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Diamond Sky Dancer – Vajrayogini Retreat

With: Sarah Coleman, Mark Nowakowski, Lama Brian Hilliard

A 10-day retreat for advanced Vajrayana practitioners (see prerequisites below).

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Image: Thangka by Tara di Gesu: https://taradigesu.com/

Vajrayogini is the principal female deity of the Karma Kagyü lineage, an embodiment of our own indestructible wakeful nature. New and old students of all teachers of Vajrayogini are welcome to join together in this precious mandala of the Co-emergent Mother. Leap into your practice for ten days at Dechen Choling!

Sarah Coleman, Lama Brian Hilliard, and Mark Nowakowski will lead the practice. Together we will share and enjoy the blessings of the practice lineage. There will be four practice sessions a day, teachings on the view and meditation, luncheon discussions, feast practice, and lots of surprises. We will also mix in some moving meditation practices.

We welcome both fresh and seasoned yoginis and yogis. The teachings will address the individual needs of everyone. These will include (re)learning specific parts of the sadhana, including mudras, mantras, and mandalas, as well as an in-depth examination of basic principles, such as co-emergence. Aimless wandering in nature and spontaneous dancing will occur!

Mark will offer lungs for some of the Vidyadhara’s termas and practice texts, originally received and written in Tibet in the early period of the Vidyadhara’s life.

Who may attend

This is a vajrayana program restricted to sadhakas who have received the Vajrayogini abhisheka and have the Vajrayogini Sadhana by Tongwa Tonden, Karmapa VI. If you are still completing your Ngöndro, you need to have completed the refuge, prostrations, and Vajrasattva mantra, and have begun the mandala and/or guru yoga.

If you have questions about whether you can attend, please contact Mark Nowakowski at [email protected]

Practice materials you should bring

Vajrayogini Sadhana, Vajrayogini Manual, your Vajrayogini practice instruments, and any other related Vajrayogini practice texts.

Practical details

Arrival day: Friday May 23. You’re invited to come from 4 pm in order to register and settle in your room. Dinner is served at 6.30 pm. Orientation talk at 8 pm. 

End of program: Saturday May 31. Closing and banquet in the evening.

Departure day: Sunday June 1. You may leave anytime (no program). You are welcome to stay for lunch.

This programme will be taught in English. Translation to French is available on request. If you require interpretation, please submit your request at least two months ahead of the programme.

Programme price

Regular450 €
Patron558 €Help support lower income participants
Early Bird383 €Expires 23 February 2025
Under 30 years of age225 €

If you require financial assistance to attend this programme please contact [email protected].

Accommodation and food

Full board60 €/ night *

* includes standard accommodation and all meals.

Price information

  • Regular: this is the regular price for participating in the programme. Occasionaly (if specified in the programme description), there may be an additional fee for materials, to be paid upon arrival.
  • Patron: for those who can offer more than the regular price, your generosity in paying the Patron Price helps cover the costs for others who are not able to pay the full programme price and provides support to Dechen Chöling.
  • Early Bird: 15% discount on the regular programme price is possible only if you register and pay the total cost of your stay upfront, 3 months prior to the start of the programme, i.e. before 23 February 2025.
  • Under 30 years of age: 50% reduction on the regular programme price for persons under 30 years at the start of the programme.

Accommodation: the standard accommodation we provide is in a dormitory for the winter and a furnished two-person tent in the summer. Extra fees for room upgrades can be paid upon arrival. Additionally, room tax will be charged at 0.20 € per person, per night.

See the full price list

Note: participation in any programme offered by the association of Dechen Chöling requires you to be up-to-date with the association’s annual fee (15 €), which can be settled upon arrival.

Register now