June 21, 22, 2008
Kriya Yoga weekend Land Development
(rain date: June 28, 29)

July 19 & 20, 2008
Kriya Yoga weekend Land Development
(rain date: July 26, 27)

This weekend we will continue to prepare the building site as well as any needed work for the retreat center. In addition, we will be constructing tent platforms.

We will meet at 310 Diagonal St., Lansing, Iowa at 9:00 am on Saturday, then head up to the property.

Please wear appropriate clothing. Weather permitting, we plan to go swimming later in the day. We may also organize a tour to the Effigy Mounds National Monument on Sunday. Meals will be provided and lodging is available upon request for those coming from out of town.

Please contact Kunzang at: kunzang@saraswatibahwan.org for more information or to request lodging.

Aug. 16 & 17, 2008
Kriya Yoga weekend Land Development
(rain date: Aug. 23, 24)

This weekend we will continue with any necessary land clearing and landscaping work. On Saturday we will perform a naga offering on the land and install more poles for prayer flags.

Please wear appropriate gear for working out in the woods in hot, humid weather. We may also go swimming. Meals will be provided and lodging is available upon request for those coming from out of town.

We will meet at 310 Diagonal St., Lansing, Iowa at 9:00 am on Saturday.

Please contact Kunzang at: kunzang@saraswatibahwan.org for more information or to request lodging.

Sept. 10-17, 2008
P'howa Retreat

Lama Dawa Rinpoche will lead a 7-day P'howa retreat from the Khandro T'huk-t'hik cycle of the Dudjom Tersar. These retreats are open to anyone with Buddhist refuge vows. Much of the practice will be held outside in the surrounding 2,000 acre wildlife refuge.

Registration is required. For information on rates, lodging, etc., go to: www.GoldenLotusSanctuary.com. Camping is also available.

Oct. 2-6, 2008
Vajra Armor retreat, Level 1
Oct. 9-13, 2008
Vajra Armor retreat, Level 1
Oct. 16-20, 2008
Vajra Armor retreat, Level 1
Oct. 23- 27, 2008
Vajra Armor retreat, Level 1

We will continue our series of Vajra Armor retreats with Lama Dawa Rinpoche. Registration is required and retreats are limited to 15 people.

For information on the Vajra Armor practice, go to: www.lamadawa.com

For information on registration, rates, etc., go to: www.GoldenLotusSanctuary.com.

Nov. 15, 2008
Empowerment of Ta-Chag Khyung-Sum
2-5pm

Lama Dawa Rinpoche will bestow the empowerment to this powerful healing practice, known as the 'triple wrathful' deities of Hayagriva, Vajrapani and Garuda. This practice comes from the terma treasures of Dudjom Rinpoche and is often called for in divination in addressing many chronic diseases. This empowerment is open to anyone who wishes to receive the blessings for their self-healing, or who have been told by mirror divination that they need to recite this mantra. In addition, anyone wishing to participate in the great Drupchen of Ta-Chag Khyng-Sum, must attend to receive this empowerment (unless you have already received it).

No registration is needed. For more information, go to: www.GoldenLotusSanctuary.com.

Nov. 17- Dec. 1, 2008
Two week Drupchen of Ta-Chag Khyung-Sum

Lama Dawa Rinpoche will lead a 'great accomplishment' retreat of the triple wrathful deities: Hayagriva, Vajrapani and Garuda, known as Ta-Chag Khung-Sum. This will be a closed, boundaried retreat and will involve a schedule of intensive practice and empowerment of special Garuda pills. Prior retreat experience is a plus. Participants must be a serious practitioner of the Dudjom tersar, and have either completed Ngondro, or are actively working on Ngondro.

This retreat will be very intensive and participants will not be allowed to leave the premises and will not have access to any outside communication.

Registration and application is required! For information, go to: www.GoldenLotusSanctuary.com.

Dec. 21-27, 2008
The Dakini practice of the Khandro T'huk-t'hik

Lama Dawa Rinpoche and Kunzang Dechen Chodron will lead a week-long practice intensive of the full Yeshe Tsogyal practice from the Dudjom Tersar. This will not be astrict retreat, but rather a workshop intensive. It is meant for those practitioners who are completing (or have completed) the preliminary practices of Ngondro and are preparing for the dakini retreat.

Participants will learn how to conduct the ritual service - including how to play the ritual musical instruments, how to use the ritual implements, how to properly set up the shrine and mandala, making mudras and tormas, and how to conduct the tsog offering. Teachings from the Nyen-Yik (retreat manual) will be given with instruction on how to visualize and recite the mantra.

Retreat rooms will be available afterwards for those practitioners who wish to stay and begin a formal retreat under Lama Dawa Rinpoche's guidance.

For more information, go to: www.GoldenLotusSanctuary.com.