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 (7)

Guru Yoga

The practice of Guru Yoga is essential if you wish to follow the tantric path to enlightenment, as it is the Lama’s blessing that allows you to develop pure perception and open the door to all other tantric realizations. We start by focusing on the outer qualities of the Guru in order to inspire the mind, then focusing on the inner reality of the Guru as being inseparable from Buddha nature. Finally, we recognize that our own Buddha nature is inseparable from the Guru’s Buddha nature and therefore there is no Guru “out there” that is separate from us. Through working with the Guru, we create a bridge that connects us to our inner nature and helps us unlock its limitless capacity. We will present the practice step by step explaining its meanings, its relevance for the Kālachakra Path, and how to put it into practice in daily life. We will learn four Guru Yoga texts for Guru Yoga Meditation: the two Guru Yogas from the Kālachakra Sādhanas “Divine Ladder” and “Enlightening the Heart” and, additionally, two wonderful texts of the Jonang Tradition that are an essential part of the practice of Guru Yoga practice, “Rain of Blessings for the Six Yogas of the Vajra Lineage” — the Guru Yoga practice written by Dolpopa, and “The Anchor for Collecting Siddhis,” written by Tāranātha.

Course curriculum

    1. Kalachakra Ngondro Program OVERVIEW | Module 7

    2. Schedule and Links

    3. Motivation, Dedications, and Additional Materials

    4. DIVINE LADDER (excerpt) in various languages

    5. GURU YOGA Texts from Dolpopa & Tāranātha

    6. ENLIGHTENING THE HEART Sādhana (excerpt) in various languages

    7. Various additional DEVOTIONAL Prayers

    8. Shar Khentrul Rinpoché CHANTING the Divine Ladder

    9. Gratitude & Generosity

    10. PREVIOUS Modules 1 - 6

    1. Session 1: Guru Yoga — An Introduction

    2. Session 2: Guru Yoga — Second Introduction, Personal Experience, Foundation Guru Yoga Visualization

    3. Session 3: Foundation Guru Yoga COMMENTARY, Short Practice, "Praises to Rinpoche"

    4. Session 4: Foundation Guru Yoga PRACTICE Session

    5. Session 5: Dolpopa Guru Yoga COMMENTARY, Q&A, Advice for Daily Practice, "Spontaneous Sound of Truth"

    6. Session 6: Dolpopa Guru Yoga PRACTICE, Q&A, Tāranātha Guru Yoga COMMENTARY Part 1

    7. Session 7: Tāranātha Guru Yoga PRACTICE, its Commentary PART 2, Q&A

    8. Session 8 (excerpt): Enlightening the Heart Practice

    1. Session 1: Guru Yoga — An Introduction

    2. Session 2: Guru Yoga — Second Introduction, Personal Experience, Foundation Guru Yoga Visualization

    3. Session 3: Foundation Guru Yoga COMMENTARY, Short Practice, "Praises to Rinpoche"

    4. Session 4: Foundation Guru Yoga PRACTICE Session

    5. Session 5: Dolpopa Guru Yoga COMMENTARY, Q&A, Advice for Daily Practice, "Spontaneous Sound of Truth"

    6. Session 6: Dolpopa Guru Yoga PRACTICE, Q&A, Tāranātha Guru Yoga COMMENTARY Part 1

    7. Session 7: Tāranātha Guru Yoga PRACTICE, its Commentary PART 2, Q&A

    8. Session 8 (excerpt): Enlightening the Heart Practice

About this course

  • 26 lessons
  • 11.5 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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