"I do not engage in any practice of enlightenment in which you go to a Pure Land”, replied Padampa Sangye, “nor do I want the practices of a lama who sits on a high throne. I want a Dharma that immediately ends the suffering of sentient beings. This is what I am practicing." – Padampa Sangye 11th century Buddhist saint, as quoted in "A Thousand Rays of Sun" by Joshua Waldman

"Your dharma expels suffering within one moment. I will call it pacification-Shije”
– Nagarjuna

Fulfilling prophecy and the request of Mongolian nomads, the eminent Tingri-born Chodpa, Lama Tsering Wangdu, (whose fearless compassion emanates like a 1000 rays of sun), accompanied by Bhutanese amchi (traditional healer/doctor) Sherab Barma, will pilgrimage to Mongolia to transmit Padampa Sangye’s skillful shije teachings on how to alleviate suffering to open hearts and minds.

Instructed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to disseminate these teachings during this time and in his lifetime, this historic, once in a lifetime pilgrimage will combine the medical knowledge of Vajrayana medicines as we explore the plants and medical traditions of the steppes, with deeper healing.

Travel with a great spiritual master on this journey to discover your own Wisdom Mind. Learning ancient tantric and shamanic practices, we will carry these into the vast and spacious heartland of Mongolia. With the practices of chod, windhorse and more, participants will reinvigorate both the land and their own life path.

According to Lama Jinpa, “The Practice of Chod (called ‘Zod’ in Mongolian) is a powerful method of cutting through obstacles-material, emotional and spiritual. It continually clarifies and frees one's body, mind and spirit, as well as healing others. Relying on Feminine Wisdom energy, the body itself becomes an offering to all beings in the universe. This is the ultimate practice of the compassionate spiritual warrior, a rich approach to life that leads to ultimate liberation.

Chod is an extensive system of meditation and ritual, using sacred instruments, music and mantras. As a spiritual practice, it is rightly famed for its ability to transform the mind and heart, and awaken individuals to their full potential. Chod means to cut, since both the path and the goal is to cut away the shackles of our fixations, egocentricity and dualistic grasping. Its twin pillars are Skillful Means and Wisdom. The first involves the development of unceasing generosity and compassion. The second is the eventual understanding of the true nature of the selfless, unborn fabric of reality, from which we—and all phenomena—arise.

Practice: We will receive the chod empowerment and progressive training in chod and other transformative sacred technologies. This will include the cham or chod dance, windhorse, smoke offering, hayagriva and garuda practice, healing rituals and full day chod practice, and teachings on the Nature of mind.

Pilgrimage: Visiting sacred places, monasteries and wild power spots in the Mongolian hinterland, we will balance the outer and inner landscape, purifying the land and uncovering our inherent lucidity.

Benefit: We will participate in the great Buddhist revival of Mongolia, bringing back sacred practices that had been banned for 50 years by the Soviets; some will be transmitted for the first time ever.

Lama Tsering Wangdu Rinpoche, born near Mt. Everest in Tibet in the 1930’s, founded Shelkhar Chode monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal. He is a master Chodpa, in the lineage of Machig Labdron and the great Indian Mahasiddha Padampa Sangye. In March 2003, His Holiness the Dalai Lama emphasized the importance of the Shije teachings of Padampa Sangye, which includes the pacification of suffering, especially relevant to our times and urged Lama Wangdu to spread these teachings.

The traditional Tibetan practice called Chöd (meaning to sever) was established nearly 1,000 years ago by Machig Labdrön, student of Padampa Sangye, a legendary female yogini who was married and had children when she gained realization. By feeding and nurturing our inner demons, we are able to free ourselves from the battle within. We all have our demons - fear, anxiety, depression, anger, addictions, and illnesses. Within the ancient teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism chod is a meditation tool for severing our attachment and feeding with compassion the demons which block us from awakening.

Amchi Sherab Barma is a traditional Bhutanese medical doctor, trained by Trogawa Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama’s personal physician and founder of Chagpori Medical Institute in Darjeeling. Sherab has been recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his outstanding mastery of Tibetan medical sciences. His father Lopon Barma, was a senior attendant of Dudjom Rinpoche and a famed yogi in Bhutan. Amchi Sherap Barma received Dudjom tersar from his father. He currently runs Pure Vision Sorig Healing and Research Center in Boudhanath and a retreat center in Parphing- where Guru Rinpoche gained realization. He works extensively with terminal patients. Amchi Sherab has received Yutok Nyingtig ( Medicine Buddha) teachings and chod from Trulshik Rinpoche at sacred Maritika cave (where Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal practiced in union) and janter teachings from Taklung Tsetul Rinpoche and extensive Drukpa Kargyu teachings from Bhutanese masters. He is honored to accompany the great Chodpa Lama Wangdu on this important pilgrimage to Mongolia.

Sherab will act as translator for Rinpoche’s morning sessions and will provide afternoon seminars on Tibetan Medicine, linking the body and chod.

Mongolian Pilgrimage
We will visit the khandomas (Mongolian for dakinis), Zodoch (Chödpa) practitioners of the Narkhajhid temple in Ullan Battar as they share and we learn from them about Mongolian Chöd practice and they receive teachings from Lama Wangdu. Lay women who have their own temple, Lujin, offering of the body, is the main focus of their practice, in the lineage of Danzin Ravjaa, Mongolia's most famous poet, playwright mystic of the Gobi.

In Mongolia, the sky is worshipped as Ich Tenger, and in Buddhist practice, a realized mind is as spacious as a vast sky. Increasing one's windhorse, known in Mongolian as hiimori is an ancient Asian tradition. A strong windhorse allows one to think clearly, acting with swift decisiveness. Riding a horse has always been a metaphor in Vajrayana Buddhism for how to work skillfully with the mind and yogically with the inner winds of the body. Chöd, a practice for cutting through fear and creating a view of profound generosity, is increasing with the revivalism of Buddhism in Mongolia today. In this vast wilderness landscape of space, we will explore the role of the elements in healing with Amchi Sherab Barma, and explore the link between chod and healing.

The core of this pilgrimage is Chöd practice in sacred wilderness. Our journey takes us from the busy capitol of Ulaan Baatar, to Karakhorim and deep into the Buddhist heartland of Mongolia in Arkhangai, where steppe meets forest in our charnel ground retreat beside the Tamir river.

Celebrating with, and sharing Dharma with nomads, there will be an optional traverse by horse to a sacred volcanic mountain.
This is a pilgrimage for those who love to steep themselves in the earth's raw, elemental wilderness. Facilities are simple, and the elements, like the nature of pilgrimage itself, to be honored with the spirit of whatever arises as the path.

DAILY ITINERARY:
Day 1 (June 15)
Depart USA. Early travel arrangements encouraged. We recommend United or Korean Airlines as most reliable.

Day 2 (June 16)
Fly to Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia's capitol, home to half the population of the country. Met at airport and transferred to a nice little three star hotel in town called the Amberbaygalant, three blocks from Sukh Battar square.

Day 3 (June 17) Ulaan Baatar, Amberbaygalan Hotel
Visiting Chod monasteries. We visit Narkhajhid khandomas (dakinis) at their temple. Bakshaa Bassovd, teacher of the temple will share about the lineage and practices of the temple, and the khandomas will perform for us. Lama Wangdu may share some words, give some teaching. Break for lunch. Afternoon we visit various chod practicing monasteries: possibilities include: Ürjin Shaddüwlin monastery where the Abbot is the incarnation of the "young lady saint of the Gobi", Dechinchoinkhorlin monastery where lujin is practiced. Ürjin Sanag Rolwii Choilin monastery, where Shönöjin lüijin (all-night Lüijin ceremony from 8 PM to morning) is practiced with Vajrayogini practice on the 25th day. Return back to the hotel for dinner.

Day 4 (June 18) Ochirr Hrid (“Old Man Monastery”)
After breakfast, we visit Dechin choilin tawshi sünbrellin monastic school, the speciality of the temple is the Zod ritual (Tib. gcod,) cutting through the four Maras (obstacles for practice and enlightenment) and ego-clinging. We travel by comfortable AC bus through sweeping Mongolian grasslands and the vast space of sky and undulating earth to Ochirr Hrid, or “Old Man Monastery.” This is the name of a beautiful mountain range north of the Gobi, that gets its name from the ruins of a nearby monastery that was destroyed by civil wars in the 17th century. Chance for practice. Informal dharma talk by Lama Wangdu before supper. We will stay in a traditional yuurtz camp (teepees) called Eden.

Day 5 (June 19) Kharakhorim
Morning nature walk to the ruins of Old Man Monastery after practice session. Lunch in the yurt camp. After lunch, drive to Kharakhorum, the old capital built by Chinggis Khaan. Stay in a gher camp at Kharakorum. We visit Erdene Zhu monastery. The great Ghengis Khan and his son created the beautiful and legendary city in the 13th century to serve as the heart of his monolithic empire. There are only a few traces left of this once great city, but Mongolia's largest monastery, neighboring Erdene Zhu, was reputedly constructed from the ruins of Kharakhorim in the 16th century. Erdene Zhu has been a place of Buddhist activity for more than 500 years. We will meet with the head lama, and perform chod.

Day 6 (June 20) Bunkhan Valley
After lunch we will drive to the Bunkhan valley, deep in the Buddhist heartland of Mongolia, walking down the Princess Pass near sunset to be welcomed by our nomad staff. Settle in to our retreat ghers before supper. Lapis Sky Gher Camp.

Day 7 (June 21) Bunkhan Valley Chod Retreat
Summer Solstice. Dark Moon.

We wake on the morning of summer solstice in our yurts, and begin our Chod Retreat ( Longchenpa’s”Laugh of the Bellowing Dakinis”) with Lama Wangdu, amchi Sherab Barma assisting. Bunkhan Valley. Teachings, initiations, chod practice. Optional yoga, archery, and horse riding in afternoons. Our retreat is held in Bunkhan Valley. Bunkhan means "valley of the graves of our ancestors." 3,000 year old Scythian burial mounds surround the campsite of individual yurts (ghers) nestled beside the curling Indigo Blue Tamir River, with the sacred Bayon Hondur mountain looming above. Our camp is simple eco luxury with nomads performing tasks to economically benefit the local community. Meals are simple, hearty, home style cooked over open wood stoves. Please tell us if you are vegetarian. Solar bags are used for showers, and a stove heats up buckets of water for the outside shower in the woods on cloudy days. Walks and horse rides are abundant in the surrounding area. Explore the varied wilderness surrounding us. Evening tsang ritual bonfire by the river, white offerings to the river. Sign up for private meeting with Lama Wangdu. Beginners work with Sherab on chod basics. Afternoon medical healing sessions with Dr. Sherab.

Day 8 (June 22) Chod retreat with Lama Wangdu Bunkhan Valley
Bunkhan Valley. Morning meditation and practice session. Optional yoga. Lunch. Optional horse riding and archery. Horse tips by Namkha, and horse practice in the vast valley. Swim in the bracing river or enjoy the forest solitude. Yak cart-pulled evening picnic (traditional Mongolian warrior stone Barbeque) by sacred spring. Question and answer, clarification, help with practice.

Day 9 (June 23rd) Chod Retreat with Lama Wangdu
Bunkhan Valley. Morning meditation. Teaching. Lunch. Optional yoga, horse riding and archery, visit nearby nomad friends. Traditional Mongolian bonesetter visits and shares his methods of treatment. Amchi Sherab talks on dreams and healing. Chance to explore archeological sites by jeep. Evening chod practice.

Day 10 (June 24) Chod Retreat with Lama Wangdu
Bunkhan Valley. Meditation and yoga. Lunch. Nomads come from far away. Pilgrims return from Suvarga mountain. Wang (initiation and empowerment) Lama Wangdu teaches nomads with Mongolian translator. Tsok feast.

Day 11 (June 25) Chod Retreat with Lama Wangdu
Bunkhan Valley. Meditation and yoga. Lunch. Nomads come from far away. Pilgrims return from Suvarga mountain. Wang (initiation and empowerment) Lama Wangdu teaches nomads with Mongolian translator. Tsok feast.

Day 12 (June 26) Naadam-Summer Folk Festival
Nomads come from afar to ride their horses to please the mountain spirits and lift the hiimori windhorse of their family and herds. Lama Wangdu blesses them. Naadam – the summer festival of competitive racing to celebrate the fastest steed, wrestling, to honor the strongest man and the spirit of garuda, demonstrating two of the three ‘manly’ arts of Mongolia. Picnic, merriment. Evening concert of traditional music, throat singing and horse fiddle are sure to send shivers up and down the spine, filled with spirit.

Day 13 (June 27) Rest Day Lapis Sky Camp
Silent day, rest day, reflect day, writing day, personal practice day. Tsok and Evening farewell feast with nomad friends.

Day 14 (June 28th) Depart Bunkhan Valley
Visit Tsetserleg monastery enroute. Drive to Khankhar Khad gher camp 250km from Tsetserleg and 280 km from Ulaan Baatar, settled into steppe sand dunes. Overnight.

Day 15 (June 29th) Arrive in Ullan Baatar
Back at the Puma Hotel. Celebration dinner.

Day 16 (June 30th)
Depart Ulaan Baatar.

PRICE:
$3,000 14 days
Final payment due before April 15th 2010
Min 12 people

PRICE INCLUDES:
Lama Wangdu and granddaughter Dechen’s air transport from Poland, Amchi Sherab Barma’s transport from Nepal, all meals, lodging in hotels and ghers, (double occupancy) (single occupancy $500 extra supplement) Bunkhan ghers (two to a gher), horses, horsemen, saddles, tents, mattresses, transfers, museum entrance fees.

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airport tax, alcohol, sleeping bags, or tips to horsemen and staff, offerings to Lamas.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Final payment is due no later than April 15th. In the event of a cancellation 31-70 days prior to the departure date, there will be a refund of 75% of the land portion of the trip fee. In the event of cancellation within 40 days prior to the departure date, there will be a refund of 50% of the land portion of the trip fee.

Please click here for further information and registration.