Vajrakilaya Retreat

As the wrathful form of the Buddha Vajrasattva, Vajrakilaya embodies the enlightened activity of all the Buddhas. His practice is known to be the most powerful for removing all inner and outer obstacles, especially personal obstacles that affect our Dharma practice. The fruition of the practice manifests through enlightened activity without struggle.

The Vajrakilaya Tantra is of special importance to Shambhala Vajrayana practitioners because of its strong connection with the Shambhala terma.

The The Golden Sun of the Great East text equates the great primordial razor knife with the primordial Ashe and self-existing black Ashe.

Further, in The Tiger Lion Garuda Dragon Glory (pp. 28-29) commentary we see how Shambhala vision correlates with Vajrakilaya Tantra on the ground of Absolute Ashe.

This tantric Buddhist reference embodies the vision of King Dawa Sangpo, who requested the Buddha to teach the Kalachakra Tantra in his kingdom.

Who Can Attend

1. Participants must have received the Vajrakilaya abhisheka — specifically, from the Netik Phurba terma tradition of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, conferred by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in 1987, and by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche in Halifax 2005 and elsewhere.
2. Ideally, participants should also have completed the Chakrasamvara practice retreat requirements or have some experience of Chakrasamvara teachings and practice. If you have completed both fire offerings for Vajrayogini, you may request special permission to attend.

If you have any specific questions about the retreat or  your eligibility to attend, please contact Nancy Huszagh at nancyhuszagh@gmail.com.

Vajrayogini and Chakrasamvara practitioners who would like to practice or complete recitation commitments are welcome, and will be supported during the retreat. To register for this opportunity, go here.

Is Partial Attendance Accepted?

If you have the prerequisites and abhisheka for the Vajrakilaya Sadhana but cannot attend the full retreat, you are welcome to come for part of the retreat. However, we request you come at the beginning of the retreat, not after it is underway.

To attend part of the retreat, please follow the registration process below, and when you register with Dorje Denma Ling, tell us the date you plan to leave in the comments section.  We will adjust your Guest Statement to reflect your .

The Registration Process

To attend the Vajrakilaya Retreat:

1. Complete this DDL Vajrakilaya-application form and email it to Nancy Huszagh at nancyhuszagh@gmail.com.
2. Nancy will get back to you with a login code that will allow you to access the registration form.

If you are interested in coming just to practice Vajrayogini or Chakrasamvara, email Dan Schreibman (programs@dorjedenmaling.com) your (a) contact information, (b) the practice you will be doing, and (c) the dates you wish to attend. Dan will get back to you with a quote on costs and manually register you if you decide to attend.

All part time attendance is subject to lodging availability. Participants who are doing the full 33-day retreat will be give priority.

What to Expect

This is an intensive 33-day practice retreat that follows the traditional four-session daily practice schedule. By the end of the retreat, participants will have completed the mantra requirements associated with this practice, and will be able to attend a Vajrakilaya fire offering, though that is not required.

You will need to bring your Vajrakilaya Sadhana and the Vajrakilaya Sadhana Practice Manual to the retreat. If you don’t have either of these publications, you can purchase them from Nalanda Translation at Nalanda Translation.org. If you you want to save shipping, you can ask Larry in the Comments section to bring your order to DDL.

Costs & Minimum Program Size

Flat Rate Including Program, Housing and all Meals
$2,600 for Double Occupancy
$3,000 for Single Occupancy

Note that cost is the same for Drala Cabin or Gyatso Lodge, but you will be able to choose your preference.

Interested in a spreading out payments for this retreat? Please contact Suzy Ulrich to set up a Payment Plan.

Useful Links

What to Bring & Expect at DDL
How to Get Here