Hurley House 2025 III - Mind Like the Sky Retreat
From October 7-12, we will host a special meditation retreat led by beloved teacher and American Tibetan Buddhist nun Lama Lekshe, to support us in raising funds to continue the renovation of the Hurley House in Hurleyville, New York.
Mind Like Sky is part of a traditional sequence of Tibetan meditation instruction: “Body like a mountain, breath like the wind, mind like the sky.”
How many times have you been in nature and felt the captivating effect of mountains, wind, and sky? The body is energized but relaxed. The mind rests comfortably. The heart is stirred by the endless energy and beauty of life. In Tibet, windswept mountains and azure sky are impactful teachers of how to relax into the bare essence of human experience. Resting in that place—before story, before all conceptual overlay and the ‘noise’ of modern life is a deep peace and access to wise knowing and clear seeing.
Ngöndro Series : Vajrasattva Practice
Ngöndro Series
Ngöndro is a series of practices taught in every school of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The practice of Ngöndro helps clear away obstacles and strengthens the accumulation of merit and wisdom. Gradually body and mind are ripened with view, meditation, and experience conducive to forward momentum in understanding and direct experience.
Ngöndro consists of two categories of practice:
the ‘outer preliminaries’ of The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma (precious human birth, impermanence and death, karma and the defects of samsara). Students work individually, guided by Lama Lekshe or Teacher George for this practice for about 7 hours over time.
and the ‘inner preliminaries’ of Refuge, Vajrasattva Practice, Mandala Offering and Guru Yoga, each of which require a little over 100,000 repetitions of a brief practice.
In 2026, our Ngondro students will receive instruction in Vajrasattva, Mandala and Guru Yoga. (Sincere students just beginning can get ‘catch up’ teachings from our teachers.) There is an on-going, open Ngöndro Practice Group as well.
2026 Ngondro: Vajrasattva Practice
Vajrasattva practice is a powerful way to purify body, speech and mind from confusion and previous harmful actions. Our traditional approach uses recitation of liturgy, visualizations, and mantra recitation, as well as extending the practice beyond formal mediation to daily life.
Meditation & Lunch Gathering in Corbett, Oregon
Meditation & Teaching Gathering
Saturday, October 18th
Schedule
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Meditation and Teaching Session
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Community Lunch (optional)
Location
Corbett, Oregon
Private center - please register to receive the address
This gathering offers a beautiful opportunity to come together in practice, nourishment, and community. We look forward to sharing this time with you.
Ngöndro Series : Mandala Practice
Ngöndro Series
Ngöndro is a series of practices taught in every school of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The practice of Ngöndro helps clear away obstacles and strengthens the accumulation of merit and wisdom. Gradually body and mind are ripened with view, meditation, and experience conducive to forward momentum in understanding and direct experience.
Ngöndro consists of two categories of practice:
the ‘outer preliminaries’ of The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma (precious human birth, impermanence and death, karma and the defects of samsara). Students work individually, guided by Lama Lekshe or Teacher George for this practice for about 7 hours over time.
and the ‘inner preliminaries’ of Refuge, Vajrasattva Practice, Mandala Offering and Guru Yoga, each of which require a little over 100,000 repetitions of a brief practice.
In 2026, our Ngondro students will receive instruction in Vajrasattva, Mandala and Guru Yoga. (Sincere students just beginning can get ‘catch up’ teachings from our teachers.) There is an on-going, open Ngöndro Practice Group as well.
2026 Ngöndro: Mandala Practice
In Mandala practice, we learn to open to abundance and generosity in all its forms. This contributes to selflessness, reduces grasping, and creates further foundation for the awakening of heart and mind, using liturgy, visualizations, and chanting to ritually create and offer over 100,000 visualized ‘universes’ of precious environments and objects. Like all the ngöndro practices, mandala practice is concurrently extended to daily life.
Decoding a Thangka
Decoding a Thangka
Back by popular demand, this class lets you in on the secrets of Buddhist scroll paintings called ‘thangkas.’ You’ll learn about the various kinds of thangkas and their uses, and how they are created. We’ll take one thangka and Lama Lekshe will ‘decode’ the small details, each of which is a dharma teaching in itself.
Potluck: Gratitude Potluck
Gratitude Potluck
Come join us for a community meal and dharma fellowship. This quarter’s theme is gratitude. Feel free to bring friends and family. Potlucks are free events held at our dharma house, the Vicarage. All are welcome
Appreciating the Shangpa Kagyu Lineage : Day 1
The Shangpa practice lineage of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by the 11th century yogi Khyungpo Naljor, and based primarily upon the teachings of the wisdom dakini Niguma. Khyungpo Naljor travelled to India seven times receiving teachings and empowerments from more than 150 accomplished Indian gurus.
Niguma instructed Khyngpo Naljor to keep the teachings restricted to transmission from one teacher to one student for seven generations. In the 19th century, Jamgon Kongtrol collected and preserved many of the tradition’s practices and in the 20th century, the first Kalu Rinpoche spread them worldwide. Today 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. Later in the year, there will be an opportunity to learn and participate in a Shangpa practice at Dekeling.
Appreciating the Shangpa Kagyu Lineage : Day 2
The Shangpa practice lineage of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by the 11th century yogi Khyungpo Naljor, and based primarily upon the teachings of the wisdom dakini Niguma. Khyungpo Naljor travelled to India seven times receiving teachings and empowerments from more than 150 accomplished Indian gurus.
Niguma instructed Khyngpo Naljor to keep the teachings restricted to transmission from one teacher to one student for seven generations. In the 19th century, Jamgon Kongtrol collected and preserved many of the tradition’s practices and in the 20th century, the first Kalu Rinpoche spread them worldwide. Today 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. Later in the year, there will be an opportunity to learn and participate in a Shangpa practice at Dekeling.
The Concise Practice of Chenrezig
Chenrezig is the embodiment of compassionate mind. Join us at the Vicarage for a 3-hour teaching and practice session of Chenrezig, in the abbreviated form. No experience is necessary, we’ll practice with very brief instruction woven in as we go.
Chenrezig practice helps one cultivate compassion, bodhicitta, and wisdom. Benefits include purifying negative karma and obscurations, increasing positive qualities, attracting blessings, receiving protection. There are many Chenrezig practices. This one was offered to us by Khenchen Rinpoche.
This practice includes chanting, visualization and mantra. No empowerment is needed. All are welcome. No experience is necessary.
Each person will receive a new text. Bring paper for taking notes. If you’d like to stay for lunch afterwards, bring it with you. We’ll take a brief tea break mid-way, complements of the Green Tara practice group.