InvitatioN

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As we continue to face uncertainty and adversities, personally and globally, including now war in Europe, we are called to our true refuge in our practice for the benefit of all. For this occasion, we will gather as unique individuals in one human family longing for peace, love, wisdom and healing in the world for the purpose of connecting our innately kind and compassionate human hearts in offering heartfelt prayers.  

 

Join us, Chöying Khandro and your fellow spiritual travelers, for Dakini’s Whisper’s 2nd annual Chö Monlam Prayer Festival, 2022, especially auspicious in these crucial moments of uncertainty, transition and transformation! Dakini’s Whisper extends a heartfelt invitation for this sacred occasion – the commemoration of 9th Jetsun Dampa, our source teacher, and celebration of the Tibetan New Year – to you all regardless of background.

 

The Monlam, the Great Prayer Festival, was originally established in 1409, in Tibet, by Lama Tsongkhapa to pray for the long life of the holy teachers of all traditions, for the survival and spreading of the Dharma in the minds of all sentient beings, and for world peace. These communal prayers, offered with strong faith and devotion, helped to overcome obstacles to peace and generate conducive conditions for everyone to live in harmony.  

 

This year’s Cho Monlam focuses on HEALING THROUGH “SEVERANCE.” As we continue to face uncertainty and adversities, personally and globally, we are called to our true refuge in our practice for the benefit of all in our community and world. For this occasion, we will gather together as unique individuals in one human family longing for peace, love, wisdom and healing in the world for the purpose of connecting our innately kind and compassionate human hearts in offering heartfelt prayers. If you would like us to include in our communal prayers those who have died in the past year, please send their names no later than March 3, to Ellen Green, dakiniswhisperteam@gmail.com.
 

This will be an auspicious opportunity for us, practitioners, to honor our masters of the past and the river of blessings called the “Ear-Whispered Lineage of Cho.” Celebrating great Cho Masters of the past who invested in these Lineage teachings with tremendous devotion and spiritual endeavor, Khandro-la will offer the transmission of the ‘PE!’ Severance Lineage Practice which you can integrate into your home practice.

 

SCHEDULE

(All times are PST)

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SATURDAY, MARCH 5

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9 – 10:30 am           

MEDITATION & PRACTICE

Mandala Offering, Opening of Cho Monlam Prayer Festival with Cho Tonglen

Preliminary – Guru Yoga, “Source of All Good Qualities,” Relative and Ultimate Bodhicitta Meditation

 

10:45 – 12 noon      

CHO PRACTICE

“Dedicating the Illusory Body as Tsok Offering”

 

Break

 

2 – 3 pm                   

DIALOGUE - Flavors of the Ear-Whispered Lineage

"Great Masters of the Ear-Whispered Lineage of Bliss Heaven"- DW Students’ Sharing

 

3 - 4 pm                   

TEACHING, PRACTICE & MEDITATION

Machik’s Guru Yoga + Cho and Mahamudra

 

Break

 

4:30 – 5:30 pm               

PRAYERS

Tonglen + Jetsun Dampa’s Aspiration Prayer & Shantideva’s Dedication

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

 

9– 10:30 am                   

CHO PRACTICE

Tonglen + Cho Single Sitting “Dentok Chikma”

 

Break

 

10:45 – 12 noon       

CHO TRANSMISSION & PRACTICE

PE!’ Severance Practice + The Seven PEs + Supplication to Machik Five Dakinis

 

Break

 

2– 3 pm                   

DIALOGUE - BREAKOUT SESSION

“Cho and My Life Journey” - DW Students’ Sharing

 

3– 4:30 pm                   

PRACTICE

Five Dakini Practice

 

Break

 

5 – 5:30 pm             

PRAYER

"King of Prayers" & other Prayers, Mandala Offering

Closure of Cho Monlam with Dedication

 

interview with Khandro-la

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Khandro-la is offering opportunities for personal interviews during this auspicious event. Below is a schedule of those times. If you are interested in talking with her about your practice and journey, this would be a great opportunity. Please contact Ellen Green at dakiniswhisperteam@gmail.com. If you'd like to request different times from the ones below, please also email Ellen.​

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Saturday

12:30 - 1

1:10 - 1:40

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Sunday

5:10 - 5:40

5:50 - 6:20

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MATERIALS

 

• Mandala Offering - We will chant the Mandala Offering at the beginning and closing of the Festival. You may download it here if needed.

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• Shantideva's Dedication Prayer can be downloaded here.

 

• DW has just launched our new publication, the Booklet – Commentary to “Supplication to Machik Five Dakini.” You may purchase the booklet for download here.

 

• Most of the prayers that we will be reciting during the Monlam Festival are available in the "Supplementary Practices" text that you can purchase from the DW Media Store. The Cho practice texts are also available from the Store.

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Prayers for THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

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If you would like us to include in our communal prayers those who have died in the past year, please send their names no later than March 3, to dakiniswhisperteam@gmail.com.

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REGISTRATION & SUGGESTED DONATIONS

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There are no prerequisites for attending this Chö Monlam Prayer Festival.  If you are new to Chö, you are welcome to join us as an opportunity for Chö healing for yourself and all beings. If you are not a member of Dakini’s Whisper, participating will be a blessing of the lineage for you as well as an opportunity to make a connection to the Chö tradition. If you are interested in becoming a member of Dakini’s Whisper, you may do so here.

 

It is a traditional custom to make a Dana (donation) as an act of appreciation for the preciousness of the lineage and the kindness of the teacher. The following range of suggested donations as a registration fee is required for your participation in this inspiring event.

 

Suggested Donations: $35 - $95

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Registration no later than 12 noon, March 3, using the form below is required for all attendees regardless of whether or not you plan to participate in the entire retreat.

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CHÖ MASTERY JOURNEY

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This event is required by all Chö Mastery Journey pilgrims in 2022.

 

If you are interested in joining the Chö Mastery Journey, please apply here.

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GUIDANCE FOR PARTICIPANTS

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These requests and suggestions are intended to deepen your experience and help our weekend together flow.

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• This is a sacred and auspicious occasion. Consider your participation, internal and external, with the intention to create a meaningful experience.

• Observe silence as much as possible.

• Stay present while online. Being intentionally focused online sometimes can be difficult and yet it also impacts how you, and potentially others, experience the event. 

• With respect to our teacher and each other, please observe these Zoom courtesies.

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1. Arrive 5-10 mins early so you are ready when Khandro-la arrives.

2. Keep your audio MUTED unless speaking. 

3. Indicate your name as your Zoom name so we can be clear who is with us.

4. Keep your video on in order to experience connection with our teacher and fellow pilgrims.

5. Use the hand wave function (part of Zoom platform) during sharing and Q&A time.

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Please review carefully and do your best to plan ahead in regards to breaks so you can be fully present for gathering times and to minimize 'comings and goings' during sessions. If you are attending parts of the Festival and not all of it, please plan to arrive prior to the beginning of a session and not after it has begun.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Ellen at dakiniswhisperteam@gmail.com.