Vajra Armor Retreat with Lama Pema Chophel
October 2 - 6 2025
SILENT BOUNDARIED MANTRA RETREAT
Dorje Lingpa’s Vajra Armor Empowerment, Oral Transmission & Mantra Recitation Retreat:
The Dorje Gotrab, meaning “Vajra Armor” Mantra is one of the most powerful healing practices in Tantric Buddhism. Long held as a secret practice, the Vajra Armor Mantra has been practiced for over a millennium by tantric yogis and Tibetan physicians as an effective method for healing disease, purifying negative energies, and protecting from misfortune. The Vajra Armor Mantra was first introduced into Tibet in the 8th century by Guru Padmasambhava, taught to his closest disciples, and then hidden for safekeeping until a future time when it would be greatly needed and revealed by treasure revealers according to his prophecies.
Over the past one thousand years, there have been numerous major teaching cycles of the Vajra Armor Mantra that have been revealed, including those of Dorje Lingpa, Mipham, Dudjom Lingpa, and Trakthung NamkhaI Jigme. These teachings outline a deep and profound path to realization and ultimately, to Buddhahood through the practice of healing and re-balancing the outer and inner elements.
This is a strict boundaried and silent retreat which requires all retreatants to stay on the land in complete silence from October 2-6.
There will be samaya commitments of daily practice to keep the mantra “alive”.
Participants must have already taken Refuge and the Bodhisattva vows and have received Guru Rinpoche empowerment in order to participate.
SCHEDULE:
The following schedule is provided so participants are aware of the timing around teachings and the opening and closing of the retreat boundary. More specific details will be shared with participants regarding the mantra recitation portion of the retreat.
October 2nd:
Arrive by 2pm (or earlier by request.)
4pm: Meet in Yuthok Ling Temple for teaching with Lama Pema Chophel on the history of the Vajra Armor mantra, instructions for the recitation during the retreat, including the prohibitions, followed by the empowerment and oral transmission of Dorje Lingpa’s root terma text.
(Followed by dinner)
7pm: Vajra Armor Tshog and Setting of the Retreat Boundaries
After the boundaries are set, the mantra will be recited continuously until the boundaries are opened on the morning of October 6th.
Three meals will be served daily (at (approximately 7am, 12pm, and 6pm)
Monday, Oct. 14:
9am - 11am: Lama Pema Chophel will give the oral transmission of Dorje Lingpa’s Vajra Armor lay-tshog or activities one can do having successfully completed this three-day retreat and transmit Khenpo Ngagwang Palzang (a.k.a. Khenpo Ngagchung)’s Vajra Armor gun-khyer or short daily practice.
12pm: Closing lunch and check out (participants are free to leave any time after the morning teaching)
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
In order to receive the empowerment and participate in the retreat, a solid, 24 ct. gold coin weighing not less than 1/10 of an ounce up to one ounce.wrapped in red silk must be offered to Lama Pema. This requirement is specified in Dorje Lingpa’s root terma. The only exception to this will be if you have previously offered such a gold coin to Lama Pema Chophel, Lama Dawa Chodrag or His consort, Khandro Kunzang in the past in order to receive the empowerment.
The cost of accommodations at Pure Land Farms range from $140 - $600 for this retreat depending on your selection. An additonal $200 will be charged to cover the cost of meals and printed materials for the participants.
Before registering, we request that all participants complete this short form. After reviewing it, you will be sent detailed information about the retreat and a link to register and select your preferred accommodations.
VOLUNTEER COOKS:
Pure Land Farms is looking for at least two participants to cook for this retreat in exchange for the cost of the retreat (the traditional offering will still need to be made to Lama Pema). The volunteer chefs will maintain the same boundary as all participants and will be able to complete the mantra recitations, while accumulating additional merit of nourishing the group during this intensive practice. Those who wish to offer this service must have experience in cooking for groups. All group meals will be vegetarian. If you are interested in participating as a volunteer, please tell us in the form below.
(There are no restrictions on what participants can eat or drink during this retreat, however the center will provide vegetarian meals. Participants are welcome to bring additional snacks according to their own dietary preferences)
ACCOMMODATIONS AT PURE LAND FARMS
On-site accommodation required for this retreat, commuting is not an option.
To preview Pure Land Farms accommodations, please visit this link:
ABOUT LAMA PEMA CHOPHEL
Born in America as Bob Flaws in 1946, 2020 is Lama Pema has been practicing the dharma for fifty five years. He is a householding ngakpa with wife and family and practiced medicine for 30 years.
His Root Gurus are the late Yogi Sonam Kazi and Acharya Lama Dawa Chodrak. He has also received Dharma from over 60 Teachers – Tibetan, Bhutanese, English, and American.
Although a Nyingmapa, Lama Pema has received teachings from all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He was given the title Lama by Tulku Sherab Dorje (Sherdor) in recognition of his long, intensive, and persevering practice and was encouraged to teach by Lama Dawa.
For the last 15 years, he has spent the majority of his time in home retreat. He is a lineage holder of Chokyi Gocha’s Red Saraswati terma cycle from Lama Dawa and was the first student to complete Lama Dawa’s multi-year Vajra Armor training. In addition to his personal practice, Lama Pema currently teaches at Boulder Valley Ngakpa House in Lafayette, CO and via Zoom on-line.