Tuesday-Sunday, September 23th-28th
Chenrezig Empowerment and Mani Drubchen Retreat
with Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche, Khenmo Konchok Tsechik, Lopön Konchok Gamtso, Venerable Lopon Kalsang, Venerable Lotsawa Lama Nyandak, and Virginia Blum
The Mani Drubchen Practice Retreat offers a rare and precious opportunity to receive powerful blessings through an authentic lineage. This Drubchen continues a tradition of practice maintained in Tibet for centuries.In- Person and Online
Registeration is required to attend
The practice sadhana and the empowerment come directly from Rigdzin Chökyi Dragpa's arrangements from the Mani Kabum. The Mani Kabum is one of the most significant termas (treasure revelations) in Tibetan Buddhism. It is attributed to Tibet's first great Dharma king, Songsten Gampo (7th century), who is revered as an emanation of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion.
The Mani Drubchen holds profound personal significance for Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche. It was the first practice retreat he attended in Tibet after the easing of religious restrictions. Drupon Rinpoche's home monastery, Drong Ngur Gon, chose this very same Mani Drubchen as their first religious revival since the Cultural Revolution. The community's overwhelming support and sponsorship enabled them to sustain the Drubchen practice continuously for over a month.
The Mani Drubchen is a very special mantra retreat that involves visualizing Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion and reciting the six syllable mantra (OM MANI PADME HUNG) as a method for generating profound love and compassion, purifying obscurations, and benefitting limitless sentient beings. Drubchens (Great Accomplishment Retreats) are said to be exceptionally powerful in assisting spiritual development and can yield the same results as years of solitary retreat.
History of Mani Kabum Treasure Tradition by Eric Fry-Miller
The Mani Kabum teachings were transmitted directly from Chenrezig to the King Songtsen Gampo (7th Century) and his retinue. These were later discovered by Padmasambhava (8th Century) and then rehidden. They were later revealed by three treasure discoverers: Drubtob Ngödrub, Nyang Ral Nyima Özer (1124-1192), and Shakya Ö. This particular secret mantra tradition and empowerment comes mainly from the earlier Mani Kabum Treasures revealed by Drubtob Ngödrub and his famous student Nyang Ral Nyima Özer. These were later condensed and arranged by Rigdzin Chökyi Dragpa (1595-1659), who set forth the empowerment, generation stage instructions, as well as the completion stage instructions in a way that would be accessible for future generations. This tradition includes the special and rare dzogchen energy of awareness empowerment (rigpai tsal wang), in which we are directly introduced to our own ultimate nature.
This empowerment and group practice introduce us to the main Chenrezig sadhana, where we cultivate love and compassion for all beings and the wisdom to free us all from cyclic existence. Later through this gateway to expand on our practice, this cycle also includes an incredible wealth of branch activities, Hayagriva and secret dakini practices, inner fire tummo and subtle energy guidance, luminosity of deep sleep, dream yoga, illusory body, phowa, bardo instructions, and much more. These instructions also include a unique set of five different types of nature of mind instructions that include meditating on the Ultimate Prajnaparamita, Mahamudra, Ten Dzogchen Realizations, Madhyamika, and the Ultimate Realization of Chenrezig. Through this incredible cycle, we are shown how to reveal the true nature of the Great Compassionate Chenrezig from within.
Schedule
Tuesday, September 23th 10:00am - Sunday, September 28th 10:00am
Mani Drupchen Practice Retreat
Sunday, September 28th, 10:00am-12:00pm
1000 Armed Chenrezig Empowerment
Sunday,September 28th, 2:00pm-5:00pm
Final Tsok celebration, final ceremony for prayer requests, final dedication and aspiration prayers
Additional notes concerning the Schedule
During the mani drupchen practice retreat, we will hold both daytime and nighttime sessions, with continuous chanting of the mani mantra beginning tuesday, september 23rd at 10am and continuing throughout the retreat. although this is a 24-hour retreat, you are warmly encouraged to attend at any time—day or night—as your schedule permits. if you’re able to commit to night sessions, we will include you in the rotating schedule for those hours. night sessions will be held in small groups practicing in 3 ½ hour intervals through the night.
We encourage you to attend as much or as little of the drupchen as your schedule allows.
Doors will remain open around the clock, and you are welcome to come and go as needed. your presence, in whatever form it takes, is a valuable contribution to the collective field of practice and blessings we create together.
Honoring Tradition During Drubchen: A Special Invitation to Sponsor Meals
During our recent volunteer meeting, Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche shared the profound history of Drubchen ceremonies within the Drikung Kagyu lineage. These sacred gatherings are not only opportunities for deep practice and communal merit but also carry meaningful traditions—one of which is the offering of meals to practitioners.
In the Drikung tradition, patrons have long sponsored meals for monastics and lay participants during Drubchens. This act of generosity is considered a powerful way to accumulate merit, especially when dedicated to the memory of a loved one. It is a gesture of compassion and connection—feeding the sangha while nourishing the heart.
We warmly invite anyone who feels called to participate in this tradition to consider sponsoring a meal during the upcoming Drubchen. Whether in honor of a family member, as a personal offering, or simply as a way to support the community, your contribution will be deeply appreciated.
We also want to acknowledge the many ways our sangha is already showing up—with travel, registration, butter lamp offerings, and heartfelt presence. This invitation is not a request for more, but an opening for those who wish to engage with this lineage tradition in a meaningful way.
Suggested Sponsorship Levels
Diamond Level: $500
Sapphire Level: $250
Amber Level: $100
Ruby Level: $55
Emerald Level: $25
All sponsors will be acknowledged during the retreat, and dedications can be made in honor of loved ones, for healing, or in memory of the departed.
Light A Butter Supported By The Blessings Of The Mani Drubchen
With the collective power of mantra, prayer and deep meditation, lighting a butter lamp becomes a profound spiritual practice—a luminous offering that sends your deepest aspirations for yourself, your loved ones, and all sentient beings into the universe.
Throughout the drubchen as prayer requests come in, we will honor your intentions by lighting a lamp on your behalf. Your written prayers will be carefully placed on a side altar using a special prayer card and will remain there for the duration of the Mani Drubchen, continuously blessed by the sacred energy generated in the practice.
Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche
Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche was born in 1962 into a nomadic family in the region of Nag-chu in Eastern Tibet at the height of the religious and cultural persecution of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Following the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 and the subsequent Buddhist revival in Tibet, Drupon Rinpoche became inspired to devote his life to the spiritual path. He was thoroughly involved in the work of rebuilding the monastery in his local community, and in 1988 he went on a year-long pilgrimage, visiting holy places throughout Tibet. This journey culminated in his dramatic escape from Tibet, a perilous journey on foot across the Himalayas from Tibet to India. Once safely in India, he entered Janchubling Monastery in Dehradun where he studied Buddhist philosophy and served as a disciplinarian for six years. In 1996, he entered a rigorous period of solitary meditation and contemplation known as the traditional Three-Year Retreat. Soon after, he was given the title “Drupon” which means “master of spiritual attainment.”
Venerable Khenmo Konchok Tsechik
Venerable Khenmo Konchok Tsechik was born in 1982, became a nun of the Drikung Samtenling Nunnery in Dehradun, India in 2001 and received her novice vows in 2002. From 2001 to 2006, She studied Buddhist philosophy, liturgies and rituals of the Kagyu lineage, the great treatises common to all lineages, and other subjects.
From 2006 to 2016, she studied at Drikung Kagyu College and completed a 10-year course in higher Buddhist studies and awarded the title of Acharya, Lopön in 2016. Those Buddhist studies included Bodhicharyavatara by Shantideva, Pramanavartika by Dhramakirti, Madhyamakavatara by Chandrakirti, Abhisamayaalangkara by Maitreya, Mantrayana, Heart Essence of Mahayan, and Vinaya Sutras. She served in several key roles at the Drikung Kagyu Samtenling Nunnery, including the disciplinarian from 2006 to 2007, the spiritual director from 2013 to 2014 and from 2016 to 2018, and the resident teacher at Drikung Samtenling Nunnery and the examiner at Kagyu college from 2018 to 2020. In March 2023, under the blessing of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, she was honored and awarded with a Khenmo title, equivalent to Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhism.
Lopön Konchok Gamtso
Ani Konchok Gamtso was born in Tibet and became a nun at Gar Monastery. In 2000, she went to India and joined the Drikung Samtenling Nunnery in Dehradun. In 2006, she joined Kagyu College for the higher studies and learned Buddhist Philosophy, Bodhicharyavatara, Pramanavartika, Madhyamakavatara and Abhisamayaalangkara. Ani Konchok Gamtso was awarded the title of Acharya, Lopön, in 2018 by the Kagyu College.She served as the director of the Drikung Samtenling Nunnery from 2007 to 2008 and as the disciplinarian from 2012 to 2013.
Venerable Lopön Kalsang
Venerable Lopön Kalsang received full monastic ordination in 1992 from Nubpa Rinpoche and Drubwang Rinpoche at Rinchen Ling Monastery in Nepal. He studied under and received transmission from many masters, including Nubpa Rinpoche, Gelong Tsongdru, Drubjang Konchog Norbu, Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche and His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and received higher trainings in ritual practices at Jangchub Ling in India. In 2008 he completed the Shastri degree, which included higher training in Pramana, Madhyama, Abdhidharma, Prajnaparamita, Tanying, Gonchik, Uttaratantra, and Buddhist Ritual Tradition. In 2024 His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche gave Lama Kalsang the title, Dorje Lopön, Vajra Master. Lama Kalsang is also an accomplished artist in traditional Tibetan ritual art.
Venerable Lama Nyandak
Lama Nyandak was born in Humla region,which is situated between Nepal and Tibet border.He was ordained at the age of 13 at his local monastery.He studied basic monastic education,reading, writing and trained in ritual performance.
In 1991,he joined Drigung Kagyu Institute,the main monastery of Drigung Kagyu lineage in India.There he studied Buddhist philosophy under the guidance of the late KhenpoTogtrol Rinpoche,Khenpo Tashi and Khenpo Monlam.
While he was doing his studies in India,he was fortunate enough to receive teachings and initiations from other schools of the Tibetan Buddhism tradition,such as HH Dalai Lama,the late HH Penor Rinpoche,HH Sakya Trizin Rinpoche as well as the two Holinesses of Drigung Kagyu.
In 1991 to 2000, he studied in India and in the year 2000,he travelled to United States for the first time,serving as Lho Kunsang Rinpoche's interpreter.Since then,he has served as interpreter to many masters,mainly from the Drigung Kagyu lineage,including HH drigung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche, the late Druwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche,His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche and His Eminence Nupa Rinpoche.
Serving as interpreter to so many great and wonderful masters has made a great impact upon Lama Nyandak.He is especially impressed by how these great masters lead lives with such simplicity in this chaotic times.Because of them,lama Nyandak tries his best to live his life according to the teachings of these great but simple masters.As for the experiential teachings and pith instructions he received from those great masters, Lama Nyandak goes for meditation retreats when time permits him. At the moment he is serving at Drikung Kagyu Rinchen Ling monastery at Kathmandu Nepal as an English interpreter as well as the role of teacher.
Virginia Blum
Virginia Blum is the resident translator at Drong Ngur Jangchubling Buddhist Center, and has been translating and interpreting the Dharma since 2006 assisting Buddhist teachers around the world. Virginia is fluent in both Tibetan and Spanish and has been engaged in Buddhist meditation and study since 1999. She has studied Tibetan language in a number of immersive programs, including a two-year translation training program at Songsten Library in Dehradun, India, the Tibetan Summer Intensive Training at Rangjung Yeshe in Kathmandu, Nepal, as well as the Tibetan Language Intensive Training Course at the University of Virginia.
Important Event Information
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Breakfast, snacks, tea, and coffee will be provided for all retreat participants. Lunch and dinner are provided based on registration. (Pre-registration is required)
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One onsite bedroom, indoor camping, and some nearby home stays are available. Please see registration form for details and to reserve.
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