Skymind at The Garrison Institute: Buddhist Teachings on Meeting our World with a Vast Mind & Fierce Heart

A thousand years ago, Machig Labdrön, the renowned 11th century Tibetan yogini, taught that it is only in meeting our fears and shadows that we are able to access the wisdom and peace we so deeply yearn for. We are invited to “go to the places that scare you” – not with armor and aggression but with curiosity and compassion. … More Skymind at The Garrison Institute: Buddhist Teachings on Meeting our World with a Vast Mind & Fierce Heart

Skymind: The Radical Path of Open Awareness in Frankfurt, Germany (on-site + live online)

Join Charlotte Rotterdam and Pieter Oosthuizen for a talk and booksigning event centered on “Skymind,” a book inspired by 11th-century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön. The event explores teachings related to awareness, compassion, and joy, showcasing their relevance in everyday life. Registration ends two days prior. … More Skymind: The Radical Path of Open Awareness in Frankfurt, Germany (on-site + live online)

Skymind at Hollyhock: Sacred Land, Sacred View

Relaxing your body onto the earth, gazing into the vast expanse of the sky and the open sea, you learn to “rest the mind in the way of the sky.” Drawn from original texts at the heart of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Machig’s pith and luminous verses remind us to turn towards the innate wholeness of our being and the natural spaciousness of primordial awareness. … More Skymind at Hollyhock: Sacred Land, Sacred View

Chöd: Transforming Fear Through Compassion (Online)

Chöd (meaning ‘to cut through’) is a thousand-year-old Tibetan Buddhist practice for meeting and engaging fears and fixations through the practice of compassion and generosity. The practice, sung in beautiful melodies and accompanied by a drum and bell, has its roots in shamanic traditions and was traditionally often performed as a healing practice. … More Chöd: Transforming Fear Through Compassion (Online)

Liberation in One Seat (Dentog Chigma Chöd)

September 27 – October 2, 2024

The dynamic and transformative practice of Dentog Chigma, “liberation on one seat,” combines the melodic and rhythmic aspects of traditional Chöd with the visualization and mantra recitation of Tibetan Buddhist deity practice. The practitioner engages with various forms of Machig Labdrön – including a wrathful emanation – through purification, receiving blessings, radiant compassion, and ultimately the awareness of our inseparability from the ground of being. As such, it is an incredibly dynamic and transformative practice.  … More Liberation in One Seat (Dentog Chigma Chöd)

Skymind: Vast View, Sacred Land

July 11 – 16, 2024

Buddhist teachings reveal our innate wakefulness and inherent wholeness, asserting that there is no fundamental lack in ourselves, others, or the world. Everything and everyone emerges from the ground of being, the Great Mother, accessible through the essence of our awareness, the nature of our minds. As the esteemed 11th-century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön advises, “rest in your nature.” Join us on the powerful land of Tara Mandala for an immersive exploration of these teachings, as conveyed by Machig. … More Skymind: Vast View, Sacred Land

Kapala I: Feeding Your Demons

June 27 – July 1, 2024

Retreat in Tuscany, Italy

Feeding your Demons is a powerful and profound method for working with rather than fighting against the obstacles, conflicts, and challenges of our life. By meeting our fears and obsessions with gentleness and compassion, and nurturing their underlying need, we allow them to transform into allies, insight and wisdom. Drawing on traditional practices and teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this process was developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione, a Western Buddhist teacher and author of Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict.  … More Kapala I: Feeding Your Demons

Chöd – Cutting Through Ego-Fixation

June 8 – 11, 2024

In-person Retreat in Frankfurt, Germany

Chöd (literally ‘to cut’ or ‘to sever’) is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice through which we confront our fears and attachments by cultivating compassion and generosity. We visualize offering our own body to the forces that seem to destroy us, learning to let go of our grasping at the self. At the same time, we open ourselves to the innate freedom, compassion, and wisdom within. This practice, sung to beautiful melodies and accompanied by a drum and bell, has its roots in shamanic traditions and has traditionally often been used as a healing practice. … More Chöd – Cutting Through Ego-Fixation

Kapala I: Feeding Your Demons

June 8 – 12, 2024

In-person retreat in France

Feeding your Demons is a powerful and profound method for working with rather than fighting against the obstacles, conflicts, and challenges of our life. By meeting our fears and obsessions with gentleness and compassion, and nurturing their underlying need, we allow them to transform into allies, insight and wisdom. Drawing on traditional practices and teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this process was developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione, a Western Buddhist teacher and author of Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict.  … More Kapala I: Feeding Your Demons

Skymind: Glimpsing the Radiance of Our True Nature

June 7, 2024

Public Talk in Frankfurt, Germany (+ live online)

At the heart of Buddhist teachings lies the invitation to rest in our true nature, an inherent, brilliant wholeness which is not other than the ground of being itself. Recognizing and remembering this fundamental and inextricable connection to everyone and all things paves the way for a life of awakened, joyful compassion. In this evening’s talk, we will draw on the teachings of the 11th century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön, whose wisdom remains relevant and applicable in everyday modern life. … More Skymind: Glimpsing the Radiance of Our True Nature

Feeding Your Demons® Kapala Level I

May 24 – 29, 2024

Feeding Your Demons® Kapala Level I is a simple but profound five-step process that guides the practitioner to transform their demons into protective allies through a sequence of illuminating questions and visualizations. Created by Lama Tsultrim Allione, it employs principles of the Tibetan Buddhist practice Chöd, as originally articulated by the eleventh-century female Tibetan teacher, Machig Labdrön. This method has helped thousands of people transform and heal negative emotions, fears, illnesses, and self-defeating patterns. … More Feeding Your Demons® Kapala Level I

Mechanics of Meditation: Demystifying the Methodology on the Path of Liberation

May 16 – June 13, 2024

This five-week series is for experienced and beginner meditators alike. So often we are told: “follow your breath”, or “visualize the following”, or “rest in open awareness”. But what is it that we are really doing with our attention and our awareness, and how can we optimize our meditation experience?  … More Mechanics of Meditation: Demystifying the Methodology on the Path of Liberation