About this 2 Year Program

This program is designed for those who want structure and support to complete the Ngondro.

The program is open to all. There are no formal prerequisites for Modules 1-7. Although we encourage step-by-step participation, you are allowed to directly register for any module (except modules 8 and 9). Generally speaking, the Kalachakra Ngondro Program is for you if you wish for long-term and regular support in your dharma practice, regardless if you are starting now or if you have been practicing previously. More specifically, modules 1-7 are shaped to help you prepare for receiving the 1st set of Kalachakra Empowerments (“Seven Empowerments of a Growing Child”), also known as the Kalachakra Initiation, and for receiving in the future the “Kalachakra Four Higher Empowerments” if you so aspire. That being said, you are more than welcome to just drop in to make a first connection and see how the practice reverberates with you—in this case, the modules 1-4 may be more suitable.

Benefits of this 2 Year Program

The Kalachakra Ngondro Program is a 2-year long program created for students who want to deepen themselves in the Kalachakra Path in a structured, step-by-step guided process. The Ngondro — also called the “Preliminary Practices” — prepares you to uncover your own Buddha nature. If you want to completely unveil this perfect nature, the Kalachakra Ngondro prepares you for the very subtle and profound yogic practices of the Completion Stage called the ‘Six Vajra Yogas’ of the Kalachakra Tantra. You can benefit by doing the Kalachakra Ngondro even if you do not aspire to engage in serious meditation practices of the Kalachakra Completion Stage in this lifetime. Shar Khentrul Rinpoché offers a flexible approach in order to embrace a variety of practitioners because being fixed on only one traditional way may not be a match for everyone. Developing familiarization with the Kalachakra Ngondro practices can be adjusted individually according to your own personal inclination.

About this Module (1)

Preparing the Mind for the Path by reflecting on the Four Convictions of Renunciation

1) the karmic law of cause and effect; (2) the suffering nature of samsara; (3) the preciousness of a human rebirth, and (4) the impermanent nature of this life. “These four topics are specifically designed to facilitate the transition away from a life driven by samsaric attachment to the eight worldly dharmas, and towards a life focused on taming the mind through practising Dharma. Renunciation can also be understood as a form of self-focused compassion—the desire to be free from suffering. It is this desire to be free which motivates us in the beginning, and it is this desire that we will eventually extend to encompass everyone else. If we are unable to sincerely wish ourselves to be free from suffering, then it is impossible for us to honestly wish this for others. When cultivated strongly, this mind of renunciation can become a powerful force behind all manner of spiritual practices.” (Khentrul Rinpoché)

Course curriculum

    1. Kalachakra Ngondro Program OVERVIEW

    2. Materials

    3. Divine Ladder Chanting in Tibetan

    4. Gratitude and Generosity

    1. Session 1: Kalachakra Path Overview, 8 Wordly Dharmas, Sacred Dharma, 3 Wisdoms

    2. Session 2: Karma (+Review session 1)

    3. Session 3: The Suffering Nature of Existence

    4. Session 4: The Precious Opportunity Offered by a Human Life

    5. Session 5: Reflecting on Death And Impermanence (+Review Karma, Samsara, Precious Human Birth)

    6. Session 6: Practice - The Four Convictions of Renunciation (+Review Death and Impermanence, Q&A about the Kalachakra Path, Intro to the Divine Ladder)

    7. Session 7: Practice - The Four Convictions of Renunciation with Chanting (+Review 10 Non-Virtues and 10 Virtues)

    1. Session 1: Kalachakra Path Overview, 8 Wordly Dharmas, Sacred Dharma, 3 Wisdoms

    2. Session 2: Karma (+Review session 1)

    3. Session 3: The Suffering Nature of Existence

    4. Session 4: The Precious Opportunity Offered by a Human Life

    5. Session 5: Reflecting on Death And Impermanence (+Review Karma, Samsara, Precious Human Birth)

    6. Session 6: Practice - The Four Convictions of Renunciation (+Review Death and Impermanence, Q&A about the Kalachakra Path, Intro to the Divine Ladder)

    7. Session 7: Practice - The Four Convictions of Renunciation with Chanting (+Review 10 Non-Virtues and 10 Virtues)

About this course

  • $180.00
  • 10 hours of video content

Program Fees

We offer flexible offering levels to accommodate students in different countries and economic situations worldwide. If you need further financial assistance to access a class, please email [email protected] No one is turned away for lack of funds.

Meet Our Program Instructor

Dzokden Kalapa

Rafa Lobsang Dorje (Rafael Nassif)

Dzokden Kalapa Program Co-ordinator

He started his contact with Buddhism in 2008, after practicing in other systems of spiritual practice in his homeland Brazil. In Europe, India and Tibet he had precious opportunities to receive teachings, transmissions and empowerments from masters from almost all schools of Tibetan Buddhism and from the Theravada Tradition as well, and took part in different group and solitary retreats. He was fortunate to met his precious Guru Jamphel Lodrö (Khentrul Rinpoche) in She Drup Ling-Austria in 2015, from whom he has been receiving a vast and profound wealth of Dharma, since the foundational subjects until the Kalachakra Vajra Yogas. Since 2016 he has been teaching Lu Jong (Tibetan Healing Yoga). In 2018 he received authorisation from Rinpoche to teach the Kalachakra-Ngöndro. Recently he reduced his professional activities as a composer in order to serve the altruistic ideals of his Guru as a full-time volunteer at our Dzokden community. He serves the community a.o. as a translator, editor and coordinator for the translations’ groups for both German and Portuguese languages.

View Additional Modules in this Series

Work through the full 2 year Ngondro Program

View more products