Sera Khandro Dewai Dorje (1892-1940), the great Tibetan treasure-revealer and dakini, bequeathed the world an impressive collection of spiritual teachings and riveting stories of life at the turn of that last century in eastern Tibet. Her works include two major cycles of treasure revelations, biographies, profound Dzogchen instructions, and a sizable compilation of personal advice and spiritual teachings given to her students in letters and direct correspondence. 

The latter collection overflows with a variety of genres including direct pointing-out instructions in prose and verse, songs of realization, poetry in myriad forms, visionary accounts, personal letters, and pithy explanations of key points of Great Perfection practice. All are portals into her extraordinary wisdom. Just as their content enlightens, their particularities illuminate a rich personal teaching style. It is one that interweaves emotion, humor, sternness, teasing, and playfulness into a rich tapestry for taming disciples. 

In this talk, Christina Monson will explore some of the ways that Sera Khandro uses jest, wit, and fun in helping her followers embrace the genuine path. While her unique contributions as a realized female master in the tradition well forth from the subtlety and clarity of her meditation instructions and the intimate and heartfelt narratives of her and her guru’s personal journeys, she was also no stranger to the transformational power of light-heartedness. Join us for some laughter and levity in experiencing the teaching world of this awe-inspiring dakini!

This talk will be offered via the Zoom platform. It will take place on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 9:00am-11:00am MT. Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

Further Study:

For students wishing to further explore the teachings of Sera Khandro, please note that Venerable Sogan Rinpoche is offering a unique opportunity to explore these precious teachings from April 20 – May 25, 2022. These wonderful teachings have never been offered online. Registration details and further information can be found here.  Venerable Sogan Rinpoche’s autobiography, Dreams and Truth from the Ocean of Mind, chronicles his life in Tibet and afterward in the west, and is encouraged as reading for everyone attending this teaching series.

Who Should Attend? 

• This talk is open to everyone

Suggested Reading to Accompany this Dharma Talk

For additional background on Sera Khandro and her extraordinary life, Love and Liberation, Autobiographical Writings of the Tibetan Buddhist Visionary Sera Khandro, by Sarah Jacoby is recommended.

The Dakini Store has created a collection of selected works from some of the teachers offering Dharma Talks this season. This collection either includes texts written by the speakers or the recommended readings associated with their dharma talks. This collection will be updated throughout the spring and is available through this link.

What is A Virtual Dharma Talk?

Virtual Dharma Talks are part of Tara Mandala’s Virtual Retreat offerings:  At-Home intensive retreats, teachings and in-depth workshops during which practitioners receive dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience hands-on learning, and connect with other participants through an easy-to-use online platform (Zoom) during consecutive days (with few exceptions) and daylong offerings. This modality of learning is appropriate for practitioners who are able to create a practice container of their own, setting aside a dedicated retreat space, removing themselves from social media, and taking care of necessities with the mind of compassion in action for the specific dates and times that the teachings occur. 

Tiered-Prices

Tara Mandala is working to expand opportunities for access to Buddhist teachings and practices while offering an equity-informed fee structure when possible. With our new tiered pricing, we strive to make the Dharma more accessible to all while furthering the important conversations that must happen around current structures that inhibit equal access to underprivileged communities. We encourage you to select the registration tier at the highest level within your capacity to assist Tara Mandala in covering the costs of offering these wonderful teachings while also benefiting from access to the recordings of the teachings post-retreat. We thank you in advance for your support and your practice!

$25 – Access Level (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 7 days from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level is offered 35% below the cost of holding this retreat to assist participants with financial limitations and encourage the exploration and practice of dharma.

$49 – Tier 1 (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 30 days from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level covers the basic costs for this retreat and allows Tara Mandala to maintain sustainability.

$65 – Tier 2 (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 1 year from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level covers the program costs for this retreat and provides additional support for the year-round work of Tara Mandala.

Choosing the Tier 1 or Tier 2 levels allows Tara Mandala to continue to make dharma teachings accessible and inclusive while also allowing its year-round operations to continue and expand while being a repository for wisdom literature, a center for translation, a beacon for the feminine in Buddhism. Tara Mandala is an  active dharma organization and retreat center that provides refuge for deep practice and transformation. There are many ways to support and engage with Tara Mandala’s worldwide activities. Click here to learn more. We appreciate your support and generosity! 

Offering dana to the teacher: The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the virtual retreat. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here. 

Payment Plans and Financial Assistance

Tara Mandala has two scholarship funds and offers deferred payment plans as resources for anyone with financial limitations. For more information and to apply, visit our Scholarships and Financial Assistance Page. 

Sustaining Sangha:
If you are currently a member of our Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your retreat discount to this program.

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