From June 19-June 25, 2026, we held a Tathagata True Dharma Meditation Retreat at the site of the Holy Vajrasana Temple and Retreat Center, Sanger, California. This retreat used the Great Dharma of Zen Practice of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III as structured around the Tathagata True Dharma (Rui Lai Zheng Fa) Zen Moving Meditation practiced by the Benevolence and Pure Cultivation Temples in Las Vegas and as demonstrated by those temples at the Holy Heavenly Lake in Buddhisttown in Hesperia, California last year. They will be sponsoring such an event again this year on July 1, 2026 from 3:30-5:00 pm at Holy Heavenly Lake.
The Holy Vajrasana Temple will sponsor one more Tathagata Zen Retreat this year from October 10-16, 2026. CLICK for more information and to make reservations.
CLICK for article and video about Ru Lai Zheng Fa Meditation retreats at the Benevolence Temple in Las Vegas for more information on this type of meditation.
I was fortunate to have participated in this meditation retreat.
For background, I am a less experienced in meditation so this was quite an intense retreat but a very rewarding one.
Although there are general techniques for less experienced people, nothing could compare to the actual experiences. From the physical parts (shoulder, back, hips, etc.) to the “mental stamina” of “trying to get the mind to calm down”…it wasn’t until the 3rd day that I was able to hit the “sweet spot” of the “in between” where my body was relaxed and “in between” thoughts. It was a state where when I finally “opened my eyes” (not sleeping), almost 30 minutes passed by.
From that point on, I felt my meditation sessions had more moments of the “in between thought” moments where the mind and body were relaxed and not defiled by other thoughts.
Without doubt, there were definitely “ah ha” moments from this retreat which I can take home and apply to my practice. I highly recommend. Thank you Master Zhaxi Zhouma Renpoche for organizing such a wonderful retreat!
And thank you Ambar for taking on the Cudgel Carrier job of patrolling the meditation hall and helping us with our meditation and maintaining our concentration and focus. Combining the fast and slow moving meditation with our purification and obstacle removal mantras and a watchful eye and encouraging tap of the sitting meditation created the safe and supportive environment to do these intensive sessions. You are tight! It was a wonderful retreat.
Completing the seven-day Zen meditation retreat at the Holy Vajrasana Temple was a significant accomplishment for me. It challenged me in ways I had never experienced before and strengthened my mental and physical discipline. The peaceful atmosphere of the temple played an important role in helping me become more resilient and focus. I applied the breathing technique taught by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III as described in The Great Dharma of Zen Practice. I also found that reciting the mantras was essential in helping me achieve a successful meditation session. I will continue this meditation practice at home and apply the teachings and techniques I learned.
I am grateful for the cooked meals from Lion! Every meal was delicious! Thank you Lion!
Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche, thank you for inviting me to the retreat. Your kindness and guidance made this experience even more meaningful.
Thanks for everything. I agree Lion was a great cook.