Essence of Dzogchen

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Open to everyone
This course is now available! Recordings of special webinars and live sessions are accessible to all Vajrayana Online participants.

About the Course

Dzogchen is considered the highest and most profound form of meditation in the Nyingma School of Vajrayana Buddhism. Its teachings lay out a path of meditation that reveals the pure, nondual awareness – or rigpa – that is the mind’s true nature. Once recognized, the experience of rigpa radically transforms our experience of thoughts, emotions, perception, fundamentally changing the way we see ourselves and relate to the world.

In this Essence of Dzogchen course, you will be introduced to the core principles and history of the Dzogchen lineage.
Observe your awareness in this very present moment, just as it is.
It cannot be spoiled by the comings and goings of thoughts and memories,
Nor corrupted by ordinary thoughts of good and bad.
This awareness is vividly present, yet devoid of thoughts,
And while it is devoid of thoughts, it is vividly present.
This naked transparency is, in essence, the dharmakaya.
— Longchenpa

Welcome to the Course by Mingyur Rinpoche

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Meet your Teacher and Guides

In this transmission, you will receive teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche, special guest teachers, Tergar lamas and Vajrayana Online guides.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

Teacher
Mingyur Rinpoche was born in 1975 in the border region between Tibet and Nepal. He was attracted to a life of contemplation from an early age and spent many years of his childhood in strict retreat. Mingyur Rinpoche studied with some of the greatest masters in living memory. Nowadays, he heads the Tergar Meditation Community and takes care of the monasteries under his responsibility. He supports students in more than thirty countries.

Tim Olmsted

Vajrayana Online Guide
Tim Olmsted began Buddhist studies in 1977 with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He lived in Nepal for 12 years, studying with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and many renowned teachers while working as a psychotherapist. A founding instructor of Tergar International, Tim shares meditation with warmth and humor. He lives in Colorado with his wife Glenna, leading a community following Mingyur Rinpoche's teachings.

Cortland Dahl

Vajrayana Online Guide
Cortland Dahl is a scientist, translator, author, and meditation teacher with over 25 years of meditation experience. Fluent in Tibetan, he has published twelve books of translations of classical Buddhist texts. He holds a Ph.D. in Mind, Brain, and Contemplative Science from UW-Madison, where he was mentored by Dr. Richard Davidson. Cort is Executive Director of Tergar International and Chief Contemplative Officer at Healthy Minds Innovations.

What will I learn

  • The view and history of Dzogchen
  • In-depth instructions on the recognition of pure awareness and how Dzogchen practice sustains that recognition for the discovery of liberation
  • Review and deepen your understanding of The Three Words That Strike the Vital Point
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Your Course Includes

  • Audio and video teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche, with video subtitles and transcripts
  • Readings on Dzogchen from a range of modern and classical lineage masters
  • Practice interviews with Tergar Instructors (for Vajrayana Online subscribers)
  • A range of resources for Dzogchen, including additional teachings, practice workbooks, and more
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Why should I join?

  • Exclusive prerecorded teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche on all the 25 meditations of Stainless Prajna
  • Guided meditations and practices for daily life
  • Live webinars and sessions with Tergar lamas and Tergar guides
  • Interviews with leading Buddhist teachers
  • Peer-to-peer forums to discuss the topics of the course
  • One-on-one practice interviews with Tergar guides
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Course Outline

This course consists of six lessons, each exploring a major theme of the text, and is designed to be completed over two months.

Resources

For a richer understanding of this transmission, we encourage you to explore the recommended literature and readings. These resources offer deeper context and further perspectives, allowing for quiet reflection on the topics presented.
  • Primordial Purity: Oral Instructions on The Three Words That Strike the Vital Point by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
  • Perfect Clarity: A Tibetan Buddhist Anthology of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by Marcia Binder Schmidt
  • Quintessential Dzogchen: Confusion Dawns as Wisdom by Tulku Urgyen
  • Vajra Heart Revisited: Teachings on the Path of Trekcho by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
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Mingyur Rinpoche teaches the key instructions for practicing the 25 meditations presented in his meditation manual, line by line

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Essence of Dzogchen

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Your membership includes access to our full library of 25+ self-paced courses, weekly live sessions, webinars, personal interviews with Tergar guides, guided meditations, and much more. We aim to make Vajrayana Online accessible to everyone by providing three different pricing options. Feel free to choose the one that best suits your needs.
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If your circumstances hinder your ability to pay the standard rate, you may choose the reduced rate.

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  • 25+ courses included

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$4167

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at $500/year after a 10-day free trial.
 Cancel anytime.

You save $100

The standard rate will cover the basic costs of offering the program.

  • 10-day free trial
  • 25+ courses included

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at $750/year after a 10-day free trial.
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Your generosity will help us to offer a discounted rate to those in need of financial assistance.

  • 10-day free trial
  • 25+ courses included
  • Includes free access to the Joy of Living online program
You will make the first payment after the free trial period. The membership will automatically be renewed in accordance to the frequency you have selected. You can cancel anytime, and no additional fees will be charged. For more questions about the membership, please visit our FAQs section.

Tergar is committed to making the benefits of Buddhist teachings and practices available to everyone. If the membership rate of $25 USD per month is a hindrance for you financially, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via TLCSupport@tergar.org to ask for a further reduced rate. We offer financial assistance rates for certain countries, for students with limited budgets, and for the monastic community.
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Do You Want to Know More About the Dzogchen: Three Words That Strike the Vital Point Transmission?

The Dzogchen: Three Words That Strike the Vital Point transmission includes a series of courses that provide a unique opportunity to integrate the core elements of the Buddhist path into your practice and daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions

This seems like too much for me . . . How much time will it take?

Don’t worry, you will only need about one hour to complete each lesson, and you can take the course at your pace.

Where can I purchase Stainless Prajna?

Stainless Prajna: Meditation Manual on the Treasury of Abhidharma is not yet published. The English translation is expected to be completed next year. A draft translation is provided to all Vajrayana Online members as part of the course materials.

Keep in mind that this is a traditional Buddhist meditation manual, not a typical book. Reading alone is not enough to truly understand it — the best approach is to learn directly from Mingyur Rinpoche, Tergar lamas, and Tergar guides throughout the Buddhist Psychology Immersion. During the course, you will receive teachings and practical guidance to explore each chapter and meditation in the text.

Is it possible to begin the immersion after it has already started?

Yes! You can join anytime and access all the material. You won't miss anything.

Who can take this course?

There are no prerequisites for this course. It is appropriate for practitioners of all levels.

I'm already practicing the Joy of Living/the Path of Liberation. How can I integrate this course into my practice?

Mingyur Rinpoche’s teachings make it easy to integrate the Abhidharma view into the practices you already do. Your daily practice will be enriched, and there’s no need to accumulate additional meditations from Stainless Prajna. There is no extra homework!