2014 Meditation Retreat Schedule at the Holy Vajrasana Temple & Retreat Center

The attached retreat schedule for 2014 is now available. The class schedule at the Xuanfa Five Vidyas University is planned around these days. Due to the special H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Grand Dharma Assembly in March, the 15-day retreat that would normally be held in March will not be held this year.

Clothing should be modest and suitable for the local weather. Special work clothes should be brought as well as comfortable clothing for meditation. Sitting meditation periods will be between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the meditation experience of those addending. At present only dorm sleeping accomodations are available, but we are hopeful to have at least one cabin available in 2014. For more information or any special needs or dietary restrictions, please contact the chief rinpoche or the abbot prior to the retreat. The retreats start around 5 pm the first day with training in oryioki, the formal method of cultivation and eating in silence practiced in ancient Ch’an temples in China and continuing to this day in monasteries in China, Japan, and America. There will be an orientation talk by the abbot of chief rinpoche after a light evening meal served in the oryoki style. The day will end with evening vespers and chanting the Heart Sutra in Chinese. The next morning and every morning of the retreat, the chief rinpoche will lead the retreatants in a pre-dawn session of walking meditation around the property to be followed by the morning service and time for meditation practice before breakfast. The morning service is conducted in English and Tibetan and sometimes Spanish. The day will continue with a formal class on some aspect of the teachings of either H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III or Shakyamuni Buddha; a morning work period that includes preparing lunch (the main meal of the day), lunch, and followed by several sitting and walking meditation sessions, the evening meal and service and another practice period with lights out around ten. Depending on the season, the formal class may be held in the evening instead of the morning period. Neither phones nor any other electronic devises are allowed during the retreat. Attendees may silently do their own form of meditation or be taught an appropriate form to practice. Some students may also do their practice in one of the chapels available at the temple.  Certain holy days that fall during the retreat will be observed. Attendees may request special blessings for friends and family and, if appropriate, certain dharmas from the abbot, but this should be arranged prior to the retreat. Private interviews with the abbot may be arranged as needed. Except for the interviews, dharma transmissions, and classes, the entire retreat is conducted in silence. The retreat usually ends after oryoki breakfast the last day.