Retreat!!!

This post has been updated as of December 7th.  Read below!

Well, as some of you who read A Monk Amok at least semi-regularly know, my plans after the end of the academic year next April have been up in the air.  I simply don't have the funds to continue studying, but I do have most of the funds to do retreat.  I've wanted to do an extended retreat for the past several years, and now I have the chance.  At first, I started looking at other options in the U.S., but none of them look viable right now.  In addition, my own mortality and the frailty of the human body have been on my mind a great deal, in large measure due to the course on the Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicaryaavatara) I've been taking here in Nepal. 

I had the chance to speak with the Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche at the new Drikung Kagyu monastery in Nayapati, Nepal, at the end of the opening celebration yesterday.  We sat on the steps of the main hall and discussed doing retreat.  I plan to do at least two years, though if I can raise the rest of the funds, I will extend the retreat to three years.  Actually, a traditional three-year retreat is three years, three months, three weeks and three days.  The exact location is still to be determined, though for financial and logistical reasons, I will do the retreat in India.  Actually, I know where I want to do the retreat, but I need to speak with another rinpoche to get permission to do it there.  I will of course post updates as things progress.

Update: November 19th

I've got some information on what I can expect to spend in India on retreat--about US $120 per month.  If I can find just 3 sponsors who can offer $25 per month for the next 40 months, I'll be able to do a full 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days.  Currently, a long series of transmissions and empowerments called the Kagyu Ngakdzod is being given at Drikung Kagyu Rinchen Ling, the new Drikung monastery here in the Kathmandu valley.  The tulku / retreat master I need to speak with is aware of my wish to do retreat at his monastery, but has asked me to wait until after the Kagyu Ngakdzod is complete before we meet to discuss the retreat in any detail.

For those of you not familiar with the Tibetan tradition, the three year retreat is a tradition practiced in all of the lineages.  In some cases, it is like a survey course, where a fairly standard set of practices are engaged in over the course of the retreat. In other cases, the retreat is more individually tailored.  Larger group retreats (I've heard of a place in France that just had 80 people finish a three year retreat) tend to be more standardized, whereas smaller group retreats and individual retreats leave more room for individualization.

Three year retreat is not "lama college" as a great many people seem to think.  Just because someone has done three years of retreat it does not automatically make them a lama (teacher).  Just because they haven't done this traditional retreat doesn't mean they're not a lama either.  Basically, you're a lama when your own lama says you are.  However, from what I've seen, three year retreat seems to be the standard minimum to be recognized as a teacher, unless you graduate from a traditional monastic college (shedra).  Then you can be a kind of professor-lama.  In the Kagyu, Sakya and Nyingma lineages, this generally takes 9 years.

In my opinion, the real purpose of the three year retreat is to tame your mind and to develop bodhicitta (the wish that all beings will attain enlightenment--actually it's more complicated than that so I'll do a blog post about that later).  In other words, I'm not gunning for a title.  Your prayers for the success of this retreat are greatly appreciated.

Updated as of December 7th:

I've finally worked out the location for my retreat.  It will be at Lamayuru monastery in Ladakh, India.  I will begin retreat some time next summer, no earlier than May as I'll be in school here in Nepal through April.  You can read more about Lamayuru monastery here. 

Comments

[Sean]

that should be a wonderful retreat
probably very dificult as all retreats are but well worth it
how many more funds are needed?

[Rinchen Gyatso]

I need to nail down the location and then I can post the amount I need. I have to formally request a retreat room from a different lama. In the States, a three-year retreat currently runs around $30,000, but this retreat will of course be far less costly.

[Dean]

Well, why don't you just join the Theravada Sangha in countries like Australia or US? They live without money and can practise the Buddha's teachings without worries.

[Rinchen Gyatso]

Dean-

My outlook and practice are Mahayana. I have enjoyed my visits to Theravada monasteries, but I wouldn't fit in there. Thanks for the thought, though!

[Sean]

well I'm totally strapped til next month and I wont be able to do a set monthly donation but if it helps to spread Dhamma then I'll see what I can send.

With Metta
Sean

[Phil]

(0)

[Mary]

So glad to hear you are going to do retreat. I wrote once a couple of years ago but havent checked your website for a long time. I am a student here in the US, taking a class at Maitripa College Online and studying with local sanga who live and care for Lama Zopa Rinpoche's home here. Good luck to you.
In the early mornings, I like to think of all the people meditating all over the world with the Buddhas raining down blessings. Wonderful journey you are on. Best of thoughts.
Mary

[Steve]

North America possesses most of the money in the world. At the same time, half of the people in the world do not have enough to eat. Over a third of the world is without electricity or clean water. Only 7% of the people in the world own a car. Only 1% of the Earth's inhabitants have a college degree.......
Any North American who works a little could easily fund his own retreat. Did you enter the monastery with zero money in the bank? Why is it you feel you need to rely on others when you are, by virtue of your birthplace, one of the more affluent people on the planet? And why do you feel comfortable with contemplating compassion for 3 years when there are so many in need of help?

I'm seriously interested in your answers, as I am struggling with the same questions.

[Rinchen Gyatso]

Steve,

According to the monastic code (the Vinaya), monks are supposed to rely on the generosity of others. We're not supposed to have regular careers, private homes and bank accounts. In fact, however, the vast majority of the funds for my retreat come from me--from working. The rest is from family and one nun-friend in the States. Also, all but a few hundred dollars for my studies here in Kathmandu come from my working previously and from family. It's extremely expensive studying here. I will have spent around $8,000 for one year of study here by next April.

I'm assuming you do not practice in the Tibetan tradition, given your question about spending several years in retreat. Our perspective is that the ignorant are extremely limited in helping other unenlightened sentient beings. By waking up--at least by gaining deeper insight into my own mind and the true nature of phenomena--I am better able to truely benefit beings. Much of the help one can give in samsara is limited. But helping others to get out of samsara (by becoming perfect Buddhas) is the best help according to our tradition and perhaps all the Mahayana traditions.

If someone isn't motivated to spend a significant amount of time developing the mind in retreat, doing other forms of service is good. It's just that the effect is temporary and limited. I myself used to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and my first job out of college was to give social contact (and other forms of help) to isolated elderly. After retreat, I'm sure I will find many ways to benefit others and I'll do my best to do so.

[puerhan]

Best wishes for retreat.
_/\_