Everyone,
The sangha held it's first nyungne retreat last March. It was so phenomenal that people have been clamoring to do another one. Drupon Rinchen Dorjee has agreed to lead one next month. Nyungne will be Friday the 21st of March through Monday the 24th. You'll notice that the initial date that I gave notice about has been pushed up.
As soon as we can finalize the details, we'll be asking you to register as we only have limited room. We had 14 participants last year along with Drupon Rinpoche and Lama Gyatsen Rinpoche. That's about all the space can handle.
For those of you not familiar with nyungne, it's a powerful purification practice focused on the sadhana of 1000-Armed Chenrezig, a deity of immeasurable compassion.
More to come in a formal announcement. Questions are welcome at 312.933.6824 or email, billpope.enteract@rcn.com.
Thanks and Tashi delek, Bill Pope
1.
In order to realize enlightenment, we need to lay the groundwork by removing the negativity that obscures the true nature of our minds and by creating the positive conditions that facilitate realization. A Nyungne Retreat is especially designed for lay practitioners to purify negative karma and accumulate merit and wisdom in a short but intensive retreat setting. It is a two day practice focusing on keeping strict vows for a two-day period, generating the Bodhisattva attitude, and reciting the sadhana of the 1000-armed Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of compassion. In this way, the Nyungne practice cultivates all three vehicles of Buddhism.
The practice consists of 3 sessions of practice during each of the first two days and a final session on the last day. The vows that we take include not killing, stealing, or lying, and abstaining from sexual activity, intoxicants, luxury, ornaments, and entertainment for the duration of the retreat.
On the second day, participants will fast completely from food and water, and will also maintain strict silence, except for the recitation of the sadhana, again in three sessions of practice.
The retreat concludes early in the morning of the third day with a final practice session. The vows, fasting and silence are concluded at the end of this session.
The Nyungne practice is open to anyone who has taken refuge. However, anyone who wants to sit and observe or meditate quietly is welcome.
We recommend that you read “Attaining Enlightenment” by Lama Lodu Rinpoche, which will give you some understanding of the vows/precepts and general organization of the Nyung Ne Retreat. Of course to fully understand, nothing beats actual experience.
Any one who has taken refuge may participate in the retreat. All else that is required is a commitment to seeing the retreat through to completion.
If you want anything particular to drink (clear liquids) on the first day, make sure to bring that. We will supply a vegetarian lunch on the first day and breakfast on the last morning. Foods that are to be avoided during the retreat include onion, radish, garlic, eggs, meat, fish, bean, leeks and horseradish. Appropriate foods include fruit, vegetables, wheat, rice, milk, cheese and butter.
We recommend you bring your bell and dorje, mala, and other Dharma gear you might need. If you would like to bring an additional offering, flowers always add to the shrine’s ambience.
We are excited to have you joining us for your first Nyung Ne. It is an important Dharma experience you will never forget and that will bless you for lifetimes to come! (Remember, a sense of humor is mandatory).
If you have any special needs that might interfere with you ability to take the vows, please talk to Lama ahead of time.
Thank you,
