Nyungné Retreat

with

Khen Rinpoche Pema Choephel,

Lopon Dawa and Lama Dawa

nyungne

Nyungné is a traditional fasting practice of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, which consists of maintaining eight vows and refraining from drinking, eating and speaking. Nyungné, which literally means “abiding in the fast”, is one of the most pow erful practices in Tibetan Buddhism, and is open to everyone.

The Nyungné practice was revealed by Bhikshuni Phalmo, a Buddhist nun who suffered from leprosy. She performed this practice for 12 years and attained enlightenment. Many great Tibetan masters from all the main traditions, and lay people, have purified extreme negative karmic accumulations, overcome serious illness, and achieved great realization through this practice.

The Nyungné retreat involves powerful practices such as periods of fasting, prostrations and silence. The practitioners chant the Sadhana (ritual text) of 1000-armed Chenrezig, recite his mantra and the six syllable Mani Mantra (Om Mani Peme Hum). This mantra purifies the six seeds of the six realms within oneself and furthermore, has the effect of pacifying the suffering of all beings.

Avalokiteshvara (Tib. Chenrezig) is an emanation of the Buddha Amitabha and the embodiment of all Buddhas' great compassion. The Buddha Amitabha purposely manifested as a Bodhisattva with 1000 arms and eyes to symbolize Avalokiteshvara's ability to see the condition of the millions of sentient beings through his eye of wisdom and rescue them in millions of ways with his compassionate hands.

Proper Attitude

Before starting the retreat, it is important for everyone to cultivate a proper attitude to benefit oneself and our mother sentient beings. We do this practice with the wish to help ourselves, our relatives, friends and all sentient beings, including people who have died and the beings from non-human realms.

Benefits of Nyungné practice

Nyungné retreat is a powerful means of purifying the negative karma that causes rebirth in the lower realms of existence. The purification practice increases the positive energy and causes of happiness and harmony, accumulation of merit, wisdom and achievement of enlightenment. With the practice, we can purify all the faults and misunderstanding of oneself and others and achieve success in our practice and daily activities.

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, in order to attain enlightenment, we need to remove the negativity that obscures the Three doors (body, speech and mind). The negative karma of the body can be purified by the Nyungné vows of refraining from killing, stealing and sexual activities. The negative karma of the speech can be purified by avoiding lies, gossip, meaningless words and shouting. The practice of full silence is a strong purification of the karma accumulated through speech, and it helps people who have difficulties with their speech, like lisping, stuttering etc. Nyungné practice purifies the mind through the means of concentration and meditation. It helps to remove negative thoughts of harming others and brings wisdom and a rapid understanding of Dharma.

With this practice we can accumulate a positive karma, which can help us to die peacefully and be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land (Buddhist paradise). We can also pray and dedicate the merit of the practice to the peaceful passing for our relatives and friends. The practice is also benefical as a prayer for the long and healthy life of our teacher, the success of his Dharma activites, and for the long life of all Dharma masters.

We can do Nyungné practice to purify all the disasters caused by inbalance of the elements, such as earthquakes, fire, flood, hurricanes etc. It will also pacify many different kinds of epidemics diseases and wars. Through the pacifying of all these sufferings, the practice brings peace and harmony to the entire world, very appropriate in these degenerate times.

Nyungné retreat at Palyul Centre UK

Nyungné retreat at Palyul Centre UK will be led by Khen Rinpoche Pema Choephel, Lopon Dawa and Lama Dawa several times each month, for a total of 108 times.

His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche recommended Nyungné as an extremely beneficial practice. His Holiness Penor Rinpoche performs this retreat quite often in Namdroling Monastery in India and at many other Palyul centres all over the world.

The people who cannot join the Nyungné practice can support the practitioners with donations for the retreat (printing of the Sadhana, lamp offering, flowers, food, etc.). Providing sponsorship, they will have the same benefits as the participants in the retreat.

Khen Rinpoche, Lopon Dawa, Lama Dawa and all the Sangha will dedicate the merit of the practice to the prosperity of the sponsors and supporters, and will pray for the purification of their negative karma, which is the cause of their suffering, and will pray for a healthy, happy and successful life for them.

Nyungné retreat is performed over a period of two days, the second of which is a complete fast. The morning session includes teachings and taking the eight vows (no killing; no stealing; no sex; no telling lies; no drinking alcohol; no idle chatter, singing, dancing, makeup or ornaments; no evening meals; no sitting in high seats) and the remaining day consists of intensive practice. If you have any doubts about your health and your ability to physically handle this retreat, please consult your doctor. The evening practice during the Nyungné retreat includes prayers and dedications for people who have died. There will be a list with their names and dates of birth.

Schedule of the Nyungné Retreat at the Palyul Centre UK

Saturday & Sunday

Saturday

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Sang Offering and Lamp Offering

10:00 AM to 10:30 AM Teachings and taking Nyungné Vows

10:30 AM to 11:00 AM Break

11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Nyungné Practice

12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Break

1:30 PM to 3:00 PM Nyungné Practice

3:00 PM to 3:30 PM Break

3:30 PM to 5:00 PM Chenrezig Chang Chog Puja (Prayers for people who have died)

No evening meal served; no drinking after bedtime.