Songs of Milarepa
Online Open Retreat Oct. 9-11
Hosted by Nalandabodhi’s Mountain Retreat Center
Milarepa is a renowned figure in Tibetan culture. In his early life he performed many serious misdeeds, until he renounced this way of life to follow the dharma and the path of meditation.
Through profound discipline, exertion, and devotion to his teacher, he attained enlightenment in his later years. Jetsun Milarepa’s life story is truly remarkable and is an inspiration to us all. By his example, we are shown that anyone can transform their lives and ultimately achieve enlightenment. Our contemporary circumstances may differ from Milarepa’s 12th century life, but the rich legacy of his songs and story remain relevant to this day.
Through closely studying his songs of spiritual realization we can get a glimpse into the mind of this remarkable yogi and the power of practice. Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche has said that Milarepa is a “source of inspiration and blessings, and a guiding example for all who seek enlightenment in this lifetime.”
During this retreat, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Lama Rabten Tshering and Mitra Tyler Dewar will teach on the songs and life story of Milarepa, and how they are relevant to our lives today. Meditation sessions will help us integrate these teachings.
About Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is a widely celebrated Buddhist teacher and the author of Emotional Rescue, Rebel Buddha, and many other books. A lover of music, art, and urban culture, Rinpoche is a poet, photographer, accomplished calligrapher, and visual artist.
Acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars and meditation masters of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Rinpoche is known for his sharp intellect, humor, and easy-going teaching style. Rinpoche often uses songs of realization, particularly those by Milarepa and his teacher Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, to help his students gain deeper understanding.
About Lama Rabten Tshering
Lama Rabten Tshering is the resident teacher and spiritual director of Nalandabodhi Canada. He spent his early years at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, serving as disciplinary master there for five years. In 1997 he entered a 3-year retreat at Pullahari Retreat Center in Kathmandu, Nepal, under the guidance of Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and other masters. In 2002 he came to the west at the invitation of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and has been serving the Nalandabodhi community since that time. He teaches regularly at Nalandabodhi’s Canadian headquarters in Vancouver.
Mitra Tyler Dewar
Mitra Tyler has been engaged in the study and practice of Buddhism since 1996, becoming a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche two years later. He began studying the Tibetan language in 1997, and became an oral interpreter and textual translator for Nitartha Institute and Nalandabodhi in 2000. He joined the faculty of Nitartha Institute in 2003 and was appointed as a senior teacher in Nalandabodhi in 2005. Mitra Tyler has served as an oral interpreter for lineage-holding masters of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism.
A musician and singer, Mitra Tyler has participated in the creation of several melodized liturgies and dharma songs.
MRC, Nalandabodhi’s Mountain Retreat Center
Nestled in the breathtaking Canadian Rockies, MRC is in the Columbia River Valley surrounded by the Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. It is the perfect spot for a meditation retreat. MRC offers both on-site and online retreat programs, and also serves those interested in solo retreats.
MRC has retreat cabins and rooms, with a community shrine room and library available to all retreatants. The many surrounding trails are perfect for walking meditation and contemplation.
For more information, please visit www.mrclodgeandcabins.com
Tentative Program Schedule, Subject to Change
All times in Pacific.
Saturday Oct. 9
10 – 10:10 a.m. Welcome
10:10 – 10:30 a.m. Short Meditation
10:30 a.m. – 12 p,m. Teachings/Meditation led by Mitra Tyler Dewar
12 – 2:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30 – 4 p.m. Teachings/Meditation led by Lama Rabten Tshering
4 – 4:30 p.m. Break
4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Teachings by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
Sunday Oct. 10
10 – 10:30 a.m. Meditation
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Teachings/Meditation led by Lama Rabten Tshering
12 – 2:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30 – 4 p.m. Teachings/Meditation led by Mitra Tyler Dewar
Monday Oct. 11
10 – 10:30 a.m. Meditation
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Q&A led by Lama Rabten Tshering and Mitra Tyler Dewar
Registration
Songs of Milarepa is an online open retreat. All are welcome.
Full price of the two and a half day program is CDN$150 (approx. US$117)
Discounted options are:
- CDN $115 (approx. US $90)
- CDN $70 (approx. US $50)
- CDN $50 (approx. US $39)
To register, please click on the Registration button at the top of this event. To see the Registration page in your language of choice, please use the translation function of your browser. Registration Deadline is Oct. 5, 2021.
Upon completing registration, you will receive a confirmation email. Information on the Zoom link and other useful information will be sent out later. Questions for the Q&A session will be collected during the retreat.
For further information or questions, please contact programs@mrclodgeandcabins.com.
