Tsoknyi Rinpoche held a month-long retreat/practice session in Crestone, Colorado, during September 2008. Nearly 80 people attended, each of whom had previously attended four or more 6-day retreats with Rinpoche as a prerequisite. This was the first long retreat held for westerners on the Yeshe Rangsal retreat land. Attendees kept a 10-hour per day meditation and teaching schedule, with strict discipline as a primary emphasis.
Rinpoche taught deeply from The Flight of the Garuda, and gave the full transmission (lung) for it, as well as for all volumes of The Light of Wisdom. Chokyi Nyima (Richard Barron) translated nearly all of The Flight of the Garuda teachings, to the great delight of all students. Rinpoche taught nearly three hours every morning and held small groups wherein he gave instructions on ngondro, deity practice, and dzogchen. All students had one brief interview with Rinpoche in order to receive personal instructions. He told students at the end of the retreat that it had gone well, and he was pleased that everyone kept to the practice schedule and disciplines.
Despite the challenges of loss of water, electricity, and frequent rain, all retreatants were able to complete the month-long session. Tsoknyi Rinpoche plans to teach again in 2009, to build upon the teachings already given.
Rinpoche had a full teaching schedule during August/September 2008 with two retreats in Crestone (The 4 Dharmas of Gampopa, and Development and Completion Stage of Deity Practice) followed by the Month-long, then the Nature of Mind Retreat held at Tara Mandala.
