buddhisTISKT retreat

For English please see below

Kursdatum:  7 okt
Veckodag: Lördag
Tid: 10:00-17:00
Språk: Engelska
Plats: På centret
Donation: 400 kr
Sista anmälningsdag: 6 okt
Anmälan/köpa biljett: Du registrerar dig på drop-in genom att köpa en biljett här på webbsidan, se “Tickets” nedan.

——————ENGLISH——————

This day is an opportunity for those who have received basic teachings on the Lamrim (graduated path to enlightenment) to dedicate further time in doing some of the actual practices in a supported group.

The day will begin with preliminary practices, which is a means to accumulate merit and purify negative karmas, followed by focused and analytical meditations on the topics of Lamrim. Doing such practices can be very rewarding as a way to strengthen and further develop one’s spiritual path, while learning the skills to enhance the quality of one’s daily practices at home. It also serves as a preparation for those who may wish to do longer retreats in the future.

Practical information and how to register

Course dates: 7 October
Weekday: Saturday
Time: 10:00-17:00
Language: English
Location: At the centre
Donation: 400 SEK
Last day of registration: 6 October
You register for the drop-in by purchasing a ticket here on the website, see “Tickets” below.

For English please see below

Under denna retreat kommer vi att integrera meditationsövningar för att odla ett lugnt och fokuserat sinne med de analytiska meditationerna från Discovering Buddhism-modulen All about karma.

För deltagare i Discovering Buddhism-kursen ger retreaten en möjlighet att fördjupa det vi lärt oss under modulens gång. För de som inte gått den specifika Discovering Buddhism-modulen ger retreaten ett smakprov och en upplevelsebaserad introduktion till de specifika meditationstekniker som är kopplade till den pågående Discovering Buddhism modulen. I ‘All about karma’-modul av vårt tvååriga Discovering Buddhism-program, lär du dig huvudprincipen om hur Buddhismen ser på karma, som även kallas lagen om orsak och verkan.

Läs mer om programmet Discovering Buddhism

Kursdatum: 28 oktober
Veckodag: Lördag
Tid: 10:00-17:00
Språk: Engelska
Plats: På centret och online via Zoom. När du köpt biljett får du ett mail med länken till Zoom-mötet.
Biljettpris: 400 kr
Sista anmälningsdag: 26 oktober
Anmälan/köpa biljett: Du registrerar dig på drop-in genom att köpa en biljett här på webbsidan, se “Tickets” nedan.

——————ENGLISH——————

During this retreat we will integrate meditation practices to cultivate a calm and focused mind with the analytical meditations from the Discovering Buddhism module ‘All about Karma’.

For participants of the Discovering Buddhism course this provides an opportunity to both review and deepen the practices covered in the module. For other participants it provides an opportunity to have a very practical and experiential overview of and introduction to these practices.
In the ’All about karma’ module, we will explore key principles of karma, what buddhism refers to as the law of cause and effect. Even if you have not studied previous modules in the Discovering Buddhism program, you are most welcome to participate in this module.

Read more about the Discovering Buddhism program

Practical information and how to register

Course dates: 28 October
Weekday: Saturday
Time: 10:00-17:00
Language: English
Location: At the centre and online via Zoom. When you have purchased a ticket you will receive an email with the link to the Zoom meeting.
Ticket price: 400 SEK
Last day of registration: 26 October
You register for the drop-in by purchasing a ticket here on the website, see “Tickets” below.

For English please see below

Kursdatum:  11 november
Veckodag: Lördag
Tid: 10:00-17:00
Språk: Engelska
Plats: På centret
Donation: 400 kr
Sista anmälningsdag: 9 nov
Anmälan/köpa biljett: Du registrerar dig på drop-in genom att köpa en biljett här på webbsidan, se “Tickets” nedan.

——————ENGLISH——————

This day is an opportunity for those who have received basic teachings on the Lamrim (graduated path to enlightenment) to dedicate further time in doing some of the actual practices in a supported group.

The day will begin with preliminary practices, which is a means to accumulate merit and purify negative karmas, followed by focused and analytical meditations on the topics of Lamrim. Doing such practices can be very rewarding as a way to strengthen and further develop one’s spiritual path, while learning the skills to enhance the quality of one’s daily practices at home. It also serves as a preparation for those who may wish to do longer retreats in the future.

Practical information and how to register

Course dates: 11 November
Weekday: Saturday
Time: 10:00-17:00
Language: English
Location: At the centre
Donation: 400 SEK
Last day of registration: 9 Nov
You register for the drop-in by purchasing a ticket here on the website, see “Tickets” below.

Nyung-nä (or “abiding in the fast”) is one of the favorite practices of Yeshin Norbu’s Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It is said that engaging in a Nyung-nä retreat is equivalent to doing up to three months of other kinds of retreats. The principal purpose of the practice is the attainment of enlightenment for the benefit of all living beings. 

As a retreat experience, this practice is very effective, but also physically demanding.  On set of Nyung-nä takes two days and a morning to complete. We start together on the evening of Friday the 24th of November and continue to the morning of Monday the 27th of November. 

Doing one nyung-nä requires taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts (or vows) for two days. The precepts are taken for a 24-hour period during which we avoid: (1) killing, (2) stealing, (3) sexual activity, (4) telling lies, (5) taking intoxicants, (6) singing, dancing or playing music, (7) wearing jewelry or ornaments, and (8) using high seats or beds. 

On the first day of the Nyung-nä only one meal is eaten, which is finished by noon. The following foods are avoided as they interfere with subtle winds in the body and thus, mantra recitation: egg, onion, garlic, radish, meat, and alcohol. 

On the second day there is strict fasting. No food or drink is taken at all on this day. If you have medical conditions that do not allow you to fast, you can still participate in the Nyung-nä, but do not take the vows to refrain from eating food. So while you do not complete a traditional Nyung-nä, the practice is still highly beneficial.

During each day of the retreat, one does three sessions of well-structured practice, approximately three hours in length. In each session, there is the practice of the sadhana of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig (the sadhana from FPMT, which will be provided by Yeshin Norbu). The sadhana involves meditating on bodhicitta (the aspiration to attain enlightenment in order to benefit all beings), visualizing Chenrezig, reciting prayers and mantras, and performing prostrations. 

We keep silence outside of the sessions and disengage from all technology.

The retreat is held at the centre, and participants will sleep at the centre. Yeshin Norbu can provide mattresses for some of the participants, and some will need to bring their own. Please state in the registration form if you can bring your own mattress. Yeshin Norbu organizes the offerings for the altar.

The retreat is not included in the Mental Gym Card. 

Schedule

Arrival day: Friday, 24 November
16:30 – 17:30  Arrival and check-in
18:00 – 19:00  Dinner
19:00 – 20:30  Mandatory orientation session (review of retreat practice, logistics, schedule, etc.) 

Day 1: Saturday, 25 November
03:45 Wake up
04:15 – 07:45 Eight Mahayana Precepts and Session 1
08:45 – 11:15 Session 2
11:15 – 12:00 Lunch
15:00 – 18:00 Session 3       

Day 2: Sunday, 26 November (Day of silence and no eating or drinking)
03:45 Wake up
04:15 – 07:45 Eight Mahayana Precepts and Session 1
08:45 – 11:15 Session 2
15:00 – 18:00 Session 3

Final day: Monday, 27 November
03:45 Wake up
04:15-7:45 Final Session
8:00  Breakfast
9:00-10:00 Clean-up: All participants will need to fold and put away their beds and assist in cleaning the centre.

Requirements 

• You have a basic understanding of the Buddhist teachings and tantric practices. 
• You have formally, or in your heart, taken Refuge in the Three Jewels.
• Ideally it’s best if you have taken an empowerment (2-day wang) of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig.

Advice on preparations, fasting and prostrations

It can be helpful to begin cleaning up your diet as much as possible in the week prior to the Nyung-nä. You will sometimes hear of people not feeling physically well when they do this retreat. This is mostly due to the toxins that are eliminated from their system during this purification practice. The more we can get the toxins out of our system prior to the practice, the easier it will be. Essentially, it can be helpful to cut out an excess of animal products, junk food, sugar, caffeine, etc. 

Familiarizing the body with full-length prostrations prior to the Nyung-nä is a great help. Those participating in a Nyung-nä retreat are encouraged to do full-length prostrations within the sessions, so getting accustomed to doing them prior to the retreat is suggested. Simpler prostrations (either the five-point prostration or merely folding one’s hands) are certainly an option for those who are restricted from doing full prostrations due to health concerns.

The second day is the most difficult part of the retreat. We experience hunger, thirst and tiredness from doing prostrations. However, these discomforts can be seen in a different light with a compassionate motivation and an understanding of the purpose of this type of retreat; it is through experiencing hardships that one is able to purify a great deal of negative karma. Furthermore, it is said that by experiencing these discomforts, one can develop a better understanding of the suffering of those less fortunate than us and develop greater compassion for all sentient beings, and greater renunciation of samsara.

What to bring

• Towel and washcloth
• Mala (Buddhist prayer beads) preferably crystal or glass, not made of bones
• Dorje and bell (no need if you have not taken an empowerment)
• Mandala set (this can help with visualization, but is optional)
• Earplugs    
• Several sets of loose, layered clothing
• Personal toiletries (something to rub into sore muscles is helpful, or pain relievers without scent)
• If you bring offerings for the altar please check that they do not contain eggs, radish, onion, garlic or meat.
• A soft headband if you have long hair, helpful when doing prostrations
• Padded potholders or mittens to slide on when doing prostrations
• Bed linen, a pillow, and a blanket 
• Mattress – please state in the registration form if you can bring your own mattress. 

How can you contribute?

Sponsor the retreat: Nyung-nä is a very powerful practice so there is great power in the merit of supporting it financially. Supporting this spiritual practice – whether you are able to attend or not – is an opportunity to collect great merit. If you are sponsoring but not attending, you can offer prayers on that day for those attending.

Prepare and cook food for participants: There will be one dinner, one lunch and one breakfasts during the retreat. Please contact us if you are interested in contributing with this service, which is so crucial for the success of the retreat.

Practical information and how to register

Course dates: 24-27 November
Weekday: Friday-Monday (with overnight stay)

Time: 
Friday: From 16:30
Saturday and Sunday: The whole day
Monday: until 10:00 

Language: English 
Location: At the centre
Ticket price: Minimum donation for four days: 600 SEK (this includes food, accommodation, and offerings). This retreat is not included into the Mental Gym Card.
Last day of registration: 23 November
Registration/Buy ticket: You register for the retreat by filling out this form and by purchasing a ticket here on the website, see “Tickets” below.

The image of Chenrezig is by Digital Thangka. 

For English please see below

Under denna retreat kommer vi att integrera meditationsövningar för att odla ett lugnt och fokuserat sinne med de analytiska meditationerna från Discovering Buddhism-modulen “Refuge in the Three Jewels”.

För deltagare i Discovering Buddhism-kursen ger retreaten en möjlighet att fördjupa det vi lärt oss under modulens gång. För de som inte gått den specifika Discovering Buddhism-modulen ger retreaten ett smakprov och en upplevelsebaserad introduktion till de specifika meditationstekniker som är kopplade till den pågående Discovering Buddhism modulen. 

I den här modulen kommer vi tillsammans att undersöka vad det innebär att bli buddhist genom  att ta tillflykt till de tre juvelerna – Buddha, Dharma och Sanga – och de grundläggande praktikerna som hör till. Få kunskap om fördelen med att leva i linje med de fem buddhistiska principerna!

Läs mer om programmet Discovering Buddhism

Kursdatum: 2 december
Veckodag: Lördag
Tid: 10:00-17:00
Språk: Engelska
Plats: På centret och online via Zoom. När du köpt biljett får du ett mail med länken till Zoom-mötet.
Donation: 400 kr
Sista anmälningsdag: 30 november
Anmälan/köpa biljett: Du registrerar dig på drop-in genom att köpa en biljett här på webbsidan, se “Tickets” nedan.

——————ENGLISH——————

During this retreat we will integrate meditation practices to cultivate a calm and focused mind with the analytical meditations from the Discovering Buddhism module “Refuge in the Three Jewels”. 

For participants of the Discovering Buddhism course this provides an opportunity to both review and deepen the practices covered in the module. For other participants it provides an opportunity to have a practical and experiential introduction to these practices.

This module aims at investigating what it means to become a Buddhist by taking refuge in the Three Jewels—Buddha, Dharma and Sangha—and the essential practices associated with refuge. Find out about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in supporting and enhancing our spiritual growth.

Read more about the Discovering Buddhism program

Practical information and how to register

Course dates: 2 December
Weekday: Saturday
Time: 10:00-17:00
Language: English
Location: At the centre and online via Zoom. When you have purchased a ticket you will receive an email with the link to the Zoom meeting.
Donation: 400 SEK
Last day of registration: 30 November
You register for the drop-in by purchasing a ticket here on the website, see “Tickets” below.

For English please see below

Kursdatum:  9 december
Veckodag: Lördag
Tid: 10:00-17:00
Språk: Engelska
Plats: På centret
Donation: 400 kr
Sista anmälningsdag: 7 dec
Anmälan/köpa biljett: Du registrerar dig på drop-in genom att köpa en biljett här på webbsidan, se “Tickets” nedan.

——————ENGLISH——————

This day is an opportunity for those who have received basic teachings on the Lamrim (graduated path to enlightenment) to dedicate further time in doing some of the actual practices in a supported group.

The day will begin with preliminary practices, which is a means to accumulate merit and purify negative karmas, followed by focused and analytical meditations on the topics of Lamrim. Doing such practices can be very rewarding as a way to strengthen and further develop one’s spiritual path, while learning the skills to enhance the quality of one’s daily practices at home. It also serves as a preparation for those who may wish to do longer retreats in the future.

Practical information and how to register

Course dates: 9 december
Weekday: Saturday
Time: 10:00-17:00
Language: English
Location: At the centre
Donation: 400 SEK
Last day of registration: 7 Dec
You register for the drop-in by purchasing a ticket here on the website, see “Tickets” below.