Date(s) - June 9, 2017 - June 16, 2017
All Day
Exploring the Nature of Mind
Heart Advice on the Path of Awakening
Teachings by Mingyur Rinpoche
University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
PLEASE NOTE: Registration is now closed.
True freedom of mind is something we can discover for ourselves through the practice of meditation. In Tibetan Buddhism, the most direct and powerful way to experience this inner freedom is by exploring the nature of awareness, a journey that puts us in touch with a source of equanimity, wisdom, and compassion that we can access anytime and anywhere.
This Path of Liberation practice retreat presents a rare opportunity to receive in-depth teachings on the nature of mind from Mingyur Rinpoche and Khenpo Kunga. The nature of mind teachings are drawn from the paths of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, the most profound meditative teachings of the Kagyü and Nyingma Schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
The teachings given at this retreat provide the transmissions needed to begin formal Buddhist practice in the Tergar Community, including “pointing out” teachings on the nature of mind, refuge vows (the vows to formally enter the Buddhist path), and the transmissions to begin practicing the Tibetan Buddhist foundational practices (ngöndro). This retreat is open to those who are interested in practicing Buddhism and who already have a strong background in meditation practice (see prerequisites below).
The daily schedule will include one teaching session with Mingyur Rinpoche and one with Khenpo Kunga, as well as six to eight hours of meditation per day (practiced in twenty to thirty minute sessions). The retreat will also include periods of silence, group discussions, and opportunities to have individual interviews with Senior Tergar Lamas and Instructors.
Prerequisites:
Because these teachings and practices build on each other, deepening our experience and understanding, there are requirements before attending the next level of teachings. Here are the prerequisites for these levels of teachings.
This retreat has two tracks: Track 1 Recognizing Pure Awareness and Track 2 Deepening Recognition.
Track 1 is open to all individuals who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Have attended all three Joy of Living Levels, Calming the Mind (Level 1), Opening the Heart (Level 2), and Awakening Wisdom (Level 3), and completed the associated practice requirements
- Have received pointing out teachings from a qualified Buddhist lineage holder (a tulku or rinpoche)
- Have completed the full preliminary practices (the 4 x 100,000 ngöndro)
- Have had a daily meditation practice for at least five years and attended either group or solitary practice retreats (with 6+ hours of formal meditation practice each day) under the guidance of a Buddhist teacher for a total of at least thirty days
Track 2 is open to all individuals who have:
- Received 1st and 2nd pointing out from Khenting Tai Situ Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, or Khenpo Kunga (Click here to see a list of events where you may have received these teachings.)
AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: - Completed the first three levels of the Nectar of the Path track of the Path of Liberation (see page 4 of What is the Path of Liberation?) OR
- Completed the first level of the Preliminary Practices track of the Path of Liberation (see page 5 of What is the Path of Liberation?). This includes those who have completed the first level using Nectar of the Simple Yogi OR
- Completed 111,111 prostrations and 111,111 100-syllable mantra with another Buddhist lineage holder
For more information about the Path of Liberation program, please visit the Path of Liberation FAQ page.
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche is a much-loved and accomplished Tibetan Buddhist meditation teacher. With a rare ability to present the ancient wisdom of Tibet in a fresh, engaging manner, Rinpoche’s profound teachings and playful sense of humor have endeared him to students around the world. His first book, The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness, debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into over twenty languages. Read more…
Khenpo Kunga became a monk at a young age and began his education at Tergar monastery, where he studied the rituals, prayers, and other traditional practices of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. At fifteen, he participated in a traditional three-year meditation retreat. Following this period of intense meditation practice he entered the renowned Dzongsar monastic college near Dharamsala in Northwest India. Khenpo studied there for eleven years and received his Khenpo degree (roughly equivalent to a PhD). Read more…
RETREAT DETAILS
Accommodations and Fee Structure:
In order to attend the retreat, you will need to arrive no later than the opening day. It will not be possible to start your retreat later in the program. Full retreat fees are inclusive of room, meals, and teachings at the University of St. Thomas. Commuter fees include all meals and teachings.
There are four different room options.
1. Single Private Room in Apartment; Apartment with four single rooms with shared kitchen, living area and two shared bathrooms.
2. Single Dormitory Room; Traditional style dormitory rooms. Shared common rooms and bathrooms are located in each corridor.
3. Double Private Room in Apartment; Large room shared by two residents with private bathroom, microwave and refrigerator.
4. Double Dormitory Room; Traditional style dormitory rooms. Shared common rooms and bathrooms are located in each corridor.
Cost:
Single Private Room in Apartment: $1,285
Single Dormitory Room: $1,020
Double Private Room in Apartment: $1,135
Double Dormitory Room: $905
Commuter (includes meals): $760
Payment:
Full payment is due at time of registration. If your ability to pay makes it difficult to attend, contact us by email to [email protected].
Please consider adding a tax-deductible Sponsorship donation to your registration. Your generosity allows us to offer assistance for seniors, full-time students, and those on a limited income.
Cancellation Policy:
All cancellations up to May 1 will be charged a fee of $50. For any cancellations after May 1, the fee is $250.
Teacher Support:
In an effort to keep the cost of this retreat as low as possible, we set the retreat rate such that it just covers the cost of room and board at the retreat and additional operating overheads. This includes a modest honorarium to Mingyur Rinpoche and attendant lamas. You will also have the opportunity to make a personal offering to support Tergar activities.
Arrival and Departure:
Check-in will be from 3pm to 6pm on the opening day of the retreat, followed by dinner at 6pm. The retreat will end by lunchtime on Friday, June 16, 2017.
Precepts and Silence:
While attending this retreat all participants are expected to abide by the ethical precepts for lay practitioners. This includes abstinence from sexual activity. We will maintain periods of silence throughout this retreat, the length of which will vary so that there will be less silence in the beginning and end of the retreat and a period of complete silence in the middle.
Practice Materials:
If you would like to purchase copies of Tergar daily chants, ngondro or other practices, or a Tergar practice binder in advance of the retreat, please visit store.tergar.org. MP3 audio disks of Rinpoche’s 2016 teachings at St. John’s University are also available for those who meet the prerequisites to purchase.
Internet:
While it is possible to access internet throughout the campus, we ask that — in keeping with the spirit of an intensive meditation retreat — you minimize internet activity, eliminating it altogether if possible.
Food:
Three vegetarian meals will be served each day. While the kitchen at the University of St. Thomas is not able to cater to special dietary needs, vegan protein and gluten-free options will be available.
Language Translation:
Mandarin translation will be available for Track 2 teachings only. Please bring your own FM tuner and headset.
Location:
University of St. Thomas is situated in Saint Paul about half way between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, just a few blocks from the Mississippi River. The closest major airport is Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP).
Transportation To and From MSP:
Taxi service is available from the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. Public transport is also available, see www.metrotransit.org.
Tergar has negotiated a discount group rate with SuperShuttle for transportation to the University of St. Thomas for the Tergar retreats of $15 one way or $24 round trip. To make a reservation at the discounted rate, click here.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested in attending Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom: Essential Teachings on the Joy of Living, taking place prior to the Exploring the Nature of Mind retreat, or Recognizing the Buddha Within: The Practice of White Tara taking place immediately after the Exploring the Nature of Mind, you must register separately for those events.
Location
University of St. Thomas, St Paul MN, United States