Autumn Lamrim Retreat

We are excited to announce our first Autumn Retreat!

This year our retreat will focus on the Lamrim. The Lamrim is often translated as ”the graduated path to enlightenment” in English because it provides an overview and structure within which all Buddhist teachings and insights fit. It is greatly cherished amongst spiritual practitioners as it provides personal instructions for self-development.

Our resident teacher, Venerable Michael, will lead this retreat in English. We will follow a traditional retreat structure. Those participating in the entire retreat will gain experience of how it is to abide in retreat. One can also attend just single days.

Most sessions are guided analytical meditations. In addition, the participants will also get the chance to learn and experience prostrations, mantra recitation and karma yoga. To facilitate learning and experience-sharing, we have daily discussion groups.

This retreat is especially suitable for those who are studying our Discovering Buddhism and/or our Lam Rim course. Even if you have not attended these courses but are curious about Buddhism and retreats, you are most welcome to join us.

The retreat is structured as follows: we meet on November 4, Thursday, for an introduction session and dinner. On Friday and Saturday, those who wish to take the Eight Mahayana precepts are welcome to arrive before 7 am. We then start with morning prayers and prostrations to the 35 Confession Buddhas * at 8.15, followed by Shakyamuni Buddha practice and meditations on lamrim. We do karma yoga before lunch break. In the afternoon, we continue with meditations on lamrim, followed by tea and group discussions. We end both days with short Vajrasattva practice. On Sunday after morning prayers we will have breakfast together. We end the retreat with dedications and recitation of King of Prayers.

We will serve home-cooked vegan meals by our retreat chef Henrik. If you have any food allergies or other conditions that we need to know about, please fill in this form. 

The retreat will take place at Yeshin Norbu centre on Roslagsgatan 64. We encourage participants to stay overnight at the centre for a more intact retreat experience. We kindly ask for a small donation (please send an email to [email protected] for more details). 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND HOW TO REGISTER

Retreat dates: 4-7 November
Weekday: Thursday-Sunday
Time: 4 Nov 17:30 – 7 Nov 16.15
Language: English
Location: At the centre. When you booked your ticket you will receive an email with the link to the Zoom meeting.
Donation: Full retreat in person 900 sek / Single day in person 450 sek (this retreat is excluded from the Mental Gym Card)
Last day of registration: 29 October

Introduction session on November 4 18:15-19:45: Single day participants are welcome to join the introduction session online via Zoom (it is the same link).

Meals: The donation for in person participation includes lunches and tea breaks (Friday-Sunday), on Sunday we will also offer breakfast. Full retreat participation also includes dinner on Thursday.

Retreat Schedule

Day One

17:30-18:15 Dinner

18:15-19:45 Introduction and group practice

Day Two 

7:00-7:45 Precepts (optional)

7:45-8:15 Tea  

8:15-9:00 Morning prayers with prostrations to the 35 Confession Buddhas

9:00-9:15 Break

9:15-10:00 Shakyamuni Buddha guru yoga with precious human rebirth

10:00-10:45 Impermanence and death

10:45-11:15 Karmayoga 

11:15–12:00 Lunch             

12:00–12:45 Break

12:45-13:15 Suffering of the lower realms: hell realms  

13:15-13:45 Suffering of the lower realms: preta realm

13:45-14:15 Suffering of the lower realms: animal realm

14:15-15:15 Tea break and discussion

15:15-16:00 Refuge

16:00-16:45 Karma: 4 principles of karma 

17:00-17:45 Vajrasattva practice together with the 4 opponent powers

17:45-18:45 Tea break

18:45-19:45 Eight Auspicious Prayers

Day Three

7:00-7:45 Precepts (optional)

7:45-8:15 Tea  

8:15-9:00 Morning prayers with prostrations to the 35 Confession Buddhas

9:00-9:15 Break

9:15-10:00 Shakyamuni Buddha guru yoga with precious human rebirth

10:00-10:45 Karma: 10 non-virtues and their results

10:45-11:15 Karmayoga 

11:15-12:00 Lunch             

12:00–12:45 Break

12:45-13:15 Suffering of the higher realms: human realm

13:15-13:45 Suffering of the higher realms: deva and asura realms

13:45-14:15 General sufferings of samsara: 8, 6, or 3 sufferings (Choose one set for each cycle)

14:15-15:15 Tea break and discussion

15:15-16:00 Four Noble Truths & Wheel of Life

16:00-16:45 Generating the mind of renunciation

17:00-17:45 Vajrasattva practice together with the 4 opponent powers

17:45-18:45 Tea break

18:45-19:45 Eight Auspicious Prayers

Day Four

8:00-8:45 Morning prayers with prostrations to the 35 Confession Buddhas

8:45-9:30 Breakfast

9:30-10:15 Shakyamuni Buddha guru yoga with precious human rebirth

10:15-11:00 Equanimity

11:00-11:30 Karmayoga

11:30-12:30 Lunch and break

12.30-13:00 Bodhicitta: 6 causes and 1 effect

13:00-13:30 Equalizing and exchanging oneself with others

13:30-14:00 Tong-len

14:00-14:30 Tea break and discussion

14:30-15:00 Concentration

15:00-15:30 Emptiness

15:30-16:15 Dedications; King of prayers