Retreats & Teachings Related to Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions Archives - Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies

All retreats that are recommended or shared in this book

Fathom the Mind. Heal the World. October 1-7, 2022

Price range: $108.00 through $595.00
Fathom the Mind. Heal the World.

with Lama Alan Wallace, Dr. Eva Natanya & Dr. Anuradha Choudry October 1-7, 2022

Co-sponsored by Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies and the Center for Contemplative Research.

This retreat is an opportunity to explore the interdenominational, inter-contemplative themes outlined by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his vision for the Center for Contemplative Research:

The Buddhist meditative practices of śamatha and vipaśyanā

Teachings on nonviolence and compassion from other revered Indian traditions

Instruction in the contemplative traditions of Christianity

The virtual retreat will be available with both audio and video recordings of each day's teachings. We are offering multiple pricing options as you will see when you select 'Choose an option' from the drop-down menu below. Read more about the retreat below.

Select your virtual retreat option
Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions

$39.95

Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions

Composed and Translated by B. Alan Wallace and Eva Natanya

This book will be released on approximately September 16, 2025

Order your copy now.
For those who aspire to the total enlightenment of a buddha, the contemplative practices of śamatha and vipaśyanā play a crucial role from the beginning of the path to its culmination. Designed to free one first from the five obscurations that hinder the natural clarity and balance of the mind—and eventually from the ignorance that is the root of suffering—these practices, when imbued with bodhicitta, enable one to reach a pivotal stage within the Mahāyāna path of accumulation. This is the stage at which one gains irreversible, gold-like bodhicitta, after which one is assured of being a bodhisattva in all one’s future lifetimes until enlightenment. This is being released as a Hardcover book. Please read below for more information.
The Shamatha Trilogy

Free!
During the 2022, The Vajra Essence - Part 3, 8-week retreat, Lama Alan offered three teachings, and meditations, on these essential, integrated shamatha meditations:

Mindfulness of breathing,

Taking the mind as the path and

Shamatha without a sign.

We are delighted to offer these three core teachings, and meditations, for free.
The Wisdom of Atisha and Knowing Our Own Minds – September 13-20, 2021 Video stream & Audio stream/download

Price range: $320.00 through $560.00

Virtual retreat from Miyo Samten Ling in Crestone, CO

This retreat began with oral commentaries on Lama Alan’s two freshly translated dialogues between Atisha and his principal disciple Drom Tönpa; then we turned to a close examination of the fifty-one mental processes according to classic Indian Buddhist psychology.
The retreat will be available by both video-stream and audio-stream/download, and both are included in the price. If you need a scholarship, you can apply here. The translations that Lama Alan was reading from for this retreat have now been revised and are available in the book, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions. The content of the teaching is not impacted with the revised translations.
Please see below for more information on the teachings and additional details about the retreat.
2018 8-Week Retreat – Audio Stream & Supporting Media

Price range: $225.00 through $550.00

B. Alan Wallace and Glen Svensson 04 Apr 2018 – 30 May 2018 Lama Tzong Khapa Institute, Tuscany, Italy During this eight-week retreat, Alan Wallace will begin by commenting on Sera Khandro’s explanation of the preliminary practices for Dzogchen in The Fine Path to Liberation and by granting the empowerment of the Lake-Born Vajra manifestation of Padmasambhava. He will then give detailed oral commentaries on one of the five classic Dzogchen treatises by Düdjom Lingpa, The Sharp Vajra of Conscious Awareness, in addition to Düdjom Lingpa’s commentary (edited by Pema Tashi), entitled The Essence of Clear Meaning. Alan will comment on all aspects of these texts except the pith instructions on the direct crossing over (thögal), which is to be taught only to individuals who are able to abide continuously in pristine awareness.
Prerequisite Requirements to Purchase Program
To subscribe to this program, you should be familiar with the foundational teachings and practices of shamatha, the four applications of mindfulness, and the four immeasurables. See below for list of teachings. One must have genuine interest in practicing the dharma and must have read the text, “The Fine Path to Liberation.” If you need a scholarship, you can apply here.
Please read full details below in Description.
Retreat on Atiśa’s Pith Instructions on Theory and Practice: Nov. 2020

Price range: $108.00 through $220.00

Retreat on Atiśa’s Pith Instructions on Theory and Practice

Lama Alan Wallace offers commentaries on Three Texts by Atiśa:

Guide to the Two Realities

Pith Instructions on a Single Mindfulness

The Mahāmudrā Granted by the Noble Lord to Gönpawa

The translations that Lama Alan was reading from for this retreat have now been revised and are available in the book, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions. The content of the teaching is not impacted with the revised translations.

For additional information please read below.

Translations available into Portuguese and Spanish

Please select your media option and language option.
Atiśa’s Pith Instructions on the Middle Way and Commentary by Prajñāmoksha

Price range: $108.00 through $220.00

Atiśa’s Pith Instructions on the Middle Way and Commentary by Prajñāmoksha

This two-day retreat includes Lama Alan Wallace’s oral commentaries and guided meditations, as well as discussion and questions and answer sessions. Please read below for more information about the retreat.

The translations that Lama Alan was reading from for this retreat have now been revised and are available in the book, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions. The content of the teaching is not impacted with the revised translations.

This was recorded September 19 – 20, 2020 in Santa Barbara.

The retreat is also available translated into Portuguese.

Audio Download $108

Video Stream $148

Both $220
Shamatha Teachings with Drupla Lama Karma – Audio Download

$95.00

Shamatha Teachings with Drupla Tsampa Karma Translated by Khenpo Namchak Dorji Recorded in October 19 and 20, 2019 (one and a half day retreat) The translation for these teachings has now been revised and is available in the book, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions. The content of the teaching is not impacted with the revised translations.