Next Meditation Retreat
Mon 19th - Sun 25th October, 2009
Session times:
9am - 10.30am Session 1
11.30am - 1pm Session 2
4.30pm - 6pm Session 3
7.30pm - 9pm Session 4
On this retreat we engage in the practice of Guru Yoga, which is a special method for receiving blessings, whilst making mandala offerings. The purpose of this is to receive inspiration from our relationship with our Spiritual Guide as well as great positive energy, or merit. These conditions are essential for attaining authentic spiritual realizations.
The first session on the first day will consist of an introduction to the retreat, and in particular, to the meaning of the mandala offering. Everyone Welcome, but please come 15-20 minutes early if you are not familiar with constructing mandalas (this does not apply to the final session of the retreat).
(N.B. Due to the Day course on Saturday 24th October, there will be just one retreat session 7.30pm-9pm.)
The final day, October 25th, is the day we celebrate Je Tsongkhapa's birth, his life and his attainment of enlightenment with a speical puja including tsog offering and a talk from 3pm-5pm.
Timetable for Sunday 25th October
Session 1 10am - 12pm Special Offering to the Spiritual Guide puja with short talk on the life of Je Tsongkhapa by Gen Lhamo before we start
12.30pm Special tsog buffet party
Session 2 4.30pm-6pm
Session 3 7.30-9pm
Suggested Donation: £5
Facility Fees: £8 per day for the retreat or £2.50 per session. Free for FP and TTP students. Suggested donation for Je Tsongkhapa Day celebration applies to all.
What is a Mandala Offering?
The word mandala in this context means universe. When we offer a mandala to the Buddhas, we are offering everything: the whole universe and everyone in it. We mentally transform the whole universe into a Pure Land filled with precious, sacred objects and inhabited by pure beings. Imagining that we are holding this pure universe in our hands, we offer it to all the enlightened beings. In this way we are offering the final result of our spiritual training and thereby creating powerful causes to complete the spiritual path. Making mandala offerings is very powerful, and if we wish for good fortune and spiritual attainments we should offer a mandala everyday.
You are welcome to attend as many or as few retreat sessions
as you wish.
Please email or telephone (0151) 726 8900 for more information.
