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Embracing the Vajra World: Opening the Heart through Chenrezi and the Six Syllable Mantra
July 19 - July 22
Teacher: Lama Eric Triebelhorn
In Vajrayana Buddhism—which includes the Mahayana—wisdom and compassion are both the ultimate fruition of our practice and the means to accomplishing it. In this retreat we will explore tapping into our inherent wisdom and compassion using teachings and techniques from both the sutric and tantric perspectives.
For the sutra approach we will explore ways to nurture the loving-kindness and compassion of relative bodhichitta as well as the view and means to access the wisdom of ultimate bodhichitta. Absolute bodhichitta is discovering the inherent wisdom that is our nature, and relative bodhichitta is concerned with developing loving kindness, compassion, and the wish to attain buddhahood to be able to lead all beings to that same realization. These practices are skillfully and thoroughly presented in the Mind Training Tradition, and we will draw from these techniques for our meditations.
In the Vajrayana, Chenrezi (Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) is a bodhisattva who said to be the embodiment of the compassion of all the buddhas and bodhisattvas. The practice of Chenrezi includes visualizing oneself in this form, reciting the well-known mantra om mani padme hum, and imagining engaging in the activity of benefitting beings. By holding our body, speech, and mind to be awakened, we hasten the realization our true nature which is wisdom and compassion, inseparable.
All are welcome. One need not have received the empowerment of Chenrezi to attend. There are no prerequisites to attend the retreat. It is not necessary to have received the empowerment, but if one wishes to continue with this practice, it would be good to receive it eventually. All of the texts will be displayed on the screen.
Retreat Schedule:
Friday, July 19
PM
2:00-4:00 Arrive
5:30-7:00 Dinner
7:00-7:45 First Session
Saturday, July 20 & Sunday, July 21
AM
6:30-7:30
9:00-10:30
11:00-12:00
PM
2:30-4:00
4:30-5:30
7:00-7:45
Monday, July 22
AM
6:30-7:30
9:00-10:30
11:00-12:00
12:00 Lunch, Final Chores, Departure
Suggested Reading:
Available for purchase in the KCC Bookstore
Chenrezig—Lord of Love by Bokar Rinpoche
Continuous Rain to Benefit Beings by the 15th Karmapa Khakyab Dorje
Chenrezig—The Practice of Compassion by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche