- Mindfulness of breathing,
- Taking the mind as the path and
- Shamatha without a sign.
All retreats that are recommended or shared in this book
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During the 2022, The Vajra Essence - Part 3, 8-week retreat, Lama Alan offered three teachings, and meditations, on these essential, integrated shamatha meditations: -
We are delighted to be able to share H.E. Jamyang Dagmo Sakya Dagmola’s teaching on Drakpa Gyaltsen’s commentary on Parting from the Four Types of Clinging, given in Santa Barbara, California, January 2012 Courtesy of Tara Ling Santa Barbara Please do NOT share this recording publicly in any way, on the internet, on any other platform, or any other means of distribution. This is being offered in conjunction with the release of, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions, composed and translated by B. Alan Wallace and Eva Natanya. We highly recommend this book for a deeper understanding of this text.
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H.H. the Dalai Lama’s commentary to A Shower of Siddhis: A Song of the Four Recollections, Guidance in the View of the Middle Way
We are delighted to share with you H.H. the Dalai Lama’s commentary to A Shower of Siddhis: A Song of the Four Recollections, Guidance in the View of the Middle Way in Zollikon, Switzerland, 1979 Courtesy of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, India Please do NOT share this recording publicly in any way, on the internet, on any other platform, or any other means of distribution. This is being offered in conjunction with the release of, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions, composed and translated by B. Alan Wallace and Eva Natanya. We highly recommend this book for a deeper understanding of this text. -
Gyatrul Rinpoche’s talk on “Karma Chakmé and Mingyur Dorjé,” recorded in 1989
Gyatrul Rinpoche’s talk on “Karma Chakmé and Mingyur Dorjé,” translated by Sangye Khandro, given at the Shambhala Meditation Center of Los Angeles, January 6, 1989. Courtesy of Shambhala Meditation Center of Los Angeles. Please do NOT share this recording publicly in any way, on the internet, on any other platform, or any other means of distribution. This is being offered in conjunction with the release of, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions, composed and translated by B. Alan Wallace and Eva Natanya. We highly recommend this book for a deeper understanding of this text.
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H.H. the Dalai Lama’s commentary to The Eight-Verse Mind Training
We are delighted to be able to share H.H. the Dalai Lama’s commentary to The Eight-Verse Mind Training, given at the Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies, Mt. Pèlerin, Switzerland, July 1979 Courtesy of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, India Please do NOT share this recording publicly in any way, on the internet, on any other platform, or any other means of distribution. This is being offered in conjunction with the release of, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions, composed and translated by B. Alan Wallace and Eva Natanya. We highly recommend this book for a deeper understanding of this text. -
Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions
Composed and Translated by B. Alan Wallace and Eva Natanya
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 a Hardcover book. Please read below for more information. -
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. -
Retreat on Atiśa’s Pith Instructions on Theory and PracticeLama Alan Wallace offers commentaries on Three Texts by Atiśa:Guide to the Two RealitiesPith Instructions on a Single MindfulnessThe Mahāmudrā Granted by the Noble Lord to GönpawaThe 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 SpanishPlease select your media option and language option. -
Atiśa’s Pith Instructions on the Middle Way and Commentary by PrajñāmokshaThis 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 -
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
Select your virtual retreat option
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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
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.
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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.