As we cling to memories, we often live in the past. Or we worry about our future and are afflicted with fears how our future might look. This clinging to the past or the future is unnecessary, as through it we stand in our own ways. To experience the nature of the heart and open our hearts, we need to let go our memories of the past and out ideas on how future should look like. This is the only way how really can be in the present moment. 

Tulku Lobsang teaches us methods how to open our hearts. Physical exercises, meditations and the reciting of mantras help in this opening. As well we learn how to let go and not to remain in memories. This opens our hearts and frees us of fears and tensions. And that causes us to be more satisfied and can lead a life full of trust, understanding and patience. Than we encounter our fellow beings with respect and compassion.

Tsa Lung works with the body and the breath. It is a technique that combines movements with breath retention in order to release blockages in the subtle body.

The health of our subtle body is of primary importance to the health of our physical body and the happiness of our mind. The subtle body is composed of channels (tsa) and the wind-energy (lung) and essence that flow through them. Blockages in the channels cause imbalances in our body systems as vital nutrients, oxygen and blood don’t flow properly. These blockages also cause energetic and mental blockages. Unless we actively nurture our subtle body, everyday we lose some channels. Fortunately, Tantrayana Buddhism has developed powerful methods to open our channels and make them clear and supple. 

Tsa Lung is a practice that works intensively with our subtle body. By combining special breath retention techniques with physical movements and visualizations, we move our wind-energy throughout the body, allowing it to reach deep places and open more and more subtle channels. When the wind flows freely, this energy can be used for self-healing or can be given to others.

This physical practice is very dynamic and powerful. And breath retention makes it even more challenging. However, it is very important that we train the breath. As we become older our breathing becomes more and more shallow. Therefore, we need to relearn how to breathe deeply. And when the breath flows, the mind flows. This is a method for coming into a deep stillness of the mind. 

In this retreat, Tulku Lobsang will share a complete practice that will prepare the body and breath. This practice can then be built upon as one develops more experience. 

We live in a modern world where we all often suffer from mental or physical diseases. We are in an emotional imbalance our body and mind and do not take the time to rebalance them. Tibetan medicine bases on the conviction that negative emotions are the cause of every disease. Even the environment we live in as well as the way how we lead our lives have direct effect on our health state. The same is to say about the mental state we encounter our fellow beings and the nutrition which plays an important role in the health of our body and mind. Tulku Lobsang teaches us four steps to heal our body and mind and tells us which are the basic principles for being balanced mentally and physically. This is how the problems we encounter will not throw us out of the track.

With a special combination of physical movements, breath exercises and visualization we awaken our inner fire, which burns the blockages of karmic imprints.

Tummo is our wisdom fire. It is something we naturally have within our bodies. This fire, this inner warmth, can be found in the area below the navel chakra. On a physical level it is responsible for the temperature of our body—the heat of digestion and metabolism, the heat that powers chemical reactions and builds hormones. But Tummo is much more than this! On an energetic level, the Tummo fire blazes through the channels, melting away the subtlest blockages and surging energy throughout the body. On the level of mind, Tummo is the source of love, joy, happiness and bliss. 

Unfortunately, as we become older we start to lose this natural warmth. Then, our hormones and essences automatically reduce. But it doesn’t have to be this way! The Tummo practice will reignite our inner fire. Through a combination of movements, breath techniques and visualizations we generate the Tummo flame and spread it throughout the body. The flame grows, starting from below the navel and rising higher and higher. It softly penetrates each of the main chakras, spreading to all the branches and every pore of our body. 

The chakras are secret doors to our being. Opening them and connecting with our Tummo fire brings us great realizations. In this way, we tap into our inner wisdom. From this great presence we can realize the true nature of our mind, fundamental wisdom, and unconditional love and compassion.

Tulku Lobsang has a very special connection to Tummo. This is his specialty and he can teach it like no other. An amazing opportunity!

The discovery of sexual energy is a process of transformation. The practice of selfless, unconditional love is the basis for reaching complete, deep, pure happiness.  Because only through the existence of sexual energy we can exist. Sexual energy enables us for example to see something as beautiful. Often we confuse love with desire and sexual satisfaction. Through physical abstinence we can concentrate completely on our spiritual practice. When we are more advanced in our spiritual practice, we can include our own sexuality in our practice. Because sexual energy can be used to overcome negative emotions as attachment and desire.

In the view of Tibetan medicine, the cause of all diseases is ignorance. On the mental level depressions develop out of greed, hatred and ignorance. Even egoism and too little compassion with our fellow beings can lead to depression. The cause are our lack of self-awareness and the incapacity to recognize humans and situations. Even our lifestyle and our environment can cause or foster depression.  Tulku Lobsang shows, how to easily recognize and prevent the development of depression.

There are many different practices of meditation. The goal of meditation is to reduce negative emotions as anger, jealousy or hatred. For that first we need to observe our mind. We need to watch our thinking and acting critically, for being able to overcome the state of ignorance and reach wisdom. Selfishness and ego have to be overcome, for being able to develop positive mental state and a peaceful mind. Meditation is a precious gift. Because through meditation we can recognize our true nature and waken the Buddha nature.

When we have a relationship with a partner, we do assume that he loves us for our character and our qualities. But even starting a relationship both partners do have fix ideas, which expectations and ideas the other has to fulfill. Therefore problems arise, which overlay the feeling of love. Because then automatically one questions, why the other acts against my wishes although he loves me. This way of live is, since the very first moment, build on the own necessities. This love is based on the attachment towards ourselves and will automatically cause suffering. But when we are able to feel unconditionally, without seeing our needs as more important than the ones of our partner, then we can experience a state of deep love and therefore a big feeling of happiness.

Practicing compassion is the highest method for awakening our mind.Compassion means completely opening our minds and hearts to others. The insights found in The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation are powerful keys for our opening and awakening. 

Self-grasping causes separation and suffering. When we think too much about the self, we do not have room for others. Self- grasping closes our hearts and puts our minds to sleep, which causes great suffering for ourselves and others. Self-grasping is the king of negative emotions and this king needs to be eliminated. 

The best way to slay self-grasping is with compassion. Compassion is the highest method for awakening our minds. Generating compassion greatly benefits us, for this is what opens us. When we become completely open to all who are suffering, to all sentient beings, we begin to understand the deep interdependence that connects us all. Only through practicing compassion can we begin to realize the true nature of existence. 

In this seminar, Tulku Lobsang will explore the practice of compassion using the book The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation. This small book contains massive insights into practical ways we can expand our compassion, open our hearts, and awaken our minds. Its eight verses guide us to train our minds to shift from self-grasping toward love and connection. Then we find that we no longer need to defend this concept of self. Instead, we perceive the other as the greatest gift on the path to our enlightenment. 

All beings give us the opportunity to practice compassion, and therefore they are the greatest treasure on our path. We must deeply say “thank you” to all beings for the opportunity to practice compassion, open our hearts, and awaken to our true nature.

Was makes a good living up? And how can one form his life, in order to be able to die well? Thanks to the awareness, that our life in limited, we learn to live in the present moment. This makes us focus more on the essential and be less distracted by trivialities. The selecting and focusing of thoughts does help us not to remain in the vortex of thoughts and feelings, but to evolve. This enables us to look closely at death and the process of death and to prepare. When we are prepared for death, we can experience death in a clear state of mind. And therefore, during the process of death, we do not concentrate on our life but can prepare for the imminent death.