• Nyungnay: Compassion & Fasting Retreat

This special fasting and purification practice is traditionally done by Kadampa Centers worldwide on Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, which is celebrated on April 15. The practice is performed in conjunction with prayers to the Buddha of Compassion, 1000-Armed Avalokiteshvara, and is very powerful in purifying negative karma of body, speech and mind as well as pacifying strong delusions such as desirous attachment and hatred. It is also a special method for receiving blessings and improving our experience of love, compassion and the supreme good heart of bodhichitta. 

Please note: Attendance at Precepts at 6:45am is required on each day you plan to attend retreat sessions.

What to Expect

Precepts

At 6:45am each morning of this retreat, we take Precepts, a traditional ceremony in which we set the compassionate intention to refrain from harming ourself or others for a period of 24 hours.   

Fasting 

We also fast from food, eating at most only lunch on each day. (One may have water all day.)  This moral discipline creates the foundation for effective and powerful purification during the retreat sessions, therefore attendance at Precepts is required each morning you plan to participate in the retreat. 

Retreat Sessions

We will be chanting a special prayer called Drop of Essential Nectar to 1000-armed Avalokiteshvara. Within that prayer, we will collectively make physical or mental prostrations on behalf of all living beings for about 20 minutes while chanting a verse of praise to Avalokiteshvara. Comfortable clothing is recommended.

AVAILABILITY

😊 Oak Park (in person)

🕙 Live online

❌️ Not recorded

TEACHER

Friday evening introduction: Gen Kelsang Zamling, Resident Teacher

BOOKS & MATERIALS

This event will make use of the following resource(s). Copies of these prayers will be available to borrow while at the center, and copies are also available for purchase. You can also click any title below for more information, or to order it as a printed, audio, or e-book directly from Tharpa Publications.

• Precepts: A Pure Life
• Retreat Sessions: Drop of Essential Nectar

COST

FREE

Each ticket includes livestream links for the entire retreat, so you can mix between the two. Please register for each day you plan to attend in person, so we can be sure to save space for you.