ENROLLMENT CLOSED AS OF 1/18/24
to be considered for late enrollment please email us at [email protected] 

The 14th century Tibetan meditation master known as Rangjung Dorje, the 3rd Karmapa, is historically significant within the Tibetan Buddhist world for many reasons, one of which being that he is widely regarded as the first officially recognized tulku. A master of many aspects of the vajrayana tradition, his works and impact still remain fresh and vital to understanding mahamudra, the vajra body, and a host of other topics. 

Rangjung Dorje was also a contemporary of the great Dzogchen master Longchenpa, and studied and practiced under Longchenpa’s primary teacher Rigdzin Kumaradza. According to Rangjung Dorje’s biography, he had a vision in which the early Dzogchen masters Vimalamitra and Padmasambhava appeared and dissolved into the point between his eyebrows. It is said that as this happened, Rangjung Dorje instantly received the transmission for all of the Dzogchen tantras along with a visionary cycle of Dzogchen meditation that arose in his mind which he subsequently wrote down. This became known as the Karma Nyingthik – a unique approach to manifesting the clarity and timeless awareness that is our enlightened nature.

Over time, most of the texts within what is assumed to be the wider cycle of the Karma Nyingthik seem to have been dispersed, many of which are still unaccounted for, however, the text known as The Marvelous Guide to Actual Practice, survives and remains an important and rare example of Dzogchen practiced within the context of the Karma Kagyu tradition.

Dzogchen (Sanskrit: Ati Yoga) is the most simple, direct, and profound path to reveal the sky-like nature of our own mind which is clear, vast, and unobstructed by the clouds of afflictive emotions.

In August 2022, His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, one of the four heart-sons of the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa suggested to Lama Justin that it would be very good to teach this The Marvelous Guide to Actual Practice, and gave his blessing that this should happen.

During this year-long on-line program we will explore the direct and pithy instructions that the third Karmapa presents as a way to access the experience of the mind’s true nature in daily life and liberating afflictive emotions so that the rigpa-state is able to be experienced.  This unique lineage, combined with Lama Justin's clear explanation and practical instructions make this retreat an invaluable support for both beginner and advanced meditators of any lineage.

  • Experience the unique Dzogchen cycle that arose as a mind-terma from Rangjung Dorje - a dynamic Ati Yoga cycle that aides us in experiencing the vast, free, pure spaciousness of mind.

  • All participants will receive access to limited edition translation of "The Marvelous Guide to Actual Practice"

  • Optional in-person concluding retreat on the heart of Dzogchen meditation from the Karma Nyingthik.

Justin von Bujdoss

Senior Instructor & Founder

is an American vajrayana Buddhist teacher, writer, and the is a co-founder of Bhumisparsha an experimental Buddhist sangha along with Lama Rod Owens and Founder and Director of Yangti Yoga Retreat Center with Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, a retreat center dedicated to the practice of Dark Retreat. He is the author of Modern Tantric Buddhism: Authenticity and Embodiment in Dharma Practice published by North Atlantic Books, and contributor to Buddhism and Whiteness: Critical Reflections published by Lexington Books. From 2016 until December 2021 Justin served as the Executive Director of Chaplaincy and Staff Wellness for NYC Department of Correction where he also served as Staff Chaplain supervising over 30 chaplains and guided wellness programming for staff. Justin also has professional experience in home hospice and hospital settings as a pastoral caregiver. Lama Justin is currently the chaplain for Hart Island, New York City’s public cemetery. Lama Justin was ordained as a repa, a lay tantric yogin in the tradition of Milarepa, by His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, one of the heart sons of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa and is a ngakpa in the Yuthok Nyingthik tantric Buddhist lineage. Lama Justin has presented on Buddhist practice at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, University of Chicago, Wellesley, Columbia University, has been a visiting instructor at Union Theological Seminary, and teaches at Pure Land Farms. Justin is passionate about helping to create the conditions for authentic embodied tantric Buddhist spiritual practice in the West.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome Letter

    2. Class Syllabus

    3. Student Walktrough: How to use this course

    4. Zoom Links

    5. Submit Your Questions

    1. Introduction to the Karma Nyingthik, Rangjung Dorje, and Ati Yoga | Jan 4th

    2. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | Jan 5th

    3. Training with Prāna that does not entail passion: Training in associating colors with the breath | Jan 11th

    4. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | Jan 12th

    5. Training with Prāna: Training in associating colors with the breath | Jan 18th

    6. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | Jan 19th

    7. Training with Prāna: Training in three-dimensional breathing | Jan 25th

    8. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | Jan 26th

    9. Training with Prāna: Training in counting the breath | Feb 1st

    10. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | Feb 2nd

    11. Training with Prāna: Training in it's coming and going | Feb 8th

    12. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | Feb 9th

    13. Training with Prāna: Training in forming the vase | Feb 15th

    14. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | Feb 16th

    15. Training with Bindu: Technique 1 | Feb 22nd

    16. NO CLASS: Feb 29th Individual Practice Session

    17. Training with Bindu: Technique 1 | March 7th

    18. Karma Nyinthig Community Sit | March 8th

    19. Training with Bindu: Technique 2 | March 14th

    20. Karma Nyinthig Community Sit | March 15th

    21. Training with Bindu: Technique 2 | March 21st

    22. Karma Nyingtik Community Sit | March 22nd

    23. Cutting Through Complexity: Purification of Space | March 28th 2024

    24. NO COMMUNITY SIT: March 29th Individual Practice Session

    25. NO CLASS: April 4th Individual Practice Session

    26. NO COMMUNITY SIT: April 5th Individual Practice Session

    27. Cutting Through Complexity: Purification of Wind | April 11th 2024

    28. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | Cutting Through Complexity: Purification of Wind | April 12th 2024

    29. Cutting Through Complexity: Purification of Water | April 18th

    30. Cutting Through Complexity: Purification of Fire | April 25th

    31. Cutting Through Complexity: Purification of Earth | May 2nd

    32. Karma Nyingtik Community Sit | May 3rd 2024

    33. Cutting Through Complexity: Techniques for Removing Hindrances | May 9, 2024

    34. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | May 10th 2024

    35. View, Meditation, Conduct, and Fruition: Conduct | May 16th 2024

    36. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | May 17th 2024

    37. View, Meditation, Conduct, and Fruition: Meditation | May 23rd 2024

    38. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | May 24th 2024

    39. NO CLASS: May 30th Individual Practice Session

    40. View, Meditation, Conduct and Fruition: Meditation: June 6th (Pre-Recorded Lecture)

    41. View, Meditation, Conduct and Fruition: View: June 13th

    42. Karma Nyingthig Community Sit | June 14th 2024

    43. View, Meditation, Conduct and Fruition: View | June 20th 2024

    44. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | June 21st 2024

    45. View, Meditation, Conduct and Fruition: Fruition | June 27th 2024

    46. NO CLASS: July 4th Individual Practice Session

    47. Processing Samsara and Nirvana (Rushen): Introduction - Application of the Seal | July 11th 2024

    48. Karma Nyingthig Community Sit | July 12th 2024

    49. Processing Samsara and Nirvana (Rushen): Body | July 18th 2024

    50. Karma Nyingthig Community Sit | July 19th 2024

    51. Processing Samsara and Nirvana (Rushen): Body | July 25th 2024

    52. Karma Nyingthig Community Sit | July 26th 2024

    53. Processing Samsara and Nirvana (Rushen): Speech | August 1st, 2024

    54. Karma Nyingthig Community Sit | August 2nd 2024

    55. Processing Samsara and Nirvana (Rushen): Speech | August 8th, 2024

    56. Karma Nyingthig Community Sit | August 9th 2024

    57. Processing Samsara and Nirvana (Rushen): Mind | August 15th, 2024

    58. Karma Nyingthig Community Sit | August 16th, 2024

    59. NO CLASS: August 22nd Individual Practice Session

    60. NO CLASS: August 29th Individual Practice Session

    61. Empowerment of Total Simplicity | September 5th, 2024

    62. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | September 6th

    63. Trekchö | September 12th, 2024

    64. Karma Nyingthik Community Sit | September 13th 2024

    65. Trekchö (Pre-recorded class) | September 19th, 2024

    66. Trekchö (Pre-recorded class) | September 26th, 2024

    67. Postures and Gazes: Elephant Posture | October 3rd, 2024

    68. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | October 4th, 2024

    69. Postures and Gazes: Rishi Posture | October 10th, 2024

    70. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | October 11th, 2024

    71. Postures and Gazes: Lion Posture | October 17th, 2024

    72. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | October 18th, 2024

    73. Pointing Out Methods For Seeing The Unborn Self | October 24th, 2024

    74. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | October 25th, 2024

    75. Pointing Out Methods For Seeing The Unborn Self: Causes and Conditions Enabling Awareness to Manifest (Part 1)| October 31st, 2024

    76. Karma Nyingtig Community Sit | November 1st, 2024

    77. Pointing Out Methods For Seeing The Unborn Self: Causes and Conditions Enabling Awareness to Manifest (Part 2) (Pre-recorded class) | November 7th, 2024

    78. Pointing Out Methods For Seeing The Unborn Self: (Pre-recorded class) | November 14th, 2024

    79. NO CLASS: November 21st Individual Practice Session

    80. THANKSGIVING NO CLASS: November 28th (option to join retreat session)

    81. CLASS TIME CHANGE* Pointing Out Methods For Seeing The Unborn Self: What Constitutes Delusion and Freedom from It

    82. CLASS TIME CHANGE* Pointing Out Methods For Seeing The Unborn Self: The Point of Doing this Practice

    83. Pointing Out Methods For Seeing The Unborn Self: (Pre-recorded class) | December 12th, 2024

    84. Pointing Out Methods For Seeing The Unborn Self: Fruition

    85. Transmission of Rangjung Dorje Guru Yoga: Conclusion of Program

    1. Marvelous Guide Concluding Retreat: Nov 26th - Dec 5th

About this course

  • Thursday's 12 - 2pm EST + Friday Community Sit Starting Jan 4th 2024
  • $800 | One Year Program
  • Live Zoom Class with Recordings Provided

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Watch the Free Introduction!