by Lama Tasha Star

Schedule

Calendar

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= Sessions with Lama Lena

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= Practice Sessions with authorized Teachers & Students

If you are unable to view the Google calendar above, click to see Lama Lena’s calendar HERE and the Community Sessions calendar HERE.  

Retreat Waitlists

These retreats are scheduled throughout the year once the waitlist reaches a threshold number.

Accordion Content

Lama Lena will give Pointing Out Instructions (aka Inner Mind Rushen) for those who are new to Dzogchen or “still looking for your mind”. This teaching is given in a retreat format, which asks for a commitment of at least 3-4 sessions a day and practical silence.

Date:  TBA – This event will be scheduled when there is enough interest. Submit the form below to get on the list.

Capacity: Attendance is capped at 50 participants

Sign up Here: INNER MIND RUSHEN FORM

Lama Lena will give a private refuge-taking ceremony online, reserved for those who have a serious interest in taking refuge with her, specifically.

Date: TBA – This event will be scheduled when there is enough interest. Submit the form below to get on the list.

Capacity: Because of the intimate nature of the ceremony, attendance is capped at a maximum of 30 PEOPLE.
Preference will be given to those who have not taken refuge before.

Sign up here: REFUGE CEREMONY FORM
Please only sign up if you have a SERIOUS INTEREST in taking refuge with Lama Lena specifically.

Lama Lena will give a retreat on working with the emotions from a Dzogchen perspective. Limited participation.

Restrictions: This is open to those who have practiced Dzogchen for a minimum of 2 years and “can clearly see through thoughts at least a lot of the time”. This will be a weekend retreat, so participants are expected to maintain practical silence wherever they are and do 3-4 practice sessions each day.

Date: TBA – This event will be scheduled when there is enough interest. Submit the form below to get on the list.

Capacity: Attendance is capped at 50 participants

Sign up Here: Working with Emotions

This is a 7-day practice retreat for intermediate-advanced practitioners of Dzogchen.

INFO:

The retreat will consist of 3 teachings from Lama Lena (approx. 2 hours each) with practice and practical silence throughout the week. It will begin with teachings on Saturday and Sunday and then a last teaching at the end of the retreat on Friday. You are expected to use the whole week for personal retreat.

As this is a retreat, it is recommended that you stay in retreat mode as much as possible throughout the teachings. In general, retreat mode means practical silence (no social chit chat) and a commitment to do a minimum of 3-4 practice sessions a day.


PREREQUISITES:

– Must have been practicing Dzogchen for a minimum of 2 years
– Can see through thoughts much of the time
– Must have practiced and be practicing the Chenrezig visualization with signs
– Must have participated in the Working with Emotions retreat and be practicing Working with Emotions
– Must not have suffered a trauma in the last year
THIS PRACTICE CAN BE INTENSE, SO FOR SAFETY, ALL PRE-REQUISITES MUST BE MET!


DATE: TBA – This event will be scheduled when there is enough interest. Submit the form below to get on the list. Please note, because registration is limited, signing up below does not guarantee admission to the next session. Please wait for a message from Jan to let you know if you’re registered. Those not admitted to this round, will be put on the list for the next offering of this retreat.

Sign up Here: Working with Perceptions

FROM LAMA LENA:
The Extraordinary Ngöndro is a set of tantric practices. It involves working with the subconscious mind using symbols and specific movements that prepare you for working with a Yidam. Some teachers insist they be completed before attempting Dzogchen. I do not insist they be done first, but they do help some folks to actualize Dzogchen.

The retreat will be taught in pieces. The first piece being Refuge and Prostrations. An appropriate time later, once folks have had time to get comfortable with that, we’ll add the Vajrasattava practice. After this, we’ll add mandala, etc. Teachings will be made available to those who missed a bit. 

Please contact Lama Lena directly for guidance as to whether the Extraordinary Ngöndro is right for you.

PRE-REQUISITES:

  • You must have received a teaching on the Ordinary Ngöndro (from a teacher, a book, or the teachings on this site) and spent time contemplating the different aspects.
  • You must be willing to engage in the practices with serious interest and intent to follow through (either with Lama Lena or another qualified Lama), however, they DO NOT need to commit to accomplishing a certain number.
  • You MUST attend or watch all ngöndro teachings in order! If you missed a live teaching, you must watch it on the website and begin doing the practice before moving on or signing up below. 

WHEN: Currently, there is a cohort of practitioners working on the ngondro. Teachings are being scheduled every few months. If you wish to join the current cohort, you can catch up on what you’ve missed here: 
https://lamalenateachings.com/extraordinary-ngondro-resources/


SCHEDULE: This retreat will consist of 4 teachings of approximately 2 hours. It will be scheduled once enough qualified participants have signed up.

PRE-REQUISITES: 

  • must have participated in one of the WORKING WITH EMOTIONS retreats, AND
  • must have practiced the 1000-Armed Chenrezig visualization, AND 
  • must have been practicing Dzogchen for at least a year.

This practice can be intense, so the prerequisites are important! If you have not participated in the required retreat (online or in person) with Lama Lena, please do not submit this form. You may have done the Chenrezig visualization with Lama Lena or with Jan O.

If you are not sure about whether you meet the prerequisites, please contact Jan at janowenchico@gmail.com.

COMMITMENTS: Participants must make a commitment and set the intention to try their best to do the practice as given. As this is a retreat, it is recommended that you stay in retreat mode as much as possible throughout the teachings. In general, retreat mode means practical silence (no social chit chat) and a commitment to do a minimum of 3-4 practice sessions a day.

THIS IS A SECRET PRACTICE and you must not allow the teaching or your practice to be heard or seen by others. You agree not to talk about it or explain it outside of participants in the teaching.

Sign up using this form: SPEECH RUSHEN FORM

This will be a two hour Inner Body Rushen teaching with Lama Lena. Dates will be scheduled once enough people have signed up.

COMMITMENT: Participants must make a commitment and set their intention to try to do the practice as given. The length of time it will take to complete the practice after the teaching will vary. Some people complete the practice slowly over a few years, while others finish much sooner.

PRE-REQUISITES: Participants must have participated in the following:

  • Working with Emotions Retreat
  • 1000-Armed Chenrezig visualization practice
    If you haven’t received the Chenrezig visualization practice (either live or as recorded by Lama Lena), contact Jan O to receive it live (janowenchico @ gmail.com). It is very important that you have a consistent practice of Chenrezig  before attempting Inner Body Rushen.

If you have not participated in either of these retreats, online or in person, please do not submit this form!

THIS IS A SECRET PRACTICE and you must not allow the teaching or your practice to be heard or seen by others. You agree not to talk about the practice or explain it to others outside of the group of participants in the teaching with you.

Sign up using this form: INNER BODY RUSHEN FORM

Teaching Groups (w/ Lama Lena)

Lama Lena hosts rotating Teaching Groups via Zoom. These are practice-specific groups where practitioners can interact directly with Lama Lena, ask questions, and discuss.

CHOOSING A GROUP: You can only join ONE group. Choose the group that corresponds most closely to your main practice. 

If you need help choosing, either write to Lama Lena or join the most relevant group and ask for guidance there. Lama Lena will help you sort it out.

MONTHLY GROUPS:

  • Mahamudra  |  Monday 
  • Tantra  |  Monday 
  • Dream Yoga  |  Monday
  • Ngöndro – Prostrations  |  Wednesday
  • Ngöndro – Vajrasattva  |  Wednesday
  • Beginning Trekchö  |  Thursday
  • Intermediate Trekchö   |  Thursday
  • Advanced Trekchö  |  Thursday

FREQUENCY: Groups will rotate, occurring once every 4 weeks. Please check the calendar.

REGISTER: Please register using THIS FORM

If Lama Lena suggests a change in group, please notify Jan (janowenchico @ gmail.com) to get the correct Zoom invite

Practice Groups

These are approved groups led by sangha members. Please note:

  • Groups by Authorized Teachers may include guidance & instruction.
  • Student-led groups will not include instruction – these are opportunities for you to synchronize your practice in silence with others.

Mondays

Join Lilith for a 1-hour Inner Body Rushen practice on Zoom. 
 
Mondays at 6PM Pacific Standard Time. 
 
Note: There will be NO teachings in this groups, just practice.
Prerequisite: YOU MUST HAVE RECEIVED THIS TEACHING FROM LAMA LENA TO ATTEND

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Uq9TAnbFcgUc3f24A

Questions? Concerns? Send a message to: lilith@lilith.studio

This is a weekly, student-led group practice of the Kurukulle sadhana.
Mondays at 10AM PST/ 1PM EST/7PM CET

Note: There will be NO teachings in this group, just practice.

Prerequisite: YOU MUST HAVE RECEIVED THE EMPOWERMENT.  If unsure, please ask Lama Lena or Jan at janowenchico@gmail.com

Email Lela to join: lelamose@gmail.com

Tuesdays

Join Lilith for a 1-hour weekly practice on Zoom. We will practice Shiné (Calm Abiding) with or without an object. All are welcome, but there will be no meditation instruction. 

Note: There will be NO teachings in this groups, just practice.
 
Tuesdays:
– 10AM-11AM PST and
– 6PM-7PM PST

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Uq9TAnbFcgUc3f24A

Questions? Concerns? Send a message to: lilith@lilith.studio

Wednesdays

JanO holds sessions for those who are practicing the “Working with Emotions” approach from Lama Lena.

Requirements to join these sessions:

  • Must have Practiced Dzogchen at least 2 years and be able to “clearly see thru thoughts at least a lot of the time”
  • Must have attended a Working with Emotions retreat with Lama Lena.
  • If you feel you have worked with emotions in another way and would like to be included, please email Janowenchico@gmail.com 

Time:

  • Wednesdays 9AM PST (12PM EST)
  • Fridays 11AM PST (2PM EST)
  • Sunday 4PM PST (7PM EST)

Cost: Free to attend. Dana is welcome.

To register: https://forms.gle/iFAHNqgqYUXCJ11E7

21 Taras will resume shortly

Thursdays

Lead by Jan Owen, this practice group will run weekly on Thursdays and will be a deep dive into the text from Tokme Zongpo, a 14th century yogi. Jan will use the translation and commentary by Ken McLeod in “Reflections on Silver River”, but feel free to bring and follow any version.

All are welcome, there are no pre-requisites.

Sign-up: HERE
Contact: janowenchico@gmail.com

Jan Owen facilitates a weekly Chenrezig meditation group via Zoom. There are no prerequisites, so it is open to all.

Contact: If you are interested, please fill in THIS FORM and we will contact you with zoom details.

Info: The sessions are accessible on a drop-in basis, so you can begin on any Sunday. To ensure personal attention, each session will be capped at 25 participants. First come, first served! If more sessions are needed, we can add a weeknight or weekend evening.

Cost: Free to attend. Dana is welcome.

Sessions:  

  • Thursdays @ 5pm PDT / 8PM EDT
  • Sunday @ 9am PDT / 12pm EDT

Fridays

JanO holds sessions for those who are practicing the “Working with Emotions” approach from Lama Lena.

Requirements to join these sessions:

  • Must have Practiced Dzogchen at least 2 years and be able to “clearly see thru thoughts at least a lot of the time”
  • Must have attended a Working with Emotions retreat with Lama Lena.
  • If you feel you have worked with emotions in another way and would like to be included, please email Janowenchico@gmail.com 

Time:

  • Wednesdays 9AM PST (12PM EST)
  • Fridays 11AM PST (2PM EST)
  • Sunday 4PM PST (7PM EST)

Cost: Free to attend. Dana is welcome.

To register: https://forms.gle/iFAHNqgqYUXCJ11E7

This group will explore the nature of thoughts and how to work with them.

ABOUT: Sometimes our stories grab our attention and we can’t seem to let them go. Using the third word of Garab Dorje and practicing noticing the arising and dissolving of thoughts in open awareness, we will look directly at the bindings caused by believing our thoughts, and how to allow them run free.

TIME: Fridays at 9AM PDT / 12PM EDT.
We will start if there is enough interest.

TO REGISTER: https://forms.gle/eAzn8zStJDkjXgRf7

Saturdays

Lama Lena has asked Tom Light to host silent trekchö via Zoom for any students of Dzogchen who would like to synchronize their practice.

Time: 7-8 AM Pacific Standard Time

Contact: To receive a Zoom link, email or call Tom at: light@olypen.com (360-683-3993). Lama Tashi Namgyal will be hosting Silent trekchö practice 

Cost: Free to attend. Dana is welcome. 

Sundays

Jan Owen facilitates a weekly Chenrezig meditation group via Zoom. There are no prerequisites, so it is open to all.

Contact: If you are interested, please fill in THIS FORM and we will contact you with zoom details.

Info: The sessions are accessible on a drop-in basis, so you can begin on any Sunday. To ensure personal attention, each session will be capped at 25 participants. First come, first served! If more sessions are needed, we can add a weeknight or weekend evening.

Cost: Free to attend. Dana is welcome.

Sessions:  

  • Thursday @ 5pm PDT / 8PM EDT
  • Sunday @ 9am PDT / 12pm EDT