Nyungnay Fasting Retreat

What is Nyungnay?
This special fasting and purification practice is traditionally done by Kadampa Centers worldwide on Buddha’s Enlightenment day, which is celebrated on April 15.

This event is marked by special purification and fasting retreats in Kadampa Buddhist Centres worldwide based on the practice . This practice, which is done in conjunction with Eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara, is very powerful for purifying negative karma of body, speech, and mind, and for 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 .

What is Purification Practice?
Under the influence of deluded minds we have created a great deal of negative karma, as a result we now experience many difficulties and suffering. No matter how negative our mind is, there is a way to find peace. We have the opportunity to purify our mind completely and develop a calm and peaceful mind by engaging in this ancient purification practice.

Come celebrate Buddha’s enlightenment day! Nyungne is a beloved practice engaged in every year to honor and remember Buddha’s enlightenment. This special purification and fasting practice is performed together with prayers and prostrations to the 1000-arm Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. It is very powerful for purifying negativity and strong delusions such as desirous attachment and anger. It is also a special method for receiving blessings and improving our experience of love, compassion, and bodhichitta.

This two-day retreat, done in conjunction with Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara practice, is very powerful for purifying negative karma of body, speech, and mind, and for pacifying strong delusions such as desirous attachment and hatred. This practice involves taking the Eight Mahayana precepts, a promise to avoid all non-virtue for 24 hours, combined with the practice of prostrations. Through this we improve our compassion and develop a pure and light heart.

This practice is done over two days. On the first day, it is customary to abstain from all meals apart from lunch at 12:30pm. On the second day, we engage in a complete fast, abstaining from all food and drink for 24 hours. This traditional retreat is offered each year around the 15th of April, Buddha’s Enlightenment Day. Although this is an in-depth Buddhist practice, it is open to everyone. *If this is your first time attending a Nyungne Retreat, please contact the Education Program Coordinator at [email protected]

Note: In-Person Only

If you are interested in participating in this purification practice for one day or both days, and its your first time, you need to contact [email protected]

FASTING: On the first day it is customary to abstain from all meals except lunch. The second day is a complete fast, abstaining from all food and drink until 6:30am on the following day. Those who are unable to engage in fasting can participate to the extent they are able. You are only able to attend the second day if you have attended the first day of retreat.

PRACTICE: On both days, participants will take Mahayana Precepts at 7am and do three sessions of chanted meditation and prostrations (physically or mentally) with the practice of 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion.

A Pure Life (precepts)Drop of Essential Nectar

There is no charge for this retreat. There is a shrine, so if you would like to contribute to the offerings for the shrine you can make a small donation to help with the costs.

Schedule:

Tuesday, April 14th

Precepts: 6:30 – 7:00am

Session 1: 7:30 – 8:45am

Lunch 12:30 – 1:30pm

Session 2: 3:00pm – 4:15pm

Session 3: 5:30 – 6:45pm

Wednesday, April 15th ~ Buddha’s Enlightenment Day

Precepts: 6:30 – 7:00am

Session 1: 7:30 – 8:45am

Session 2: 11am – 12:15pm

Session 3: 4:00 – 5:15pm

Offering to the Spiritual Guide puja: 7:00 – 8:30pm

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Host or Publisher Akshobya Kadampa Buddhist Centre