To anyone interested in the 3-year retreat program –
This past November during the Vajrakilaya Drubchen the first 3-year retreat at the Garchen Institute came to completion. We rejoice in the merit of the retreatants and the sangha who supported their retreat! While supporting their retreat over the last three years, we have also been preparing for the next retreat.
As many of you know, Ven. Traga Rinpoche has obligations in Tibet and has expressed his intention to return there. At Vajrakilaya, Garchen Rinpoche announced that Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche will be the retreat master for the next 3-year retreat. And so, as our hearts are sad at Traga Rinpoche’s imminent departure, we also rejoice that Drupon Rinpoche will be able to guide this next retreat.
It is our aspiration for the next retreat to begin sometime between November 2009 and February 2010. In order to meet this aspiration we will need to complete the following: fundraising and construction of staff lodging so that there is staff to support the retreat, fundraising and construction with repairs of bathrooms and kitchen for the retreat area and possibly additional huts. We are working diligently on all phases of this process and thus far have met with the architect and are working on the plans and permitting process. Lama Bunima has started off the fundraising by raising $32,000! There are sangha members donating monthly to help with infrastructure for the 3-year area, and recently the Singapore sangha sent in donations as well. Although this may sound like a lot to complete, we have been making many aspiration prayers as well as engaging in the worldly details to bring this together. Please help us in this process through your aspiration prayers and if possible with funding.
Thank you for your patience as we have been preparing the program for this next 3-year retreat. Following is all the information we have to offer you at this time, so that you can carefully consider whether you wish to apply for the next retreat:
Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche has set new requirements:
Practice Prerequisites:
- Drupon Rinpoche recommends the completion of a 100-day retreat
- Drupon requires all prospective applicants to complete at least a 60-day retreat at The Garchen Institute
- Drupon will guide all 100-day and 60-day retreatants (These retreats must be completed by October 15th.)
- If you’ve not completed the 100-day Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma Retreat, then your 60-day retreat will be on the Four Thoughts
- The short-term retreat provides an opportunity for you to experience retreat and the conditions at The Garchen Institute. It also provides an opportunity for Drupon and the staff to assess your ability to complete the demanding rigors of the 3-year retreat program. As not everyone who applies will be accepted for the 3-year retreat program, the short-term retreat is an important part of the application process.
- Drupon is not requiring that ngöndro be completed before entering the retreat
- Those of you who have not completed ngöndro will begin the 3-year retreat with the ngöndro practice
- For those of you who have completed ngöndro, you will start 3-year retreat by doing 35,000 refuge, 100,000 vajrasattva, 35,000 mandala, and one week of guru yoga practices.
Other requirements:
· a letter of interest stating why you wish to do the retreat, your meditation and retreat background, and what your preparations have been thus far
· an in-person interview with the retreat master after you have completed the 60-day retreat at the Garchen institute
· an in-person interview with the staff after completing the 60-day retreat requirement
· an application to be filled out that will include both physical and mental health history
· health insurance or a guarantor who will commit to pay for all health expenses that may arise for you on retreat
· ability to live in primitive conditions, i.e. a 10’ x 10’ hut with no electricity, no heating, no cooling, no running water, and no bathroom (there will be a central kitchen with running water and enough electricity to power the refrigerators and a small light, as well as a central bathroom)
· ability to withstand intense heat and cold
· initial deposit of $500 (nonrefundable) to hold your space, which is due by June 1st; this deposit will be applied to your first year of rent
· next deposit of $2,500 (nonrefundable), which is due by August 1st; this deposit will be applied to your first year of rent
· commitment to pay in full and on time the retreat rental fee to the Institute; this will be at least $350 per month, and the final cost and interval for payment is yet to be determined
· everyone entering retreat must be fully financially responsible for all personal needs, including food, hygiene items, kitchen items (other than the dishes, pots and pans, silverware, and utensils that are provided), doctor bills, medicines, practice materials, transportation in case of medical conditions, personal items, etc.
Drupon Rinpoche will be at The Garchen Institute for Summer Teachings beginning the first week in August 2009. This will be an excellent time to visit the center and to meet with both Drupon and the staff. If you are unable to come at this time, please call us to make other arrangements. Please remember that the formal in-person interview requirement must take place after your 60-day retreat, but please don’t hesitate to cultivate a relationship prior to that.
Since it is likely that this next retreat will begin in November, we need to know immediately if you are interested in applying.
Deadlines:
- By May 30th 1. send your letter of interest
2. schedule your 100- or 60-day retreat at The Garchen Institute (guidelines, logistics, and deposits for the short-term retreat program will be provided when you register)
- By June 30th pay initial deposit of $500 (nonrefundable unless you are not accepted for the program)
- By August 1st pay the rest of the deposit $2500 (nonrefundable unless you are not accepted for the program)
It is necessary to meet the May 30th deadline in order to apply for this retreat.
Although the start date is not certain, you will need to complete your requirements as if it were, because as soon as the village is ready, the retreat will begin. We will keep you up to date on the process so that you can adjust your plans and responsibilities accordingly. Although there are many details contained in this letter, there are many more to come, as it is quite an undertaking to plan and participate in a 3-year retreat. We will do our best to make as much as possible clear to you before you enter, but the unexpected will always arise and both the institute and retreatants will adapt as that takes place. Garchen Rinpoche has given us a beautiful guideline for all activities at the institute: “Everything must benefit both the center and the individual.” And it is this pith instruction we will follow as we support your retreat. Please feel free to contact us with questions, thoughts, concerns, and ideas, and also please realize that we may not be able to answer everything that you might need to know when you need to know it, as we are still very much engaged in the planning process. Again please join us in making aspirational prayers and if you have any ideas about securing funding, please share those with us as well.
Thank you all for your interest in intensive retreat practice for the benefit of all beings. Drupon Rinpoche’s pith instruction to all who aspire to do the 3-year retreat is: “It is extremely important to develop the right motivation for entering retreat, which is the wish to benefit others. Shamata, mantra, etc., can be developed after entering retreat. What is most important is right motivation.”
For further information, please email questions@garchen.net or call 928-925-1237
