Illuminating Insights - Christmas / New Year Retreat: Part Two
7:00pm 28 December 2017 - 4:00pm 02 January 2018
Cost: £0.00
Venue: Samye Ling
To book this course please select it in the Extras offered after you have chosen your accommodation on the booking form. Please click here to book.
Led by Ken Holmes and based on Gampopa’s Ornament of Precious Liberation.
“So often, thanks to my wise teachers, I have been mind-blown to discover the deep and powerful meanings below the often-unfamiliar surface of Tibetan Buddhist practice and terminology. They are so directly relevant to life—so transformative when applied properly. Without that understanding, there is only the hollow shell of a religion. My life’s wish has been to share these with others.”
The Daily Programme is the regular Samye Ling daily programme for morning Tara, 8-9 silent practice, after-lunch Mahakala and evening prayers but with the following additions:
09:45 - 11:15 Morning teaching (except 28th*)
11:45 - 12:30 Informal Discussion & Questions
15:00 - 16:15 Afternoon Teaching
17:00 - 18:00 Meditation Instruction and Practice: simple instruction and
guided meditations for the Chenrezik practice.
28th a.m. Guru Rinpoche practice in main shrine: no teachings
First Session: 09:45 Sunday 24th December
Last Session ends 16:00 Tuesday 2nd January
Part One: Christmas Retreat Dec 23 - 28
Meaningful, Powerful Practice: As It Should Be
Based on the chapters from Gampopa about taking the bodhisattva vow, Ken will unlock the meaning behind basic practices such as prostrations, making offerings, purification and so forth. Whether they work magnificently or not at all depends entirely on this understanding of how they can and should be used to transform the mind.
The 5.00-6.00 session each day will be devoted to detailed instruction in Chenrezik practice. Open to all.
The Christmas Retreat begins at 7pm on 23 December and ends at lunchtime on 28 December.
Part Two: New Year Retreat Dec 28 - Jan 2 2018
Perfect Wisdom
Based on the prajnaparamita chapter from Gampopa. Ken will use this chapter to present the key, Kagyu, understanding of voidness (sunyata), while dispelling the many widespread misconceptions commonly encountered about “no-self” or “things not existing in an absolute sense” and the like. This will not be a technical or scholarly course but one for meditators and those wanting to understand heartfelt compassion in an illusory world.
The 5.00-6.00 session each day will be devoted to detailed instruction in Chenrezik practice. Open to all.
The New Year Retreat begins at 7pm on 28 December and finishes at lunchtime on 2January 2018.
Ken Holmes this year published a new translation of Gampopa’s Ornament of Precious Liberation. The present Karmapa wrote: “I would like to commend Ken and Katia Holmes for bringing Gampopa’s words directly to English speakers. Though there are several earlier translations of Ornament of Precious Liberation, this translation is the most readable and faithful.”
There is no fee for this course although donations are welcome. Your offering will help with the Monastery's considerable running costs, as well as the expenses incurred in inviting teachers. Donations may be made in the Reception Office.
Tariff and Charges Guest Info