Spring Lamrim Retreat

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 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 after the 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. If you have any food allergies or other conditions that we need to know about, please let us know by email: [email protected].

The retreat will take place at Yeshin Norbu centre on Roslagsgatan 62. If you wish to stay overnight at the centre, you are welcome to do so. We kindly ask for a small donation (please send an email to [email protected] for more details about staying at the centre). 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND HOW TO REGISTER

Retreat dates: 29 Feb – 3 March
Weekday: Thursday-Sunday
Time: 29 Feb 17:30 – 3 March 16.15
Language: English
Location: At the centre.
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: 28 Feb

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

Retreat Schedule

Thursday Day One

17:30-18:15 Dinner

18:15-19:45 Introduction and group practice

Friday Day Two

7:00-7:45 Precepts (optional)

7:45-8:15 Tea break

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

9:00-9:15 Break

9:15-9:45 Shakyamuni Buddha meditation

9:45-10:15 Precious human rebirth

10:15-10.30 Break

10:30-11:00 Impermanence and death

11:00-11:30 Suffering of the lower realms: hell realms 

11:30–13:30   Lunch break         

13:30-14:00 Suffering of the lower realms: preta realm

14:00-14:30    Suffering of the lower realms: animal realm

14:30-15:00 Karmayoga

15:00-16:00    Tea break and discussion groups

16:00-16:30   Refuge

16:30-17:00    Karma: 4 principles of karma 

17:00-17:15 Break

17:15-18:00 Vajrasattva practice together with the four opponent powers

18:00-18:15 Dedication prayers

Saturday Day Three

7:00-7:45 Precepts (optional)

7:45-8:15 Tea break

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

9:00-9:15 Break

9:15-9:45 Shakyamuni Buddha meditation

9:45-10:15 Karma: 10 non-virtues and their results

10:15-10.30 Break

10:30-11:00 Suffering of the higher realms: human realm

11:00-11:30 Suffering of the higher realms: deva and asura realms

11:30-13:30    Lunch break

13:30-14:00 General sufferings of samsara: 3 sufferings 

14:00-14:30 General sufferings of samsara: 8 sufferings 

14:30-15:00 Karmayoga

15:00-16:00 Tea break and discussion

16:00-16:30   Four Noble Truths & Wheel of Life

16:30-17:00 Generating the mind of renunciation

17:00-17:15 Break

17:15-18:00 Vajrasattva practice together with the 4 opponent powers

18:00-18:15 Dedication prayers

Sunday Day Four 

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

8:45-9:30 Breakfast

9:30-10:00      Shakyamuni Buddha meditation

10:00-10:30    Equanimity

10:30-10.45 Break

10:45-11:15 Bodhicitta: 6 causes and 1 effect

11:15-11:45 Equalizing and exchanging oneself with others

11:45-12:45   Lunch break

12.45-13:15 Tong-len

13:15-13:45 Concentration

13:45-14:15 Emptiness

14:15-14:45 Tea break and general discussion

14:45-15:15 Dedications; King of prayers 

15:15-16:15    Karmayoga – cleaning the centre