Green Tara Retreat
Yangsi Rinpoche
February 12 - 16, 2025
About the Retreat
We are overjoyed to welcome back the phenomenal Yangsi Rinpoche, who has graciously agreed to return to Vajrapani and lead a retreat on Green Tara. Rinpoche is known for his warmth and kindness, a true embodiment of boddhicitta. Students are often transformed by his boundless wisdom and compassion, experiencing profound realizations that create a lasting impact on their lives. Rinpoche will also give teachings about developing the heart of Bodhicitta as an essential complement to the Tara practice.
“The best way we can become close to Tara, what pleases her the most, is when we fervently try to develop the mind of bodhichitta. The more we are able to practice bodhichitta and cherish others more than ourselves, the closer we will be to Tara, and the easier it will be for her to offer us help quickly.” ~Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Who is this for?
Students of all levels are welcome and may benefit from Tara practice. No initiation is required.
Suggested Reading:
How to Free Your Mind: The Practice of Tara the Liberator by Thubten Chodron, Snow Lion Publications
Registration Closes
February 7 for In-person Attendance
February 12 at 6 pm for Online Attendance
Tentative Schedule — All sessions bolded will be online via Zoom (and in person)
Wed, Feb 12
3:00 PM- 5:00 PM Check-in
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Intro to the Course with Yangsi Rinpoche
Thurs – Sat, Feb 13-15
7:15 AM – 8:00 AM Session 1 with Ven Angie
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM -12:30 PM Session 2 with Yangsi Rinpoche (with break)
12:30 PM- 1:00 PM Lunch
3:30 PM – 6:00 PM Session 3 with Yangsi Rinpoche (with break)
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner
7:00 PM – 7:45 Session 4 with Ven Angie
Sun, Feb 16
7:15 AM – 8:00 AM Session 1 with Ven Angie
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM – 11:30 PM Session 2 with Yangsi Rinpoche (with break)
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Vajrapani Thank You and Close
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Departure
Additional Information
- Please plan on arriving between 3:00 and 5:00 PM on the first day of the retreat
- Please plan on departing at approximately 2:00 PM on the last day of the retreat
- You can see information about our accommodations in the registration process
About Retreat Fees (includes accommodation, 3 meals a day, and facility costs)
The collected registration fees include all accommodations, 3 nutritious vegetarian meals a day, and general facility/operating costs. Retreat registrations help support the center to keep everything operating, allowing us to invite so many precious teachers, and to hold this precious space of 70+ acres of secluded redwood forest to allow guests to have the quiet, contemplative space to continue spiritual growth.
About Vajrapani Institute
Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture was one of the first Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Centers in America. Vajrapani aims to provide a friendly and conducive environment for people of all nationalities to learn, put into practice the teachings of the Buddha, and connect with other Dharma practitioners. Located on 70 acres of secluded land within the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz mountains, Vajrapani Institute has been an immersive space for people of all backgrounds to find and deepen their spiritual practices, with the main goal of bridging the gap between the head and heart of the practice.
Teacher’s Fees
Traditionally, spiritual teachings are considered priceless; offerings to our teachers are not included in the fee information detailed on this page. Instead, we invite you to consider bringing a cash donation with you to express your gratitude for the teachings.
The Buddha encouraged the practice of generosity as it develops non-attachment, loving-kindness, and compassion and deepens the awareness of our interconnectedness. Offering Dana to our teachers, a Pali word for “generosity,” is said to benefit both the giver and the receiver, helping the giver to practice generosity and the receiver to practice acceptance. Your offering of Dana can be whatever feels generous to you in your heart and your particular financial situation. If you can’t afford to give a cash offering as Dana, a thank you note is perfectly generous.
Participants will get a chance to present a cash offering to the teachers on the last day of the retreat and this is supplemented by a donation from Vajrapani Institute. Please note that we don’t offer a credit card option for Dana.
Financial Aid/ Scholarships
We want to make retreats available to everyone. With this in mind, we will gladly work out a payment plan with you if needed. If more assistance is necessary, we offer several scholarships. Please note that the scholarship deadline is one month before the retreat begins.
- For detailed information on setting up a payment plan, please see Financial Aid: Payment Plans
- To see if you’re eligible for a scholarship, and how to apply for scholarships, please see Financial Aid: Scholarships
Teacher
Yangsi Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of Geshe Ngawang Gendun, a renowned scholar and practitioner from Western Tibet, at the age of six. Geshe Ngawang Gendun was one of Lama Yeshe’s main teachers at Sera Monastery in Tibet. Rinpoche trained in the traditional monastic system for over 25 years, and practiced as a monk until the age of 35. In 1995 he graduated with the highest degree of Geshe Lharampa from Sera Je Monastery in South India. He then completed his studies at Gyume Tantric College, and, in 1998, having the particular wish to benefit Western students of…
Learn more about Yangsi Rinpoche