The Breath of Compassion and Pristine Awareness, with Lama Mark Webber – FULL
Please note this retreat is fully booked. Please contact the Course Manager if you would like to express interest in attending. See ENQUIRIES below.
The Breath of Compassion and Pristine Awareness, with Lama Mark Webber (Lama Chokyi Gyaltsen)
February 9 to March 8, 2024
The New Zealand Dharma community is very pleased to announce that Lama Mark Webber will be returning to New Zealand in 2024 and continuing the teaching / transmission of Dharma at the Wangapeka. The theme of the retreat is:
1. Deepening Our Understanding and Practice of Chenresig—Empowerment and Instructions by Orgyen Patrul Rinpoche
2. The Inner Yoga of Anapanasati – recollection of breath – a three-week silent retreat
- February 9: (7-9 pm.) Orientation to the retreat and retreat conduct.
- February 10-15. Deepening our Understanding and Practice of Bodhicitta:
- Drikung Yangzab Dzogchen Empowerment of the outer, inner and secret natures of Chenresig and group practice of the eight petal mani mantra that is uniquely practiced by the Drikung yogis at the Lho Lungkar Retreat Center in Tibet.
- Transmission & commentary of Orgyen Patrul Rinpoche’s The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones, the practice of view, meditation and action. This remarkable text gives pithy instructions on Chenresig practice and bodhicitta from profound realizations of Great Perfection (Dzogchen).
- February 16 to March 6 (3 weeks). The Inner Yoga practice of Anapanasati -The Recollection of Breath. Lama Gyaltsen shares in detail an ancient way of practicing Anapanasati, taught to him by the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche. It is a rare and deep purification practice of channels, winds and bindu. It lays the basis for the gradual settling of mind into the natural unity of samatha/vipassana. There will be sessions on physical awareness practices to help balance the winds and channels. It is superb for generation stage practices and unfolding the Mahamudra or Dzogchen without support. Commitment must be made for the full three-weeks of this 2 nd part of the retreat. Starting with group instruction that leads into individual guidance. Silent deep retreat. No cell phones or computers.
- March 7: Empowerment and or oral transmission to be announced.
This retreat is suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners with plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
COSTS
For Wangapeka members: NZ$2,255 + dana
For non-members: NZ$2,535 + dana
The set fee covers accommodation & prepared meals. We are fortunate to have secured some sponsorship this year that is being used to offset cook’s fee, course resources and Lama Mark’s travel costs.
The fee does not include any payment for the teacher / teaching. In accordance with Buddhist tradition, Lama Mark offers the teaching of Dharma freely, out of the spirit of generosity. There will be an opportunity to make an offering of dana / donation to Lama Mark in return, in appreciation of the teachings and to help support the continued flow of Dharma. Please give as generously as you can (within your own means, of course). As a rough guide, we suggest allowing for about NZ$35 per day, but this should be considered in light of your individual means.
A deposit of $250 is required to secure your place on the course. Refer Wangapeka’s refund policy: https://wangapeka.org/refund-policy/
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
A scholarship fund has been established to provide financial support to people who wish to attend teachings and retreats with Lama Mark. It is primarily intended for those who would be unable to attend without financial assistance. To be eligible, you must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident. Funding is limited and preference is generally given to those who have attended teachings with Lama Mark in the past. It may not be necessary that Lama Mark is your main Dharma teacher, however a good connection is helpful. Funding is subject to an application process and is awarded at the discretion of the funding committee. Other terms and conditions apply. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity for financial support, please contact the course manager.
TRANSPORT & TIMING
Wangapeka Retreat Centre is approximately 75 min drive from Nelson. We will be coordinating shuttles & car-pooling options in the week prior to the start of the retreat. If you do require transport to and from the Centre, please email the course manager with your flight times, etc when you have these confirmed. Cost usually works out to be between $50-$80 per person each way. If you are able to offer a lift to others, please let us know.
Please aim to arrive by 5pm on 9 Feb, in time for a light meal and orientation meeting. First class will be at around 7:30pm that evening. The course will officially finish around 2pm on 8 March, after a light lunch and clean-up. We do rely on retreatants to help with cleaning the Centre so please organise transport times to allow for this.
REGISTRATION
To register please fill out our online registration form
Paypal: We have recently been informed that Paypal is not currently available as a payment option. If you need to make a payment from overseas, please liaise with the Wangapeka office caretaker (wangapekacentre@gmail.com) to make alternative arrangements, e.g. an international bank transfer.
Please consider becoming a Wangapeka member – click here for details.
ENQUIRIES
For all enquiries and to express interest in attending this retreat, please contact the course manager, Jonathan Chambers:
e: info@openbreath.org
p: +64 21 1860 476
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Lama Mark Webber (Lama Yongdu Chokyi Gyaltsen) has been studying and teaching Buddha-dharma for almost fifty years. For thirty years his main root teacher was the great Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche who taught all three cycles of the Buddha’s teachings, including Abhidhamma, Vipassana in the lineage of Mahāsi Sayādaw, generation and completion stage practices of the Tantrayana and Mahamudra/Dzogchen of many lineages, especially of the Karma Kagyu and Sakya. Under the guidance and transmissions of the late Drikung Kyabje Ontul Rinpoche and transmissions from H.E. Lho Ratna Rinpoche, Lama Webber has been teaching principally the richness of the Drikung Mahamudra, Drikung Dzogchen Yangzab and Orgyen Nuden Dorje Dzogchen traditions, transmissions of pith texts of Padmasmabhava, Je Gampopa, Jamgön Ju Mipham, Patrul Rinpoche and Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra a transmission from Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche.
He has a deep and long-term interest in the sciences and collaborates in marine biology research and the arts which he integrates with the teaching of Buddhism. Lama Webber is a founding board director of the national ecological research institute IMERSS (imerss.org) Lama Webber’s compassionate activities demonstrate a profound commitment to freeing beings from innumerable suffering states. His emphasis with practitioners and students is on uncovering pure Dharma to reveal its extraordinary benefits and share the great joy of its deep study, meditative practices and integration into all aspects of our lives.
For more information about Lama Mark Webber please see: