Nyungne Retreat with Khenpo Tenzin "Karze" Yeshi

With the blessing of Spiritual Director, Her Eminence Jetsunma Ahkön Norbu Lhamo, KPC Maryland invites you to join us for a Nyungne Retreat, May 23-25, led by retreat master Khenpo Tenzin "Karze" Yeshi.

Nyungne is one of the most powerful practices in Vajrayana Buddhism. Through periods of prostrations, chanting mantra, fasting and silence, this practice purifies environmental pollution and one’s own faults, while also increasing positive energy and harmony. Reciting Om Mani Pedme Hung purifies the six seeds of the six realms, which pacifies the suffering of all beings, bringing peace to the world.

Each day of the Nyungne retreat, practitioners take and maintain eight vows:

1. No killing
2. No stealing
3. No sex
4. No telling lies
5. No drinking alcohol
6. No idle chatter, singing or dancing, makeup or ornaments
7. No evening meals
8. No sitting in high seats

The Nyungne practice was revealed by Bhikshuni Phalmo, a nun who suffered from leprosy. She performed this practice, along with the Chenrezig practice, for 12 years. As a result, she became a great siddhi and attained the Celestial Body.

Nyungne is a physically challenging practice. The retreat includes prolonged periods of sitting and chanting, with periods of prostrations, and approximately 35 hours of dry fasting and silence – no eating, drinking, or speaking except when chanting. It is possible to modify prostrations, either performing them slowly or by doing table prostrations.  

There are exceptions to no eating and drinking - a small amount of food or water can be taken for those who take Medic*tion. All participants will be expected to maintain the Nyungne vows even when they go home at night. Instructions will be provided. 

If you have doubts about your health or your physical ability to do extended prostrations, please consult your physician before the retreat.

Each session of the Nyungne retreat is two hours long, in person only, with a schedule as follows:

8:00am Teaching, vows

30 minute break

10:30 Session 1 chant and prostrations

11:30-12pm Lunch - No more food after 12pm - food fast begins. Clear liquids allowed until midnight.

2:30pm Session 2 chant and prostrations

30 min break

5-7pm Session 3 chant and prostrations 

Midnight - No more water or speaking until retreat is over. 

8:00am Session 1 vows, chant, and prostrations

30 min break

10:30am Session 2 chant and prostrations

2 hour break

2:30pm Session 3 chant and prostrations

30 min break 

5-7pm Session 4 chant and prostrations

Go home, continuing to maintain the Nyungne vows

6:00-7:00am - Final closing practice

7:00am - break the fast with soup and drinks (to be provided) 

7:30am - Tsog practice to close the retreat

If you have never done Nyungne before, you may want to consider taking the day off if you have to work Monday, as it can take some time to recover physically from dry fasting.

Khenpo Tenzin arrived at Namdroling Monastery in 1993 from his village in northern India. In 2006, he graduated from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute’s intensive Buddhist graduate course and received the degree of Khenpo, equivalent to a PhD in Buddhist Philosophy, in 2011. He has received teachings and empowerments from many great Nyingma masters, and taught extensively in various Palyul temples in Nepal, India, Europe and Taiwan. Khenpo has been in residence at KPC since 2023, becoming a member of our community here, providing traditional Dharma instruction to help us deepen our practice of wisdom and compassion. 

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