Blog

A Love Letter to Differences

A Love Letter to Differences

I slip on a gift from my partner Jim... a green reflective vest with the little flashlight in its pocket. We live near a state park and rush hour traffic on the road I walk along to reach it each evening is fierce. He wants the cards stacked in my ...
Joyfully Relaxing In the Unknown: Lessons I've Learned Working at Vajrapani Institute

Joyfully Relaxing In the Unknown: Lessons I’ve Learned Working at Vajrapani Institute

"Life is far too important to be taken seriously." I love this quote by Oscar Wilde. Lately it's been coming to mind as I transition away from the familiar into the unknown. It's at these times the worrying mind can persist, but I see more and more that worry wastes ...
Celebrating Mutual Love and Affection: Denali and Cindie

Celebrating Mutual Love and Affection: Denali and Cindie

We asked mother and daughter, Cindie and Denali, some questions about their life and experience at Vajrapani Institute. This is what they had to say about the qualities that lead them to rejoice and the lessons they have learned here. What do you most celebrate about your mother? Denali: I ...
Celebrating Empathy and Connection: Kamala

Celebrating Empathy and Connection: Kamala

We asked Kamala, 16, some questions about her life and her experience at Vajrapani Institute. Kamala has been attending Family Camp annually since she was 5 years old. This is what she had to say about the qualities that lead her to rejoice and the lessons she has learned here ...
Rejoicing in Humility and Shared Values: Aden

Rejoicing in Humility and Shared Values: Aden

We asked Aden, 14 years old, one of our long time retreaters who has been coming to Family Camp since he was 5, some questions about his life and his experience at Vajrapani Institute. This is what he had to say about the qualities that lead him to rejoice and ...
Celebrating Flexibility and Balance at Once: Judith

Celebrating Flexibility and Balance at Once: Judith

We asked one of our long time retreaters, Judith, some questions about her life and her experience at Vajrapani Institute. This is what she had to say about the qualities that lead her to rejoice and the lessons she has learned here. What is it you most celebrate about yourself? ...
Rejoicing in Reflection and Sharing Your Gifts: Nina

Rejoicing in Reflection and Sharing Your Gifts: Nina

<We asked our former Kitchen Manager, Nina, some questions about her life and her experience at Vajrapani Institute. This is what she had to say about the qualities that lead her to rejoice and the lessons she has learned here. What is it you most celebrate about yourself? Why that? ...
Rejoicing in the Extraordinary, Inexpressible X: Ven. Jangchup

Rejoicing in the Extraordinary, Inexpressible X: Ven. Jangchup

We asked our resident monk, Ven. Jangchup, some questions about his life and his experience at Vajrapani Institute. This is what he had to say about the qualities that lead him to rejoice and the lessons he has learned here. What is it you most celebrate about yourself? It was ...
Finding Opportunity and Community: Venerable Drolma

Finding Opportunity and Community: Venerable Drolma

We asked our former resident Sangha member, Ven. Drolma, some questions about her life and experience at Vajrapani Institute. This is what she had to say about the qualities that lead her to rejoice and the lessons she learned here. What's the most precious thing Vajrapani Institute has given you? ...
Rejoicing in Drive While Finding Ease and Acceptance: Dave

Rejoicing in Drive While Finding Ease and Acceptance: Dave

We asked our Land Manager, Dave, some questions about his life and his experience at Vajrapani Institute. This is what he had to say about the qualities that lead him to rejoice and the lessons he has learned here. What is it you most celebrate about yourself? It's hard to ...
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Upcoming Retreats

“All Into One”: An experiential retreat on Calm Abiding and Emptiness based on Guru Yoga and the 3 Principal Aspects of the Path

Venerable René Feusi

April 25 - May 5, 2024
About the Retreat We are so pleased and honored that one of our most precious teachers is returning again to Vajrapani.   This retreat is a rare opportunity to meditate with Venerable Rene more deeply on the teachings he gave last year in the Bay Area on Guru Yoga as a basis for realizing Mahamudra or realizing "mind as it is."   Utilizing once again the Guru Yoga practice, The Hundred Deities of the Land of Joy, as the life force for collecting merit and clearing obstacles on our spiritual path, Venerable Rene will also offer experiential teachings and meditations…

Online Book Club – Vol 4: Following in the Buddha’s Footsteps

Venerable Gyalten Chimé

May 8 - June 26, 2024
When On Zoom Every Wednesday for 8 weeks 6:30 - 8:30pm Pacific Time Zoom Link will be sent a day before the Wednesday night class.     Prerequisites: None – Open to all students   It is recommended that participants read the first few chapters prior to the first Book Club session on May 8th.   About the Book This weekly online book gathering will feature facilitated conversation, discussion and meditation sessions with Buddhist monastic Venerable Chimé.   Delve into the substance of spiritual practice in this fourth volume of the Dalai Lama’s definitive series on the path to awakening,…

Vajrapani Institute is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition www.FPMT.org