Longchenpa’s 7 Mind Training

The retreat Longchenpa’s 7 Mind Training offers a profound yet highly practical path for understanding how the mind functions and recognising the causes of suffering.

These are essential instructions that support you in experiencing life with greater clarity, emotional stability and inner freedom.

They are rooted in the Dzogchen tradition (“the Great Perfection”), one of the highest and most direct paths within Tibetan Buddhism, particularly within the Nyingma school, the most ancient lineage.

These teachings present a complete path that aligns body, speech and mind, creating the conditions for non-conceptual meditation to become the fertile ground in which the path and awakened qualities can mature.

The retreat is neither dogmatic nor religious. It offers an accessible yet deeply transformative approach, suitable for practitioners of all levels.

Longchenpa’s 7 Mind Training offer practical tools to:

• gain greater clarity about the dynamics of the mind
• recognise the causes of suffering in everyday life
• develop a freer, more stable and more conscious response to difficulties
• integrate presence and discernment into relationships, work and daily decisions.

This will be a four-day immersive experience, held in a quiet and intimate setting, alternating between:

• teaching sessions in the morning and afternoon
• guided practice periods
• time for integration and contemplation

The rhythm of each day will be simple and natural, designed to allow genuine immersion in the practice and the natural integration of the teachings.

We are fortunate to welcome Costanzo Allione (Tulku Ösel Dorje) to Valle Benedetta Retreat Center, a recognised teacher within the Dzogchen tradition and the son of Lama Tsultrim Allione, a well-known American Buddhist teacher.

During the retreat, he will share the essential instructions he received from his root teacher, Orgyen Khakhyab Lingpa, transmitting authentic teachings in continuity with a living Tibetan lineage. He does so with clarity, simplicity and careful attention to their practical application in contemporary everyday life.

As he lives and teaches primarily outside Italy, his presence makes this retreat a rare and special opportunity to receive these precious teachings in person.

The retreat will be held in English with Italian translation.

Tulku Ösel Dorje also speaks Italian and will be available for individual meetings, moments of direct interaction and personal dialogue.

The opportunity for such close contact with a teacher who carries an ancient and living lineage is extremely rare today, making this retreat truly special.

The retreat is open to anyone who is interested.

If you feel the wish to know yourself more deeply and to cultivate a mind that is free, stable and aware, you are warmly welcome.

No previous experience in meditation or Tibetan Buddhism is required.

Within the Buddhist tradition, mind training practices (known as Lojong) are often considered preliminary instructions on the spiritual path. However, Longchenpa’s synthesis is unique: in the Seven Mind Trainings he organically integrates the foundational trainings of the Buddhist tradition with the non-conceptual practices of Vajrayana and Dzogchen.

The Seven Dzogchen Mind Trainings were introduced to Tibet by the great master Vimalamitra in the 8th century and were later clarified and systematised by Longchenpa (1308–1364), regarded as one of the greatest realised masters of the Nyingma tradition.

During his lifetime, he systematised the Nyingma teachings on Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. To this day, his works , such as The Seven Treasuries and The Trilogy of Natural Ease,  continue to inspire practitioners through their profound wisdom and practical clarity.

In a world filled with stimulation, hyper-connectivity and mental noise, this retreat offers a precious opportunity to return to what is essential, to cultivate a clearer mind and a freer heart.

We look forward to welcoming you.

To allow everyone to participate according to their own possibilities, at Valle Benedetta we adopt a conscious participation model, conceived as a contribution to the cost of the retreat program.
We invite you to select the fee that best aligns with your current resources.

SUSTAINABLE LEVEL: This rate covers the actual costs of the retreat –> €250 – 300
SUPPORTER LEVEL: For those who are able to contribute also on behalf of others –> €300 – 350
SUPPORTED LEVEL: For those who need financial support –> €200 – 250

PLEASE NOTE: On the booking page, the Sustainable Level will be preselected by default. You may freely change it after selecting your room type.
The program cost refers exclusively to the activities, practices, and facilitation of the experience.

FULL BOARD ACCOMMODATION COST

The cost of full board accommodation varies depending on the room type:

• Quadruple room: €90 (per person, per night)
• Double room: from €115 (per person, per night)
• Single room: from €180 (per person, per night)

All details and room availability can be consulted directly on the booking page.

Write to info@taramandala.it to register or ask for more details.