The Radical Dzogchen of Khenpo Gangshar

with Richard John

November 11th

Date details +
    Room: Hybrid Program: In-Person and Online

    a Hybrid program — in-person with our teacher at the Berkeley Shambhala center • online via zoom • In-Person at the Sonoma Center
    Presented by northern california shambhala


    “Khenpo Gangshar was a mahasidda who appeared in Tibet at a time of great upheaval. Many of his students developed realization... even in prison.”
    — Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche

    A Veteran’s Day Vajrayana Retreat

    Khenpo Gangshar was a principal teacher of Chögyam Trungpa, and many of the teachings and practices we have received in Shambhala reflect this bond. The horrors that befell Tibet and its monasteries during the invasions of the late 1950's are beyond comprehension, but the dharma as taught by Khenpo Gangshar, a profoundly simple form of dzogchen, penetrated in spite of external chaos. 

    In this brief retreat we will practice Khenpo Gangshar’s guru yoga and pointing out instructions, with commentary and instruction by Chögyam Trungpa and other masters.

    Tantrikas attending this Veteran’s Day Vajrayana Retreat are encouraged to attend the weekend program, Meditation in Chaotic Times

    This retreat is for vajrayana practitioners — those who have received transmission from a Kagyu or Nyingma lineage holder. Students who recently received transmission or abhisheka are especially invited, and all tantrikas are strongly encouraged to attend the previous weekend of meditation.


    Attendance options

    Richard John will teach at Berkeley Shambhala. The program will be recorded and a link sent out to registrants post-program.

    • Attend in-person at Berkeley Shambhala.
    • Attend in-person with a group at Sonoma Shambhala, where a viewing screen will be set up.
    • Attend live via Zoom from anywhere.

    photo of Richard JohnRichard John

    Richard John has been a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche since 1975. He served as acharya to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche for 20 years, and completed the first three-year group retreat at Gampo Abbey. Richard has led Buddhist and Shambhala retreats in North America, Chile and New Zealand for 40 years. Richard and his wife Liz reside in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

     


    Heart Gifts

    It is customary to offer a monetary Heart Gift to the teacher, whose livelihood is entirely from teaching programs. The gift is completely voluntary according to your inspiration, and there is no suggested amount — any amount is appreciated! We will let you know how you can do that during the program.

    The Radical Dzogchen of Khenpo Gangshar
    A Veteran’s Day Vajrayana Retreat

    Monday, November 11 • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (Pacific Time)
    Please register early — space is limited

    Prerequisites  This retreat is for vajrayana practitioners — those who have received transmission from a Kagyu or Nyingma lineage holder. Students who recently received transmission or abhisheka are especially invited, and all tantrikas are strongly encouraged to attend the previous weekend’s program, Meditation in Chaotic Times.

    • $75  Program Price
    • $95  Patron Price — this amount allows us to offer a ‘Limited Income’ option for those who are not in a position to pay the full program price at this time 
    • $50  Limited Income
    • Generosity policy (type-in an amount)

    When you register, you will indicate your attendance option: attending in-person at the Berkeley Center, attending in-person at Sonoma Shambhala where a viewing screen will be set-up, or online via Zoom from anywhere. If you feel unwell the day of the program, for the sake of others please attend from home.

    If you have questions, please contact coordinator Jesse Miller at shambhalaberkeley [at] gmail [dot] com

    After completing your registration, you will receive an email acknowledgement. Closer to the program date, we will send out the ‘welcome’ email containing all pertinent information, including the Zoom link, to the email you provide.

     

    register now
     

    Program Policy

    Online Program Attendance  Zoom is available for computers, smart phones, and tablets. You need to download the free app on your device before joining the session. Once it’s loaded, click the link and follow the prompts to join the session. Please join at least 5-10 minutes in advance so that you’re ready when the program begins. Note that the Zoom experience seems to be most predictable when you are signed into your Zoom account and have the most current version installed on your computer. Learn more about Zoomread Zoom FAQs.
    Programs with in-person attendance  Please be vaccinated and boosted for the safety of yourselves and others. The meditation hall is large, well-ventilated and served by two very high quality air filters. Seating will be well-spaced. Masks are optional and available. If you are feeling unwell on the day of the program, out of consideration for others please stay home.
    Registration  Please register and pay online in advance of all programs that require payment / registration in order to make certain you receive all communications including the link for the program. Our online payment system is set up to accept payment through PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to pay via your credit or debit card for a program. Disregard if a program is listed as free.
    Visitor Information  Visit this link for information for directions and parking.
    Generosity Policy  The Berkeley Shambhala Center is funded solely by your membership and program donations. Thank you for your generosity as you consider what you can pay for each program at our Center. We strive to price our programs in a way that accurately reflects the financial need of our Center and the cost to us of producing the program. We are committed to offering our programs to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Most programs include a base program price as well as a sliding scale. If you need to reach a member of the Shambhala Center Staff, email shambhalaberkeley [at] gmail [dot] org with your inquiry.
    What is the Patron Price?  The other aspect of our Generosity Policy is our Patron Price. Those who are able to offer more than the regular program price can select the Patron Price option. By selecting this option, your generosity is helping to cover the costs of those who may not be able to pay the full price of the program. Thank you for your consideration, and for helping all to receive the treasure of the Shambhala Dharma. We appreciate you registering and paying online. This helps us not only to plan for the program, but speeds up the registration line on the day of the program.
    Work Study  We depend on volunteers to make all of our programs happen. If you are interested in offering your support in this way, please contact shambhalaberkeley [at] gmail [dot] org. We would be very grateful. Please note that we have limited work-study options for online programs.
    Refund Policy  If you are unable to attend a program for which you have pre-registered and paid, and contact us to cancel participation at least one week (seven calendar days) prior to the start of the program, you are entitled to either receive a refund less the cost of processing the payment, or you can apply the full payment amount to the cost of an upcoming program of your choice. If you cancel your participation within the week prior to the program, you can apply those funds to another upcoming program of your choice. No refunds will be given for cancellations after a program has begun.
    Non-Discrimination  The Berkeley Shambhala Center is open to everyone, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, faith, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, or marital status.
    Membership  For information about becoming a Berkeley Shambhala Member, please visit our Membership page.