Gift of Liberation
Lam Rim
In this training, which is currently underway, we will be learning the details of deep meditation and all the steps of spiritual practice, from baby-steps all the way to enlightenment, from one of the greatest teachings on meditation ever given: a book called A Gift of Liberation, Thrust into the Palms of Our Hands, written by the great Tibetan master Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941).
COURSE 39
A Gift of Liberation 39 – Accelerate Your Compassion: Exchanging Self & Others (2022, Arizona)
The deep practice of Exchanging Self and Others in Buddhism isn’t just about putting yourself into someone else’s shoes; it’s far worse and far more palpable. It first starts with understanding that every being deserves to have the same happiness as you do. (Which we may resist entirely!) And secondly, you not only put yourself into the shoes of the other person, and swap perspectives, but you also turn back towards yourself, looking back at yourself from their perspective. From that point of view, you begin evaluating and critiquing your own behavior and how it impacts the other, from their perspective. You get to feel what they feel as a result of your own actions!
COURSE 38
A Gift of Liberation 38: Becoming a Bodhisattva: Steps to Create a Kinder World (2021, Arizona)
Being a Bodhisattva is such a powerful idea that the word itself has in recent years become synonymous with and common alongside acts of kindness and generosity. Many of us have heard it and used it, and deep inside this powerful idea is a method to actualize change and create a kinder world.
This course explores the vision that a Bodhisattva has and how to take concrete steps to see that vision come to life. The instructions are simple, yet profound and ask us to look deeply into the eyes of others to figure out who they really are, what they need and what we can do to help and serve them.
COURSE 37
A Gift of Liberation 37: The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Life (2021, Arizona)
This is a perfect topic for all of us just coming out of the traumatic times of this Great Pandemic. We’re going to learn to do some deep personal meditations that will fill our hearts with inspiration and guidance for our new life as we come out of the virus. And of course, as always, we will do so by helping others.
COURSE 36
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 36: LOVE IN THE TIME OF THE VIRUS: ONLINE RETREAT (2020, ARIZONA)
Now in our 36th course studying A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands by Pabongka Rinpoche, we’ve reached a very important milestone. This course marks a transition from the motivation of the medium-scope practitioners to the highest-scope practitioners—those motivated fully and completely by love for others. In this deep text, Pabongka Rinpoche suggests that the most powerful techniques for developing compassion and love fully should indeed become the heart of our daily practice.
COURSE 35
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 35: INSIGHTS INTO THE WHEEL OF LIFE (2020, ARIZONA)
In this section, we learn about the Wheel of Life. It’s a great opportunity to understand the deeper meaning of our life and to plant seeds for more wisdom and compassion. We will learn what we can do to meet the challenges we face in our lives and transform them into amazing opportunities and positive outcomes. And how we can see our world heal in these difficult times.
COURSE 34
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 34: VICTORY OVER OUR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS (2019, BALI)
Geshe Michael Roach continues with the famous Gift of Liberation series, an outline of all the steps to enlightenment by Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941). In this section, we learn exactly how what goes on in our mind creates the world outside us, and how we can use this fact to have a beautiful life.
COURSE 33
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 33: PLANTING THE SEEDS OF THE SEER (2019, MEXICO)
We continue with the famous Gift of Liberation series, an outline of all the steps to enlightenment by Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941). In this section, we learn exactly how what goes on in our mind creates the world outside us, and how we can use this fact to have a beautiful life.
COURSE 32
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 32: EMPTY COMING, MENTAL BOMBS: A NEW WAY TO LIVE OUR LIFE (2019, ARIZONA)
In the pristine high desert of Arizona, we go into a 10-day exploration of our mental minefields. In this retreat, which shows us how to search & destroy, we continue with the famous Gift of Liberation series, an outline of all the steps to enlightenment by Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941). Rinpoche identifies the 10 major mental bombs that can make our life unhappy, and teaches us how to destroy them. We will investigate the deeper meaning of his writings, and how to apply his understanding of reality to our daily lives.
COURSE 31
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 31: HOW TO MAKE YOUR MIND A BEAUTIFUL PLACE (2018, THAILAND)
Geshe Michael Roach continues the Gift of Liberation series, taught originally by Pabongka Rinpoche in a 24-day lecture series in the early 20th century. With exquisite detail and breadth of knowledge, Geshe Michael brings these teachings alive to modern audiences and shows us how to live them in our daily lives.
COURSE 30
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 30: NAVIGATING THE GREAT JOURNEY: UNDERSTANDING THE WHEEL OF LIFE (2018, MEXICO)
Geshe Michael Roach continues the Gift of Liberation series, taught originally by Pabongka Rinpoche in a 24-day lecture series in the early 20th century. With exquisite detail and breadth of knowledge, Geshe Michael brings these teachings alive to modern audiences and shows us how to live them in our daily lives.
COURSE 29
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 29: THE GREAT ESCAPE, FROM A STORY THAT DOESN’T HAVE TO HAPPEN (2018, ARIZONA)
In the pristine high desert of Arizona, we go into a 10-day retreat to gain freedom from the six problems of life, forever. We learn how these problems show up in our lives, how we obviously and subtly perpetuate them, and how we can escape from them with powerful methods to increase our practical wisdom and compassion.
COURSE 28
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 28: BUILDING MY PRACTICE SPACE (2017, THAILAND)
For the second year, we return to Thailand for another installment in the Gift of Liberation series, which is based upon the Lam Rim teachings of Pabongka Rinpoche, in his seminal book, A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands. At this retreat held on the stunning beaches of Thailand, Geshe Michael Roach teaches us how to identify the six major problems that most people experience at one time or another, and the how to finally end them.
COURSE 27
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 27: THE FOUR FLOWERS (2017, ARIZONA)
Based on the great Tibetan Classic, A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands, written by Pabongka Rinpoche, this retreat focuses on using death meditation to reinvigorate your life and your practice. It includes the popular three-day “Retreat within a Retreat.” This 10-day installment finished the portion of the text describing the animal and hell realms, included a beautiful death meditation, and began the section of the Lam Rim which discusses the practice of going for refuge.
COURSE 26
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 26: THE REALITY OF KARMA (2017, MEXICO)
Who really runs the world? Maybe it is the DNA within our body´s cells. Maybe it´s the politicians— the people in power. Maybe it’s just money. Or maybe there is a deeper cause beneath it all. The cause beneath all causes. Maybe it´s just all the acts of kindness we have ever done for others.
In the 26th installment of our series on the Steps to Enlightenment, we continue through A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands by Pabongka Rinpoche, one of the greatest books ever written in Tibet. Geshe Michael Roach focuses on the intricate ways that karma works, and how we can use it to achieve a great life.
COURSE 25
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 25: PERFECT SHELTER (2017, DIAMOND MOUNTAIN)
Here, in the 25th installment of our series on the Steps to Enlightenment, we continue through A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands by Pabongka Rinpoche, one of the greatest books ever written in Tibet. We’ve recently explored the idea of taking shelter, that is, where to go for ultimate protection when life gets hard. Now we move into how that protection roots us in the path to achieving ultimate happiness. By learning how karma works and revealing which actions bring about actual happiness and which actions do not, success and liberation become more readily attainable.
COURSE 24
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 24: EMPTY BUDDHA: THE ULTIMATE PROTECTION (2016, THAILAND)
Life is dangerous! We see people all around us who get hit by a car and leave this world in a few minutes. Sooner or later, something like this comes to all of us. Is there anything we can do to protect ourselves, here and in the world beyond?
We’ve all heard about the word “emptiness,” but if we learn about it correctly and deeply, we can use it for every part of our life—especially for protection and support in difficult moments at work, in our relationship, and even in the moments when we pass away from this world.
COURSE 23
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 23: PROTECTION FROM LIFE & DEATH (2016, DIAMOND MOUNTAIN)
Based on the great Tibetan Classic, A Gift of Liberation Thrust into the Palm of Our Hands, written by Pabonka Rinpoche, this retreat focuses on using death meditation to reinvigorate your life and your practice. It includes the popular three-day “Retreat within a Retreat.” This 10-day installment finished the portion of the text describing the animal and hell realms, included a beautiful death meditation, and began the section of the Lam Rim which discusses the practice of going for refuge.
COURSE 22
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 22: UNLIMITED FORTUNE RETREAT (2016, MEXICO)
The only real protection for this life and beyond is to create good karma, or mental seeds. This is the only thing that brings you prosperity, love, health, peace, and above all, the ability to help other people. In this retreat we learn how to create the best positive seeds in the fastest way possible, using techniques that are priceless for you, your family, and the world.
COURSE 21
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 21: THE JOY OF IMPERMANENCE RETREAT (2016, DIAMOND MOUNTAIN)
In this 10-day program, we learn to live each day with the joy and intensity that we would give to the day if we believed it would be our last on this earth. If you do good death meditations, your life will be happy, because you know you aren’t wasting your time. If you get ready for death, you focus on your life—you can have a family, eat nice food, have a house, etc.—and you know you don’t have to worry.
COURSE 20
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 20: UNSURPASSABLE LIFE RETREAT (2015, GUADALAJARA)
During this retreat we learn a special practice called Death Meditation. This is a Buddhist practice to help you prioritize your life, and learn to focus your energy each day on doing what’s most beneficial to others and best for your own heart and mind. There is a short video introduction in which Geshe Michael describes this amazing practice.
COURSE 19
A GIFT OF LIBERATION COURSE 19: THE ART OF APPRECIATION (2015, DIAMOND MOUNTAIN)
We have all the conditions necessary to reach enlightenment. Here we learn what they are and how to increase their power by meditating on appreciation for what we have.
COURSE 18
A GIFT OF LIBERATION COURSE 18: THOUSAND ANGELS OF THE HEAVEN OF BLISS (2015, DIAMOND MOUNTAIN)
These retreat teachings contain a shorter three-day solitary retreat, where we practice Jorchu (prayer of preparation for meditation), Gandan Hla Gyama (the prayer to Je Tsongkapa), and Lama Chupa (prayer of offering to our teacher). During the retreat we learn how to identify the tendencies within ourselves to be attracted to deeper things and how to maintain the love and quest for our highest aspirations.
COURSE 17
A GIFT OF LIBERATION COURSE 17: KINDNESS PARADISE (2015, GUADALAJARA)
Once we find—or create—our teacher, we begin to discover their kindness, in teaching us and in caring for us. In this retreat we come to discover how to relate to our teacher and how to make the best use of their teachings.
COURSE 16
A GIFT OF LIBERATION COURSE 16: HOW TO SEE THE MAGIC IN THE WORLD (2014, DIAMOND MOUNTAIN)
There is an ancient Tibetan teaching on how to gradually and consciously make our life more magical, all the time. Getting to this place requires understanding first, how we could be living in constant magic, and secondly, why we’re not living there now. The place where we want to go is mystical—in a practical sort of way, a real way—but we get there simply by following a very logical series of everyday, spiritual steps.
COURSE 15
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 15: FINDING A TEACHER YOU CAN TRUST (2014, ARIZONA)
Learn how to find your own special teacher during this series of evening talks. Geshe Michael Roach guides us through the great Tibetan classic A Gift of Liberation Thrust Into Your Hands. We learn how to find our heart teacher.
COURSE 14
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 14: THE BEAUTY OF A TEACHER (2014, GUADALAJARA)
During this week-long teaching retreat held in Guadalajara, Mexico, Geshe Michael Roach leads us through the section of our great text—A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands—about the importance of having a teacher to guide you along the spiritual path.
COURSE 13
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 13: JORCHU: THE MEDITATION SONG (2013, ARIZONA)
The ancient sages of Tibet called it Jorchu: The Meditation Song. It is a spiritual journey that we take every morning to prepare ourselves for very deep meditation. In this course you can learn to do this beautiful practice yourself at home.
COURSE 12
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 12: MASTER MAGNET RETREAT (2013, PRESCOTT)
We want peace in our lives, and we want our lives to count. We are not here for long. A big part of having a happy life, and a life which is meaningful, is to find a true Master who can guide us as we travel through life.
COURSE 11
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 11: THE ART OF APPRECIATING YOURSELF & YOUR LIFE (2013, ARIZONA)
Want a good relationship, financial independence and great energy—as well as inner peace, or peace in our world? Then you must learn to master the Art of Appreciating Yourself and Your Life, from the wisdom of ancient Tibet. Use special meditation as you fall asleep, and awaken with all the powerful good karma you need to have a good day and a good life.
COURSE 10
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 10: NEW YEAR RETREAT (2013, GUADALAJARA)
During the this week-long teaching retreat, Geshe Michael Roach leads us through the section called “Learning to be Quiet,” from one of the greatest books ever written in Tibet: A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands, by Pabongka Rinpoche. This intensive series of teachings is meant to give us all the ancient secrets for making a meditation session really successful. This intensive meditation retreat is a chance to actually put into practice these meditation secrets.
COURSE 9
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 09: THE SEVEN DOORS TO MEDITATION (2012, PHOENIX)
For centuries, Tibetan monks have used seven powerful steps to put themselves into a state of deep meditation. During this course we learn a beautiful seven-step mental exercise followed by Tibetan monks to put themselves into a state of deep meditation. You can learn to do the same, for peace of mind, and for incredible focus to make your work and relationships successful.
COURSE 8
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 08: LEARNING TO BE QUIET (2012, PRESCOTT)
During this week-long teaching retreat, Geshe Michael Roach leads us through the section called “Learning to be Quiet,” from one of the greatest books ever written in Tibet: A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands, by Pabongka Rinpoche. This intensive series of teachings is meant to give us all the ancient secrets for making a meditation session really successful. This intensive meditation retreat is a chance to actually put into practice these meditation secrets.
COURSE 7
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 07: LEARNING TO BE QUIET (2012, PHOENIX)
Turn off your laptop. Put down your iPhone. Learn to be quiet. For 10 days we learn all the tricks that it takes to have a peaceful and powerful meditation session, based on the Tibetan classic, A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands. Learn to balance your inner life and your life on Facebook. Ten days of incredible teachings on how to meditate, directly from one of the greatest books ever written in Tibet, plus awesome practice classes, beginner to advanced, to help you get started.
COURSE 6
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 06: PASSION RETREAT (2012, PRESCOTT)
In the last course in this series, we learned how to look deep inside ourselves to find that vein of pure gold—the thing that we were always meant to do and to be. And then we are no longer tired or bored with our life, because we feel a sudden joy in finding our one true purpose.
COURSE 5
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 05: FINDING WHAT WE WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE (2011, ARIZONA)
During this retreat we learn how to identify the tendencies within ourselves to be attracted to deeper things and how to maintain the love and quest for our highest aspirations.
COURSE 4
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 04: THE ENERGY RETREAT (2011, PRESCOTT)
This is a special retreat focused on getting more energy in your life, work and relationships, through meditation & yoga, new ideas about food, and special ancient ceremonies from the Tibetan tradition for increasing energy and overcoming fatigue, along with the continuation of Pabongka Rinpoche’s famous teaching on the steps to enlightenment, or Lam Rim.
COURSE 3
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 03: WHY ARE WE ALIVE? THE QUEST TO CREATE A PERFECT WORLD (2011, PHOENIX)
Why did we come into this world, and what are we meant to do here? We have a deep hunger to know why we are here, why we were born, and what we need to do with our life. Deep down we all want to save the world, and in the process we want to reach our own happiness as well. We follow, word by word, one of the greatest books ever written: A Gift of Liberation Thrust into Our Hands.
COURSE 2
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 02: BREAKING THROUGH TO HIGHEST REALITY (2011, PRESCOTT)
The ancient books of Tibet say that if a person can see ultimate truth only once for just 20 minutes in their entire life, then they will soon be able to reach enlightenment, and help stop the pain of countless living beings in this world. They say that ultimate truth lies all around us, like an invisible wall of diamond that can only be seen by a mind which is perfectly still and quiet. The moon’s reflection can only be seen on the crystal surface of the lake of our mind if that surface is absolutely still.
COURSE 1
A GIFT OF LIBERATION 01: THE DEEPEST MEDITATION (2010, PHOENIX)
Ultimate truth lies all around us, like an invisible wall of diamond that can only be seen by a mind which is perfectly still and quiet. The moon’s reflection can only be seen on the crystal surface of the lake of our mind if that surface is absolutely still. Really bringing our mind to silence is like learning to play a piano: it requires careful training under a qualified teacher—and lots of practice!