Date: August 25th to September 4th, 2023.


Dakini Upadesha Retreat with Elias Capriles

Dakini Upadesha, and Principles of the Visionary Methods of Lhundrub
An 11-Day Teaching Retreat with ElĂ­as Capriles


Friday, August 25th thru Monday, September 4th, 2023

This retreat, being based on the experience and knowledge of Elías Capriles and external to Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's lineage, does not require transmission from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu or Yeshi Namkhai.

Two Sessions

  • AM  9:00am-12:00pm (with break) at the Tsegyalgar East Gonpa, 18 Schoolhouse Rd, Conway, MA 01341
    In-person and via Zoom - with Russian and Spanish language interpretation (English audio files will be available)
    The afternoon practice will be explained during the morning session.
  • PM Practice session 3:00pm-5:00pm in-person at the Vajra Hall, Khandroling, Buckland, Massachusetts
    (includes review of practice - may be on zoom, no language interpretation and no audio files will be available)

Times are EDT NYC Time (Eastern Daylight Time, New York City Time)
Check your timezone>> 

Suggested Donation:
$300/Full retreat
$30/Per Day

Donate here>>

Tsegyalgar East is excited to welcome back Elias Capriles for this training. In order to adequately support the program we need assistance. We are asking that everyone who registers to offer some level of donation that is within your ability to afford. We survive on donations. Thank you for helping us to bring this valuable training.

The Tsegyalgar East Gakyil


For questions contact: programs@tsegyalgar.org


This retreat will be on the Upadeshavarga series of Dzogchen teachings. It will feature the study of a brief text on Tekchö called Dakini Upadesha and a text on the Four Chogzhak or “Leaving alone” in terms of which the practice of Trekchod (khregs chod) is so often explained. Because Chögyal Namkhai Norbu chose Tsegyalgar East for teaching the Yangti / Yangthik (yang ti / yang thig), there is a strong interest in the Gar in question in deepening the practices of Yangti / Yangthik and Thögäl (thod rgal); however, Elías doesn’t feel entitled to teach those practices as such for the time being. Nonetheless, Elías will discuss in some detail the principle behind these advanced practices of the Upadeshavarga.


Elías Capriles
Elias Capriles is a Santi Maha Sangha instructor certified by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (in this retreat Elias will be presenting teachings on Buddhism and Dzogchen based on his own knowledge and experience, that are external to Santi Maha Sangha coursework). Elias Received nearly all available Dzogchen transmissions and practiced the Dzogchen Upadeshavarga in retreat in the Himalayas in repeated 3-months retreats. Over the years, he produced an ample, ecology-driven, socially,economically and politically egalitarian philosophical and psychological system expressed in many books, papers and book chapters. He taught at the University of Los Andes (Department of Philosophy, Chair of Eastern Studies, Research Center on Africa and Asia) until his retirement; currently he teaches Dzogchen worldwide, mainly within the Dzogchen Community, where he is a SMS Teacher appointed by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. He sits in the Board of the International Transpersonal Association and of several journals, including the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, Humania del Sur and other academic journals. His work has been discussed in books on philosophy in France (La philosophie en Amérique Latine, Que sais-je?, PUF; also Panorama de la philosophie ibéro-américaine), Spain, Mexico and Venezuela, and in the Journal of Transpersonal Studies. He helped found the Coordinating Entity for Ecological Action “Arturo Eichler” and was active in ecological activities. In Nepal and India, he created and managed two Refuges for Spiritual Emergencies.


Resource materials:
Reserved (Restricted) Items are the material intended for the Dzogchen Community.

The Four Chogshag - The Practice of Tregchod
From teachings given at Tsegyalgar in 1996.
SSI USA Bookstore>>

The Upadesha on the Primordially Pure Tregchöd
SSI USA Bookstore>>

The Luminous Clarity of the Universe - A Clear Exposition of the Primordially Pure Tregchod
Book and EBook - Shang Shung Publications>>


**Dakini Goma Devi Thangka by NIck Dudka>>**