Date(s) - June 6, 2018 - June 13, 2018
All Day
![Mingyur Rinpoche](/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ymr-blurry-201712-230x300.jpg)
Exploring the Nature of Mind
Heart Advice on the Path of Awakening
Teachings by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
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 retreat presents a rare opportunity to receive in-depth teachings from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on the nature of mind, drawn from the path of Mahamudra, the most profound meditative teachings of the Kagyü School of Tibetan Buddhism.
There are three transmissions offered simultaneously during the retreat. You must select only one transmission during registration. Each transmission will receive one teaching per day from Mingyur Rinpoche, and one teaching per day from Khenpo Kunga.
- Transmission 1 and 2: Recognizing Pure Awareness
- Transmission 3 and 4: Deepening Recognition
- Transmission 5: Recognizing the Buddha Within
Transmission 1 and 2: Recognizing Pure Awareness
This series of teachings introduces the unique lineage of nature of mind practice taught by Mingyur Rinpoche and includes the instructions for the first and second levels of the Path of Liberation – the path of formal Buddhist practice for those who wish to train under Mingyur Rinpoche’s guidance. Rinpoche will offer the first and second “pointing out” instructions in the Mahamudra lineage. These instructions introduce us to a direct experience of the nature of mind. This series also includes the other transmissions needed to begin Path of Liberation practice, including refuge vows, Vajrasattva empowerment, and the reading transmissions for Nectar of the Path and Ngondro.
Transmission 1 and 2: Recognizing Awareness 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
OR - Have received pointing out teachings from a qualified Buddhist lineage holder (a tulku or rinpoche)
OR - Have completed the full preliminary practices (the 4 x 100,000 ngöndro)
OR - 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
Transmission 3 and 4: Deepening Recognition
This series of teachings goes further into the unique lineage of nature of mind practice taught by Mingyur Rinpoche and includes the instructions for the third and fourth levels of the Path of Liberation. Rinpoche will offer the third and fourth “pointing out” teachings that help deepen our recognition of the nature of mind.
Transmission 3 and 4: Deepening Recognition is open to all those who have received the first and second pointing out instructions from either Mingyur Rinpoche or Khenpo Kunga and who have:
- Completed the nature of mind practice homework for Path of Liberation Levels 1 and 2 (see pages 4 and 5 of What is the Path of Liberation?)
OR - Completed 111,111 prostrations and 111,111 100-syllable mantra with another Buddhist lineage holder
Transmission 5: Recognizing the Buddha Within
In this series of teachings, Mingyur Rinpoche will offer the transmission and instructions for the practice of White Tara. This will include advanced pointing out teachings on the nature of mind.
Transmission 5: Recognizing the Buddha Within is open to those individuals who have fully completed the practice requirements of Path of Liberation levels 1 through 4. (See pages 4 and 5 of What is the Path of Liberation?)
Prerequisite Questions?
If you have any questions about what transmission you are qualified to attend, or if you were practicing an earlier version of Rinpoche’s path and want to see how your practice fits with the current Path of Liberation, please email [email protected].
Retreat Program:
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 Tergar Lamas and Instructors.
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. His New York Times bestselling book, The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness, 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…
Precepts and Silence:
While attending the retreat, all participants are expected to abide by the Five Precepts for lay practitioners, which are to abstain from the following: killing, taking that which is not given, engaging in sexual activity, telling lies, and taking intoxicants of any kind. 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.
RETREAT DETAILS
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.
Program Fee: $835 per person includes teachings, programs and meals starting with dinner the evening of June 6 through lunch on June 13. Accommodations at St. Thomas are in addition to the base program fee. The base program fee applies to all commuters. We are not able to offer a rate without meals.
Accommodations: There are four different room options. All options include seven (7) nights of accommodations.
1. Single Room in Apartment; Apartment with four single rooms with shared kitchen, living area and two shared bathrooms. Includes air-conditioning.
2. Single Dormitory Room; Traditional style dormitory rooms. Shared common rooms and bathrooms are located in each corridor. Does not include air conditioning.
3. Double Shared Room in Apartment; Large room shared by two residents with private bathroom, microwave and refrigerator. Many rooms include air conditioning.
4. Double Shared Dormitory Room; Traditional style dormitory rooms. Shared common rooms and bathrooms are located in each corridor. Does not include air conditioning. All shared dormitory rooms are single-gender only.
Costs for Accommodations (in addition to program fee):
Single Private Room in Apartment: $490
Single Dormitory Room: $280
Double Shared Room in Apartment: $350
Double Shared Dormitory Room: $190
Please Note: If you are interested in attending Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom in Action taking place June 2-6, prior to the Exploring the Nature of Mind retreat, you must register separately for that event at tergar.org/events/awareness-compassion-wisdom.
Payment:
Full payment is requested at time of registration. This helps Tergar keep costs down. If you are unable to pay the full amount at the time of registration, you may choose the provisional registration deposit amount of $350, and be invoiced for the balance due, payable by May 18. Your registration will not be considered complete until full payment is received.
We strive to offer programs like this one as broadly as we can, regardless of ability to pay. Please consider adding an additional donation during registration or at the event to help share these teachings with as many people as possible.
Tergar offers discounts for seniors (65+), full-time students, and Tergar Facilitators and Practice Leaders. If you fall into one of these categories and would like to request a discount, please complete the discount form at this link. We will contact you within five business days to confirm.
If your ability to pay makes it difficult to attend this program, we will make every effort to help. Please complete the financial aid form at this link. We will contact you within five business to confirm.
Cancellation Policy:
All cancellations up to May 1 will be charged a fee of $50. For any cancellations between May 1 and May 23, the fee is $350. After May 24, no refund will be available.
Schedule:
Check in for retreat begins at 3:00 p.m. on June 6. Dinner is at 6:00 p.m., and the first teaching is at 7:00 p.m. The retreat will conclude by noon on June 13, with an optional lunch at noon.
Food:
Three vegetarian meals will be served each day in a cafeteria that also offers non-vegetarian food. 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 provided for Transmission 1 and 2 only. Please bring your own FM tuner and headset.
Contact:
If you have any questions about registering or the retreat, please contact us at:
[email protected]
Location:
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55105
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).
Location
University of St. Thomas, St Paul MN, United States