She was very fortunately able to follow many of his teaching and practice retreats from that time until the present day. She moved to Italy in 1986 and has lived near Merigar since then. She was secretary of Merigar for 7 years. She has also helped in transcribing, translating and editing many books of Shang Shung Editions.
Since 2002 she has been invited to lead retreats in many parts of the world.

Diet Advice just in case you want it
The diet Rinpoche recommended for those wishing to do strict Chudlen practice:
well-cooked grains such as wholegrain rice, barley, oats (no wheat); raw butter; honey; a little ripe fruit and cooked vegetables – all in small quantities and nothing after 6 o’clock in the evening.

Second level: those who need it can also eat some beans; fish; yogurt (only in the first half of the day) and cornflakes and milk in the evening.

Third level can add some cheese, fish and chicken etc.
People who have a lung imbalance will need more substantial food.
Drinks: good boiled water, some fruit juice, roasted barley drink, some herbal teas. Those who cannot give up tea and coffee should drink it very weak and not often.

Rinpoche said you should not smoke anything while you are doing Chüdlen.  He says that if you normally smoke you should stop for the whole time you are doing Chüdlen retreat.
Of course you shouldn’t use any kinds of heavy drugs or alcohol.

Location: Rangdrolling (Overbrakerpad 2, 1014 AZ Amsterdam)
Registration via email: info@rangdrolling.nl
IBAN: NL72INGB0006065880 with mention Mandarava retreat
Price: Sustaining € 95 -; Ordinary € 130 – ; Non-Members € 145 –
Early Bird Price: Sustaining € 80 -; Ordinary € 110 – (before October, 1)
*in case of financial troubles please contact  info@rangdrolling.nl

July, 20-21| Purification of Six Loka | Weekend retreat with Jakob Winkler

We are delighted to invite you to a Practice Weekend Retreat “Purification of Six Loka – Working with our emotions from a Dzogchen perspective” with Jakob Winkler on the 20-21th of July!

One of the main preliminary practice for entering the path of Dzogchen Upadesha for dealing with our passions is the purification of the Six Loka, the inner separation (rushen) of Samsara & Nirvana.

Through the power of the three Vajras combined with visualization, mantra and contemplation we purify the karmic seeds which create the samsaric suffering and hinder our recognition of the primordial enlightened state.

This practice is easy to apply and very suitable for practicing it together. We going to study the background of it and learn different ways of applying it.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu writes in „The Precious Vase“

“The separation of Samsara and Nirvana.

Being conditioned by the delusive appearances of the mind and by thoughts without having any control over them constitutes the karmic vision of samsara. Abiding in the state of pure instant presence or Rigpa constitutes nirvana. Consequently, the purpose of these two special methods of separation, in their turn subdivided in outer, inner and secret separation, is to enable the practitioner to distinguish or separate the state of the mind that is the source of samsara from the state of Rigpa that is the root of liberation of nirvana.”

Jakob Winkler’s BIO:

Jakob Winkler studies and practices Tibetan Buddhism since the mid-eighties. He met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in 1989. In 2002 he was authorized by him to teach the study and practice program of the base of „Santi Maha Sangha“ and in 2008 the 1st level. Jakob holds an MA in Tibetology, Indian art history and social anthropology, which he studied in Munich – his hometown – and Vienna. He works mainly as an author, editor and proofreader for Buddhist publications, instructor for Santi Maha Sangha and acts as interpreter for Buddhist teachings. Today he lives in Bonn, Germany.

Saturday, 20 July

10.00 – 13.00
15.00 -18.00

Sunday, 21 July

10.00 – 13.00
15.00 -17.00

Location: Rangdrolling (Overbrakerpad 2, 1014 AZ Amsterdam)
Registration via email: info@rangdrolling.nl
IBAN: NL72INGB0006065880 with mention 6 loka Retreat
Price: sustaining € 50.-  ; ordinary € 80.-
*in case of financial toubles please contact  info@rangdrolling.nl

Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra Weekend

August 31, September 1&2 in Amsterdam with Stoffelina Verdonk

Rangdrolling Amsterdam is exited to announce the next Vajra Dance of The Song of the Vajra weekend in our series, specially suitable for refreshing and learning this Dance. It is the third weekend and we are starting the second half of the Dance. We will repeat what we have learned before and start from Sambharatha on.

A special element of this course is its focus on learning the correct rhythm and way of singing of the Song of the Vajra. Those who are not learning the Dance now, are welcome to join and learn!

About this course Stoffelina writes:
In this course the new Pamo are learning the steps, while the Pawo or others who are present, sing the natural sound of the Song of the Vajra. They can experience how to be present in the correct timing with the syllables and melody, while they sing. Then the new Pawo start learning the steps and the Pamo sing etc.

All sounds of The Song of the Vajra present a source for contemplation. We learn how to sing perfect way in timing, offering our presence, dancers and singers, relaxing in contemplation All together.

It is a perfect practice, also a Semdzin, in which we can discover how this singing and dancing is influencing our dance, our own dance, but also the dance in harmony of Pamo and Pawo present on the mandala.

Knowing the precise timing and way of singing is presented since long time by Rinpoche, also by Adriano Clemente. In Vajra Dance, especially for those who know longer the dance, timing is important. This is a very joyful way to dance AND sing together.

All Be most welcome!!!

About Stoffelina Verdonk 
Stoffelina is a certified performer and teacher of modern dance. She met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in 1986. Since then she practices his teaching and collaborates within the Dzogchen Community. She became a second level Vajra Dance instructor in 1993, travelling to teach and practice Vajra Dance in and outside the International Dzogchen Community; and she is a very inspiring and experienced Vajra Dance teacher. In 2015 she was authorised as Santi Maha Sangha and Khaita instructor by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu.
For a fuller biography see: http://vajradance.net/stoffelinaverdonk/

Place and Time
Location: Studio 14, Broedplaats HW10
Address: Hendrik van Wijnstraat 10, Amsterdam.

Time Schedule (provisional):
Friday August 31: 13:30 – 17:00 and 19:00 – 21:00
Saturday September 1: 10:00 – 13:00 and 15:00 – 18:00
Sunday September 2: 10:00 – 13:00 and 15:00 – 17:00 (practice only)

Costs
Requested donation for the whole weekend is 100 euro.
If you have financial limitations, this should not be a reason not to participate. Please contact us in this case.

Payment details:
Paypal: info@dzogchen.nl

Bank:
Account number IBAN: NL72 INGB 0006 0658 80
In name of: Int. Dzogchen Gemeenschap van Rangdrolling
Reference message: Vajra Dance Weekend

Contact
If you have any questions and/or want to register, please contact us on info@dzogchen.nl

Hope to see you on the Mandala!

Rangdrolling Vajra Dance Team

Dzogchen Guru yoga Transmission July, 22nd (July, 15th explanation)

For all interested to practicing Dzogchen Teaching we organize an explanation session of the coming World Wide Transmission from an eminent Dzogchen Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu.
The starting point for the practice of Dzogchen is to receive a ‘Direct Transmission’ from the teacher. This ‘Direct Transmission’ is the means by which the teacher introduces us directly to the true nature of our mind: our primordial state or ‘rigpa’ (in Tibetan).
On three occasions each year, corresponding to particular anniversaries in the Dzogchen calendar, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu gives the direct transmission of Guru Yoga necessary for starting to practice. The World Wide Transmissions are broadcast as live webcasts, this time it will be on the 22nd, July at 5:00.
In order to be ready for the Transmission we are giving explanations for newcomers, what is it and what should one expect, a week before, on the 15th of July at 14:00 at Rangdrolling.
Newcomers who want to participate at a World Wide Transmission (WWT) should be interested in the Dzogchen Teachings.
Please come if you are. You don’t need to bring anything.

Uitleg WWT Guruyoga in Rangdrolling

See you!

Song of the Vajra Dance Weekend 8-10 June with Stoffelina Verdonk

Rangdrolling is very happy to announce a Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra weekend with Stoffelina Verdonk, June 8 till 10 in Amsterdam.

This weekend is specially suitable for refreshing and learning this Dance. It is part two of our multi-part course. In the previous weekend we learned the vajra dance of the 4 contemplation and of the 4 Da (until Vaitana). This weekend we will repeat and continue the ajra dance of the 4 visions and of conduct (from Parali on).

A special element of this course is that it also focusses on learning the correct rhythm and way of singing of the Song of the Vajra. Even those who are not learning the Dance now, are welcome to join and learn! 

About this course Stoffelina writes:

In this course the new Pamo are learning the steps, while the Pawo or others who are present, singing the natural sound of the  Song of the Vajra.  They can experience how to be present in the correct timing with the syllables and melody, while they sing.

All sounds of The Song of the Vajra present a source for contemplation. We learn how to sing perfect way in timing, offering our presence, dancers and singers,  relaxing in contemplation All together.

It is a perfect practice, also a Semdzin, in which we can discover how this singing and dancing is influencing our dance, our own dance, but also the dance in harmony of Pamo and Pawo present on the mandala. 

Knowing the precise timing and way of singing is presented since long time by Rinpoche, also by Adriano Clemente. In Vajra Dance, especially for those who know longer the dance, timing is important. This is a very joyful way to dance AND sing together. 

All Be most welcome!!!

About Stoffelina Verdonk 

Stoffelina is a certified performer and teacher of modern dance. She met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in 1986. Since then she practices his teaching and collaborates within the Dzogchen Community. She became a second level Vajra Dance instructor in 1993, travelling to teach and practice Vajra Dance in and outside the International Dzogchen Community; and she is a very inspiring and experienced Vajra Dance teacher. In 2015 she was authorised as Santi Maha Sangha and Khaita instructor by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu.

For a fuller biography see: http://vajradance.net/stoffelina-verdonk/

Place and Time

Location: Studio 14, Broedplaats HW10

Address: Hendrik van Wijnstraat 10, Amsterdam.

Time Schedule (provisional):

Friday June 8: 14:00 – 17:30

Saturday June 9 and Sunday June 10: 10:00 – 17:30  with lunch break (about 2 hours)

Costs
Requested donation for the whole weekend is 100 euro.

If you have financial limitations, this shouldn’t be a reason not to participate. Please contact us in this case.

Payment details:
Paypall: info@dzogchen.nl

Bank:
Account number IBAN: NL72 INGB 0006 0658 80
In name of: Stichting Dzogchen
Reference message: Vajra Dance Weekend June 2018

Contact
If you have any questions and/or want to register, please contact us on info@dzogchen.nl

Hope to see you on the Mandala!

Gakyil of Rangdrolling

Open Yantra Yoga Course Spring 2018

 

Registration Yantra Yoga Open Course – Deadline 4th May

This is an Introduction Course to Yantra Yoga with Marc van Westreenen, organized specially for newcomers and beginners

One of the most ancient recorded systems of yoga in the world, Yantra Yoga was
first taught in Tibet in the eighth century. It has been preserved in its unadulterated form to this day, and as an excellent method for attaining optimal health andrelaxation is just as relevant for the contemporary world. Emphasizing the coordination of breath and movement, Yantra Yoga helps us learn meditation through experience.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, an eminent Tibetan scholar and Dzogchen master, first began to teach Yantra Yoga to Western students in the early 1970s. Courses are now taught all over the world by a growing number of instructors accredited in a rigorous training and examination process supervised by the two main instructors
appointed by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti.

1st WEEKEND

Friday, 25 May 1 session 20:00-22:00
Saturday, 26 May 2 sessions 10.00- 12.30 & 15.00 – 17.30

2nd WEEKEND

Friday, 8 June 1 session 20:00-22:00
Saturday, 9 June 2 sessions 10.00- 12.30 & 15.00 – 17.30

This course consists of two weekends and it covers the preliminary practices of Yantra Yoga. You will learn:

· Basic warm-up exercises

· Nine purification breathings – is a pranayama used for exhaling the stale air at the beginning of our practise , it also trains for complete breathing.

· Tsigjong. In Tsigjong we work with the joints and the sense doors. It is made up of 5 movements combined with rapid breathing.

· Lungsang. Main part of the course is a set of 8 exercises called Lungsang, or purifying the prana. Each movement teaches a different way of breathing or retention of the breath. By learning Lungsang we are introduced to one of the main characteristics of Yantra Yoga: The breathing guides the movement, and the movements shape the breathing.

· Tsandul. Last part of the preliminaries practices is Tsandul.
Tsandul has two parts, a pranayama and 5 movements. These exercises prepare and train the channels for more advanced Yantra’s and breath-work.

If you are interested to learn more about Yantra Yoga then it is the best to follow both weekends. Then you will receive the complete preliminaries and you have a base for deepening your practise.

*This is a rare oportunity to learn Tibetian Yoga of movement. There probably won’t be organised other beginner’s courses any soon (by us).

Location: Veemarkt 151, 1019 CC Amsterdam
Price: Course (2 weekends – 6 sessions) – 100 euro
1st weekend (3 sessoons) – 65 euro with a possibility to join 2nd weekend for 45 euros
Deadline: 1st May
Registration: info@rangdrolling.nl

For general information about Yantra yoga: http://www.yantrayoga.net/

Yantra Yoga helps coordinate body, energy, and mind while making us more
balanced and free from tension. When we have a more relaxed mind, it is possible to
have a better, more harmonious, and healthy life.
– Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

If you have any questions or you know that you are going to join the course for sure, please let us know: contact us!

Gakyil of Rangdrolling

UPDATED | 7th Lojong Retreat May 10-13 with Zoltan Cser

The 7th Lojong involves training in the state beyond thought by means of pleasure and emptiness, training in the state beyond thought by means of clarity and emptiness, and training in the ultimate nature of phenomena completely beyond thought. Zoli would like to give an experimental retreat, where we are focusing to the practice. The 7th Lojong is the supreme method in order to start on the path of contemplation, with this practices we can gain experience about a pure instant presence, beyond mind. . Tummo means inner heat, and also related with a method of 7th Lojong. With Tummo we can find meditative stability through joy and emptiness, so this is a very important practice. Beside sitting we will do different practices, breathing, doing Yantra Yoga, and dance of the 12 A .

May, 10
10.00 – 13.00
15.00 – 18.00

18:30 Chöd (Everybody is welcome!)

May, 11
10.00 – 13.00
15.00 – 18.00

18:30 Chöd (Everybody is welcome!)

May, 12
10.00 – 13.00
15.00 – 18.00

18:30 Chöd (Everybody is welcome!)

May, 13
10.00 – 13.00
15.00 – 18.00

After retreat time we finish with Chöd, so the ones who can’t participate can come and join Chöd practice with everybody. Please come!

Location: Rangdrolling (Overbrakerpad 2, 1014 AZ Amsterdam)
Registration via email: info@rangdrolling.nl
IBAN: NL72INGB0006065880 with mention 7th Lojong Retreat
Price: sustaining € 85.-  ; ordinary € 130.-
Early bird price: sustaining € 55.-  ; ordinary € 110.- (before 25th April)

Zoltan’s BIO:

Zoltan “Zoli” Cser comes from Hungary, he was working as a vicerector at the Dharmagate Buddhist College in Budapest, now he is director.

He started to practice Buddhism in 1986 in a Chan lineage, he met our Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu first time in 2002.

Zoli is the member of the International Dzogchen Community continously from 2004. In 2013 he became second level Vajradance instructor, in 2015 SMS Base instructor  and in 2016 Yantra Yoga second level instructor.

If you have any questions: contact us!

Gakyil of Rangdrolling