ALL CLASSES & EVENTS
DDSP - Whole Program
Complete DDSP Program - 10 Courses
Tuesdays, 5:30 - 7:30PM PST
Online Only Unless Noted
Section I: Three Courses
+ What Happens? Death Explained (May 5, 12, and 19)
+ How Dying Works (June 9 and 16)
+ You Are Dying (July 14 and 21)
Section II: Seven Courses
+ Side by Side in Dying (August 4, 18, and September 1)
+ Keeping Peace in a Turbulent Transition (September 8 and 22; October 6 and 20)
+ Spiritual Support at End of Life (December 8 and 15)
+ Compassion & Continuity (January 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2027) optional hands-on
+ First Steps After Death (February 2, 2027) optional hands-on
+ Care of the Body (February 16, 2027) optional hands-on
+ Practical and Dispositional Decisions (March 2 and 9, 2027)
Dekeling’s Death and Dying Study & Practice (DDSP) Program is a comprehensive, year-or-more long curriculum that draws on classical Tibetan Buddhist teachings, contemporary research in neuroscience and end-of-life care, and decades of direct teaching experience. It is designed for people who want to go beyond surface-level comfort and actually learn — with both head and heart — what it means to live, die, and support others through that passage.
*10% discount — register and pay for both sections at once:
$535 Supported / $920 Standard / $1,290 Pay It Forward
*No refund for this option after the end of first class (series)
DDSP - Section I
Section I forms the doctrinal and philosophical foundation of the DDSP program. Three courses move from the broad view of what death is, through the specific stages of dying, to the practical question of how to prepare.
Three Courses Include:
+ What Happens? Death Explained (May 5, 12, and 19)
+ How Dying Works (June 9 and 16)
+ You Are Dying (July 14 and 21)
Each course stands alone; together they form a coherent arc.
Shamatha-Vipashyana-Mahamudra
The three basic meditation methods in the Kagyu tradition are calm abiding (shamatha), clear seeing (vipashyana), and their fruition the Great Seal (mahamudra). This four evening series will introduce the basic techniques and encourage a daily practice.
Lojong: Tibetan Mind & Heart Training
Lojong — often translated as “mind training” — is one of the great jewels of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Over the course of a year, Lama Lekshe will guide participants through all seven points and their fifty-nine aphorisms, with commentary, guided meditation, and practical instruction for carrying the teachings into daily life.
Daylong: Calm Abiding and Clear Seeing
Meditation, reflection, and discussion led by George Draffan.
In-person at the Heart of Wisdom Temple in Portland and online by Zoom.
White Tara Practice with Torma Instructions
Join us for a 90-minute White Tara practice session. In addition to our regular practice, this session will include specific instructions and guidance on the Torma (ritual offering) portion of the practice.
DDSP - You Are Dying: This Is Your To-Do List
Despite the certainty of death, most of us carry only vague, unexamined ideas about what it is. In this class, we’ll explore death through a clear Tibetan Buddhist lens.
Annual Sangha Meeting
Dekeling’s board of directors invites you to a 90 minute virtual sangha meeting. We’ll provide an overview of Dekeling’s financial and organizational health, discuss volunteer opportunities and have time for questions and conversation.
Steady in the Storm Retreat
Steady in the Storm is a two-day Buddhist practice immersion for those who want to meet the turbulence of modern life differently.
DDSP - Section II
DDSP Section II — Turning Towards Hands-On Practice
Online Only Unless Noted
Tuesdays 5:30 - 7:30PM PST
Section II: Seven Courses
+ Side by Side in Dying (August 4, 18, and September 1)
+ Keeping Peace in a Turbulent Transition (September 8 and 22; October 6 and 20)
+ Spiritual Support at End of Life (December 8 and 15)
+ Compassion & Continuity (January 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2027) optional hands-on
+ First Steps After Death (February 2, 2027) optional hands-on
+ Care of the Body (February 16, 2027) optional hands-on
+ Practical and Dispositional Decisions (March 2 and 9, 2027)
Section II in the DDSP program moves from understanding to doing. These offerings emphasize practical skill: how to be present with a dying person, how to navigate the emotional and relational terrain around death, how to offer spiritual support, and how to care for the body and the bereaved after death.
Specific scheduling for some Part II courses will be confirmed once we have a more specific and clear picture of participant composition and needs. Dates listed reflect current planning.
Section II Total: $430 Supported / $735 Standard / $1,030 Pay It Forward
DDSP - Side by Side in Dying
Being present with a dying person is one of the most profound things a human being can do. And yet, most of us have never been taught how. This three-session course focuses on the relational and practical skills that allow us to be genuinely useful — and genuinely present — with someone who is dying.
Daylong: Awakening Heart and Mind.
Meditation, reflection, and discussion led by George Draffan.
In-person at the Heart of Wisdom Temple in Portland and online by Zoom.
DDSP - Keeping Peace in a Turbulent Transition
Drawing on both Tibetan teachings on the bardos and contemporary understanding of end-of-life psychology, this four-session course explores the emotional landscape of the dying process — not to fix it, but to understand it well enough to move through it skillfully.
Monsters Under the Bed
Let’s explore how we create the world we live in, and how it’s possible to see more clearly. This four evening series will draw from the contemplations and meditations in “Wake Up to Your Life” by Ken McLeod.
2026 Abiding Light Coast Retreat
Join us for the Dekeling Community’s annual retreat on the Oregon Coast. Led by George Draffan.
DDSP - Spiritual Support Towards the End of Life
There is a particular kind of support that can be offered to the dying and the recently deceased — not medical, not emotional, but spiritual. This course introduces practitioners to that dimension of service.
DDSP - Compassion and Continuity: Practice After Death
Death does not end the relationship — or the opportunity to be of benefit. This four-session course explores the traditional Tibetan understanding of what continues after death and what practitioners can do to support that process.
DDSP - First Steps After Death
The hours immediately following a death are often chaotic and disorienting — and they matter. The decisions made in that window affect everything that follows: for the body, for the family, and for the continuation of any spiritual support. This single three-hour session provides clear, practical guidance for that immediate period.
DDSP - Care of the Body
Washing and dressing the body of someone you love after death is an act of profound care. It is also a skill — and like most skills, it is easier when you have been taught. This session offers hands-on guidance (for those who can attend in person) and clear Zoom instruction for those at a distance.
DDSP - How Dying Works: The Stages of Death
Despite the certainty of death, most of us carry only vague, unexamined ideas about what it is. In this class, we’ll explore death through a clear Tibetan Buddhist lens.
This course walks through the traditional Tibetan Buddhist understanding of the dying process—from the exhaustion of lifespan through the dissolution of the elements—exploring the physical, energetic, and mental experiences that unfold.
Meditation and Lunch Gathering in Corbett
Join us for a small, once-a-month group meditation and teaching, led by Lama Lekshe. This regular event is held at the community space of sangha members Janessa and Wilders, out in beautiful Corbett, Oregon.
Vicarage Gardening Day
Join us to tidy and care for the Vicarage Garden, and bring a lunch if you’d like to stay for the whole work period.
Holly's Retreat Sendoff
In-Person Only
Sunday, May 24th
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Please join us for a potluck at the Vicarage that doubles as a farewell gathering for the sangha before Holly’s one-year retreat. This celebration is open to all.
Registration is free but encouraged so we can prepare for the event.
Long Chenrezig: Instruction and Chanting in Tibetan
The Long Chenrezig weaves together mantra, mudra, aspiration prayers, and visualization into a full session of practice. Instruction will be provided, and a music recording will be shared and will guide the chant throughout the morning.
Meditation & Lunch Gathering in Corbett, Oregon
Join us for a small, once-a-month group meditation and teaching, led by Lama Lekshe, in beautiful Corbett, Oregon.
DDSP - What Happens? Death Explained
Death & Dying Study & Practice Program (DDSP)
Despite the certainty of death, most of us carry only vague, unexamined ideas about what it is. In this class, we’ll explore death through a clear Tibetan Buddhist lens.
Retreat: Going, Going Gone - Continuous Practice in Life and Death
Join us for a Dekeling Community retreat at Ser Chö Ösel Ling Retreat Center in Goldendale, WA. Led by Lama Lekshe. In this retreat you’ll learn several Tibetan contemplations, practices, and rituals—each of which will enrich your capacity to live fearlessly, and to prepare you for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of death.
Celebration For Allen and Nan
You are warmly invited to a gathering of gratitude celebrating Allen and Nan Whitaker for their many years of service, care, and dedication to dharma community.
Lama Sarah Harding @ KSC
A teaching with Lama Sarah Harding at our neighboring sangha in Ashland Oregon, Kagyu Sukha Chöling.
Meditation & Lunch Gathering in Corbett, Oregon
Join us for a small, once-a-month group meditation and teaching, led by Lama Lekshe, in beautiful Corbett, Oregon.
Earth Day and Gardening
Join us to tidy and care for the Vicarage Garden, and share a lunch for Earth Day.
Turning the Mind Toward the Dharma
This four evening series will explore traditional contemplations and explore ways we can adapt them to their own lives. This series is suitable for all levels of practitioners, from total beginners to lifelong meditators.
Steady in the Storm: A Residential Retreat in Hurleyville, NY
Join us for an in-person, silent meditation retreat led by Lama Lekshe at Hurley House in Hurleyville, NY. The retreat will be an opportunity to study and practice somatic and heart-based meditation, and will include introduction to breath meditation, somatic practices, and 1-on-1 practice support from Lama Lekshe.
Daylong: The Cultivation of Generosity.
Meditation, reflection, and discussion led by George Draffan.
In-person at the Heart of Wisdom Temple in Portland and online by Zoom.
White Tara Sadhana Practice Weekend
Join us for a weekend of White Tara instruction and practice. This class is for beginners and those with some previous exposure as well. Please note, you must have received the White Tara empowerment in order to sign up for this class.
Meditation & Lunch Gathering in Corbett, Oregon
Join us for a small, once-a-month group meditation and teaching, led by Lama Lekshe. This regular event is held at the community space of sangha members Janessa and Wilders, out in beautiful Corbett, Oregon.
Dana - The Paramita of Generosity
Dana means generosity, in all its forms. Generosity is a practice and quality cultivated in the Dharma from day one up to the highest levels because it cuts the craving and delusion that lead to suffering. Join us on March 5 and March 19 to explore and reflect on the practice of generosity.
Tibetan New Year: Losar Celebration Potluck
Come join us for a Tibetan New Year: Losar Celebration at the Vicarage. We’ll celebrate the New Year and our practice together as friends and community. We’ll be eating momos (tibetan dumplings) from Himalayan Dumplings, a small local business owned by a Tibetan woman.
*Please bring light vegetarian side dishes to accompany the momos. There will be a mix of meat and vegetarian.
The 6 Bardos: Death, Life & Everything Between
Most of us think of life and death as separate, but the Six Bardos—a traditional Tibetan Buddhist way of describing the experience of all transitions—including death—maps these as a single, continuous arc. In this class, we’ll take a clear, easy-to-follow look at all six transitional states and explore how each stage helps us understand the ongoing unfolding of both life and death.
Meditation & Lunch Gathering in Corbett, Oregon
Join us for a small, once-a-month group meditation and teaching, led by Lama Lekshe. This regular event is held at the community space of sangha members Janessa and Wilders, out in beautiful Corbett, Oregon.
The Perfection of Wisdom in Daily Practice
Not sure how to practice insight? Confused by the instructions in traditional texts? Ready to take a dive into the perfection of wisdom?
George Draffan will offer an introduction to several wisdom texts, including the Prajnaparamita Sutra in 8000 Lines.
Information Session: Death & Dying Class Series and Cohort
In 2026, Dekeling will be offering dharma training devoted to understanding the practices, concepts, and skills related to death and dying as spiritual practice. Anyone interested in knowing more about this program is invited to this orientation session.
Four Immeasurables Daylong at the Vicarage
Join us for a day of cultivating the four immeasurables of loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity. We’ll alternate silent meditation and contemplation with gentle qigong.
Meditation & Lunch Gathering in Corbett, Oregon
Join us for a small, once-a-month group meditation and teaching, led by Lama Lekshe. This regular event is held at the community space of sangha members Janessa and Wilders, out in beautiful Corbett, Oregon.
The Concise Practice of Chenrezi
Chenrezi is the embodiment of compassionate mind. Join us at the Vicarage for a 3-hour teaching and practice session of Chenrezi, in the abbreviated form. No experience is necessary.
New Year’s Eve Practice & Celebration
You and all are warmly invited to join us for an early evening New Year’s celebration and practice at the Dekeling Vicarage and online.
December Meditation & Lunch Gathering in Corbett, Oregon
This gathering offers a beautiful opportunity to come together in practice, nourishment, and community. We look forward to sharing this time with you.
Introduction to the Shangpa Kagyu Lineage
The Shangpa practice lineage of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by the 11th century yogi Khyungpo Naljor. At Dekeling, our community culture and practice is deeply shaped by these spiritual roots. Everyone is welcome to explore with us as we study and celebrate this beautiful path.
Monday Meditation & Dialogue at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Monday Meditation & Dialogue
Monday Evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Pacific Time in this virtual Zoom room.
Our Monday night meditation is followed by a discussion, where every question is welcome and each person in the room is a valued voice. It’s an opportunity for beginners and more advanced students to mingle, sharing their experience and creating a rich and enjoyable conversation. Beginners’ instructions are given each time. After the meditation, we have a 10 minute tea break before the discussion begins.