September 2024 Retreat Announcement
Dear Friends and Students of Tupten Osel Choling (TOC),
Tupten Osel Choling is pleased to announce an opportunity to attend a retreat and receive oral transmissions and teachings from Venerable Sogan Rinpoche on the spiritual advice of the great Tibetan treasure-revealing dakini Sera Khandro Dewai Dorje (1892-1940). Sera Khandro’s collected works, contained in seven volumes, include two major cycles of treasure revelations, biographies, profound Dzogchen instructions, and a sizable compilation of personal advice and spiritual teachings given to her students in letters and direct correspondence. In choosing excerpts from this collection to teach,
Sogan Rinpoche offers a precious chance to encounter the wisdom of this extraordinary Tibetan Buddhist master whose many unique contributions to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in general can be found in the clarity of her meditation instructions, in her heartfelt narratives about an awe-inspiring personal journey, and in her confidence as a realized female practitioner and teacher. The teachings being offered, selections from her vast collection of spiritual advice, will focus on the proper way to engage the Buddhist path in a graduated progression, spanning the preliminaries to the most sublime pith meditation instructions.
This retreat will have 4 sessions per day alternating between teachings and practice. The retreat will be held at the Galilee Episcopal Camp and Retreat Center on the east shore of Lake Tahoe in Nevada. The Galilee Retreat Center and Tupten Osel Choling's board want this gathering to be safe and joyous for all participants, a source of refuge. We believe that we all have a shared responsibility to protect our spiritual guide, Ven. Sogan Rinpoche and each other, so if you are feeling at all unwell, please do not attend the retreat and you will receive a full refund.
It is recommended that, if possible, participants plan to attend the full retreat. Those planning to attend the full retreat are asked to arrive after 2:00pm on Monday, Sept. 23rd, 2024, to enjoy 7 full days of retreat, and we will then depart by 12:00pm Tuesday, Oct. 1st. The cost for the full retreat is $1500 per person which includes accommodations and three vegetarian meals. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions (lactose, Gluten intolerance, etc.) and the staff at Galilee will prepare a separate meal adapted to your health needs.
The accommodations are 12 dormitory style rooms, each equipped with a bathroom. In the event that there is an overwhelming response from people wishing to attend, priority will be given to full time participants. If it is not possible for individuals to attend the full retreat, the cost will be $200 per night per person to stay on site. Those staying off site must also attend all 4 sessions and the cost to them will be $150 per day.
The guest maps of accommodations and the grounds of Galilee can be accessed  by clicking HERE.  You may also access the Galilee's home page HERE.  There are also 2 tipis onsite (no bathrooms inside) with 2 sets of bunk beds (4 total). There is also a camping option with a few tents available from our hosts at Galilee, and we can also bring our own camping gear.
We are asking for a deposit of half the amount of your costs by July 31st to reserve your place.  Payments can be made by:
Check
To "Tupten Osel Choling" with "Retreat" in the memo line and send to: 
Tupten Osel Choling
℅ Teri Harrigan
2468 Cold Creek Trail
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
PayPal
Through PayPal by clicking HERE .  Select "Retreat" from the list to contribute.  Please check the "I’d like to add to my donation to help offset the cost of processing fees" checkbox.
Additional Retreat Information 
For those planning to attend the Fall retreat at Galilee this year, we have important, additional information.  As usual, it is strongly recommended that participants attend the full retreat. The seven full days are arranged as follows:
Tuesday, Sept. 24 - A transmission of the Longchen Nyingtik Ngondro, including a teaching by Chökyi Drakpa called A Torch for the Path to Omniscience: A Word-by-Word Commentary on the Text of the Longchen Nyingtik Preliminary Practices
Wednesday, Sept. 25 - The White Tara Empowerment from Sera Khandro's Treasure scripture
Thursday, Sept. 26 through Monday, Sept. 30 -
1. The reading transmission (lung) for Sera Khandro’s spiritual advice, translated by Christina Monson in A Dakini’s Counsel
2. The reading transmission for Sera Khandro’s autobiography
3. The reading transmission and explanation for Sera Khandro’s Guru Yoga Practices and Prayers
Those participants wishing to receive the reading transmissions from Sept. 26th through Sept. 30th MUST attend all of the sessions and receive the full transmissions. Those who cannot attend all of the sessions, but still want to attend the retreat part time, can attend Tuesday the 24th and Wednesday the 25th and then return for the closing tsok on the last morning of Tuesday, Oct 1 if feasible.
From now until the retreat begins on September 23rd, 2024, Sogan Rinpoche has asked that participants focus on accumulating Vajrasattva, Vajra Guru and Tara mantras.
Additionally, we realize that there may be questions and concerns that you have, and need addressed before you can make a final decision. Email us with your questions at info(at)tuptenoselcholing(dot)org.  We are working hard to refine details so please allow a few days for a response.
Best wishes, 
Tupten Osel Choling