Empowerment & Teachings on Vajrakilaya
With Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche in Lerab Ling & Live Online
Dates: 3-12 October 2026
Onsite & live online (except for the empowerment)
Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche will bestow the complete empowerment, oral transmissions, and secret instructions for Vajrakilaya practice—the powerful yidam practice for removing obstacles and purifying negativity. His in-depth teachings will be supported by review sessions with Khenpo Sonam Tsewang and practical guidance on the practice of Yang Nying Pudri from Rigpa Teachers and Practice Holders.
The detailed instructions Khenchen Rinpoche will give on this occasion are applicable to all Vajrakilaya practices, therefore they can be applied by anyone practising Vajrakilaya from any tradition or of any sadhana.
Khenchen Rinpoche has set strict requirements for all who wish to attend.
Please read these below.
About Vajrakilaya Practice
The wrathful heruka Vajrakilaya is the yidam deity who embodies the enlightened activity of all the buddhas and whose practice is famous for being the most powerful for removing obstacles to the spiritual path, destroying the forces hostile to compassion and purifying the spiritual pollution so prevalent in this age.
Vajrakilaya is one of the main yidam deities of the Rigpa sangha, together with the practice of Chime Phakme Nyingtik. Vajrakilaya practice is also a key component of Rigpa’s Daily Sadhana Practice that the sangha practices together on Guru Rinpoche and Dakini days, and which for many is part of their daily practice.
The Programme
Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche will commence by bestowing the empowerment of Vajrakilaya empowerment of Yang Nying Pudri to those following the event live in Lerab Ling (the empowerment won’t be streamed). This will be followed by detailed teachings on Vajrakilaya sadhana practice, according to the text: the Words of the Vidyādharas: A Commentary on the Vajrakīlaya Utterly Secret Razor by the Fourth Shechen Gyaltsap.
The Fourth Shechen Gyaltsab, Gyurme Pema Namgyal (1871–1926), was one of the greatest masters of the twentieth century and the root teacher of Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo instructed him to practise Vajrakilaya in retreat until he attained accomplishment. After only a hundred days, all the signs of accomplishment manifested, and he left his footprint in a rock near his residence.
He composed several commentaries on Vajrakilaya, among them the Words of the Vidyādharas: A Commentary on the Vajrakilaya Utterly Secret Razor. This commentary displays the brilliance and clarity characteristic of Shechen Gyaltsab’s compositions and is applicable to all Vajrakilaya practices.
Khenchen Rinpoche’s teachings will be complemented by sessions led by Rigpa Teachers and Practice Holders reviewing the teachings, and giving comprehensive guidance on all aspects of practising Yang Nying Pudri, taking the time to go through it step by step, learning all the aspects of this practice together, and answering questions.
Khenpo Sönam Tsewang, Khen Rinpoche’s translator and teaching assistant, will also lead several of the review sessions.
WHO THIS EVENT IS FOR
This retreat, with all its aspects, will be a complete training in how to practise Yang Nying Pudri as well as all the key points of any Vajrakilaya sadhana for anyone wishing to discover this practice.
It is also a perfect preparation for anyone wishing to focus more intently on this practice—for example, to participate in a drupchö or nyenpa retreat in Lerab Ling or Dzogchen Beara, or at home.
Since Vajrakilaya is one of the main yidams of the Rigpa sangha, all Vajrayana students are warmly encouraged to participate in this event, especially if they have not received detailed teachings on this practice before.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN?
This event is open to Vajrayana students who fulfill the following requirements.
Please check that you fulfil the following requirements.
➢ You are a member of the Rigpa Ngöndro or Dzogchen Mandala
- If you feel you should be part of the Ngöndro Mandala but are not yet, please contact your local instructor to have an interview.
- If you are a member of another sangha, you can join this event if you meet the criteria below.
➢ You have already formally entered the Mahayana Buddhist path by taking Refuge and Bodhisattva vows.
➢ You have a solid foundation and experience of the principles and practices of the Mahayana.
➢ You have received teachings on all the ngöndro practices, including guru yoga.
➢ You have started your ngöndro accumulations and are on track to continue.
➢ You have a basic understanding of Vajrayana and some experience in practising sadhanas.
➢ You understand the samaya vows related to empowerment in general and are willing to take those related to the upcoming empowerment, which might include practice commitments.
➢ You have spent some time examining the master giving these empowerments.
Khenchen Rinpoche has specifically requested that all those who are participating should:
• accept to follow the general Vajrayana samayas and most importantly maintain a pure relationship with the Vajra master. We should not speak, act or think negatively about the guru.
• and also to practise Yang Nying Pudri or the Vajrakilaya sadhana your sangha follows at some point in the future.
***If you wish to follow the teachings ONLINE, you need to have already received a Yang Nying Pudri or Vajrakilaya empowerment.***
HOW TO FOLLOW
• Please note that there are different financial support options, including the possibility of applying for a study and practice grant from the Tertön Sogyal Foundations. This is available to all students, from both the Rigpa sangha and other sanghas.
• The best is to join in person to attend the teachings and practices, clarification sessions and ritual aspects. It is also possible to follow the teachings live online on Prajna.
• The recordings of all sessions will be made available (free of extra charge) after the event, in all languages. However due to our limited editing and production capacity, this could take several weeks or months.
• Please note that the transmission of the empowerment of Yang Nying Pudri is only possible for those attending the event in person in Lerab Ling. According to our spiritual advisors, an empowerment can only be received in person from a qualified master.
TEACHERS
Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche
Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche is the senior-most Khenpo in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and among the most important lineage holders in the Palyul tradition. Khen Rinpoche is one of the last of a generation of authentic Lamas who hold the pure lineage of the Nyingma tradition, both Kama and Terma.
Khen Rinpoche has been generously guiding the Rigpa sangha, in particular giving key teachings and transmissions from the Ngagyur Nyingma lineage over the last 15 years. We are incredibly fortunate that Khen Rinpoche supports the Rigpa sangha so closely.
Khenpo Sönam Tsewang (translator and teacher)
Khenpo Sonam Tsewang is a Khenpo at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, the advanced centre for Buddhist philosophical study at Namdroling Monastery, Bylakuppe, India.
Khenpo is known to many Rigpa students as the translator for Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche with whom he travels extensively. Khenpo Sonam is known to have a deep understanding of western practitioners and has a great skill in presenting teachings in a uniquely clear way that connects traditional teachings to a western audience.
PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE FOR THE TEACHINGS
08.00-08.30 Riwo Sangchö (optional)
09:00-11:00 Teachings by Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche
11:00-14:30 Break
14:30-16:30 Review sessions with Khenpo Sönam Tsewang or Study & practice session with Rigpa Teachers and Practice Holders
17:00-19:00 Daily Tendrel Nyesel Tsok (optional, not online)
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on
• Vajrakilaya, please read our Rigpa wiki article
• Yang Nying Pudri, read our Study & Practice Page
• Yidam practice, read this Rigpa wiki article
• Samaya, read the Rigpa wiki article
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
START: Saturday 3 October at 10am
END Monday 12 October at 1pm
CONTRIBUTION: 400€
TARIF ONLINE: 350€
REGISTRATION AND BADGE/KEY COLLECTION:
Friday 2 October: 2pm – 6pm
Saturday 3 October: 9am – 9:45am
If arriving after 6pm on Friday, please notify registration@rigpa.org
LANGUAGES: Teachings Tibetan
Translation: English, French
TRANSPORT:
Shuttle Lodève – Lerab Ling: departure Friday 2 October at 5:30pm