Date(s) - June 2, 2017 - June 8, 2017
All Day
Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom
Essential Teachings on the Joy of Living
Teachings by Mingyur Rinpoche
University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
PLEASE NOTE: Registration is now closed.
Meditation enables us to discover a lasting contentment that is not subject to the fluctuating conditions of our lives, and to nurture the qualities of wisdom and compassion that naturally manifest from awareness itself. The Joy of Living is a secular path of meditation practice that was created by Mingyur Rinpoche. Though rooted in the ancient Buddhist teachings of Tibet, these practices are not religious in nature. They deal with basic functions of the mind, such as mindful awareness and the impulse to move toward happiness and away from suffering. In working with these qualities of mind, we gradually transform our relationship to present-moment experience, learning to approach our thoughts, feelings, and sensory experiences with unconditional warmth and acceptance.
This retreat offers a rare opportunity to practice the Joy of Living teachings under Mingyur Rinpoche’s direct guidance. Rinpoche will share practical advice on using meditation to cultivate awareness, compassion, and wisdom, sharing insights from his own experience and illuminating key points on meditation practice.
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. We will also review Awareness Yoga, a series of simple physical exercises where we bring mind and body together.
Tracks and 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 is suitable for both novice and experienced meditators. It offers beginning meditators an opportunity to receive in-depth teachings on meditation practice. There are no prerequisites for Track 1. Track 2 is for experienced meditators to deepen their practice and understanding. In order to attend Track 2, you must 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.
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: $1,105
Single Dormitory Room: $875
Double Private Room in Apartment: $975
Double Dormitory Room: $775
Commuter (includes meals): $655
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.
Click here to play a video of Senior Tergar Instructor Tim Olmsted as he talks about Rinpoche’s teachings at the Joy of Living Retreat. Please allow a few moments for the video to load.
About the Joy of Living:
For more information about the Joy of Living program, please visit the Joy of Living FAQ page.
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 Thursday, June 8, 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.
Internet:
While it is possible to access internet on 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 1 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 and meet the qualifications for Exploring the Nature of Mind: Heart Advice on the Path of Awakening—taking place after the Essential Teachings on the Joy of Living retreat—you must register separately for that event. Click here for event details and registration link (when available).
Location
University of St. Thomas, St Paul MN, United States