Home Retreat
A complete and graduated path to enlightenment
Since 2006, Intensive Programme and Parallel Programme home retreatants have been gathering regularly to study and practise teachings shared during the 2006–2009 Three Year Retreat in Lerab Ling, France. This complete and graduated path to enlightenment comprises teachings on meditation, lojong, the ngöndro, Vajrayana and Dzogchen.
Over the coming months, teachings from the Intensive Programme will be made available here—beginning with the ngöndro—for Intensive Programme and Parallel Programme students to download and watch at home. If you are a home retreatant, you are warmly encouraged to study these teachings again in your own time; to go back and catch up any you have missed, and review, deepen and integrate what you have already received.
The proper way to listen to spiritual teachings
These teachings talk not only about
the correct way to listen, but also of
how to find a sense of confidence in our buddha nature.
The main sources are the first sections of
The Words of My Perfect Teacher
(Kunzang Lama’i Shelung) and
A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher (Zindri).
The Outer Preliminaries
The ngöndro begins with a series of contemplations on precious human birth, impermanence, karma and samsara, inspiring a strong sense of renunciation; an urgent desire to emerge from samsara and follow the path to liberation.
Originally shared in Home Retreat Intensive Programme transmission weeks 8 TO 41 (18 NOV 2006 TO 29 SEPT 2007).
Taking Refuge
Awakening confidence and trust in our true nature through the practice of taking refuge in the Buddha as the guide, the truth of his teaching (the Dharma) as the path, and the example of the practitioners (the Sangha) as companions on the path.
Originally shared in Home Retreat Intensive Programme transmission weeks 43 to 53 (13 Oct to 8 Jan 2008).
Bodhichitta
Giving birth to bodhichitta—the heart of the enlightened mind—and training the mind to work with ourself and others and the difficulties of life, from the Mahayana perspective.
Originally shared in Home Retreat Intensive Programme transmission weeks 55 to 71 (19 Jan to 17 May 2008).
Vajrasattva
Removing all our negative karma, destructive emotions, illnesses, destructive influences (negativity), and blockages obscurations through the practice of meditating on Vajrasattva and reciting his mantra.
Originally shared in Home Retreat Intensive Programme transmission weeks 73 TO 79
(7 JUNE TO 19 JULY 2008).
MANDALA OFFERING
Accumulating merit and wisdom by developing universal generosity and creating auspicious conditions, through the practice of mandala offering.
Originally shared in Home Retreat Intensive Programme transmission weeks 95 TO 97 (17 TO 31 JANUARY 2009).
CHÖ
Destroying delusion—especially one’s own ego-clinging—through the visualisation practice of offering one’s own body as food to various guests.
