Based on Jamgön Kongtrul’s “Light Rays of the Vajra Moon”.

Explanations · Guided contemplation exercises · Exchange · One-on-one dialogues

In Mahayana Buddhism, “Buddha-nature” refers to fundamental reality: Every living being carries within it the potential for awakening. But how can we consciously make this the foundation of our practice? Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (1813–1899), in his work *Rays of Light from the Vajra Moon*, guides us gently and precisely through a practice in which Buddha-nature—the luminosity of our mind—is simultaneously the starting point, the path, and the goal, a process that culminates in perfect awakening, in Buddhahood.
Perhaps this also raises the question of how a theoretical understanding of reality and experiential meditative practice should interact—Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye addresses this in one of his Vajra chants:

“He who practices meditation with a suitable vision is like a Garuḍa, soaring majestically through space, without any fear or doubt.
He who meditates without vision is like a blind man wandering a plain, without any indication of whether the path is right or wrong.
But he who has only attained vision without being able to meditate is like a rich man bound by his greed: he grants what he desires neither to himself nor to others.
To unite both vision and meditation is the noble tradition.”

Our spiritual practice, therefore, focuses on refining our perception to best support our meditation. Ultimately, it is meditative practice that grants us direct, non-conceptual insight into reality—and thus the freedom for which we deeply yearn. By connecting perception and meditation, we dissolve what obscures our Buddha-nature and strengthen what allows it to be experienced. This seminar is dedicated to this topic.

Part 1: Fr. 17th – Su. 19th April 2026
Part 2: Fr. 06. – Su. 08. Nov. 2026

Recommended reading:
Draszczyk, Martina. The Lightness of the Mind: Contemplations on Buddha-Nature Based on Jamgön Kongtrul’s “Rays of Light from the Vajra Moon”. Norbu Verlag, 2024.