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The Academy is The 3 Doors’ signature program. This immersive training provides participants with the opportunity to engage deeply in the process of self-discovery in the warmth of community. It is rigorous in the sense that all are asked to make an active and ongoing commitment to self-reflection and meditation. It is challenging at times, since facing yourself can be humbling and disorienting. And it is frequently joyful, since the freedom of going beyond perceived limitations and experiencing the abundant resources of one’s true nature is transformative.
A great strength of the program is that it draws upon the collective power of the group for support in transforming personal limitations. Together, a cohort of participants engage in six residential retreats, share experiences in monthly online small group gatherings with a mentor, and draw upon the mentor relationship for individual guidance and direction. The Academy environment is one of complete confidentiality, support, and genuine warmth and joy that emerges when people openly share their journeys with one another.
People ranging in age from 18 to 80 have participated in the Academy. Participants have included artists, therapists, teachers, social workers, healthcare professionals, college students, lawyers, nonprofit leaders, small business owners, yoga teachers, massage therapists, and many others.
The 3 Doors welcomes people of all backgrounds, races, ages, abilities, religious affiliations, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
The 3 Doors is rooted in the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Bön Buddhism, which teaches that each of us is inherently whole as we are. Meditation is a way of recognizing this, easing suffering, and allowing for the emergence of compassionate action.
Founded in 2010 by Tibetan meditation teacher Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, The 3 Doors offers four select meditation practices to people of diverse spiritual and secular backgrounds in ways that are accessible and relevant to contemporary life.
Experience meaningful personal transformation to support lasting change,
deeper self-awareness, and a fuller engagement with life.
“The 3 Doors Academy program helps you unleash your full potential and truly transform your being. As you transform, you can see the impact on others—your family, coworkers, friends, relatives, and society.“
Frank Jeri | Latin American Academy
“Enrolling in the academy was the best decision of my life, as it has given me a wealth of experience and insight. Through ancient teachings— once the privilege of only a few but now accessible to everyone—we come to know our true selves. The group’s cohesion greatly contributes to our own growth and that of others.”
Attila Szabó | European Academy
“Attuning to Inner Refuge is attuning to True Nature. It requires dropping into a different vibration, a different frequency. I can tell where I am based on what I am aware of, what language is present, and what sensations I am noticing in my physical body.”
Tiffany Landers | North American Academy
“I have experienced wonderful benefits. I notice an increased sense of presence in my body and in my breathing, greater energy autonomy, and a reduction in emotional dependency. A feeling of needing fewer things to feel well. I have improved my ability to meditate.”
Dora Nogueira | Latin American Academy
Each retreat offers the opportunity to go deeper into your practice with the support of your teachers and peers. These retreats are followed by six months of online support including group practices and smaller group gatherings as well as self-directed coursework including videos, readings, and written reflections.
Finding Inner Refuge and Introduction to Practices of Body and Breath
Exploring the Gifts of Inner Refuge and Practicing With Sound and Silence
Healing Power of Contemplation: Bringing Pain to the Path
The Healing Power of the Collective: Hosting Ancestral and Societal Pain
Discovering Flow: Spontaneous Expression and the Path of Meditation
Transformation: Dedicating the Fruit of Your Practice for the Benefit of Others
The 3 Doors Academy is a 2.5-year commitment of focus, practice, and community:
North American Academy 8:
April 2027 – October 2029
Online with retreats in Virginia, USA
European Academy 4:
April 2028 – September 2030
Online with retreats in Belgium
Latin American Academy 3: September 2025 – March 2028
In progress;
online with retreats in Brazil
While meditation experience can be helpful, it is not a requirement. The Academy will include practitioners with a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds. This program involves meditating for extended periods of time and a commitment to self-reflection. We encourage everyone to take good care of themselves and get support from the teachers when needed.
No. While our practices are derived from the Dzogchen view of Tibetan Bon Buddhism, most of our practitioners do not identify as Bön or Buddhist. The Academy was designed specifically to present these ancient practices in a way that could be accessible to a wide range of people and could be applied meaningfully to everyday life.
Mainly, we ask that you’re willing and able to keep the Academy commitments listed above.
The Academy calls for a certain readiness in how you relate to yourself and others so that the experience is meaningful for the whole group. In practice, that means:
All participants are expected to attend all components of the program. Many of the benefits of the Academy come from live engagement with the teachers and your fellow students. If life circumstances prevent you from attending, you may miss up to one in-person retreat and, soon after, will be asked to listen to the recorded teachings and meditations. We ask you to attend all zoom sessions. In the case where you cannot, recordings will be available.
Practicing meditation alongside others can bring healing, but the Academy doesn’t offer therapeutic care for working through significant trauma. What we focus on is deepening your practice—not clinical or therapeutic support.
None scheduled at this time.
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