Celebrating Buddha’s Enlightenment Day

Nyungnay Purification and Fasting Retreat

Fri. April 12 & Sat. 13

Cost: $10/day – Free for Members

Purify your mind and deepen your compassion by engaging in this beautiful group retreat.
This special purification and fasting retreat is held at Kadampa Centers around the world to celebrate the anniversary of Buddha’s Enlightenment on April 15th. This is an extremely important day in the Buddhist calendar because our actions are 100,000 times more powerful than on other days.

This practice is done in conjunction with 1,000 Armed Avalokiteshvara, Buddha of Compassion, with a practice called Drop of Essential Nectar. It is very powerful for purifying negative karma of body, speech, and mind, and for pacifying strong delusions such as desirous attachment and hatred. It is also a special method for receiving blessings and improving our experience of love, compassion, and bodhichitta.
You are welcome to join in for just part of the retreat; however, to participate in any of the retreat sessions, you must take the precepts at 7am that day. Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts are required to participate in any session on any of the retreat days, whether you are participating in one or both days. When we take Precepts, we do so out of compassion and promise to refrain from negative actions of body, speech and mind for twenty four hours, which include a vow of fasting where we eat only one vegetarian meal (lunch). For more detailed information on taking and keeping the Precepts please visit Taking Precepts.

There is a free introduction class Thursday, April 11, 6-7:30 pm.

Fasting

On the first day it is customary to abstain from all meals except lunch. The second day is a complete fast, abstaining from all food and drink until 7am on the following day. Those who are unable to engage in a complete fast can participate in the sessions on the second day, provided they take the Mahayana precepts on that day.

The Practice

On both days, participants take Mahayana Precepts at 7am and engage in the sessions of chanted meditation and prostrations (physically or mentally) with the practice of 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion.

Schedule

Thursday, April 11
6 – 7:30 pm: Introduction

Friday, April 12
6:30 – 7:00 am: Precepts (required to participate in the other sessions)
7:30 – 8:45 am: Session 1
10:30 – 11:45 am: Session 2
11:45 am – 1 pm: Lunch Break
3:00 – 4:30 pm: Session 3
5:30 – 6:30 pm Wishfulfilling Jewel Chanted Prayers

Saturday, April 13
6:30 – 7:00 am: Precepts (required to participate in the other sessions)
7:30 – 8:45 am: Session 1
10:30 – 11:45 am: Session 2
2:00 – 3:30 pm: Session 3
4:30 – 5:30 pm Wishfulfilling Jewel Chanted Prayers

Registration

Please pre-register. Membership discounts are taken at checkout.