Sakyong Lineage 2027 Teachings
As winter approaches and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche completes this year’s cycle of teachings in December, here are some reflections on Rinpoche’s dharma activities this year and developing plans for 2027, the Year of the Fire Sheep.
2026 In Review: The Year of the Fire Horse
Before the Year of the Fire Horse began, Rinpoche led a ngöndro practice day for new and returning vajrayana students. He also offered teachings to Mahayana practitioners who had requested to become his Vajrayana students. Rinpoche then guided the vajrayana sangha during his annual Dön Day teaching and practice in preparation for the New Year.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, together with the Sakyong Wangmo, began the Year of the Fire Horse with the Losar, Tibetan New Year, address following Losar celebrations in Asia. This was quickly followed by the first teaching of this year’s Foundations of Mahayana series.
In mid-March, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Sakyong Wangmo Dechen Chöying Sangmo again welcomed student pilgrims to the Dollu Valley in Pharping, Nepal, for a ten-day Vajrayana Pilgrimage. Rinpoche gave many profound teachings and blessings in the magnificent main shrine room at Rigon Tashi Choeling Monastery. Everyone felt blessed and empowered by the guru, the lineage, the dharma, and Pharping’s direct connection to Padmasambhava.
Following heartfelt supplications to both Rinpoche and the Sakyong Wangmo from Vajrayana students, Rinpoche and the Sakyong Wangmo had generously agreed to hold a two-week Vajrayana Retreat in Nepal immediately following the pilgrimage. Sixty-nine students set up shrines in their individual guesthouse rooms and followed a rigorous practice schedule designed by Rinpoche. This was a rare opportunity for intensive practice close to our guru and the Sakyong Wangmo, in the very place where Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal, Mandarava, and many others practiced and became realized.
While guiding retreatants in Nepal, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche opened the third online cycle of Amitayus teachings and bestowed the samaya vow upon new, re-entering, and returning vajrayana students. After retreat, the Foundations of Mahayana series resumed.
In May, Rinpoche continued the Amitayus online teaching cycle and led a five-day online Mahayana Retreat. In June, he continued the mahayana and vajrayana teaching cycles, including a two-day Amitayus intensive.
Then, during the summer, students had the good fortune of hosting Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the Sakyong Wangmo, Jetsun Drukmo Rinpoche, Jetsun Yudra, and Jetsun Dzedron in Vermont. Afterward, Rinpoche, Jetsun Drukmo Rinpoche, and the Sakyong Wangmo were in Switzerland for the in-person Mahayana and Vajrayana Retreats. These were truly wonderful occasions for everyone. The Mahayana Retreats were opportunities to deepen the practice of Planting the Seed of Bodhichitta with Rinpoche and also to receive the Tayé: Boundless practice of the four immeasurables. It was incredibly powerful to experience these practices with our teacher’s gentle guidance. During Vajrayana Retreats, students practiced The Sadhana of Calling the Vajra Guru from Afar and The Sadhana of Glorious Amitayus with Rinpoche and the Sakyong Wangmo. The vajrayana retreats concluded with Rain of Blessings feasts. Rinpoche gave remarkably pithy instructions, and the Sakyong Wangmo taught us how to sing the mantra in her beautiful voice. The events were joyous and celebratory.
Mahayana online events continued through the fall, and vajrayana students continued to receive teachings and instructions on Amitayus practice. In October, Rinpoche offered a powerful five-day Vajrayana Retreat online for students to deepen their practice, as well as a one-day Guided Meditation event for new students.
After Rinpoche concludes the mahayana and vajrayana teaching cycles this year, there will be one last opportunity to receive teachings from him in 2026. On December 12 and 13, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche will again lead a Sadhana of the Buddha weekend Retreat to continue deepening our connection to Buddha Shakyamuni. Foundations of Mahayana and vajrayana students are invited to join this event.
Looking Ahead to 2027: The Year of the Fire Sheep
Rinpoche will lead a vajrayana student practice day on January 31st, our annual dön season practice, to lay the ground for the arrival of the Year of the Fire Sheep. Losar this year is earlier, February 7th, and Rinpoche and the Sakyong Wangmo will give the address on February 14th during the festivities in Asia.
In the coming year, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche will continue enriching our understanding of the foundational mahayana teachings through online weekend teachings and retreats, and in-person events in Vermont and Switzerland. Rinpoche will continue the vajrayana teaching cycle on Amitayus through online weekend teachings and an online retreat, as well as in-person retreats in Vermont, and Switzerland. In the fall, there will be another opportunity for new students to receive introductory guided meditation from Rinpoche online.
In addition to all this, Rinpoche will lead a mahayana and vajrayana pilgrimage soon after Losar, followed by a two-week individual retreat practice for vajrayana students for those who stay after the pilgrimage.
Below is additional information about the teachings and retreats Rinpoche is being supplicated to give this year. Our supplications to receive the dharma create connection and the basis for Rinpoche’s teachings.
Foundations of Mahayana Teachings
After Losar, The Foundations of Mahayana cycle will continue with mahayana teachings, and include continued practice of Planting of the Seed of Bodhichitta, as well as teachings on the four limitless ones and the practice of Tayé: Boundless. Students are welcome to join even if they did not attend previously. In order to establish a lineage connection with him, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche will offer refuge vows at the first event, which is required for students joining the mahayana cycle. In the spring of 2027, Rinpoche will lead a five-day Online Mahayana Retreat, open to all mahayana and vajrayana students.
Ongoing engagement in the Foundations of Mahayana series is also the basis for requesting to begin vajrayana study with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in the future. Experienced mahayana and vajrayana practitioners are encouraged to attend mahayana teachings to strengthen their understanding of core elements of the path. Vajrayana students who have renewed samaya may attend individual teaching events of this series as they are able.
Online Vajrayana Teachings
In April, Rinpoche will start the next cycle of Amitayus: The Guru of Infinite Life. All of Rinpoche’s vajrayana students who have renewed samaya are invited to join him for this series of weekends spread throughout the year. These events include optional practice opportunities on Saturdays, followed by the teachings with Rinpoche on Sundays. Students are encouraged to receive the Amitayus Abhisheka in-person with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche when next this is offered. In the fall of 2027, Rinpoche will lead an online vajrayana group retreat.
The next opportunity for returning vajrayana students to renew samaya is the start of the vajrayana teaching cycle this year, with a preliminary event some weeks before. Vajrayana students who want to renew samaya and resume study with Rinpoche, can learn more by writing to connect@sakyonglineage.org.
Mahayana and Vajrayana Pilgrimages and Vajrayana Retreat in Nepal
In response to supplications from a large group of students, in mid-March Rinpoche will lead a mahayana pilgrimage followed by a vajrayana pilgrimage, and then a 17-day vajrayana practice retreat. Rinpoche has stressed that retreats like these are not a new requirement, or “the next thing,” but come from the inspiration of students wishing to practice intensively in Nepal when Rinpoche is in residence. Information about these pilgrimages has been sent out. If you would like information, please write to connect@sakyonglineage.org.
In-Person Gatherings in the West
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche will give in-person mahayana and vajrayana teachings in Vermont and Switzerland next summer. These gatherings will be opportunities for students to gather with the teacher to receive blessings in person and to practice with the sangha. The mahayana teachings will focus on the topics from the mahayana series. During the vajrayana retreats, Rinpoche will support students on the path of the Amitayus sadhana teachings. At this time, we do not know if Rinpoche will bestow the Amitayus empowerment again this year. If you would like to supplicate for this, please write connect@sakyonglineage.org.
Continuing Opportunities for New Students
In the fall of 2027, Rinpoche again will give an online introduction to meditation for brand-new students. These teachings are open to anyone with an interest in receiving teachings from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and all Rinpoche’s current students are invited to join. This event is an ideal opportunity for people to experience Rinpoche’s teachings for the first time, learn to meditate, and, if they wish, prepare to take refuge and enter the mahayana teaching series.
The Sadhana of the Buddha
In December 2027, Rinpoche will lead the third two-day exploration of the Sadhana of the Buddha, first introduced at in-person retreats in 2023. People were deeply inspired by this practice that felt like a means to meet the Buddha face-to-face.
2027 Teaching Schedule
The schedule of online teachings and in-person gatherings planned for 2027 can be viewed at https://sakyonglineage.org/2027-teaching-schedule/. The exact timing and order of events may change. Additional online and in-person events may be added based on student supplications during the year.