12 December 2025 (Friday) - 5 January 2026 (Monday)
2025 Dzogchen Buddha Path Asia Teaching and Practice Center Auspicious Opening Retreat (Taiwan)
~ Announcing the 2025 Dzogchen Buddha Path Asia Teaching and Practice Center Auspicious Opening Retreat (Taiwan)~
The Dzogchen Buddha Path Association Taiwan is pleased to announce that the 2025 Dzogchen Buddha Path Asia Teaching and Practice Center Auspicious Opening Retreat (Taiwan) will start on Friday, December 12, 2025. This is the International Dzogchen Buddhist Teacher Training Program led by Holy Vajra Master, H.E Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. It is an intensive program of Buddhist learning, contemplation, meditation and practice.
Date: The retreat will began on Dec.12th, 2025 (Fri) and end on Jan.5th, 2026 (Mon), Taiwan time
Retreatants must arrive on or before Dec. 11, 2025 and leave on or after Jan. 6, 2026, Taiwan time
Regarding the 2025 Dzogchen Buddha Path Asia Teaching and Practice Center Auspicious Opening Retreat (Taiwan):
This retreat is the annual gathering of international disciples of the Dzogchen lineage. Participants must have participated in at least one seasonal retreat within the Dzogchen Buddha Path lineage, or have been tutored by a qualified Dzogchen Buddha Path teacher to assist applicants in preparing for the internship.
Translation and Interpretation:
Holy Vajra Master will teach in English. Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Japanese and Vietnam translation may be provided based on availability and necessity.
Our Kind Vajra Master
We are extremely happy to announce that our kind teacher His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, a meditation master, professor of Dzogchen Shri Singha University, and Dzogchen Lineage Holder, will lead this Dzogchen Lineage Internship and provide daily instruction to all students during the entire Internship. This program is an extraordinary opportunity to receive profound instructions directly from a living Vajra Master born and trained in Tibet.
His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. Photo by Dharma Acharya Pei Ling Shu.
Biography of His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche
Since 2008, the annual Dzogchen Lineage Internship Program has served as a comprehensive training course for the study and practice of Buddhist sutras, tantras, view, and meditation. This program integrates the scholarly path with personal pith instructions and meditation techniques, enabling students to swiftly and irreversibly progress toward the unwavering realization of Dzogchen—based on a solid logical understanding of the Dharma.
This intensive retreat is a rare and precious opportunity for contemporary students to study and train within the Dzogchen lineage.
Retreat Curriculum
The retreat is an intensive course of study and training in the view, meditation, and conduct of the authentic Buddhist Sutras, Tantras, and Shastras. This teaching and training method is based on the time-tested tradition of Dzogchen Shri Singha Five Sciences University of Tibet, Nalanda University and Oddiyana Mandala City of ancient India. For thousands of years, these methods of training have led many Buddhist practitioners to attain the supreme result of enlightenment and become holders of the Dzogchen Lineage. These courses will lay a solid foundation for students in the basic principles of Buddhism, ensuring that they receive comprehensive training in authentic Buddhist view, meditation, and conduct.
An Immersive Training Experience
Retreatants shall stay sequestered at the designated retreat site for the duration of the retreat program. All retreatants are required to attend every session and activity of the retreat program, which consists of a daily twenty-four hour schedule of training.
A typical daily retreat schedule begins and ends with at least an hour of group practice. The interim is centered on a minimum of six hours and up to twelve hours of in-class study with the Guiding Vajra Master, Dharma teachers, and senior Dharma tutors. These class sessions cover topics of the traditional Buddhist major sciences of art, medicine, linguistics, philosophy, and especially the Buddhadharma, which is learning, contemplating, and meditating on the teachings and shastras of the Vinaya, Sutra, and Abhidharma in general, and the Vajrayana Tantras and the Dzogchen Tantras in particular. Interns will also learn the five minor science of characterization, performance, astronomy, matrices, and poetics.
In addition, classroom sessions include training in meditation techniques, academic research, translation, composition and editing, teaching and public speaking, pedagogy, debate, leadership, counseling, conflict resolution, healing techniques, miracle powers, parapsychology, yoga, ritual ceremony, nutrition, and other practical knowledge, skills, and competencies. Interns must also demonstrate ability in self-guided study through reading and writing assignments, memorization, media presentations, speeches, and teachings.
The retreat program also functions as a practicum. Periods in between the main sessions are utilized to further train retreatants in the context of team roles, individual and group projects, committee participation, event organization, and management positions.
Retreatants are directed to utilize the principles they have acquired throughout all periods of the daily schedule by meditating on enlightenment, reminding themselves and others to embody Buddhist principles, practicing Buddhist visualization, reciting Buddhist mantras and teachings, and acting and speaking in accord with Buddhist guidelines for conduct. Students are also taught techniques for transforming mundane daily activities such as sleeping, waking up, tending to personal hygiene, walking, eating, drinking, and even physical work into Buddhist enlightened practice.
The retreat will provide one of the most complete and holistic programs of Buddhist learning and training in the world. Student who successfully complete the retreat program receive a breadth and quality of education that is difficult to quantify. Many past and present retreatants have described their participation in these programs as the single most important activity and defining experience of their lives, transforming their entire view and approach to living. Those who attend multiple retreats progressively deepen their understanding, experience and realization of Dharma. Retreatants complete the retreat as scholars learned in Buddhist principles, Buddhist practitioners on the path to enlightenment, and teachers who are benefiting their families, communities, and the world at large.
Gaining Credit Hours and Achieving Awards
According to the relevant rules of the Dzogchen Buddhist Path system, participants in this 25 day retreat will receive 5 credits within the Dzogchen Buddha Path Lineage.
Prerequisites for this retreat:
- The applicants must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- Those who have participated in at least one week retreat with the Dzogchen Buddha Path Lineage, or
- Those who have participated in the Auspicious Blessings Opening Retreat in November, or
- Received 10 tutoring courses from a qualified Buddha Path teacher.
- Must be evaluated by and have permission to attend from the Internship Director
- Must arrive by 11th, 2025 and promise to remain in retreat for the specified time through the concluding ceremony.
- Must be fluent in either English or Chinese, or a language for which translation will be provided.
Expectations
Minors must be accompanied by parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and provided with full-time care if they are not attending the sessions. All students must be of sound mind and body. Students must commit to attend the internship in its entirety, and plan to forgo other obligations or distractions during that time. Students can expect to have limited contact with the outside world and should prepare their friends and families accordingly.
Students will live at the rural and secluded Dzogchen Retreat Center Asia, where they will study and practice in groups and individually for approximately sixteen hours a day on a rigorous and dynamic schedule. Students will be expected to obey all local laws as well as the rules of the retreat center and the specific rules and schedule of the Internship.
Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche teaches all courses in English, drawing upon his knowledge of Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese when appropriate. Internship translators and tutors facilitate discussion and understanding of each days’ teachings in English, or their native language.
Is this retreat right for me?
This retreat is intended for those who sincerely want to benefit others and realize wisdom and compassion in this lifetime. It is for students who have faith in the Dzogchen Lineage and who understand that progress in Dharma, the root of happiness, requires comprehensive training and continuous diligence in the three techniques: learning, contemplation and meditation.
As Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche teaches us, “Human life is precious. Life is impermanent. If you realize in this life that your top priority is teaching Dharma to others for the sake of world peace, then the Dzogchen Lineage Internship program is for you.”
Based on the belief that lasting change must come from within, the Dzogchen Lineage Internship serves to create Dharma teachers with a firm foundation in Buddhist fundamentals. Throughout the course of this internship, students will train in increasing renunciation, compassion, faith, love and wisdom. This training promotes positive change in the students so that they might better serve others.
The intensive and comprehensive approach to the teachings used in this internship is specifically intended to help students to become tutors, guides and teachers of the Dharma, as well as Dzogchen Lineage Holders.
Admission
Admission to the retreat will be based on an application process. We welcome applications from all who would like to attend. The Retreat Application Committee will review all applications. Attendance is limited, so please apply early if you think you want to participate.
We encourage all sincere and well intentioned Buddhist students to learn more about this program by visiting the internship website, contacting us and asking any questions they have.
Application Process
The application process is as follows:
- Applicant fills out the online application form or contact local coordinator.
- The Retreat Director acknowledges the receipt of the application and sends more information.
- The Retreat Director interviews the applicant over the phone.
- The Retreat Director presents the applicant to the Retreat Committee for approval.
- If approved, the Retreat Director asks the applicant to sign the Internship Agreement and return it with a 25% non-refundable down payment.
Retreat Fees
For the benefit of participating students, retreat fees reflect a built-in scholarship because there is no profit motive. Fees have been minimized to cover only the projected operating expenses, including food, lodging, and all utilities. Instruction is provided free of cost. Donations to the teacher are optional, but encouraged. Students must support themselves financially during the retreat and are expected to cover the costs of their health care and any personal necessities. Due to the consecutive nature of the instruction, students who leave the retreat for any reason will not be allowed to return. No refunds will be made for any reason after the retreat has commenced.
Retreat fees can not cover the Retreat Center’s actual annual operating and infrastructure expenses. Thus, we also rely on the Sangha’s generosity. The Dzogchen Retreat Center and Dzogchen Buddha Path Association Taiwan operate entirely based on a volunteer basis. There are no paid staff or instructors at the Retreat Center or the Dzogchen Buddha Path Association Taiwan. Therefore, we request and encourage everyone to donate to the Dzogchen Buddha Path Association Taiwan and the Dzogchen Retreat Center.
One month Retreat fee:
$2100 USD（Discount may apply. See the following.）
You can receive 25 days of training (from December 12, 2025, to January 5, 2026) at the Dzogchen Retreat Center, which provides a university-level Buddhist education. The fee covers your accommodation, three daily meals, and educational resources, as well as the entire training program and all class hours.
Discount Options:
You may apply for any one of the following discounts, which cannot be combined.
One-Month Intensive Retreat Discounts:
- $300 International Travel Discount
- $100 Asia Travel Discount
- Youth or Child Discount
International Travel Discount:
To encourage the international sangha to participate in this year’s Dzogchen lineage intensive retreat program, a $300 discount is offered to all attendees who need to fly from outside Asia. (For example, participants from Russia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, or Oceania.)
Asia Travel Discount:
To encourage the Asian sangha to participate in this year’s Dzogchen lineage intensive retreat program, a $100 discount is offered to all Asian attendees who need to fly from outside Taiwan. (For example, participants from Mainland China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Macau, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and other Asian regions.)
Child Discount: Applicable to children aged 5-12
The daily fee is $1 per year of age (e.g., a 7-year-old child would pay $7 per day).
Youth Discount: Applicable to teenagers aged 13-19
A $50 discount is offered for the one-month intensive retreat program.
To apply for a discount, please contact the Retreat Director.
In addition, eligible individuals may apply for scholarships or subsidy.
All fees must be paid in full by December 5, 2025.
Early payment allows us to better prepare the facilities for the intensive retreat. We greatly appreciate your timely decision.
If you sincerely wish to participate but face constraints in time or resources, please contact the Retreat Coordinator to explore potential solutions.
Even if you are unable to attend the retreat this year, we sincerely welcome your support. If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering, please reach out to the Retreat Coordinator.
Contact information:
International Dzogchen Lineage Internship Director: Dharma Acharya Sunny Chu
Email：taiwan@thebuddhapath.org
Local Coordinator:
Asian Coordinator: Bodhi Lama Nenching
Russian Coordinator: Dharma Acharya Sasha
American Coordinator: Sangha Mitra Chuck Jung
Europe Coordinator: Bodhi Lama Rita
The Great Merit of Supporting Dharma
Even if you will not be able to attend this internship, you or anyone else you know will earn tremendous merit by supporting those who do. As retreat fees do not cover the cost of running the program, your financial contributions provide an invaluable condition for the success of this retreat. We also accept donations of property and stocks. As we are a non-profit organization, your donations may be tax deductible in accordance with the local law. Supporting Buddhist education generates great merit for the donor. If you would like to contribute financially or with your time, please contact us immediately. Your assistance is necessary and greatly appreciated.
There are many ways you can help:
- Offer donations of money, property, or stock
- Sponsor students or other volunteers
- Volunteer at the retreat center before or during the Internship
- Recite the Heartfelt Dharma Aspiration Prayer
- Encourage your friends to participate
Requesting a Visa Invitation Letter
If you are traveling from a country that requires a visa for entry, an invitation letter may assist your application. To request an invitation letter from the Dzogchen Buddha Path Association Taiwan, please complete your registration as early as possible. Our retreat director or local coordinators will respond promptly and provide you with the invitation letter.
