RETREATS
Retreat provides an opportunity to gain deeper experience of meditation. On retreat we withdraw from our usual routine and structure our time and conditions so that we can get the most out of our meditation.
The following retreats are held in Kadampa Buddhist Centres once a year. Each retreat session includes chanted prayers and silent time for meditation practice. The retreat may be guided or unguided. Most retreats are suitable for all levels of experience, from complete beginners to experienced meditators.
Please check our calendar for upcoming retreats, and contact us for further information.
Lamrim retreat
The Lamrim, or stages of the path to enlightenment, is a special condensation of all of Buddha’s teachings made by the great Kadampa master Atisha (982-1054 CE). In this retreat we have the opportunity to contemplate and meditate upon these extraordinary teachings.
Through practising these meditations we can cease our suffering in this life and all our future lives. We will then be in a position to help our family, friends and all living beings to do the same. What could be more beneficial and meaningful than this?
Vajrasattva retreat
By relying upon Vajrasattva, the Buddha of purification, and practicing a special meditation, we can free ourselves from all our negative karma which is the actual cause of our unhappiness and difficulties.
As a result, all our experiences will be positive, we will have a peaceful and pure mind, and will easily remove the obstacles to our spiritual development.
Amitayus retreat
The New Year is a very auspicious time of the year, especially for making connection with Buddha Amitayus. In this retreat, we can strengthen our connection with Buddha Amitayus, increase our lifespan and wisdom, and accumulate lots of merits.
Nyungnay Purifying and Fasting Retreat
This special fasting and purification practice is performed in conjunction with prayers and prostrations to thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara. 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.
The practice starts with the granting of the eight Mahayana precepts at 6.30am according to the sadhana “A Pure Life”. This is followed by three sessions of prayers and prostrations.
On the first day, it is customary to abstain from all meals apart from Precepts lunch. On the second day, we have a choice: either to engage in a complete fast abstaining from all food and drink for twenty-four hours, or to repeat the same fasting practice as on Day 1, including taking Precepts. Students have the choice to attend both days or one day.