2026 Winter Retreat: Dzogchen Practice Retreat
with Drupdra Khenpo Tenzin Tsultrim Rinpoche
January 2 - 10, 2026
Come practice Dzogchen meditation with a true master of the Bön tradition!
January 2-10, 2026
Drupdra Khenpo Rinpoche is the Abbot of the meditation school at Triten Norbutse in Nepal. He is an exceptional teacher and practitioner, recognized for his deep knowledge and dedication to the practices of Tsa Lung and Trul Khor. Drupdra Khenpo Rinpoche will be supported by Marcy Vaughn as our retreat’s umze, and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche will join by zoom every other day to provide additional instruction and comments on the teachings. This will be Drupdra Khenpo Rinpoche’s first visit to the United States.
Our focus this year is twofold. Our initial weekend will be oriented around the Invocation of Tapihritsa, a prayer of great beauty that describes and praises the qualities of the natural state. In the second phase of our retreat, Drupdra Khenpo will teach from the 21 Nails, among the most succinct and profound articulations of the natural state (the clear light of awareness) in any spiritual tradition. He will draw from this sacred text to support our recognition and resting in the nature of mind.
All participants will arrive on Friday, January 2, the day for checking in, settling into your room (if you are staying onsite), a light dinner and an evening guided practice. Beginning on January 3, the Drupdra Khenpo will begin to draw on the 21 Nails to guide our meditations.
Schedule
Friday, January 2, 2026
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Registration & Check-in
6:00 p.m.–6:45 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Guided Practice
Saturday–Friday, January 3-9, 2026
More Details Coming Soon …
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Retreat Conclusion
1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. Lunch
Teacher
Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin Rinpoche’ was born in the Hor’ region of East Tibet (Kham’), in 1968 to a Bönpo family of nomadic cattle herders. As a boy, he tended his family’s sheep and yaks, and learnt reading and writing from his grandfather. At nineteen, he entered Lungkar Monastery. During this time, Tsultrim Tenzin completed the traditional preliminary practices and studied Tibetan grammar and poetry as well as Bönpo philosophy. Tsultrim Tenzin served as umze, or chant master, for three years in the Lungkar Monastery. At the age of twenty-five, he went to Menri’s Monastery in Central Tibet to study with Pönlob Kalzang Nyima’ from whom he received teachings on Denö Dzö’ authored by Shardza Trashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche’ (1859-1935) and the A-Thril’ Bönpo Dzogchen manual. At this time he also gained the experiential understanding of Great Perfection. In 1993, Tsultrim Tenzin made the arduous journey to Triten Norbutse Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, to study intensively with his root Master, Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, under whose guidance he deepened his knowledge of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. He also learnt astrology, traditional Tibetan medicine, and Sanskrit. While studying, Tsultrim Tenzin served as the monastery’s chant master for six years, and as gekhöz…
Learn more about Drupdra Khenpo Tenzin Tsultrim Rinpoche