Voices of Dzogchen

VOICES OF DZOGCHEN

About the Course

In the profound Dzogchen tradition, some of the most transformative moments of learning occur when we hear directly from highly realized practitioners who share from their decades of deep practice and direct realization, guiding us to go beyond surface-level understanding. Hearing these masters discuss recognizing mind’s pure awareness amidst the challenges of the modern world provides a living transmission — bringing the view of Dzogchen straight into our hearts.

Voices of Dzogchen offers live webinars with prominent Buddhist teachers who embody the Dzogchen tradition: Mingyur Rinpoche, Erik Pema Kunsang, Richard Barron (Lama Chökyi Nyima), and Sangye Khandro. Tergar guides Cortland Dahl and Antonia Sumbundu will further support your journey with live sessions, guided meditations, and discussion forums. Together as a community, we’ll explore how to apply these teachings in our daily lives, making them a lived experience.

These conversations serve as the perfect introductory gateway to Tergar’s year-long offering of teachings and retreats. Depending on your personal practice path, this course will prepare you to transition into either the Dorje Drolö Dzogchen immersion (for those who have received pointing out instructions) or our 11-month program on the bardo teachings, which is open to everyone. Whichever path you choose, Voices of Dzogchen is a wonderful course to inspire the upcoming year of practice.

VAJRAYANA ONLINE GUIDES

Meet Your Teacher and Guides

Mingyur Rinpoche was born in 1975 in the border region between Tibet and Nepal. The son of the great Dzogchen master Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, he received nature of mind transmissions from his father, as well as from Tai Situ Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, among other remarkable teachers. He entered his first three-year retreat at thirteen, and in 2011 embarked on a four-and-a-half-year wandering retreat. Today, Rinpoche leads all organizations in the Tergar mandala, oversees monasteries in Nepal and India, and guides students in more than thirty countries.

Erik Pema Kunsang

Erik Pema Kunsang is a Danish translator and teacher who has translated over sixty volumes of Tibetan Buddhist texts. For over forty years he served as translator and close student of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. His accessible language and direct style have shaped how seminal works on Mahamudra and Dzogchen are studied in the West. He cofounded Rangjung Yeshe Publications and the Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Nepal, and he now guides practitioners through retreats at Gomde Denmark.

Richard Barron

Richard Barron (Lama Chökyi Nyima) is a Canadian translator who specializes in the Dzogchen writings of Longchenpa. He has served as an interpreter for many lamas from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, including his first teacher, Kalu Rinpoche. He completed a traditional three-year retreat in 1980 at Kagyu Ling in France and later became a close student of the late Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. His published translations include Buddhahood without Meditation, The Autobiography of Jamgön Kongtrul, and several of the Seven Treasuries of Longchenpa.

Sangye Khandro

Sangye Khandro is one of the pioneering Western translators of Tibetan Buddhist texts and a respected teacher in the Nyingma tradition. She has trained closely with great masters such as Dudjom Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, and Gyatrül Rinpoche. With Lama Chönam, she translated Jigme Lingpa's Yeshe Lama, the seminal practice manual of the Great Perfection, along with many other essential Dzogchen texts. She cofounded Light of Berotsana, a translation organization, and continues to teach and translate extensively in the U.S. and beyond.

Cortland Dahl

Cortland Dahl is a scientist, translator, author, and meditation teacher with over twenty-five years of meditation experience, including deep training in Vajrayana under Mingyur Rinpoche. Fluent in Tibetan, he has published twelve translations of classical Buddhist texts. He holds a PhD 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.

Antonia Sumbundu

Antonia Sumbundu is a dharma teacher, clinical psychologist, and mental health specialist. She has been practicing Vajrayana for over thirty-five years and has studied with the 3rd Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Chokling Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Mingyur Rinpoche. She holds an MA from the University of Copenhagen and an MSt in MBCT from Oxford.

Kasumi Kato

Kasumi Kato holds two master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin. In 2011, she encountered Mingyur Rinpoche’s teachings and has been practicing under his guidance ever since. She has completed over a year in solitary meditation retreat, in addition to many group retreats in the Tergar community. Kasumi currently works full-time for Tergar International as a curriculum specialist and serves as a senior facilitator. She also oversees the activities of Tergar Japan. Kasumi lives with her husband Cortland in Madison, Wisconsin.

Tim Olmsted

Tim Olmsted began Buddhist studies in 1977 with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He lived in Nepal for twelve 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.

LEARNING EVERY MOMENT

Live Webinars with Mingyur Rinpoche and Guest Teachers

A series of live webinars with Mingyur Rinpoche and guest teachers highlighting key points of Vajrayana Buddhism

Q&A Session with Tergar Guides

Enjoy a concluding session with Cortland Dahl and Antonia Sumbundu, accompanied by Kasumi Kato and Tim Olmsted who will be the guides for the bardo program running alongside the Dzogchen Transmission.

Talk with a Tergar Guide

Ask questions and explore your practice in a one-on-one conversation

Practice Sessions

Live weekly guided meditations throughout the course

THE JOURNEY AHEAD

Course Outline & Schedule

Richard Barron is a Canadian translator who specializes in the Dzogchen writings of Longchenpa. He has served as an interpreter for many lamas from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, including his first teacher, Kalu Rinpoche. He completed a traditional three-year retreat in 1980 at Kagyu Ling in France and later became a close student of the late Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. His published translations include Buddhahood without Meditation, The Autobiography of Jamgön Kongtrul, and several of the Seven Treasuries of Longchenpa.

Sangye Khandro is one of the pioneering Western translators of Tibetan Buddhist texts and a respected teacher in the Nyingma tradition. She has trained closely with great masters such as Dudjom Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, and Gyatrül Rinpoche. With Lama Chönam, she translated Jigme Lingpa's Yeshe Lama, the seminal practice manual of the Great Perfection, along with many other essential Dzogchen texts. She cofounded Light of Berotsana, a translation organization, and continues to teach and translate extensively in the U.S. and beyond.

PRACTICE TOGETHER

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10-day free trial
25+ self-paced courses, including new content every month
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By choosing the sponsor rate, you help us offer a reduced rate to someone who needs it.

10-day free trial
25+ self-paced courses, including new content every month
Weekly live sessions
Vajrayana Online App
Includes free access to the Joy of Living online program

Choose this option if you have financial hardship or a currency exchange rate that makes the standard rate unaffordable.

10-day free trial
25+ self-paced courses, including new content every month
Weekly live sessions
Vajrayana Online App

By choosing the standard rate, you keep Vajrayana Online alive and flourishing.

10-day free trial
25+ self-paced courses, including new content every month
Weekly live sessions
Vajrayana Online App

By choosing the sponsor rate, you help us offer a reduced rate to someone who needs it.

10-day free trial
25+ self-paced courses, including new content every month
Weekly live sessions
Vajrayana Online App
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 $29 USD per month is a hindrance for you financially, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via volsupport@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.

About the Course

Meet Your Teacher and Guides