2020-21 TRANSMISSION  

Dzogchen Transmission:
The Three Words That Strike the Vital Point

A Year-Long Transmission with Mingyur Rinpoche on Pure Awareness

WELCOME BY MINGYUR RINPOCHE

About the Dzogchen Transmission

Dzogchen is considered the highest and most profound form of meditation in the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. Dzogchen 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, and perception, fundamentally changing the way we see ourselves and relate to the world.
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The Dzogchen path offered in Vajrayana Online consists of two sequential courses — Essence of Dzogchen and The Three Words That Strike the Vital Point — which are designed to introduce the teachings, foster familiarity, and enhance one’s own understanding and experience. Both courses focus on a famed set of Dzogchen teachings known as The Three Words That Strike the Vital Point — perhaps the most well-known and cherished instructions on recognizing pure awareness. We will go through these teachings step by step, exploring a range of instructions and teachings from both traditional and contemporary teachers.

What Is Included in This Transmission?

  • Audio and video teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche, with video subtitles and transcripts
  • Recordings of webinars with Mingyur Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Khenpo Kunga
  • Interviews with leading Western Dzogchen scholars and practitioners — Anne Klein, Erik Pema Kunsang, Matthieu Ricard, Marcia Binder Schmidt, Chagdud Khadro, Lama Rigdzin Drolma, Andreas Kretschmar, Sangye Khandro, and Sara Jacoby
  • Recordings of Heart-to-Heart and Dharma Geek sessions with your guides, Cortland Dahl and Tim Olmsted
  • Guided meditations with Cortland Dahl and Fionnuala Shenpen Daffy
  • Weekly readings on the practice of Dzogchen from a range of traditional and contemporary voices
  • Optional personal practice interviews with Tergar guides
  • A range of resources and additional Dzogchen teachings
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What Topics Are Covered in This Transmission?

  • The Dzogchen lineage and the lives of great historical and contemporary masters
  • The unique Dzogchen preparatory practices, such as the vajra stance and Dzogchen analytical meditation
  • The view, meditation, and application of trekchӧ, or “breakthrough,” one of the most important styles of Dzogchen practice
  • The Dzogchen approach to pointing out rigpa, or pure awareness
  • How to strengthen recognition through sky-gazing and other meditation practices
  • Key points on integrating pure awareness with everyday life

RESTRICTED MATERIAL

Prerequisites

The Tergar annual transmission is an offering of direct lineage teachings that can be absorbed through study and practice. Some of the offerings are open to all levels of students, while others may be restricted to those students meeting certain prerequisites.


Prerequisites to attend restricted teachings:

Option 1: You have attended any in-person Tergar Path of Liberation Level 2 retreat with Mingyur Rinpoche or Khenpo Kunga

Option 2: You have received ngöndro transmission and nature of mind pointing out in person from a qualified lineage teacher, and have at least 5 years of regular meditation practice

Doubts? StudySupport@tergar.org

Vajrayana Online Courses

One will receive the core components of the transmission by following the Vajrayana Online course series.

Open to everyone

Essence of Dzogchen

In this Essence of Dzogchen course, you will be introduced to the core principles and history of the Dzogchen lineage.

Restricted

Dzogchen: The Three Words That Strike the Vital Point Immersion

We will explore these profound teachings step-by-step, exploring a range of instructions and teachings from both classical and contemporary teachers.

Meet Your Teacher and Guides

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

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.

Khenpo Kunga

Tergar Lama
Khenpo Kunga is a senior monastic teacher in the Tergar lineage. He studied at Namdroling Monastery in South India under Penor Rinpoche and holds the title of khenpo (professor of Buddhist philosophy). He teaches worldwide and plays a vital role in guiding Tergar monastics and lay practitioners in both philosophical studies and meditation.

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.

Tsoknyi Rinpoche

Guest Teacher
Tsoknyi Rinpoche is a renowned meditation teacher in the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma traditions and the brother of Mingyur Rinpoche. A tulku recognized in childhood, he has taught worldwide for over 30 years. Known for his warmth and clarity, he supports over 50 nunneries and monasteries and bridges ancient wisdom with the modern world.

Chagdud Khadro

Guest Teacher
Chagdud Khadro is a senior teacher in the Nyingma tradition and the spiritual director of Chagdud Gonpa Brazil. Trained directly by her late husband, Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, she has helped establish a vibrant Vajrayana community in South America. She teaches widely and is committed to preserving and transmitting the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

Sangye Khandro

Guest Teacher
Sangye Khandro is one of the pioneering Western translators of Tibetan Buddhist texts and a respected teacher in the Nyingma tradition. She trained with great masters such as Dudjom Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche, and cofounded Light of Berotsana, a translation organization. She continues to teach and translate extensively in the U.S. and beyond.

Lama Rigdzin Drolma

Guest Teacher
Anne Klein (Lama Rigzin Drolma) is a scholar, translator, and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. She cofounded Dawn Mountain in Houston, Texas, and is a professor of religion at Rice University. A student of Adzom Paylo Rinpoche, she blends academic rigor with experiential practice, making profound teachings accessible to modern students.

Matthieu Ricard

Guest Teacher
Matthieu Ricard is a French Buddhist monk, humanitarian, and author. A longtime student of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Kangyur Rinpoche, he has lived in the Himalayas for decades. He is renowned for bridging science and meditation, and for his work with altruism and compassion. He collaborates with Tergar and other global organizations.

Erik Pema Kunsang

Guest Teacher
Erik Pema Kunsang is a Danish translator and teacher who has translated over 60 volumes of Tibetan Buddhist texts. A student of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, he is known for his accessible language and direct style. He cofounded Rangjung Yeshe Publications and guides practitioners through retreats, teachings, and translation work.

Marcia Schmidt

Guest Teacher
Marcia Schmidt is a long-time practitioner and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. She studied closely with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and cofounded Rangjung Yeshe Publications. With decades of retreat experience, she shares teachings with clarity and heart, often emphasizing the deep integration of view and practice in everyday life.

Sara Jacoby

Guest Teacher
Sarah Jacoby is a scholar whose work explores gender, sexuality, and autobiographical writing in Tibetan Buddhism. She is an associate professor at Northwestern University and received her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. A specialist in the Nyingma tradition, she has translated and studied the life and teachings of Sera Khandro, a prominent Tibetan female visionary.

Andreas Kretschmar

Guest Teacher
Andreas Kretschmar is a longtime student of Khenpo Chöga and was one of the early translators for Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. He is known for translating Khenpo Kunpal’s commentary on Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara, helping make these profound teachings accessible to Western students. His work reflects a deep commitment to preserving and sharing Buddhist teachings.

PATH OF LIBERATION

Are You a Path of Liberation Student?

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If you are actively pursuing one of the levels of the Nectar of the Path or ngöndro tracks of the Path of Liberation, you are encouraged to continue your usual daily practice and use the teachings in this course to clarify important points related to the view.

The time you spend studying and practicing the instructions in this course does not count toward your Path of Liberation practice requirements.
BECOME A MEMBER

Join Vajrayana Online

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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  • 25+ courses included

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

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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.
Cancel anytime.

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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.

The Tergar Lineage Society

Preserving Wisdom Traditions
For centuries, offering important lineage transmissions has been a central part of Vajrayana Buddhism, and transmission patrons have been inspiring beacons of generosity. By making an annual gift of $7,500 or more, individuals who join the Lineage Society help ensure the vitality and authenticity of Mingyur Rinpoche’s experiential lineage.
The Tergar Lineage Society honors a centuries-old tradition in Vajrayana Buddhism, where patrons help ensure precious teachings flourish. Donors who contribute annually at the $7,500 level or above play a vital role in supporting Tergar International's mission to make the ancient wisdom of meditation accessible to the modern world.
The Lineage Society creates a powerful way for practitioners to contribute to preserving and sharing these transformative practices with our global community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mahamudra?

Mahamudra, or “The Great Seal” in English,  is one of three nature of mind lineages within the Vajrayana, the other two being Dzogchen and Mahamadhyamaka. The Mahamudra lineage of the Kagyu School can be traced back to the great Indian mahasiddha Tilopa, who systematized the teachings he received from many gurus into what is now known as Mahamudra.

What does the term “song of realization” mean?

“Song of realization” is a translation of the Sanskrit word doha. In contrast to other texts, these songs were spontaneously sung by yogis and yoginis, known as siddhas, to share their spiritual realization for the benefit of the listener. These songs were written down afterward in an unedited fashion.

What if I miss part of the year-long transmission? Can I still participate?

Absolutely! The elements of the transmission function together as a cohesive whole, but each one also stands alone. Join in whatever elements work for you!

Who is Tilopa?

Tilopa was a great yogi or mahasiddha living in India in the 10th and 11th centuries CE. He is most famous for being the founder of the Mahamudra lineage and the founding forefather of the Kagyu lineage. His most famous work is the Ganges Mahamudra, and his closest student was Naropa.

What does it mean to receive a transmission?

“Transmission” is a traditional term that refers to a set of meditation teachings that is passed down from a teacher to a student or group of students. In the Tergar context, “transmission” means that Mingyur Rinpoche passes on important lineage teachings to students so that we can recognize the buddha within and stabilize this recognition. In addition to teachings and meditation instructions, a transmission may include other elements that can help make the teachings more experiential for us such as reading transmissions (lung) for important texts, empowerments (wang), and opportunities to receive vows.

Do I have to be a Buddhist to join the transmission?

This transmission includes courses and events open to all who wish to better understand the Buddhist tradition, its practices, and the workings of the mind.

Do I have to have prior experience in meditation?

Prior experience in meditation is suggested but not required for these open events and courses. Mingyur Rinpoche teaches in a highly relatable way, so much of this transmission is based on exploring our lived experience. If you wish to acquire a foundation for these practices, attending a Joy of Living program online is a good option.

What do I do if I don’t meet the requirements for the restricted Immersion course?

Vajrayana Online will run the Nectar of the Path and Retreat courses with full support of Tergar guides. The Tergar guides will conduct weekly practice and discussion sessions. These live sessions are available as part of your Vajrayana Online subscription.

Alternatively, you might want to consider engaging in any of the other on-demand courses in Vajrayana Online or explore the Joy of Living program. Completing the full Joy of Living program and corresponding homework will qualify you to attend a Path of Liberation Levels 1 & 2 retreat in the future, where you can receive the pointing out instruction and transmissions required to join restricted Vajrayana Online courses.

Can I join at any time?

You can join Vajrayana Online at any time. New material will be released monthly, and you can engage in it at your own pace. In the case of the online retreats with Mingyur Rinpoche, however, it is highly recommended that you attend the live events at events.tergar.org rather than watch the recordings. Recordings will be made available, but only for a limited time.
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