Guhyasamaja Tantra Initiation, Instruction and Practice Retreat
| Date | August 8-15, 2010 |
|---|---|
| Time | 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Location | Light on the Hill Retreat Center, Van Etten, NY |
| Instructors | Jangtse Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tephel, with resident Namgyal Monks and Faculty |
| Cost | $925, see details below |
| Registration | Pre-registration required, see details below |
| Prerequisites | Please see below. |
Guhyasamaja tantra is known as the king of
tantras. Entire tantric paths and the words of entire, extensive sutra teachings and meanings are combined into Guhyasamaja tantra. It is therefore described as Za-ma-tog, a basket of all the sutras and the tantras. It is said that if you study Guhyasamaja tantra you may learn all sutras and tantras.
There are two primary methods of practice in highest yoga tantras—Generation stage and Completion stage. Generation stage involves a process of transformation through imagination and serves to prepare the practitioner for the Completion stage. The Completion stage focuses on a practice that relies on energy channels, winds and drops to activate subtle clear-light-mind and realize emptiness. These practices of Guhyasamaja give birth to the so called illusory body, and eventually to the union of clear light and illusory body that leads directly to the experience of full enlightenment. Prior to the Guhysamaja teaching and practice, Khensure Rinpoche will bestow Guhyasamaja initiation on all practitioners. Throughout the retreat, Khensure Rinpoche will give detailed instruction on the sadhana and there will be opportunities to practice in group sessions.
The requirements or commitments for Highest Yoga Tantra initiations are greater than for lower tantric initiations. Highest Yoga Tantra initiations (in this case Guhyasamaja) are not given casually as just another possible topic for study and occasional practice. They are intended for students who will value receiving of the practice and make a commitment to it.
The commitments for those who take this initiation include: taking the refuge, bodhisattva, and tantric vows during the initiation with a promise to maintain them; a commitment to do a short daily practice of the six-session guru yoga (if you are not already doing this practice); and a commitment to the daily Guhyasamaja mantra recitation and/or short daily Guhyasamaja sadhana practice.
Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel, spiritual director of the Land of Compassion Buddha in California, was born in Tibet in 1931. After 20 years of study at Gaden Jangste Monastery, he was awarded the degree of Lharampa Geshe in 1976. Ripoche was appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the position of Abbot of Gaden Jangtse Monastery in 2001 where he remained until returning to the U.S. in 2008. Khensur Rinpoche is a highly respected teacher and practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism who has established many centers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, and parts of Asia.
Location
The retreat will be held at the beautiful Light on the Hill Retreat Center in the peaceful, rolling hills of Van Etten, New York, located just 30 minutes south of Ithaca on 236 acres of wooded land with streams, gorges, swimming ponds, distant views and walking paths. The retreat center offers lovely accommodations with private and semiprivate rooms, cottages, and cabins. Tenting options are also available.
Cost
The cost for the week-long retreat is $925, and includes lodging, three wonderful satisfying vegetarian meals per day, and all study materials.
Register for both Namgyal summer retreats and pay $1,650.
Registration
To register, please contact Namgyal, with your full name, address, telephone number, and email (optional). A deposit of 50% is required to hold your registration. Deposits are fully refundable until June 30th, after which, one half of the deposit is refundable.
Payment
Please make your personal check, money order, or bank cashier's check payable to “Namgyal Monastery” and send to our mailing address.
For payment by credit card, please register first and then process your payment through the “Donate to Namgyal Ithaca” link on our Supporting Namgyal page. In the Comments field of the Payment Form, enter the name of the event for which you are paying.