About this Jonang Kalachakra Ngondro 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 (2)

Connecting with the Jonang Kalachakra Lineage

This is the practice of developing awareness of the lineage masters through whom the Kalachakra teachings have been transmitted since the time of the Buddha. We will learn about the Jonang-Kalachakra lineage and the origins of the Kalachakra in Shambhala. We will then learn visualizations and prayers to these realized masters in order to draw inspiration from the sacred unbroken transmission. The main purpose is to fill the mind with devotion towards the lineage and inspire us to follow in their footsteps. Such a lineage is authentic when it is based on real experience or realization of the truth of those teachings. This experiential knowledge is handed down from Vajra Master to student over many generations along with the transmission of authentic commentaries or scriptures based on the words of the Buddha. Without a firm connection and commitment to an authentic lineage, we cannot realize the final aim of full enlightenment.

Course curriculum

    1. Kalachakra Ngondro Program OVERVIEW

    2. Schedule and Links

    3. Materials

    4. Divine Ladder Chanting in Tibetan (slower version)

    5. Gratitude and Generosity

    6. Links to Further Modules

    1. Session 1: Introduction, Path Overview, 4 Convictions Review, Bibliography, Invitation

    2. Session 2: Types of Lineage, Brief Invocation

    3. Session 3: Brief Invocation Explanation

    4. Session 4: Long Invocation - Explanation about the Visualization, Jonang, and Shambhala

    5. Session 5: Lineage Masters Presentation - Nalanda, Dro, Jonang Monastery, Taranatha's Monastery / Zhentong Short Explanation

    6. Session 6: Practice and Conclusion of the Full Invocation Explanation

    7. Session 7: Ways of Practicing and Learning about the Lineage, Review of Key Points, Practice of both the Short and Full Invocations

    1. Session 1: Introduction, Path Overview, 4 Convictions Review, Bibliography, Invitation

    2. Session 2: Types of Lineage, Importance of the Lineage, Brief Invocation of the Lineage

    3. Session 3: Brief Invocation Explanation

    4. Session 4: Long Invocation - Explanation about the Visualization, Jonang, and Shambhala

    5. Session 5: Lineage Masters Presentation - Nalanda, Dro, Jonang Monastery, Taranatha's Monastery / Zhentong Short Explanation

    6. Session 6: Practice and Conclusion of the Full Invocation Explanation

    7. Session 7: Ways of Practicing and Learning about the Lineage, Review of Key Points, Practice of both the Short and Full Invocations

About this course

  • 20 lessons
  • 10.5 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.

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Work through the full 2 year Ngondro Program

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