Mila and Machig: Spontaneous Songs of the Yogis and Yoginis

Songs from the Yogic Tradition of India and Tibet

Explore the brilliance of the  spontaneous utterances from the men and women who traversed the Buddhist yogic path in India and Tibet. Experience the mix of open meditation, music, movement, outdoors, and other connections  to the dance of energy that continually expresses itself in life.

The Yogins

Milarepa is the great poet yogi of Tibet. Khenpo Tsultrim was a tireless progenitor of the practice tradition of Milarepa and Machig Lapdron. Khenpo Rinpoche taught the Mahamudra and Ati within the context of Milarepa’s spontaneous utterances. Khenpo Rinpoche also spontaneously composed songs in the same authentically genuine and inspired way. Much is owed to the scholar-yogins, many students of Khenpo Rinpoche, who translated these words into English. With a deep bow.

Machig Lapdron was predicted to be an emanation of Yeshe Tsogyal and was skilled in language and dharma from an early age. She is the source of the charnel ground Chod practice, and she is renowned for transforming and liberating demons and negative psychic phenomena. Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso practiced Chod from Machig Lapdron’s lineage for years in charnel grounds in India and Tibet.

Niguma is the source of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage. Variously she is known as the black dakini, older sister of Naropa, the source of the Six Yogas of Niguma, and one of the 84 Mahasiddhas, she transmitted a lineage that continues today, as well as through Naropa and Marpa.

And there are others. Yeshe Tsogyal, Gotsangpa, Khenpo Tsultrim, Sukasiddhi depending on time.

The theme of space is a common thread in these songs. We will explore the outer environment as a support for a more open style of meditation: Wakeful space practice. Embodiment practice, Sensory exploration. Resting. Letting go of watcher. Sound-emptiness practice etc.

We will learn Tibetan and Western melodies for these songs, their history and meaning, and also engage in the self-creation of the music as it matches our somatic response to singing practice. We want to attend to the movement of somatic energy while engaging the music and meaning in the body. Khenpo Rinpoche insisted that we discover the way to sing these songs in a fresh way that stimulates joy, upliftedness, profundity, rest, losing reference points in boundless space. He wanted us to embody the words in our own expressions.

Who May Attend

This retreat is open to everyone, regardless of experience level, offering a space for both beginners and seasoned meditators to deepen their practice.

Program Schedule

Costs

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Tuition & Meals: $260
Lodging: Extra: varies by type. Visit the Registration Form or this page for a list of options and pricing.

Generosity Policy: We have a donor-supported pay what you can policy and scholarships available. If you need financial assistance in order to attend, please complete this form and our Finance Director will contact you. If you have questions or would like to set up a payment plan, contact our Finance Department at finance@dorjedenmaling.com.

Covid Considerations

Please read the full details of our Covid policy here.

Registration and Cancellation Policies

Please take note that our registration and cancellation policies have been updated. You can read our registration and cancellation policies here.

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