Dzogchen Center - Live Virtual Retreats

Live Virtual Meditation Retreats

The Live Virtual Meditation Retreats

Our live virtual meditation retreats focus on providing an online container for the transmission of insight led by Lama Surya Das.
They offer an ideal opportunity to engage with powerful instructions, teachings, and practices of the Dzogchen tradition
in the comfort and convenience of your own sacred space.

Lama Surya Das is one of the most highly regarded meditation masters in the West, and an authorized and empowered teacher
in the Dzogchen Tibetan Meditation Tradition and the NonSectarian Practicing Lineage. Lama has spent over twenty years in retreat,
studying with many of the most profound and honored Tibetan masters of his time. He is the author of 14 books– including the international
bestseller Awakening the Buddha Within— and has an extensive corpus of teaching and practices, experience and realization from which he draws.

The instructions and practices offered come directly from decades of teaching experience leading retreats and workshops worldwide.
Lama is known for his innovative adaptations of these invaluable wisdom teachings, making them accessible and applicable to daily life.
Our live retreats are open to new and seasoned practitioners in any spiritual tradition.

2023
Day-Long Virtual Retreats

Enlightened Leadership the Bodhisattva Way:
Becoming Wise while Actualizing Compassion
(you may register for just one retreat or save 10% when you register for both (bundled))

April 29, 2023 ~ Part One: Wisdom (click here to register for just April 29th or both)
Pointing Out Innate Buddha-Nature: Recognizing and Realizing
In the timeless Dzogchen practice we come to rest, abide in and actualize our True Nature, our essential Buddhaness,
with ease. In this daylong, Lama Surya Das will offer lineage pith-instructions and teachings, pointing the way to
Being+, Awareness+, our True Home and refuge, Innate Wakefulness. We will also have the opportunity for sitting
in meditation and chanting together, along with the Lama’s experienced guidance, tips & pointers.
“Ehi-passiko! (Come and See)”. ~Buddha

June 10, 2023 ~ Part Two: Compassion (registration for June 10th only will open in May)
Being an Everyday Bodhisattva: The Four Faces of Buddha’s Love
It is said that the Bodhisattva Leader is like a graceful great bird winging it’s way through the space of freedom and enlightenment -
with the twin wings of wisdom and compassion -for the benefit of all beings everywhere. In this daylong retreat, Lama Surya Das
will offer pith instructions and teachings on the Buddha’s boundless way: of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and
equanimity, the four faces of Buddha’s love. We will also have the opportunity for taking refuge and sitting in meditation together.

Cost and Financial Policy

Day-Long live virtual retreats are $99 for members / $125 for non-members (unless bundled pricing is available.)
Weekend live virtual retreats are $199 for members / $245 for non-members (Advanced Retreat is $249 and restricted to only members.)

If you need financial assistance, please contact our director Kathleen Albanese at kathleen@surya.org.
Registration does not include compensation for Lama- 100% of the fee support the Dzogchen Foundation’s staff, free offerings, and scholarship program.
All live virtual retreats are recorded and available to registrants.

Testimonials

Don’t take our word for it...

One-day retreats are a great idea! I hope they will continue post-pandemic.
Valuable and authentic teachings.
I like the informality of the retreat combined with Lama’s extensive experience and knowledge.

They are well-run and offer us the opportunity to meditate and study with Lama.

I thank the foundation and the Lama on the ability to migrate to virtual retreats in Covid. It has opened up and made accessible access to a teacher that otherwise would have been limited by physical location. Thank you and great work.

This was a wonderful way to begin 2021. I am grateful to all of you who made it happen. Thank you!

The Lama’s teachings are incredible and a source of great optimism for me during difficult times.

I do wish the virtual retreats were longer.

Thanks to everyone who made this retreat happen. Very much appreciated in these intense times. So much care and attention in making it a meaningful retreat.

Gratitude to everyone for making this possible.

The retreat allows for movement to higher level of understanding of light and joining/union that cause a shift in your vibration level.

Preparing Your Home

In order to prepare for a home retreat, try to set up a solitary space. Having a dedicated distraction-free space is important to support focus during
the guided sitting periods and teachings. It is also advised that you set up a shrine, with a couple of meaningful objects, candles, and incense.

Sitting for intensive meditation practice takes training and getting used to. The most important thing is that your body is comfortable and supported.
Sitting up on your couch is fine but you should be sitting upright with good support for your back. Minimizing discomfort is essential.

Here are some of our students' of home spaces.

Virtual Retreat Formats

We offer virtual day and weekend retreats via Zoom. The formats model our residential retreats, which over three decades, have been finely tuned.

Each day in the live virtual retreat is composed of two sessions – a morning and afternoon. Each session includes live teaching, group meditation,
and appropriate breaks to get up and stretch, which reduces computer screen fatigue.

Sample Day-Long Live Virtual Retreat Schedule:

Morning Session
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM Guided Group Meditation (45 min)
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM Break (15 min)
10:00 AM – 10:45 Refuge (45 min)
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM Break (15 min)
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Lama Surya Teaching with Q & A (90 min)
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM Break (1.25 hr)

Afternoon Session
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM Guided Group Meditation (30 min)
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break (15 min)
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Lama Surya Teaching with Q & A (90 min)

Sample Weekend Live Virtual Retreat Schedule:
(Friday evening through Sunday afternoon):

Friday Evening Session
7:15 to 8:00 PM Meditation & Chanting with Lama Surya Das (45 min)

Saturday/Sunday Morning Session
9:00 AM to 9:45 AM Tibetan Energy Yoga (45 min)
9:45 AM to 10:00 AM Break (15 min)
10:00 AM to 10:45 AM Refuge
10:45 AM to 11:00 AM Break (15 min)
11:00 AM to 12:15 PM Lama Surya Das Teaching with Q & A (75 min)
12:15 PM to 1:45 PM Break (1.5 hr)

Saturday Evening Session
6:40 PM to 8:15 PM Music and Teaching with Lama Surya Das

Saturday/Sunday Afternoon Session
1:45 PM to 3:00 PM Dharma Talk (75 min)
3:00 PM to 3:15 PM Break (15 min)
3:15 PM to 4:00 PM Open Q & A (45 min)
4:00 Pm to 4:15 PM Break (15 min)
4:15 PM to 5:15 PM Lama Surya Teaching with Q & A (60 min)

Any Questions?

You can reach us at retreat@dzogchen.org