Course: evolang_event_type_2_228

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. We offer the possibility of doing one or two Nyung-nä’s. A single Nyung-nä takes two days and a morning to complete. All participants start together on the evening of Friday the 23 of October, and continue either to the morning of the 26 or the 28 of October. 

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 provide food and drink and offerings for the altar.  

The retreat is included in the Mental gym card, but it would be great if Mental gym card holders who register for the retreat would like to make a donation to cover the cost for the food and drink during the retreat. 

Schedule

Arrival day: Friday, 23 October
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 24 (and Monday 26) October 
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
14:00 – 14:45   Questions and answers
15:00 – 18:00 Session 3       

Day 2: Sunday 25 (and Tuesday 27) October (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
14:00 – 14:45   Questions and answers
15:00 – 18:00 Session 3

Final day: Wednesday 28 October 
(Those participants who do one Nyung-nä have their final day on Monday 26 October. They participate in the first session, but do not take the Eight Mahayana Precepts, and then have breakfast & clean-up)
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)
• 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
• Pieces of cloth if you want something for your hands 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, two lunches and two 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: 23 Oct-26 or 28 Oct
Weekday: Friday-Monday or Friday-Wednesday (with overnight stay)

Time: 
Friday: From 16:30
Saturday and Sunday: The whole day
Monday: until 10:00 for those who participate only until Monday, the whole day for the others. 
Tuesday: The whole day
Wednesday: until 10:00

Language: English 
Location: At the centre
Ticket price: Minimum donation for four days: 550 SEK, for six days  850 SEK. 
Last day of registration: 8 Oct
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

Mindfulness är grunden för all mindträning. Det är bara med ett avslappnat, fokuserat och klart sinne som vi kan utveckla någon av de andra positiva egenskaperna i hjärnan. I dessa tider med nästan oändliga distraktioner, stress och splittrad uppmärksamhet är det också mer än någonsin grunden för mentalt välbefinnande och glädje.

Vi kommer att ha 3 meditationssessioner för att öva olika typer av mindfulnessmeditation. Varje session är 20-25 minuter lång. Retreaten avslutas med frågor och svar om meditation och mindfulness, hur man kommer igång en daglig meditationspraktik, samt diskussioner om hur mindfulness kan berika vårt dagliga liv.

Retreaten kommer att vara i tystnad med undantag för den sista sessionen.

Vad kommer retreaten att ge mig?

• Upplev fördelarna med att stänga av telefonen och spendera tid i tystnad.
• Fördjupa din förmåga att slappna av både fysiskt och mentalt.
• Stärk din förtrogenhet med mindfulness-meditation och ta med det till din dagliga utövning.
• Förmågan att närma sig situationer i livet med ett mer avslappnat, fokuserat, balanserat och klart sinne.
• En större grad av självinsikt och förståelse för dina egna känslor, reaktioner och tankar.
• Mindre reaktivitet, förmågan att agera klokt istället för att bara reagera.
• En större känsla av lätthet och välbefinnande.
• Mindre distraktion, inte bli fångad så lätt i multitasking och splittrad uppmärksamhet.
• Grunden för mer egenvård och självmedkänsla.
• Grunden för mer omsorg och medkänsla gentemot andra.

Kommentarer från tidigare deltagare 

Ett mycket bra och tydlig retreat som tar upp viktiga grunder i mindfulness på ett strukturerat och lättillgängligt sätt. Möjlighet att ställa frågor vid funderingar samt att dela erfarenhet.

Läs mer om vår kurs Foundations of Mindfulness

Praktisk information och hur du registrerar dig

Datum: 28 nov
Veckodag: Lördag
Tid: 10:00-12:30
Språk: Svenska eller engelska beroende på deltagarna
Plats: På centret och online via Zoom. När du köpt biljett får du ett mail med länken till Zoom-mötet.
Biljettpris: Minsta donation 300 kr.
Sista anmälningsdag: 25 nov
Anmälan/köpa biljett: Du registrerar dig genom att köpa en biljett här på webbsidan, se “Tickets” nedan.

——————ENGLISH——————

Mindfulness is the basis of all mind training. Only with a relaxed, focused, and clear mind can we develop any of the other positive qualities of the mind. In these times of almost infinite distractions, stress, and scattered attention it is also, more than ever, the foundation for mental wellbeing, resilience, and happiness.

We will have 3 sessions of meditation to practice different types of mindfulness meditation. Each individual session of meditation will be 20-25 minutes long. The retreat will end with Questions and Answers about meditation, mindfulness, how to establish a daily practice, as well as discussion of how mindfulness can enrich our daily lives.

We will observe silence during the retreat, except for the last session.

What will I take away from this retreat into my daily life

• Experience the benefits of turning off devices and spend time in silence
• Deepen your ability to relax both physically and mentally
• Strengthen the habit of mindfulness meditation and bring it to your daily practice
• Ability to approach all situations in life with a more relaxed, focused, balanced and clear mind.
• A greater degree of self-awareness and understanding of your own emotions, reactions, thoughts, and feelings.
• Less reactivity, the ability to respond instead of just react.
• A greater sense of ease and well-being.
• Less distraction, not be so easily caught up in multitasking and scattered attention.
• The foundation of more self-care and self-compassion
• The foundation for more care, concern, and compassion towards others.

Comments from previous participants

A very good and clear retreat that addresses important basics of mindfulness in a structured and easily accessible way. It is possible to ask questions and to share experiences.

Read more about our course Foundations of mindfulness

Practical information and how to register

Date: 28 Nov
Weekday: Saturday
Time: 10:00-12:30
Language: Swedish or English depending on the participants
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: Minimum donation 300 SEK
Last day of registration: 25 Nov
Registration/Buy ticket: You register 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 Transforming problems.

För deltagare i kursen Discovering Buddhism ger retreaten en möjlighet att både repetera  och fördjupa de metoder som behandlats under kursen. För andra deltagare ger retreaten en möjlighet att få en praktisk och upplevelsebaserad introduktion till dessa metoder.

Denna modul av Discovering Buddhism är baserad på texten “Åtta verser om tanketransformation” av Langri Tangpa Dorje Sangye. I åtta skarpa och koncisa verser lär vi oss hur vi omvandlar våra tankar och transformerar det vi ser som problem. Det är hela idén. Problem förvandlas till orsaken till lycka som också främjar vår strävan att utveckla och öka bodhichitta, önskan att vakna upp för alla varelsers skull.

“Du måste lära dig älska problem lika mycket som du älskar glass!” som Lama Zopa har sagt.

Läs mer om programmet Discovering Buddhism

Praktisk information och hur du registrerar dig

Kursdatum: 12 dec
Veckodag: Lördag
Tid: 10:00-16:00
Språk: Engelska
Plats: På centret och online via Zoom. När du köpt biljett får du ett mail med länken till Zoom-mötet.
Biljettpris: Minsta donation 500 kr.
Sista anmälningsdag: 9 dec
Anmälan/köpa biljett: Du registrerar dig på kursen 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 Samsara and Nirvana. 

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.

This module of Discovering Buddhism is based on the text The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation by Langri Tangpa Dorje Sangye. In eight sharp and to-the-point verses we learn how to transform our thoughts, to transform what we view as problems. That is the whole idea. Problems, instead, become the cause of happiness that also furthers our goal of developing and increasing bodhichitta, the precious mind of enlightenment, that enables us to enter the Mahayana path and progress on to enlightenment.

“You’ve got to learn to love problems just as much as you love ice cream!” as Lama Zopa has said.

Read more about the Discovering Buddhism program

Practical information and how to register

Course dates: 12 Dec
Weekday: Saturday
Time: 10:00-16:00
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: Minimum donation 500 SEK
Last day of registration: 9 dec

Registration/Buy ticket: You register for the course by purchasing a ticket here on the website, see “Tickets” below.