Retreats Archives - Page 3 of 6 - Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies

Lucid Dreaming and Dream Yoga Retreat 2018

$108.00

Retreat Title: Lucid Dreaming and Dream Yoga September 18-25, 2018 Sponsored by Garrison Institute, New York Audio Stream and Download
Modern scientific research into lucid dreaming draws a sharp distinction between the waking state and dreaming, and it has developed practical methods for inducing lucidity, namely, recognizing that we are dreaming while we are dreaming.

The ancient Buddhist contemplative tradition of dream yoga points out deep similarities between the waking state and dreaming, encouraging us to become lucid at all times. To fully awaken to the nature of experience is to be a Buddha, an “Awakened One,” and that is the ultimate aim of dream yoga.

During this retreat, Alan Wallace will discuss the relation between lucid dreaming and dream yoga, including areas of complementarity and divergence. In addition, we will engage in the daytime and nighttime practices of dream yoga, interspersed with times for discussion.

You may select either the digital download files (you will receive an email with download links) or the MP3 CD discs. These will be delivered via USPS mail.
Protected: 2023 8-Week Retreat The Vajra Essence Part IV: In-Person Registration

Price range: $2,400.00 through $2,900.00

An in-person and virtual retreat in Crestone, CO

The Vajra Essence – Part IV March 31 - May 27, 2023

This is for in-person registration.

The virtual retreat registration will open in January or early February.
During this 8-week retreat, Lama Alan will grant an oral transmission and commentary to Düdjom Lingpa’s revealed treatise, The Vajra Essence, picking up where we left off last May. Please be aware that in order to maintain moderate social distancing we have very limited capacity for in-person attendance. Only those who have been accepted to attend should register here. Please do not share this registration link and/or password. Please read all of the details below for more information on the teachings and additional details about the retreat. The most important prerequisite for participating in this retreat is that all applicants must have already listened to the oral transmission and commentary on the opening phases of The Vajra Essence by Lama Alan given during the first retreat in this series, offered during April – May, 2020 via either the SBI audio-stream or the Wisdom online retreat. You must have completed this before this retreat begins. This year we are offering multiple pricing options as you will see below when you select Choose An Option.
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.
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.
2017 8-Week Retreat – Audio Stream & Supporting Media

Price range: $225.00 through $550.00

“The Foolish Dharma of an Idiot Clothed in Mud and Feathers,” “Buddhahood Without Meditation” and “The Fine Path to Liberation” with B. Alan Wallace
03 Apr 2017 – 30 May 2017 Lama Tzong Khapa Institute, Tuscany, Italy During this eight-week retreat Alan Wallace will give detailed oral commentaries on two of the five classic Dzogchen treatises by Düdjom Lingpa, The Foolish Dharma of an Idiot Clothed in Mud and Feathers and Buddhahood Without Meditation, in addition to the brief text on the preliminary practices for Dzogchen by Sera Khandro, entitled The Fine Path to Liberation. This will be the first in a series of 8-week retreats in which commentaries and oral transmissions will be offered for all five of these treatises: The Sharp Vajra of Conscious Awareness Tantra (2018), The Enlightened View of Samantabhadra (2019), and The Vajra Essence (2020-2023).
Prerequisite Requirements to Purchase Program
To register for this retreat, 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.
Protected: Fathom the Mind. Heal the World. In-person Registration – October 1-7, 2022

Price range: $525.00 through $1,045.00
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

Read more about the retreat below.
Please select your registration and accommodation option from the dropdown.
Protected: Catering Options for “Fathom the Mind. Heal the World.” Retreat Oct 1-7, 2022

Price range: $175.00 through $300.00
This is to order your meals while attending the "Fathom the Mind. Heal the World." Retreat to be held at Blazing Mountain Retreat Center in Crestone, CO October 1-7. There are two options:

You will receive one meal every day - dinner on the first night, lunch on all remaining days. $175

You will receive dinner on the first day, lunch only on the final day and two meals on the remaining five days, both meals will be delivered at lunchtime. $300

We are very sorry but once you place your order, we are unable to cancel it, or offer a refund, after September 25th.
The Four Applications of Mindfulness May 2008 – DVD & Audio Stream

Price range: $108.00 through $150.00

A central message of the Buddha’s teachings is that the mind is purified of its afflictions through the integrated cultivation of meditative quiescence (shamatha) and contemplative insight (vipashyana). The four applications of mindfulness—of the body, feelings, mental states, and mental objects—comprise the foundation of Buddhist insight practice. As we investigate the nature of these features of our existence in this seminar, we will probe the nature of human identity and the possibility of freedom from suffering and its inner causes. This audio stream and DVD chronicles the seven-day Four Applications of Mindfulness retreat held at Santa Barbara’s historic Old Mission in May 2008.
A Shamatha Retreat in the Great Perfection Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism – June 2009

Price range: $108.00 through $150.00

The seven-day retreat “Exploring the Depths of the Psyche: A Shamatha Retreat in the Great Perfection Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, presented on the basis of Dudjom Lingpa’s Mind Treasure, The Vajra Essence” in Santa Barbara, California from June 21 – 28, 2009, Available on DVD (9-disc set) or Audio Stream MP3 download. The Vajra Essence by Dudjom Lingpa is a classic, 19th century meditation manual in the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Covering all stages of meditative practice up to the achievement of spiritual awakening, it begins with an extraordinary presentation of the shamatha practice of "settling the mind in its natural state." In this week long retreat, B. Alan Wallace offers an oral commentary the shamatha section of The Vajra Essence, which he received from his teacher, the Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche, who authorized him to teach this portion of the text to general audiences. The retreat will also consist of meditation sessions and periods of discussion. Although this practice is presented in the context of Tibetan Buddhism, it is strongly resonant with Zen and Vipassana meditations, so it may be inviting and enriching to Buddhists of all traditions, as well anyone else who is interested to explore the depths of their own mind, and consciousness. All seven days of this retreat are reproduced here in full, conveniently divided into teachings, meditations, and discussions. PDF files are included on the first DVD disk and include explanatory notes on the audio files, retreat handouts, and other pertinent information. The audio stream download files include MP3 files and PDF notes. Please select either the 9-DVD set (sent via Priority Mail) or the digital MP3 audio download files (you will receive a download link).
Protected: 2022 8-Week Retreat The Vajra Essence Part III: In-Person Registration

Price range: $2,400.00 through $2,900.00

An in-person retreat at Miyo Samten Ling in Crestone, CO sponsored by SBI

The Vajra Essence – Part III March 31 - May 30, 2022
In-person registration is now open for The Vajra Essence - Part III. This 8-week retreat will focus on completing Phase 4: “Determining the Characteristics and Qualities of the Ground”, Phase 5: "Determining Secret Dualistic Grasping and Revealing the Way of Natural Liberation", and Phase 6: "Teaching on the Essential Points of Practice and Their Key Distinctions" from The Vajra Essence: From the Matrix of Pure Appearances and Primordial Consciousness, a Tantra Self-Emergent from the Nature of Existence.
Please be aware that in order to maintain moderate social distancing (in addition to a required vaccination against COVID-19), we have very limited capacity for in-person attendance. Only those who have been accepted to attend should register here.

Please do not share this registration link.

See below for more information on the teachings and additional details about the retreat.
Protected: Catering Options for 2023 8-Week Retreat

Price range: $325.00 through $650.00

This is to order catered lunches for the month of April, at the 2023 8-week retreat. You will be able to order lunches for the month of May in April. There are two options: You will receive one meal every day, six days a week - Monday - Saturday. This will be a total of 26 days from when the retreat begins until April 30th. You will receive one meal every other day, for three days a week - it will be a total of 13 days from when the retreat begins until April 30th. Please see below for additional information. We are very sorry but once you place your order, we are unable to cancel it, or offer a refund, after March 26th. You will see that there are four options for your meals: vegetarian, vegan, non-vegetarian and gluten-free. COST: Six Meals per week (any variation) $650 Three Meals per week (any variation) $325
Protected: Catering Options for May 2023 8-Week Retreat

Price range: $300.00 through $600.00
This is to order catered lunches for the month of May, at the 2023 8-week retreat. There are two options:

You will receive one meal every day, six days a week, Monday - Saturday. This will be a total of 24 days from May 1st.

You will receive one meal every other day, for three days a week. This will be a total of 12 days from May 1st.

Please see below for additional information. If you did not order meals in April you will be sent a food allergy form to complete. We are very sorry but once you place your order, we are unable to cancel it, or offer a refund, after April 25th. You will see that there are now five options for your meals: vegetarian, pescatarian (basically vegetarian but also with fish on occasion) vegan, non-vegetarian and gluten-free. COST: Six Meals per week (any variation) $600 Three Meals per week (any variation) $300
A Meditation Retreat on Shamatha, Vipashyana, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen – January 2020

Price range: $108.00 through $640.00

During this week-long retreat Lama Alan Wallace granted the oral transmission and commentary to the teachings on the root text of The Highway of the Jinas: A Root Text on the Precious Geluk-Kagyü Mahamudra Tradition and its auto-commentary by Panchen Lozang Chökyi Gyaltsen, tutor to the Fifth Dalai Lama. In addition, Lama Alan Wallace comments on excerpts from A Spacious Path to Freedom: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahāmudrā and Atiyoga by the great 17^th-century master Karma Chagmé. Recorded January 28- February 4, 2020 at Camp Ramah, Ojai, California 2020 Available via audio recording, video recording, or DVD.
Transforming Felicity & Adversity Into The Spiritual Path 2020 – Download Audio & Video

Price range: $108.00 through $220.00

With the many demands on our time in today’s world, it is all too easy to continue our spiritual practice to brief periods of meditation each day, supplemented by occasional teachings and retreats. But it is difficult for such intermittent dedication to Dharma, interrupted by long periods of mundane activities and concerns, to bring about deep and lasting transformation in our minds and way of life. In his classic text “Transforming Felicity and Adversity into the Spiritual Path” the 19th century Dzogchen master Dodrupchen Tenpey Nyima provides practical instruction for transmuting all of life’s ups and downs into nourishment on the path to enlightenment. During this retreat, Lama Alan Wallace offers an explanation of these teachings, together with guided meditations for putting them into practice.
This online meditation retreat had simultaneous translation into Spanish and Portuguese. After you place your order you will receive an email with a link to the teachings. The audio stream was recorded on July 25-26, 2020
Audio Download $108

Video Stream - $148

Both Audio Download and Video Stream - $220

Recordings are available in three languages, English, Spanish and Portuguese, please select the language you want to download.