Program Description


Treasury of Blessings — Weekly Sunday Practice

Open Dates
Join our weekly practice of the Treasury of Blessings, the Shakyamuni Buddha sadhana composed by Mipham Rinpoche. This essential practice emphasizes visualization of Shakyamuni Buddha, recitation of his dharani, and meditation to connect directly with his awakened wisdom mind. Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche teaches that Shakyamuni Buddha accumulated the merit to manifest his fully awakened body, speech, and mind over countless aeons. By meditating on these aspects—his form, mantra, and wisdom—we connect with that vast accumulation and generate inconceivable merit ourselves. It is also said in the Samādhi Rāja Sūtra that whoever places their mind upon Shakyamuni Buddha is immediately abiding…

Sang: The Practice of Smoke Offering

With Lama Tsultrim Sangpo

Open Dates
Sang is the Tibetan Buddhist practice of offering precious incense to clear away obstacles and gather auspicious conditions for our Dharma practice. While the benefits of this practice are well known, the proper method for doing so is rarely taught in detail. Therefore, in this weekend workshop, Lama Tsultrim Sangpo guides us in how to correctly offer sang, using The Condensed Smoke Offering liturgy from the Guru's Heart Practice that Dispels All Obstacles (Tukdrup Barchey Kunsel) as a basis. Guru Padmasambhava himself extolled the benefits of sang practice as follows: "When done regularly, and especially to create auspicious circumstances when…

Becoming Divine: Four Stakes that Bind the Life-Force (Concise Daily Practice)

With Lama Tsultrim Sangpo

Open Dates
In this 4-part online series, Lama Tsultrim Sangpo unpacked an essential aspect of tantric practice—the development stage. To properly realize our innate nature through sadhana practice, the great masters from Guru Padmasambhava down to our present teachers emphasize the necessity of "binding the life force" of the deity through planting four "stakes". These four points condense the essential methods of the development stage, and thus allow us to truly take hold of the deity—our own deepest nature. Lama Tsultrim, a master himself in all aspects of tantric ritual practice, guided us through an in-depth exploration these four stakes that bind…

The Concise Daily Practice of Guru Rinpoche: Exploration of the Tibetan Language

With Dr. Catherine Dalton

Open Dates
This set of recorded teachings is extremely beneficial for anyone wishing to learn the meaning of  "The Concise Daily Practice" of Guru Rinpoche, by studying the Tibetan words of the text. No previous knowledge of Tibetan is required to derive benefit from this class. In this online workshop, Dr. Catherine Dalton will elucidate the profound meaning of the Tibetan text of the Manual for Concise Daily Practice (Gyünkyi Köljang), revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa as part of his Dispeller of All Obstacles (Tukdrup Barché Künsel) treasure cycle. This simple, essential practice focuses upon Guru Padmasambhava, known affectionately as Guru Rinpoche,…

The Practice of Chöd: An In-Depth Workshop

With Dr. Catherine Dalton

Open Dates
Chöd, or “cutting through,” is a profound practice that cuts to the heart of wisdom and compassion. Traditionally attributed to the eleventh-century female practitioner Machig Labdrön, it is prevalent in many Tibetan Buddhist lineages. Combining the view of the Prajnaparamita sutras with tantric visualization methods, chöd is a direct meditational approach to severing ego-clinging. Chöd practice is also known for its hauntingly beautiful melodies, and has traditionally been used as part of Buddhist healing rituals. Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche has repeatedly emphasized the importance of practicing of chöd, and of perfecting our understanding of both its profound meaning and its lineage…

Personal Retreat at Gomde California

Open Dates
The wild beauty of Rangjung Yeshe Gomde California is an ideal environment for personal meditation practice. The waters of Eel River and Cedar Creek flow through stands of fir and redwood, and ever-changing light pours into the river valley. The natural environment of Gomde California supports a sense of awe and renunciation in our residents. In addition to the splendid setting, many Tibetan masters have blessed the land with their practice and realization. We encourage serious Buddhist practitioners who are studying under the guidance of an authentic teacher to apply for private retreat at Gomde California. Private Retreat Facilities Gomde…

Shakyamuni Sadhana in Translation and Practice

With Dr. Catherine Dalton

Open Dates
At the express wish of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, long-time translator and Rangjung Yeshe Institute faculty member Dr. Catherine Dalton will lead an online course focused on "The Treasury of Blessings" sadhana of Shakyamuni Buddha. Composed by Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche's (1846-1912) and widely considered to be a "mind-treasure" (gongter), this sadhana is both poetically rich in composition and totally complete in its practical framework. Furthermore, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche has extensively praised its qualities and provided teachings to unfold its depths. This course will proceed in two parts. In the first part we will engage in a linguistic approach to the sadhana…

Annual Summer Seminar 2026

With Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche

June 10 - 15, 2026
Our deeply kind and wise teacher, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, will once again grace us with teachings on the complete Buddhist path—from the foundational view and conduct to the most profound meditation instructions of the Vajrayana. Renowned for his ability to make the deepest Dharma vivid and accessible, Rinpoche draws students from around the world to receive this living transmission. Together we will also engage in the Ocean of Amrita puja for the mending of Vajrayana commitments, all within Gomde California's forested mountain retreat setting—a perfect environment for this special and immersive summer gathering. Dates Check-in for the program will begin…

Dharma Gyan Summer Immersive 2026

With Lama Tsultrim Sangpo

June 10 - August 9, 2026
Dharma Gyan Buddhist Summer Immersive The Dharma Gyan Summer Immersive is an 8-week residential program where students learn and practice the foundations of the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Under the guidance of experienced monks from Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Nepal and resident practitioners, participants will engage in meditation, teachings, and discussions at the peaceful and forested Gomde retreat center in Northern Mendocino County. The program includes group and individual meditation, communal meals, time to explore nature, and the opportunity to connect with teachers and fellow students. Students can attend either one part or both parts of the program, depending on…

Online Attendance: Annual Summer Seminar 2026

With Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche

June 11 - 15, 2026
Our deeply kind and wise teacher, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, will once again grace us with teachings on the complete Buddhist path — from the foundational view and conduct to the most profound meditation instructions of the Vajrayana. Renowned for his ability to make the deepest Dharma vivid and accessible, Rinpoche draws students from around the world to receive this living transmission. Together we will also engage in the Ocean of Amrita puja for the mending of Vajrayana commitments. We warmly invite you to join us online and participate fully from your own home and practice space, wherever you are in…

The Ocean of Amrita Puja 2026

With Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche

June 14, 2026
About the Ocean of Amrita Puja (Ngakso) Ngakso (Tib.) means mending (faults) by means of mantra. This tantric sadhana is a terma (Tib.), or hidden treasure, concealed in Tibet by Guru Rinpoche, and rediscovered centuries later by the incarnated great treasure-revealer, Terchen Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa. Extracted from among the 40 volumes of the Chokling Tersar, the melodious and enchanting sadhana practice is especially effective for restoring broken samaya (commitments), strengthening the bond between student and spiritual teacher, and dispelling obstacles in the bardo state for those who have recently passed away. The puja consists of two parts carried out daily: morning…