2025 COURSES & RETREATS

You may be curious about the origins of Tantra and the applications of it in your life. This class will elucidate what Tantra is (and isn’t), its origins, different forms of classical Tantra, and how it applies to our modern lives. The class is appropriate for all backgrounds – from the advanced practitioner to the curious beginner – though a background in Buddhist principles would be encouraged.

Across various wisdom traditions, there is a common yet paradoxical invitation: Turn toward what is difficult to find freedom from what is difficult. However, when we find ourselves feeling anxiety, loss, judgment, irritation — the full bouquet of difficult emotions — facing these feelings is the last thing we want to do. Fortunately, there are trainable, evidenced-informed practices to help us transmute adversities into joy and insight. By turning toward our challenges, we uncover the wisdom within them, and they transform into our allies.

Vajrayana Buddhism is often called Mantrayana, meaning “Mantra Vehicle,” and emphasizes the transformative power of mantra recitation in awakening the enlightened mind. Likewise, in the tantric Hindu tradition, known as the Mantramarga or “Path of Mantra,” mantra practice holds a place of unparalleled importance. It’s said that for every Hatha yogin, there are 100 mantra yogins—a testament to the pivotal role mantra meditation plays in refining the mind and illuminating the inner light of awareness. In this class with Michael Taft and Chandra Easton, we will explore the ways we can benefit from mantra recitation and devotional chanting, exploring how to immerse ourselves in mantra as an essential vehicle on the path.

This series of weekend retreats is offered in service of uplifting and celebrating the power and the glory of the divine feminine already here now, within and all around us every minute all the time hosted by Tibet House US, the cultural home of H. H. the Dalai Lama. Chandra Easton, as in her new book, Embodying Tara, will open our eyes to see how the myriad Taras as Great Mother, Loving Friend, Intuitive Guide, and even Fierce Goddess never tire of saving us from the ocean of confusion and suffering we sink into by not knowing how miraculous life here and now actually is. Nina Rao will instruct and lead us in singing our joyous grateful devotion, chanting together the ancient Indian mantras of all the many forms of Divine love and power. Bob Thurman will introduce Tibetan meditative arts that stir our confidence in our own intuitive wisdom that cuts through clouds of confusion to find the inner sense of enlightenment about what’s real and joyfully loving and compassionate about enlivening it in ourselves and our world.

Open to EVERYONE. This 4-week online series will expand upon the topics shared in the Embodying Tara: The Divine Feminine to Power Your Compassion, Intuition, and Joy course, however, it can also be taken on it’s own. All are welcome. No prior meditation or knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism is required Scholarships and financial assistance are available, please email Maggie@thus.org with a request.