8 SET NYUNGNE RETREAT

Friday 10th August – Monday 27th August 2024

Barom Kagyu Chodrak Choe Khorling
4017 Higuera Highland LN, San Jose, CA

Nyungne retreat involves one-thousand-armed Chenrezig practice with visualization and recitation of the long and short Compassion Mantra, participants are required to take the Mahayana precepts and strictly observe fasting and silence vows. This retreat is for full time participants only.

Visitors can join in for recitation at any time, but to actually do the retreat, one need to attend full-time. Please carefully read all practical information that follows to know what to expect during the retreat

PREREQUISITES

Please read all information related to Nyungne retreat.

BENEFIT OF NYUNGNE RETREAT

If one practice Nyungne just one time, all negative karma of forty thousand kalpas will be purified and one will not reborn into the lower realms. Purification is possible due to the power of one-thousand-armed Chenrezig’s compassion and extraordinary blessings as well as our motivation, faith and devotion. When such causes and conditions come together, a true purification inevitably takes place.

During Nyungne practice, physical fasting purifies the negative karma of killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct and overcomes obscurations of the body. Therefore, you will never be born in the hungry ghost realm, and ultimately you will attain the supreme body of the Buddhas. Abstaining speech and remaining in silence purifies the negative karma of lying, slandering, harsh words, and the idle talk, and purifies obscurations of speech. One will not be born in the animal realm, and ultimately will attain the melodious enlightened speech of the Buddhas. One-pointed concentration on practices during Nyungne purifies the negative karma of greed, evil thoughts, wrong views, and purifies obscurations of the mind. One will not be born in the hell realm and will have spiritual realization and spiritual experience. Ultimately one will attain the five wisdoms of the Buddhas.

It has been said that this practice is so great that even offering a meal to a Nyungne practitioner is like offering a meal to an Eight-Bhumi Bodhisattva. Just by supporting Nyungne practitioners one will receive tremendous benefits.

H.E. Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche will conduct the practice retreat of 8 sets of Nyungne. This retreat will be held during the auspicious month of Saka Dawa, the month commemorating the Birth, Enlightenment and Pari-nirvana of Shakya Muni Buddha. It is said that, during this time, the merit accumulated through performing virtuous deeds is multiplied by 100,000 times.

TIMETABLE

  • Friday, 10th Aug 2024

    18:30 Registration desk open

    19:30 – 21:00 Teaching by H.E. Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche

  • Saturday, 11st Aug 2024 (the first day of each set, keep noble silence if possible)

    6:30 – 7:00 Taking 8 Mahayana Precepts

    7:00 – 8:00 Calling Guru from Afar Prayer

    8:00 – 9:00 Tea break (drinks only)

    9:00 – 12:00 Nyungne Sadhana Prayer

    12:00 – 14:00 Lunch break (food & drinks)

    14:00 – 17:00 Nyungne Sadhana Prayer

    17:00 – 18:00 Tea break (drinks only)

    18:00 – 19:00 Fire Puja & Mahakala Prayer

  • Sunday, 12th Aug 2024 (the second day of each set, fasting day & strictly silence)

    10.21 7:00-8:00PM

    6:30 – 7:00 Taking 8 Mahayana Precepts

    7:00 – 8:00 Calling Guru from Afar Prayer

    8:00 - 9:00 Break (no food or drinks)

    9:00 – 12:00 Nyungne Sadhana Prayer

    12:00 – 14:00 Break (no food or drinks)

    14:00 – 17:00 Nyungne Sadhana Prayer

    17:00 – 18:00 Break (no food or drinks)

    18:00 – 19:00 Fire Puja & Mahakala Prayer

SETS

Set 1

Begins 11th Aug (Saturday) at 6:00 am

Set 2

Set 2 Begins 13th Aug (Monday) at 6.00 am

Set 3

Set 3 Begins 15th Aug (Wednesday) at 6:00 am

Set 4

Set 4 Begins 17th Aug (Friday) at 6:00 am

Set 5

Set 5 Begins 19th Aug (Sunday) at 6:00 am

Set 6

Set 6 Begins 21st Aug (Tuesday) at 6:00 am

Set 7

Set 7 Begins 23rd Aug (Thursday) at 6:00 am

Set 8

Set 8 Begins 25th Aug (Saturday) at 6:00 am

COMMITMENTS

Strictly Residential

Please be aware that by accepting to join the retreat at the start you are committed to stay within the retreat areas until the end of the retreat.

To take the 8 Mahayana Precepts

Bestowed by H.E Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche at 6:30 am daily from Saturday, 11th Aug 2024 to Sunday, 26th Aug 2024. The precepts are to be kept for the next 24 hours, which include strict rules for fasting and silence vows specific to Nyungne practice (see table below). This is compulsory to attend the retreat.

To keep all vows tightly

Until the end of the retreat, since breaking vows involves heavy consequences

Friday 10th Aug

FOOD : N/A
DRINK : N/A
TALK : N/A

Day 1 of each set

11st, 13rd, 15th, 177h , 19st, 21st, 23rd and 25th Aug

FOOD : No breakfast, Lunch before 1pm, No dinner
DRINK : Can drink water, tea, milk, juice, etc. all day
TALK : Only talk when necessary

Day 2 of each set

12th 144h , 16th 18th, 20th, 22nd , , 24th and 26th Aug

FOOD : No food
DRINK : No drink
TALK : Strictly silence

Monday 27th Aug

Same as Sunday 26th Aug until the end of the morning session where the retreat ends. After fasting, it is advisable to have warm and light meals.

MEALS

Friday, 10th Aug 2024 dinner will be on your own. There will be instant noodles, breads, peanut butter, jam, milk, tea and drinks available at the temple. Vegetarian meals will be served at lunch on day 1 of each set starting from Saturday, 11th Au 2024 and breakfast on Monday, 27th Aug 2024.

CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Contribution: $100/person for each Set of Nyungne retreat to cover the costs for meals, drinks, altar offerings and utilities expenses. If you wish to join the retreat but have financial difficulty, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  • At the end of the retreat, everyone will have a chance to offer the white khata for thanksgiving.

  • Donation to the Centre is voluntary to support the Centre’s building fund and running costs. Your support would be much appreciated.

ADVISES FOR NYUNGNE RETREAT

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

This is a frequently asked question?

Prostrations: Everyone can do prostrations at their own pace during the time allocated for prostrations. There is no set numbers to be completed in each session.

Fasting: The aim of this retreat is to give us a small idea of the suffering that so many other beings are experiencing, so some level of discomfort is normal and it’s a great opportunity to transform it into a meaningful experience.

Eating food: It’s a good idea not to have a surfeit of food at lunch time on the first day of each Set, it can result in a slowing process of digestive system that makes difficult to complete the following sessions.

WHAT TO BRING

  • Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, blanket, personal items;

  • Notebook & pen if you wish to take notes;

  • Meditation shawl or blanket for early mornings and evenings;

  • Appropriate clothing (no short), comfortable clothes to sit and prostrate in. white clothes is highly recommended (symbolizing purity & offering pure body to onethousand-armed Chenrezig)

  • A small, flat cushion or pad or towel to protect the knees while prostrating;

  • If you have a special meditation cushion you like, you can bring with you;

  • Mala / Rosary – Crystal mala if you have, otherwise any kind of mala will do

REGISTRATION

Please pre-register your participation by sending email choekhorlingfoudation@gmail.com with name, contact details, or put your name down the list directly on the registration sheet at the temple. You can come on Friday, 10th Aug 2024 to complete your registration. Preregistration is essential to book for meals.

On behalf of Barom Kagyu Chordrak Choe Khorling center California, we look forward to seeing you at the retreat.