Program

The program of Tibetan Yoga Center focuses on the essential teachings from the lineage of Padmasambhava and Nupchen Sangye Yeshe. The cycle of teachings is called 'Natural Liberation' because it presents paths to enlightenment during six states of consciousness we all experience. Tibetan Yoga Center presents these teachings in a form of seven courses progressing from foundational practices to the most advanced yoga of mind, body and speech. To make the topics presented more relevant to Western students, the courses will also include discussions of the latest neuroscientific research on brain changes associated with meditation practice, especially attention, emotions and consciousness. We encourage all students to take the first course because without proper foundation good progress in more advanced practices is difficult. If you are not able to take all six additional courses, you can focus on practices in those you are able to attend. It is possible to take these courses repeatedly and you may realize that you gradually find new depth in the teachings you have attended before. Indeed, these are practices for life-long exploration of the nature of consciousness.

Course 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NATURAL LIBERATION: Introduction to Tibetan Yoga
Duration: 8 classes 1.5 h and 2 blessing sessions (up to 3 hours), optional practice/retreat day
This introductory course discusses how we can attain attentional and emotional balance, and gain insight into deeper levels of consciousness. It includes information on current neuroscientific research of brain changes associated with meditation. The focus of the class is on guided meditations to calm down the mind and cultivate wholesome emotions of loving kindness, compassion, rejoicing and equanimity. Foundational issues such as motivation for the practice, impermanent nature of experience and phenomena, forms of suffering and path to liberation will be contemplated. You will be encouraged to explore both analytically and experientially practices and concepts introduced in the class.
date, time and place of the upcoming course

Course 2: TIBETAN YOGA OF QUIESCENCE AND INSIGHT
Duration: 6 classes 1.5 h and 1 blessing session (up to 3 hours), optional practice/retreat day
In this course students will receive instructions on essential practices which train attention in order to achieve stability and clarity of meditation. These practices calm the mind, increase mental balance and provide necessary foundation for exploration of the nature of consciousness. The course includes gentle body yoga and yoga of speech to facilitate progress in the yoga of mind. The core practice to be taught is called 'settling the mind in its natural state'. As part of the course, relevant neuroscientific reseach on meditation practices which calm the mind will be discussed. The course also includes powerful Tibetan Buddhist purification practices using visualizations and mantra recitation.
date, time and place of the upcoming course

Course 3: TIBETAN YOGA OF DREAMING
Duration: 6 classes 1.5 h and 1 blessing session (up to 3 hours), optional practice/retreat day
This 6-week course provides instructions on the practices of dream yoga. This involves initial development of lucid dreaming, and then exploration of the nature of mind and reality in the lucid dream state. This course includes practices of the illusory body leading to realization of the dream-like nature of reality. Khenchen Lama Rinpoche is especially known as a master and teacher of dream yoga practices.

Course 4: TIBETAN YOGA OF MEDITATIVE STABILIZATION
Duration: 6 classes 1.5 h and 1 blessing session (up to 3 hours), optional practice/retreat day
The goal of this course is to deepen and sustain the initial insight into the nature of counsciousness.

Course 5: TIBETAN YOGA OF DYING
Duration: 6 classes 1.5 h and 1 blessing session (up to 3 hours), optional practice/retreat day
This course explains changes our consciousness goes through at the time of dying and provides instructions on meditation practices for the time of death.

Course 6: TIBETAN YOGA OF REALITY-ITSELF
Duration: 6 classes 1.5 h and 1 blessing session (up to 3 hours), optional practice/retreat day
This class focuses on exploration of the self-recognizing pristine awareness, the mind of a Buddha. It includes teachings and practices of Dzogchen - the Great Perfection of Ati Yoga.

Course 7: TIBETAN YOGA OF THE STATE BETWEEN DEATH AND REBIRTH
Duration: 6 classes 1.5 h and 1 blessing session (up to 3 hours), optional practice/retreat day
Tibetan Buddhist teachings describe experience and stages consciousness goes through after death and before the next rebirth. This course teaches practices especially suited for this transitional state.

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