Join Lama Gursam and Lama Willa teaching together in an ongoing in-depth study of one of the most important texts of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition: Geshe Chekawa’s Seven Points of Heart Cultivation (also known as “mind training”). A core teaching in the lineage of the Bengali meditation master Atisha (982-1054 ACE), this classic text lays out the path of meeting difficult conditions with grace, and transforming agitation, fear and anguish into compassion. It is often referred to as the teaching that transforms poison into nectar.

The first two parts of this three-part series took place in December 2020 and February 2021 and were offered in response to the global pandemic in which we are collectively enmired, because heart cultivation offers profound and counter-intuitive skills for resilience. In preparation for the April weekend, audio recordings of the first two parts will be available for registrants who did not attend the earlier retreats. Please indicate in the Comments section of the registration form that you will need access to those files in the dashboard of your user account (you must set up a user account if don’t have one already). If you are able, please considering donating for these past resources in addition to the costs for the current retreat.

Two translations of the root text will be referenced during the retreat. The first is available here; please download it before the retreat. The second is Lama Willa’s own translation, and it will be sent with the Zoom link two days before the retreat. You may also want to take a look at some additional recommended resources:

The Great Path of Awakening by Jamgon Kongtrul, Shambala Classics, Boston, 2005.

Enlightened Courage by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Snow Lion, Ithaca, New York, 2006.