Nyungne Purification and Fasting Retreat
Date: 7 pm Friday, March 2nd through 7:30 am Monday, March 5th
Location: Milarepa Ösel Chö Dzong Retreat Center in Happy Valley, TN
Fee: $100 payable to Milarepa Osel Cho Dzong (scholarships available)
Prerequisite: Interested participants must have received refuge vows.
Register: samten@mocd.org
Space is limited. Please register by February 29th.
Introduction
A Nyungne Retreat is a special two-day meditation, fasting and purification retreat based on the practice of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig and is known for its power in the purification of negative karma and the accomplishment of enlightened qualities.
History of the Practice
This practice was originated by Gelongma Palmo, (Bhikkuni Lakshmi), who was one of the greatest masters of the 1,000-armed Chenrezig.
She was born into an Indian royal family but chose Buddhist ordination in her youth. She studied with many of the masters of her time and practiced diligently. Sadly however, due to the ripening of karma, she contracted leprosy and was subsequently abandoned in the forest. She had a vision of King Indrabodhi who advised her to do Avalokiteshvara practices.
Gelongma Palmo recited the mantras of Avalokiteshvara and devised and practiced the purification ritual or Nyungne retreat continuously before a mysterious image of 1,000-armed Avalokiteshvara that appeared to her in a forest clearing.
It is said that she recovered from leprosy and having developed great dedication and compassion for all beings, she became an enlightened guide to many disciples to whom she passed down the practice of Nyungne.
The Retreat
The Nyungne is a retreat of body, speech and mind from non-virtuous actions, focusing on keeping strict vows for a two-day period, generating the Bodhisattva attitude, and reciting the sadhana of the 1000-armed Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of compassion.
The vows to be observed include refraining from:
- Killing.
- Stealing.
- Lying.
- Sexual activities (celibacy).
- Drinking alcohol, taking drugs, smoking cigarettes.
- Using perfumes, wearing make-up or ornaments, singing, playing music, dancing and other forms of entertainment.
- Eating in inappropriate times.
- Sitting in high seats.
The Program
A set of Nyungne consists of 2 days of strict practice. On the first day, participants will take one meal at noon, and fast the rest of the day while engaging in four sessions of practice. Like other Vajrayana sadhanas, the Nyungne sadhana involves visualization of the deity, accompanied by prayers, offerings and prostrations, and extensive recitation of the mantra. The sessions begin early in the morning and conclude in the late afternoon.
On the second day, participants will observe complete fasting from food and water, and will also maintain strict silence, except for the recitation of the Sadhana.
The retreat concludes early in the morning of the third day with a short practice session. The vows, fasting and silence are concluded at the end of this session.
The Nyungne Retreat is comprehensive in that it combines practice methods from all three Yanas, or Vehicles, of Buddhism. The vows reflect the rigorous discipline of the Common Vehicle, the generation of the Enlightened Attitude reflects the Greater Vehicle, and the actual practice of 1000-Armed Chenrezig reflects the Vehicle of Secret Mantra.
Benefits of the Practice
Nyungne is a practice of yidam from Kriya-tantra tradition which not only helps to purify a lot of negative karma in a short time and accumulate merits but also aids in healing illness and opening the heart to compassion. It is said that pure practice on one pair of Nyungne closes the gates of rebirth in lower realms, and the pure completion of eight pairs of Nyungne’s leads to rebirth in the Dewachen Pure Land.
In addition, reciting the six syllable Mani Mantra during the retreat, not only purifies the six seeds of the six realms within oneself, it also pacifies the sufferings of all beings. In this way, the practice brings peace to the entire world and can be a cause for World Peace, very appropriate and timely in these degenerate times.
General Advice for Participants
If you have any doubts about your health and your ability to physically handle this retreat, please consult your doctor. The prostrations are strenuous but it is possible to perform them at a slow speed.
The Nyungne starts as early as 4 AM with the taking of the 8 Mahayana Precepts and participants have to arrive the day before.
Explanations and instructions will be given at the beginning of the practice, thus for the people who are practicing it for the first time, it is advisable to attend the 1st pair of Nyungne.
Note: If you are unable to participate in the full nyungne for health reasons or conflict in schedule, you are still welcome to join in the practice at whatever level you are capable. Even just the recitation of the mantra creates measureless benefit.
(from Kagyu Institute of Buddhist Studies, http://www.kirtipur.org/ January 25, 12)