Category Archives: Activiteiten

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

Retreat on Semdzins, Secret Rushens and Contemplation With the Emphasis on Kadag

Dzogchen Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

September 11 till 16, 2021 with SMS Instructor Elías Capriles

Including September 11, 19:00 CEST
Public Talk: The Three Phrases of Guru Garab Dorje’s Testament

Both the retreat and public talk will be broadcasted via Zoom. Translation to Italian and Spanish is also possible if it is required. The public talk is open for everyone, while to follow the retreat you need to have Direct Introduction.

For a description of the contents of the retreat and a biography of the teacher, please see below.

Location: Rangdrolling (Nemoland, Overbrakerpad 2, 1014 AZ Amsterdam)

Registration: via contact form   https://forms.gle/KkiUJYdMqfq5nHYKA

Registration for Public Talk Only: https://forms.gle/4RWZN6VGJwG2ZenS8

Price public talk: non-Members  10€
Price retreat Zoom Members:       20€ per day / 80€ for entire course
Price retreat Zoom non Members: 25€ per day / 100€ for entire course
Price retreat Onsite sustaining: 20€ per day / 80€ for entire course          
Price retreat Onsite ordinary:    30€ per day / 120€ for entire course

Payment
Bank details:
IBAN: NL72 INGB 0006 0658 80
BIC: INGBNL2A
In name of: Int. Dzogchen Community of Rangdrolling
with mention Retreat or Public talk

PayPal: info@dzogchen.nl
with mention Retreat or Public talk

No one will be turned away for lack of funds, in this case please contact us:
info@dzogchen.nl
 You can also reach us in the  e-mail above, if you have any question.

Schedule
Sat,   11th  September 
 First Session 15:00-17:00
Sat,   11th  September  Public Talk   19:00-21:00
Sun,  12th  September– Thursday 16th September   10:00-12:00 and 15:00-17:00

11th. September  19:00
Public talk: The Three Phrases of Guru Garab Dorje’s Testament

Registration for Public Talk Only: https://forms.gle/4RWZN6VGJwG2ZenS8
 
Guru Garab Dorje was the Master who introduced Buddhist Dzogchen to our human world.
In this lecture, Elías will explain the deep meaning of the three phrases of the testament of Guru Garab Dorje: (1) Direct Introduction; (2) to obtain a decisive certainty; (3) to continue in the state of rigpa.
 
      (1) Direct Introduction means having an initial glimpse of rigpa, which is the nonconceptual, nondual Knowledge (of) the true condition of reality, in a state of instant, immediate, nondual Presence.
       (2) “To obtain a decisive certainty.” According to Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, this phrase has been inaccurately translated as “to decide upon this single point.” This is a mistranslation because when one decides, it is the conceptual, dualistic mind that decides, and thus this decision is delusive. So Rinpoche translates it as “Not to remain in doubt” (as to the fact that one had a glimpse of rigpa and that rigpa is the knowledge of the true condition of all reality)—because rigpa cannot be remembered reflexively, as ordinary, conceptual, dualistic memories are remembered.
       Paltrul Rinpoche noted that it also imperative “to gain confidence on self-liberation,” for we need to be certain that, when we look at a thought after Direct Introduction, it will self-liberate.
       (3) The last phrase refers to the main practice of Dzogchen, which consists in continuing in the state of rigpa to which one was Introduced.
 
Therefore, the three phrases of Garab Dorje’s testament are the summary of the whole practice of Dzogchen.
 
 
11th-16th September
Retreat on Semdzins, Secret Rushens and Contemplation With the Emphasis on Kadag
 
This retreat will be focused mainly on practicing Semdzins, Secret Rushens and Contemplation with the emphasis on kadag.
       With the Semdzins and Secret Rushens we have a possibility of discovering rigpa, or returning to the state of rigpa if we have already had glimpses of it. That practice should help us be certain about our own discovery of rigpa and the fact that this condition is the true condition of ourselves and all reality (i.e., it will serve for “Not remaining in doubt,” which is how Chögyal Namkhai Norbu glossed the second phrase of Guru Garab Dorje’s testament).
       At the same time, the best way to become familiar with the self-liberation of thought in Dzogchen Katak Contemplation and to develop confidence on it (which is how Paltrul Rinpoche glossed the second phrase of Guru Garab dorje’s testament), is by nakedly and barely looking at the stuff and essence of the thoughts that arise immediately after having had a glimpse of rigpa.
       Once, (through the practices of Semdzin, Rushen, the Seventh Lojong, Khorwa Yedal and other introductory practices), we have given ourselves direct introduction, we have gone beyond doubt and we have developed confidence that thoughts liberate spontaneously upon looking at their stuff and essence, (barely and nakedly), then we can receive teachings on Trekchod to continue in the state of rigpa without deviating into samsara. And when we have developed enough confidence in spontaneous liberation in intense situations, we can then receive Thögal instructions and devote ourselves to that practice.
        Finally, there will be advice to the sangha, including an explanation of the principles of Contemplation with the emphasis on lhundrub.

Elías`s BIO

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 shis

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).

Green Tara and Vajra Dance Practice Weekend, February 8 and 9 in Amsterdam

We warmly invite you to a Green Tara and Vajra Dance Practice Weekend on February 8 and 9 in Amsterdam.
During the weekend we will combine sitting practice of Green Tara with Vajra Dance. Sunday we end the weekend with a Full Moon Ganapuja with Vajra Dance.
Below you will find a detailed program and all other info. We welcome you in Amsterdam!
Please register by e-mail to info@rangdrolling.nl.
The weekend is guided by Natalia Gershevskaya and Maarten Schoon, and organised in cooperation with Rangdrolling.

Program

Saturday February 8

10:00  Opening, 9 breathings, purification mantra, Guruyoga with 3 A, Vajra Dance of the 12 A
10.45  Green Tara Practice with Twenty-One Praises
11.45  Vajra Dance That Benefits Beings
13:00 – 15:00  Lunch Break
15:00  Green Tara Practice
16:00  Vajra Dance Thun

Sunday February 9

10:00  Opening, 9 breathings, purification mantra, Guruyoga with 3 A, Vajra Dance of the 12 A
10.45  Green Tara Practice with Twenty-One Praises
11.45  Vajra Dance That Benefits Beings
13:00 – 15:00  Lunch Break
15:00  Green Tara Practice and Vajra Dance That Benefits Beings
16:00  Closing the weekend with a Full Moon Ganapuja with Vajra Dance

Location

Broedplaats HW10, Studio 14
Address: Hendrik van Wijnstraat 10, 1065 AS, Amsterdam
Nearby train station Amsterdam Lelylaan, and tram stop Johan Huizingalaan

Costs

Free donation following the principle of generosity according to Rinpoche.
Suggested donations: 40 euro for ordinary members; and 30 euro for sustaining members.
We encourage those who are able, to give more. But financial reasons should never be a reason not to join.

Yantra Yoga Fall Continuation

Based on the stable interest in public Yantra Yoga classes even during these Summer months, July and August, we continue public YY classes in September and October! Huray!!

Everybody’s welcome!
Yantra Yoga classes are open for people of any skills level and age.

The classes will take place on Sunday at 16:00 till 17:20.

Adress of the yoga studio:
Svaha Yoga – Downtown Studio
Begijnensteeg 1
1012 PN Amsterdam

Price:
-Dzogchen community members EUR 5,-
-non-members EUR 9,-

Some basic info can be found here: yantrayoga-amsterdam.tilda.ws
For contact please use yantrayoga@dzogchen.nl

E-mail: yantrayoga@dzogchen.nl
Phone: +31 (0) 633 17 95 32

Yantra Yoga | New space | Open classes

We have exciting news to share!

Next July and August we will try out running Yantra Yoga classes at a yoga studio in the very city center, hidden in one of the oldest and most historic alleyways of Amsterdam.
The space is large and shoe-free, which is ideal for breathing. There is shower available, all the props, tea.

The classes will take place on Sunday at 16:00 till 17:30.

Price:
-Dzogchen community members EUR 5,-
-non-members EUR 9,-

Everybody’s welcome!
Yantra Yoga classes are open for people of any skills level and age.

Some basic info can be found here: yantrayoga-amsterdam.tilda.ws
For contact please use yantrayoga@dzogchen.nl

Adress of the yoga studio:
Svaha Yoga – Downtown Studio
Begijnensteeg 1
1012 PN Amsterdam

E-mail: yantrayoga@dzogchen.nl
Phone: +31 (0) 633 17 95 32

19 July | Public Talk | Meditation and Mindfulness, working with emotions.

The base for overcoming frustration and suffering is the application of presence and mindfulness. By becoming aware of what is happening in our mind and heart we quit being victims and discover new ways of dealing with reality.
Working with disturbing emotions and thoughts can be done in various ways. In Buddhism exist three main currents which approach emotions in very different ways.
There are the methods of renunciation based on the Sutra teachings, the path of transformation according to the tantric method and finally the Dzogchen approach of spontaneous liberation.

Jakob Winkler’s BIO:

Jakob Winkler studies and practices Tibetan Buddhism since the mid-eighties. He met Chogyal Namkhai Norbu in 1989. 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 within Dzogchen Community and acts as interpreter for Buddhist teachings. He is one of the few Western experts of Dzogchen and has contributed fundamental research to the understanding of Lhasa’s Lukhang temple, being the first Western scholar to identify Pema Lingpa’s treasure texts as the source for its murals. Today he lives in Bonn, Germany.

Time: 19 July 19:00
Location:
Rangdrolling (Overbrakerpad 2, 1014 AZ Amsterdam)
Registration (optional) via email: info@rangdrolling.nl
IBAN: NL72INGB0006065880 with mention Public Talk 19
Price: € 10-
*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 Dans beginnerscursus 2019

Meditatie in beweging: De Vajra Dans voor het welzijn van alle wezens

met Stoffelina Verdonk

Deze beginnerscursus is de ideale mogelijkheid om deze bijzondere meditatie-oefening te leren. De cursus is ook geschikt voor dansers die hun dans willen opfrissen of verfijnen.

Ervaring met dans is niet vereist.

We leren de Vajra Dans voor het welzijn van alle wezens. Zie de video onderaan deze pagina.

De Vajra Dans is een meditatie-oefening met geluid en beweging. De dans is een methode om onze energie te harmoniseren, en de drie aspecten van ons wezen: lichaam, stem en geest, te integreren in een staat van meditatie of contemplatie.

De Vajra Dans wordt op een grote, vijf-kleurige Mandala beoefend, die de overeenkomst representeert tussen de innerlijke individuele dimensie en de uiterlijke wereld-dimensie.

Het geluid van sacrale klanken (mantra’s) die terug te vinden zijn in de oorspronkelijke teksten van het Dzogchen onderricht, coördineert de bewegingen. Bij speciale gelegenheden kunnen de dansers originele, veelkleurige Vajra Dans kostuums dragen.

De Vajra Dans is een onderdeel van het Dzogchen onderricht, dat wordt gegeven door de wereldwijd bekende Dzogchen meester Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Sinds 1991 heeft Chögyal Namkhai Norbu vijf verschillende Vajra Dansen onderwezen, die los van elkaar of gecombineerd kunnen worden beoefend.

Om de Dans van de Vajra te leren is het noodzakelijk een cursus te volgen met een gekwalificeerde instructeur van de Internationale Dzogchen Gemeenschap. Beoefenaars kunnen daarna op mandala’s over de hele wereld dansen.
http://vajradance.net/world-mandala-map/

Sinds 2011 is de Vajra Dans verbonden met de CID, de Internationale Dans Raad, die in 1973 door UNESCO werd opgericht.

Stoffelina Verdonk

Stoffelina is een van de meest ervaren Vajra Dans instructrices ter wereld. Ze danst al vanaf haar jeugd en is gediplomeerd moderne danser en lerares moderne dans.
Vanaf 1990 heeft zij de Vajra Dans geleerd en gedanst met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. In 1993 is zij door hem geautoriseerd als Vajra Dans instructrice. Daarna heeft ze samengewerkt om de Vajra Dans te onderwijzen, te dansen en te presenteren op vele plaatsen binnen en buiten de International Dzogchen Community.

Stoffelina: “De beoefening van Vajra Dans is zeer nuttig om te ontspannen en om opmerkzaamheid te ontwikkelen. De dans helpt te ervaren hoe we kunnen ontspannen in ons lichaam, stem en geest, met al onze beperkingen en capaciteiten; en het geluk te ervaren van samen bewegen, in goede omstandigheden, maar ook in meer complexe, of moeilijke momenten in ons leven. Dat allemaal geeft ons de mogelijkheid om onze werkelijke natuur te ontdekken.”

In 2015 werd ze door Chögyal Namkhai Norbu geautoriseerd als Santi Maha Sangha instructrice, en is ze begonnen introducties tot meditatie en geleide meditatie retraites te geven binnen en buiten de Dzogchen Community.

Locatie

Broedplaats HW10
Adres: Hendrik van Wijnstraat 10, Amsterdam
dichtbij treinstation Amsterdam Lelylaan

Tijdenschema (voorlopig, kleine wijzigingen zijn mogelijk)

  • Vrijdag 13 september 2019: 13:00 – 17.00 uur.
  • Zaterdag 14 september 2019: 10.00 – 13.00 uur en 15.00 – 18.00 uur.
  • Zondag 15 september 2019: 10.00 – 13.00 uur en 15:00 – 18.00 uur.

Donatie

Voor de hele cursus vragen wij een donatie van 120 euro.
Korting: ordinary members van Dzogchen Community vragen wij een donatie van 100 euro.
Korting: sustaining members van Dzogchen Community vragen wij een donatie van 65 euro.
Indien je financiële problemen hebt, maar toch mee wilt doen, neem contact met ons op via info@rangdrolling.nl

Aanmelding of vragen

Let op: er is beperkt ruimte in de cursus!
Stuur uw registratie of vragen naar info@rangdrolling.nl

Video van deVajra Dans voor het welzijn van alle wezens

Practice Retreat of Pranayama with Zoltan Cser May,31-June,3

We are delighted to invite you to a Practice Retreat of Pranayama with Zoltan Cser on the 31st of May to 3rd of June.
The main focus will be on Harmonious breathing and developing Kumbhaka for Tsa Lung practices. We will get explanations according to Yantra book of how these practices effect the different kinds of Pranas that flow through the channels and how this effects our body and mind. We will work with the Pranas and the channels (tsa, lung, thigle), doing pranayamas The Four Characteristic Conditions, The Four Profound Applications, and The Secret Breathing for directing Prana into the Central chanel, practicing the three preliminaries: Loosening the joints, Purifying the Prana, Controlling the Channels.

Zoltan’s BIO:

Zoltan “Zoli” Czer lives in Hungary, works as a director in the Dharmagate Buddhist College in Budapest.
He started practicing Chan in 1986, met Chogyal Namkhai Norbu in 2002 and has been the member of the International Dzogchen Community since 2004. Since 2013 he is the 2nd level Vajra Dance instructor, since 2015 – SMS Base instructor and since 2016 – 2nd level Yantra Yoga instructor.

Friday 31 May
9.00 Yantra Yoga
10.00 – 13.00
15.00 – 18.00

Saturday 1 June
9.00 Yantra Yoga
10.00 – 13.00
15.00 – 18.00

Sunday 2 June
9.00 Yantra Yoga
10.00 – 13.00

|Sunday 2 June afternoon public talk, presentation YY & VD|

Monday 3 June
9.00 Yantra Yoga
10.00 – 13.00
15.00 – 18.00

Location: Rangdrolling (Overbrakerpad 2, 1014 AZ Amsterdam)
Registration via email: info@rangdrolling.nl
IBAN: NL72INGB0006065880 with mention Pranayama Retreat
Price: sustaining € 95.-  ; ordinary € 130.-
Early bird price: sustaining € 80.-  ; ordinary € 110.- (before 1st of May)
*in case of financial toubles please contact  info@rangdrolling.nl

*Public talk is not a part of the retreat program. It will be a part of the program of the “Tantra Roots Festival” held in the “Centrum voor happiness” (HW10), Hendrik van Wijnstraat, 10. Everybody is welcome to join.