A practical, step-by-step guide to understanding how this world works, based on the ancient text
Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche.
Learn how to shape your life through meditation and insight into the true nature of reality.
Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche.
Learn how to shape your life through meditation and insight into the true nature of reality.
April 10–12, 2026, Vienna & Online
Step by Step
to Happiness
to Happiness
Why does everything in your life seem to work “only sometimes”?
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It’s time to stop “yelling at the boss” without understanding that this only makes them yell back — again.
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We’ve grown used to playing a kind of karmic lottery: investments may bring profit — or collapse; aspirin may relieve pain — or it may not.
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We live as if we were in the wardrobe of a vast mansion, seeing only a small part of what is truly possible.
Why are we starting this path again?
That is why it is so important to return to this wisdom again and again, to be in the presence of teachers and like-minded practitioners, and to practice. And then you will see how your life begins to change.
But it is important to understand that without practice, without truly integrating knowledge into the mind, learning turns into nothing more than the accumulation of information.
It is a monumental work — one he considers the most important book in the world.
Geshe Michael Roach taught the Lamrim text
Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche for 14 years.
Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche for 14 years.
A New Mission: Peter and Maria Mörtl
Geshe Michael Roach gave his blessing to Peter and Maria Mörtl to relaunch this 14-year cycle from the beginning.
This is not simply a “repeat of the course” — it is a reset of the entire learning system.
“I feel a deep sense of responsibility and see this as an important mission of my own.
I don’t want you to simply listen to lectures.
My goal is to help you integrate this wisdom into everyday life — into your work, your business, and your family life.
And yes, we will be doing the homework together.”
I don’t want you to simply listen to lectures.
My goal is to help you integrate this wisdom into everyday life — into your work, your business, and your family life.
And yes, we will be doing the homework together.”
Peter Mörtl:
About the Teachers
Peter Mörtl and Maria Mörtl are senior teachers at Asian Classics Institute (ACI) and Diamond Cutter Institute (DCI), and among the closest students of Geshe Michael Roach.
They have completed 10 deep silent meditation retreats, totaling one full year of retreat time, and will guide us through this profound immersion into the subtleties of meditation.
This remarkable couple demonstrates through their own lives that these ancient teachings truly work, inspiring thousands of people to study and practice timeless wisdom.
Peter and Maria Mörtl have dedicated their lives to sharing ancient knowledge that helps thousands of people deeply transform their lives.
They have completed 10 deep silent meditation retreats, totaling one full year of retreat time, and will guide us through this profound immersion into the subtleties of meditation.
This remarkable couple demonstrates through their own lives that these ancient teachings truly work, inspiring thousands of people to study and practice timeless wisdom.
Peter and Maria Mörtl have dedicated their lives to sharing ancient knowledge that helps thousands of people deeply transform their lives.
What will be different this time?
Homework will become the bridge that carries knowledge from your notebook into real life.
We will do the homework in groups, helping one another stay consistent in the practice.
“Your guarantee of results is the shared integration of knowledge into life.”
Geshe Michael Roach said that if you create the right conditions and practice diligently, you can transform your life — and the world around you — beyond recognition in just a few months.
We are offering you a deal (Mazal): a small but firm commitment over these years, in exchange for a life filled with meaning, miracles, and freedom from suffering.
We are offering you a deal (Mazal): a small but firm commitment over these years, in exchange for a life filled with meaning, miracles, and freedom from suffering.
What is Lamrim — and why do you need it?
Lamrim as an “Instruction Manual for Happiness”
The core idea of Lamrim is that it is the “Stages of the Path” — a step-by-step guide that Geshe Michael Roach calls “Enlightenment for Beginners.”
The core idea of Lamrim is that it is the “Stages of the Path” — a step-by-step guide that Geshe Michael Roach calls “Enlightenment for Beginners.”
You don’t have to guess what to do next
It is a clear algorithm: step 1, step 2, step 21 — and you reach the goal. It’s like a manual for repairing a car or a complex device, where each stage logically follows from the previous one.
It is a clear algorithm: step 1, step 2, step 21 — and you reach the goal. It’s like a manual for repairing a car or a complex device, where each stage logically follows from the previous one.
Integrating Knowledge through the Nyam-chi system
So that knowledge does not remain “dead weight,” the cycle is built on the unique Tibetan tradition of Nyam-chi.
This means that we apply the knowledge in practice.
So that knowledge does not remain “dead weight,” the cycle is built on the unique Tibetan tradition of Nyam-chi.
This means that we apply the knowledge in practice.
We don't just study theory
We turn it from words into your own inner experience. Through meditation, you will be able to "crack the code" of reality and see how your business, relationships, and health actually work.
We turn it from words into your own inner experience. Through meditation, you will be able to "crack the code" of reality and see how your business, relationships, and health actually work.
How to stay in practice
One of the main challenges is loss of motivation. This long-term cycle is designed to become your own kind of spiritual refueling station.
One of the main challenges is loss of motivation. This long-term cycle is designed to become your own kind of spiritual refueling station.
Every few months, we will return to the teachings to “refill the tank” of the mind.
This helps prevent spiritual burnout.
This helps prevent spiritual burnout.
A lifelong project
Step by step, we move toward profound change. Fourteen years is the time it takes to transform a person’s very biological and karmic wiring.
Step by step, we move toward profound change. Fourteen years is the time it takes to transform a person’s very biological and karmic wiring.
Deep reprogramming of reality
We begin at the end of the book—with meditation and an understanding of emptiness—so that you immediately receive powerful tools to transform your current challenges.
We begin at the end of the book—with meditation and an understanding of emptiness—so that you immediately receive powerful tools to transform your current challenges.
Access to Secret Teachings
Did you know there are two paths to the secret teachings?
- Through completing all 18 ACI courses
- Through completing the Lamrim (the teachings on the stages of the path to enlightenment)
This means that all certificates earned through the Lamrim courses in this cycle will count toward admission to the secret courses.
What is this first Lamrim about?
Course Program: Tools for Transforming Personal and Global Reality
In this first block of study, we will not follow the standard academic path. We will begin with the “tools of power” found at the end of the book, so that you immediately gain the ability to influence your life.
We will learn how to apply the “source code” of reality to real-life problems— from finances to health.
The Art of Perfect Meditation (Shamatha)
Meditation is not just relaxation. It is a high-precision instrument, like a microscope, required to see the “programming code” of this world.
Meditation is not just relaxation. It is a high-precision instrument, like a microscope, required to see the “programming code” of this world.
9 Levels of Concentration
We will follow a step-by-step path from a mind like a housefly to a state where you can enter deep meditation the very moment your hands touch your knees.
We will follow a step-by-step path from a mind like a housefly to a state where you can enter deep meditation the very moment your hands touch your knees.
5 Main Obstacles and 8 Antidotes
You will learn to recognize and eliminate laziness, mental wandering, dullness, and agitation.
You will learn to recognize and eliminate laziness, mental wandering, dullness, and agitation.
Physical and Mental Bliss (Shinjang)
We will study how, through practice, to reach a “flow state” — remarkable lightness of the body and joy of the mind that make practice natural and bring deep satisfaction.
We will study how, through practice, to reach a “flow state” — remarkable lightness of the body and joy of the mind that make practice natural and bring deep satisfaction.
The Seven-Part Analysis of Reality
An ancient method for proving that you—and the objects around you—are not what they appear to be.
An ancient method for proving that you—and the objects around you—are not what they appear to be.
Two Wings to Freedom: Compassion and Wisdom
You will understand that true insight into reality is impossible without kindness toward others, and vice versa.
You will understand that true insight into reality is impossible without kindness toward others, and vice versa.
How Kindness Activates Reality
We will explore how serving others (for example, helping a sick person) becomes an active ingredient that makes your medicine work, or your financial strategies succeed.
We will explore how serving others (for example, helping a sick person) becomes an active ingredient that makes your medicine work, or your financial strategies succeed.
The “Garuda” Mission
How to use the knowledge you gain not just to become a little calmer, but to develop the power to stop war, hunger, and disease on a planetary scale.
How to use the knowledge you gain not just to become a little calmer, but to develop the power to stop war, hunger, and disease on a planetary scale.
The Nyam-chi System: turning knowledge into experience
The course is built on a Tibetan tradition in which theory is never separated from practice.
The course is built on a Tibetan tradition in which theory is never separated from practice.
✓ We study the essence — the distilled core — of the teachings of the greatest masters of the past — Nagarjuna, Chandrakirti, and Tsongkapa.
✓ You will receive clear, practical instructions on how to integrate this knowledge into everyday life, so it does not remain “dead weight” in your notebooks.
✓ The goal of this first Lamrim is to give you the Mi-chok-me platform — a state of mind from which you can see the truth directly and radically change your destiny and the world around you.
✓ You will receive clear, practical instructions on how to integrate this knowledge into everyday life, so it does not remain “dead weight” in your notebooks.
✓ The goal of this first Lamrim is to give you the Mi-chok-me platform — a state of mind from which you can see the truth directly and radically change your destiny and the world around you.
Although Lamrim is usually studied from the beginning, Geshe Michael Roach chose to begin this 14-year cycle from the end of the book. We will follow the same principle.
That is why the first part of the course is officially devoted to two topics: meditation and understanding the nature of reality.
That is why the first part of the course is officially devoted to two topics: meditation and understanding the nature of reality.
Meditation Section (Shamatha): Instructions for achieving deep mental calm
Understanding Reality Section (Vipashyana): Training in how to “crack the code” of the world and understand emptiness
We will begin with the most powerful practices of meditation and wisdom from the end of Pabongka Rinpoche’s book Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.
Participation Format
☑️Access to all lectures
☑️Yoga sessions
☑️Wisdom groups
☑️Guided completion of homework with facilitators (online)
☑️Yoga sessions
☑️Wisdom groups
☑️Guided completion of homework with facilitators (online)
☑️Access to all lectures online
☑️Guided completion of homework with facilitators (online)
☑️Guided completion of homework with facilitators (online)
79 €*
Free
In-Person Attendance
Online Participation
*Please note that the participation fee will increase over time.
until 28.02 - 79€
until 31.03 - 89€
until 09.04 - 99€
until 28.02 - 79€
until 31.03 - 89€
until 09.04 - 99€
☑️Access to all lectures
☑️Yoga sessions
☑️Wisdom groups
☑️Guided completion of homework with facilitators (online)
Lunch with the Teachers
☑️Yoga sessions
☑️Wisdom groups
☑️Guided completion of homework with facilitators (online)
Lunch with the Teachers
500 €
In-Person Attendance
“Event Sponsor”
“Event Sponsor”
Support the organization of the event by becoming a sponsor!
Refund Policy for Paid Participation
100%
from 16.02 until 1.03
50%
from 2.03 until 22.03
10%
from 23.03 until 1.04
0
from 02.04 onwards
Schedule
Day 1
Friday, April 10
Friday, April 10
15:00–16:00 — Participant registration
16:00–16:25 — Opening of the event
16:25–18:15 — Lecture 1
18:15–18:30 — Break
18:30–20:15 — Lecture 2
20:15–20:30 — Closing remarks by the host
16:00–16:25 — Opening of the event
16:25–18:15 — Lecture 1
18:15–18:30 — Break
18:30–20:15 — Lecture 2
20:15–20:30 — Closing remarks by the host
Day 2
Saturday, April 11
Saturday, April 11
8:00–9:00 — Registration and changing for yoga
9:00–10:00 — Yoga
10:00–10:30 — Break
10:30–11:00 — Meditation
11:00–12:15 — Lecture 3, Part 1
12:15–12:30 — Break
12:30–13:45 — Lecture 3, Part 2
13:45–15:00 — Lunch
15:00–16:00 — Wisdom Group
16:00–16:15 — Break
16:15–17:15 — Lecture 4, Part 1
17:15–17:30 — Break
17:30–18:00 — Book presentation “The Power of Desire”
18:00–18:15 — Break
18:15–19:30 — Lecture 4, Part 2
19:30–19:45 — Break
19:45–21:00 — Vows Ceremony
9:00–10:00 — Yoga
10:00–10:30 — Break
10:30–11:00 — Meditation
11:00–12:15 — Lecture 3, Part 1
12:15–12:30 — Break
12:30–13:45 — Lecture 3, Part 2
13:45–15:00 — Lunch
15:00–16:00 — Wisdom Group
16:00–16:15 — Break
16:15–17:15 — Lecture 4, Part 1
17:15–17:30 — Break
17:30–18:00 — Book presentation “The Power of Desire”
18:00–18:15 — Break
18:15–19:30 — Lecture 4, Part 2
19:30–19:45 — Break
19:45–21:00 — Vows Ceremony
Day 3
Sunday, April 12
Sunday, April 12
8:30–9:00 — Registration and changing for yoga
9:00–10:00 — Yoga
10:00–10:30 — Break
10:30–11:00 — Meditation
11:00–12:15 — Lecture 5, Part 1
12:15–12:30 — Break
12:30–13:30 — Lecture 5, Part 2
13:30–13:50 — Group photo
13:50–15:00 — Lunch
15:00–16:00 — Wisdom Group
16:00–16:15 — Break
16:15–17:30 — Lecture 6, Part 1
17:30–17:45 — Break
17:45–19:00 — Lecture 6, Part 2
19:00–21:00 — Disco
9:00–10:00 — Yoga
10:00–10:30 — Break
10:30–11:00 — Meditation
11:00–12:15 — Lecture 5, Part 1
12:15–12:30 — Break
12:30–13:30 — Lecture 5, Part 2
13:30–13:50 — Group photo
13:50–15:00 — Lunch
15:00–16:00 — Wisdom Group
16:00–16:15 — Break
16:15–17:30 — Lecture 6, Part 1
17:30–17:45 — Break
17:45–19:00 — Lecture 6, Part 2
19:00–21:00 — Disco
Venue
Hotel Mercure Wien Westbahnhof, located at:
Felberstrasse 4, 1150 Vienna.
Felberstrasse 4, 1150 Vienna.
The hotel is situated in the very heart of Vienna’s historic city center, close to Westbahnhof.
Support the Event
The Classic Wisdom Academy is a non-profit organization, and the core teachings are offered free of charge.
However, organizing the event involves real expenses: venue and equipment rental, live-streaming costs, printed materials, and more.
We strive to keep participation accessible to everyone, so the ticket price covers only part of the costs. For this reason, we also open a separate fundraising option to support the organization of the event.
By supporting this event, you create the causes for:
You may also dedicate these seeds to any other goal of your choice.
Thank you for your support and participation!
However, organizing the event involves real expenses: venue and equipment rental, live-streaming costs, printed materials, and more.
We strive to keep participation accessible to everyone, so the ticket price covers only part of the costs. For this reason, we also open a separate fundraising option to support the organization of the event.
By supporting this event, you create the causes for:
- abundance and “breathing" money
- creating meaningful, fulfilling relationships
- connection with like-minded people, teachers, and the teachings
- always having the opportunity to attend important trainings
- easily absorbing and practicing wisdom
- achieving your goals with greater ease
You may also dedicate these seeds to any other goal of your choice.
Thank you for your support and participation!
Sponsored Ticket
Still have questions?
Ask them by clicking the feedback button in the lower-right corner, and our Care Team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Are you ready to take the first step — and this time go all the way?
How It's Been Before
Photos from our past events
Care Team
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