New Year Retreat 2026 – The Heart Sutra

New Year Retreat 2026: Teachings on the Heart Sutra
with Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
Saturday through Monday, February 14-16
Wave Street Studios
774 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940
9:00am to 5:00pm Saturday & Sunday
9:00am to 3:30pm Monday
In-Person (TBD if hosted on Zoom or recorded)
Registration required, donations requested, but no one turned away for lack of funds
Suggested donation: 180.00 for all three days

The Heart Sutra is one of the most precious texts in all of Buddhism. We are so fortunate that we will receive three days of teachings on this foundational text from Rinpoche. Here is a brief description from the online Encyclopedia Britannica:

The Heart Sutra, in Mahayana Buddhism, an extremely brief yet highly influential distillation of the essence of Prajnaparamita (“Perfection of Wisdom”) writings, much reproduced and recited throughout East and Central Asia. True to its title, this short sutra goes to the heart of the doctrine it summarizes. In the space of a single page (some versions adding an introductory and a concluding paragraph), in words ascribed to the bodhisattva (“buddha-to-be”) of compassion, Avalokiteshvara, the Heart Sutra discusses the doctrine of “emptiness” (shunyata), which is the nature of reality.

• Here is a translation of the Heart Sutra text from Lotsawa House (in English, Tibetan, French and Portuguese)
• Here is another translation from Lama Yeshe & Lama Zopa Rinpoche: https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/heart-sutra, and that page offer links to a beautiful PDF in English, Tibetan, and Italian
• Rinpoche's trusted Dharma brother Thay Kozen offers a translation of the Heart Sutra in the Mount Adams Buddhist Temple Chant Book on page 12, as well as a recording of the Heart Sutra chant here. (all English)

• Rinpoche wrote this text on the occassion of our first Heart Sutra retreat in 2019 (he may update this text for 2026): Essence of the Heart Sutra in Brief
• In advance of the retreat, if you are able, please read , by His Holiness the Dalai Lama - Wisdom Publications, 2002. Here is a description:

For more than two thousand years, the Heart Sutra has been part of the daily life of millions of Buddhists. This concise text, so rich and laden with meaning, concentrates the very heart of Buddhism into a powerful and evocative teaching on the interdependence of all reality. In Essence of the Heart Sutra, the Dalai Lama masterfully unpacks the Heart Sutra so that any reader can benefit from its teachings - teachings meant to help us release ourselves from suffering and live with true compassion. Comprised of his Heart of Wisdom talks, originally delivered to thousands of listeners in 2001, the book offers the Dalai Lama's commentary as well as his easy-to-follow overview of Buddhist philosophy that places the sutra within its historical and philosophical context. With additional contributions by scholar and translator Thupten Jinpa, Essence of the Heart Sutra is the authoritative presentation of a text seminal to the world's religious heritage.

• The retreat will also include daily chanted prayers of Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha of Infinite Light) and the opportunity to receive or renew Bodhisattva vows. The Amitabha sadhana and all practice texts will be provided for use during the retreat (we then collect these copies back, typically). Here is a link to the Amitabha text (in Tibetan, English, and Chinese): The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.
• Preliminary and Accompanying Prayers

8:30am: Venue will be open for you to arrive & get settled
Saturday/Sunday
9:00am to 10:30am
10:40am to 12:00pm
2:00pm to 3:30pm
3:40pm to 5:00pm

Monday
9:00am to 10:30am
10:40am to 12:00pm
2:00pm to 3:30pm

• Special Retreat Commitment: As with most Buddhist retreats, there are some commitments asked of attendees for the retreat days. Rinpoche asked only that no alcohol or drugs be consumed. He did not state that participants need to be vegetarian, etc. , though participants can follow the retreat traditions they are familiar with.
• Texts: texts will be provided during the retreat
• In-person, TBD if available via live-stream nor will it be recorded
• Food and personal comfort: there will be floor seating, floor cushions, and chairs available, but attendees should bring anything that would make them comfortable for the teaching; attendees should plan to bring their own food/beverages or purchase from nearby restaurants during the lunch break. Coffee/tea/snacks will be provided to retreat participants from the many options available at Wave Street studios.
• Flowers for the altar: participants may bring flowers for the alter if they wish, but this is not to be considered a burden or requirement.
• Open to all with an interest in Buddhism, no special prerequisites required

• Sliding scale: Participants can make the suggested donation of $180.00 for all three days, but if you cannot donate at this time, please do not feel any shame or hesitancy to attend. A minimum of $1.00 is required by the EventBrite system to complete the registration. All donations are tax deductible.
• Additional Donations to Help Fund Others: When you register with EventBrite, you will have the opportunity to donate additional funds on behalf of those who cannot afford to give at this time. Please specify your wishes in the registration.
• Dana: On the last day of the retreat, it is customary to offer Dana (a monetary gift of respect) for Khenpo Karten Rinpoche and for translator Jampa Tharchin (David Molk). Please bring cash and please put it in an envelope. For Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, we will also offer katas, a white ceremonial scarf--we will have katas and envelopes available at the retreat.
• Other ways to donate: Participants can donate via PayPal, Venmo, by check or cash if preferred. Please visit the Manjushri Dharma Center donation page for details, or contact: [email protected] (please be patient as this is volunteer staffed)
• Other ways to register: Participants who cannot complete the EventBrite registration are asked to email Rachel at [email protected] or call 831-277-0529.

For more than 20 years, Wave Street Studios has created a beautiful space for the community, supporting the arts, honoring history, demonstrating sustainable building and lifestyle practices, and celebrating cultural expressions of many kinds. They have created sacred space for weddings, meditation, yoga, healing, and prayers of many traditions. Thank you Wave Street Studios for hosting our retreat once again! Want to know more?

Free parking on Ocean View Blvd. and walk up the recreation trail. There is also a garage on Foam and Prescott.

Contact Rachel at [email protected] or call 831-277-0529.

The biographies of Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche and our esteemed translator Jampa Tharchin are available on the event page for the Manjushri Dharma Center: New Year Retreat 2026: The Heart Sutra

Header Image: Khenpo Karten Rinpoche leading the 2025 New Year retreat at Wave Street Studios

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