We offer a unique opportunity to meet renowned Buddhist teachers through lectures, seminars, empowerments, and retreats. Personal contact with spiritual masters is essential for practitioners, as it allows for a deeper understanding of Buddhism than self-study alone can provide.
This is especially true in the Tibetan tradition, where the direct transmission of teachings is crucial. Many techniques rely on subtle nuances that can only be fully grasped through personal interaction with a qualified master.
On this page, you will find information about past visits by significant Tibetan Buddhist teachers, chronologically arranged, and links to recordings.
His Eminence Ngor Khangsar Shabdrung Rinpoche
Khangsar Shabdrung Rinpoche is the head lama of the Khangsar labrang, one of the four monastic seats of the Ngor lineage in the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He primarily teaches and resides in Manduwala, and oversees communities of monks and nuns in northern India.
Rinpoche bestowed the Green Tara empowerment and instructions for the Seven-Point Mind Training, one of the most famous Tibetan Buddhist texts on mind training, over the weekend of October 18-20, 2024, in Prague at Tibet Open House. the Seven-Point Mind Training provides specific methods for transforming everyday challenges and adversities into opportunities for spiritual growth and awakening.
Video recordings of the teaching (in Tibetan with Czech translation) are available for viewing here.
Tara (Skt. Tārā; Tib. སྒྲོལ་མ་, Drolma), 'She who Liberates' is a female bodhisattva associated with compassion and enlightened activity. There are different forms of Tara, such as the Eight Taras who Protect from Fear and the Twenty-One Taras, but the most popular are Green Tara, who is associated mainly with protection, and White Tara, who is associated with longevity.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the term empowerment is used for a ritual initiation ceremony that authorizes practitioners to perform specific tantric practices. It is the formal transmission of spiritual teachings and practices from master to disciple.
His Eminence Asanga Rinpoche
His Eminence Khöndung Asanga Vajra Sakya Rinpoche is a direct descendant of the unbroken Khön lineage that dates back to 1073. As a designated future leader of the Sakya lineage, Asanga Rinpoche is set to become a Sakya Trizin, the throne holder of the Sakya tradition.
Rinpoche is the grandson of His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Dorjechang Rinpoche and also the grandson of His Eminence Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche.
You can find more information about Rinpoche's life here.
His Eminence Asanga Rinpoche visited the Czech Republic for the first time in June 2023. On June 20, 2023, in Prague at Tibet Open House, he explained the text by the 7th Sakya Throne Holder, Drogön Chögyal Phagpa, "Clear Mirror of Cause and Effect". This text serves as an introduction to the law of karma and clarifies the consequences of actions and how they can affect us.
The Czech translation of this text can be found here.
Video recording of the teaching (only in English) is available for viewing here.
His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin
His Holiness Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, the 42nd holder of the Sakya throne, is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher of the Sakya tradition. He is a direct descendant of the unbroken Khön lineage, which dates back to 1073. He is considered one of the most qualified Buddhist masters of Tibetan Buddhism.
Biography and autobiography can be found here.
H.H. the 42nd Sakya Trizin, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, visited the Czech Republic for the first time from August 23 to 28, 2022. During a two-day seminar in Prague (August 26–27, 2022), he provided a clear and insightful explanation of fundamental Buddhist teachings. He spoke about the Four Noble Truths, the first and most essential teaching of the Buddha, as well as the Four Immeasurables—loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. He also discussed the practice of Mahayana Buddhism, summarizing it through the six transcendent perfections (six paramitas) and emphasizing its foundation: the altruistic motivation and determination to attain enlightenment, known as bodhicitta. Additionally, he explained the meaning of taking refuge in Buddhism and bestowed both refuge vows and bodhisattva vows.
You can find a brief explanation of these terms here.
Videorecordings of the teachings:
- Teaching on Four Immeasurables
- Teaching on Four Noble Truths
- Teaching on Six Paramitas
- Teaching on Refuge
- Teaching on Bodhichitta, bestowing Refuge, Bodhisattva vows and Vajrakilaya Blessing
