Skymind is an invitation into the lived experience of the Nature of Mind – the vast, potent, and radiant nature of reality. Though ultimately beyond words or concept, this ground of being is imminently accessible to us, given that it is our very own nature. Machig Labdrön, the great 11th century Tibetan yogini describes it like this:

it abides inherently

it occurs naturally

it is unborn

it is unceasing

it is all-pervasive

it is oneself

Guided by Machig’s pith teachings, we explore ways to access this ground and make it count in our daily lives. You’ll learn the Skymind Meditation, along with a variety of attention and awareness practices, to ground your inquiry in direct experience. As a path of awakened compassion, Skymind applies the unique insights of Buddhist psychology to the nuances of emotional and mental challenges, and offers techniques to meet whatever arises in our personal and shared human lives with clarity and courage.

The realization of the nature of mind includes all phenomena without exception.

When we awaken to our sky-like nature, we recognize that we can – and must – include everything in the totality of our being. We can meet every moment with a heart of unending compassion and a mind as vast as space. 

What Will I Learn?

• Practice and apply Machig’s pith instructions that point directly to our true nature.
• Receive detailed instruction and learn Open Awareness meditation in which you recognize and stabilize the wakeful mind – clear, vast, and brilliant.
• Gain a set of nuanced techniques and mind training tools that can be integrated into daily life to meet and transform emotional and mental challenges.
• Take a deep experiential dive into the heart of Machig’s teachings to cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. 
• In this way, you will learn:
  • To truly rest. 
  • To inspire compassion for yourself and others. 
  • To cultivate attention. 
  • To relax into expansive awareness. 
  • To love more fiercely.

Hemera Foundation Grants

This program is generously being supported by the Hemera Foundation with a limited number of full and partial Scholarships! Please follow this link if you wish to apply for consideration. Scholarships are available on a first-come basis until they’re awarded or registration closes on December 12th. 

Who Is This Course For?

• This online course supports both the experienced practitioner and the beginning meditator in accessing the radiance of open awareness and applying it to the concrete challenges and joys of everyday life.
• Anyone interested in uniting a vast, inclusive view with compassionate engagement. 
• Individuals who desire to expand their practice of “nature of mind” into their daily experience.
• This open awareness meditation training will complement and strengthen the deepening of your existing practices. 
• This course is included as a recommended but not required retreat within the Magyu Program.
• Since the nature of this material is always living and fresh, each course is unique. We invite those who attended previous courses to return. 

Each week’s live session will include:

• Teachings by Lopön Pieter & Lopön Charlotte on:
  • A series of Machig Labdrön’s verses, drawn from source texts. Machig’s verses prod, inspire, and awaken. We will progress through a variety of teachings over the course of 8 weeks, ranging from more absolute nature of mind teachings, to instructions for working with attention and awareness, to detailed guidance on integrating vast view into everyday life. 
• Exploration of Buddhist psychology and ways of navigating difficult emotions and challenging states of mind with compassionate awareness. 
• Exercises and guided meditations to support a direct, personal experience of the teachings. 
• Mind training techniques for heightening and honing attention, and cultivating awareness. These techniques will progressively build on each other over the duration of the course. 
• Training in Open Awareness Meditation.
• Q & A and opportunities for participant reflections and group discussions. 
• Online discussion forum to continue sharing reflections between live meetings. 

Program Tuition

This program is generously being supported by the Hemera Foundation with a limited number of full and partial Scholarships! Please use the “email us about program” button on this page to apply. Scholarships are available on a first-come basis until they’re awarded or registration closes on December 12th. 

Learn more about available financial assistance options and apply for a scholarship here. 

Installment Payment Plan Option at Registration

Understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different, Tara Mandala aims to make programs as accessible as possible. During registration, participants have the option to either pay the program fee in full or select the Installment Payment Plan. For those choosing the installment plan, a 25% deposit is required at registration, with the remaining balance automatically divided into equal monthly payments. The final payment is due 14 days before the program begins. If retreat enrollment occurs close to the start date, additional arrangements can be made. For any questions or special requests, the Finance Team is ready to assist at care@taramandala.org.

Sustaining Sangha

If you are currently a member of our Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your Online Program discount to this course. To learn more about Sustaining Sangha membership, benefits, and discounts, click here. 

Offering dana to the Teacher

The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the program. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here. 

The suggested dana for this program is $80 – $240. 

Program Schedule

The live sessions of the program are listed below. All times are Mountain Standard Time. Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

The live teaching session will be Fridays, 10:00am – 12:00pm MST

• December 12, 19 (2025)
• January 9, 16, 23, 20 (2026)
• February 6, 13 (2026)

Recording Access 

All participants will have a 1-year access period to the recordings.

Tara Mandala Pricing Guidelines

As we work to become an equitable, diverse and inclusive community, our pricing guidelines are intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of resources that contribute to our access to precious dharma teachings. While we do ask you to look inward, please know there is no right or wrong answer. We encourage you to select the range/rate appropriate to your circumstances. To learn more about Tara Mandala’s pricing guidelines for Online Programs, In-Person Retreats, and Special Promotions, please visit this page. 

What is a Tara Mandala Online Program?

Tara Mandala offers online programming via live and pre-recorded curriculum that give you the opportunity to access dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience personal retreat and hands-on learning, while connecting with other participants through easy-to-use online platforms and an engaged community network. When needed, the program description and schedule will inform you in advance if and when a specific online session must be attended live if a direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. Access to recordings of all sessions will be available for additional viewing for one year. 

Online Programs Cancellation and Refund Policy