 |
 |
|
|
|
Yarne Winter Retreat Note that there will not be a public Yarne retreat for winter 2011-2012. Ani Pema will be on retreat, and the Abbey will have a closed retreat from December 24, 2011 through March 20, 2012 for residents to deepen their practice and study. The next Yarne at the Abbey open to non-residents will be December 23, 2012 to February 12, 2013 and will be led by Ani Pema. Yarne is the traditional monastic "rains season" retreat held annually at Gampo Abbey since 1984. The practice stems from the Indian custom established by the Buddha. At that time the retreat was three months long and done during the summer season of rains. The summer retreat in India was a practical response to the monsoon weather. As well, it was considered not appropriate to travel with the increased likelihood of walking on insects during the rains. At Gampo Abbey the Tibetan version of 1½ months is practiced. Plus, this "summer" retreat takes place in the winter, which gives rise to hilarity to visiting Tibetans. But there are too many tourists and visitors during the pleasant summer months to close off the Abbey. Thrangu Rinpoche approved this arrangement. Properly considered, a monastery in the Tibetan tradition has three main commitments:
2011 Yarne Retreat
The 2011 retreat was held from Jan 13 to Mar 6. The Abbey residents and 12 guests from North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand participated. Gampo Acharya Ani Pema Chödrön led the retreat and taught on the Four Limitless Ones (love, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity). She taught from her own book Places That Scare You as well as from Awakening Through Love by John Makransky and Wake Up To Your Life by Ken McLeod. The retreat was full of inspiring teachings and guided meditations. We were truly steeped in the Four Limtless Ones. We explored how the four qualities manifest in our own experience, and we trained in their cultivation. We learned that by acknowledging our basic goodness, we can nurture and expand our connection to these four qualities in order to create a more uplifted, caring, and loving society. During the retreat, several people commented on how the atmosphere in the Abbey was particularly infused with love and compassion during Yarne. May such blessings continue!
Teachings available: Ani Pema's teachings from this (and other) retreats are available from Great Path Tapes and Books. The 2011 Yarne teachings are item 153 in the Great Path catalog.
|
|||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Learn more about meditation and buddhism at shambhala.org
|
 |
|
Gampo Abbey |
|