Fasting & Purification Retreat
Fasting & Purification Retreat
This special annual fasting and purification practice, done over two days, begins on Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, with taking the Eight Mahayana precepts in the early morning. 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. If this is not possible for you, it is acceptable to eat one meal at lunchtime just like on the first day.
After taking the precepts, where we promise to abstain from negative actions of body, speech and mind for that day, we engage in three sessions of the practice called Drop of Essential Nectar, where we mentally make offerings and physically make prostrations to 1,000-armed Avalokiteshvara, Buddha of Compassion. How to make prostrations will be explained to anyone who is new.
Drop of Essential Nectar practice purifies negative karma and pacifies negative minds such as attachment, anger and jealousy. At the same time we improve our love, compassion and bodhichitta, and accumulate vast amounts of merit.
This retreat is self-guided and no teachings are given. It is open to everyone. Please contact us with any questions you may have (education@meditateinottawa.org ).
Schedule
Friday April 14
6:30-7:00am | Precepts
7:00-8:15am | Session 1
11:00am-12:15pm | Session 2
4:00-5:15pm | Session 3
Saturday April 15
6:30-7:00am | Precepts
7:00-8:15am | Session 1
11:00am-12:15pm | Session 2
4:00-5:15pm | Session 3
Cost & Booking
$25
Participants will need the Prayer Booklets, A Pure Life and Drop of Essential Nectar. We have copies for you to use during the retreat at our Centre, or you can purchase a copy from our bookshop. Alternatively, e-copies can be downloaded from tharpa.com .
One of the greatest gifts of Dharma is that it teaches us how to purify our past non-virtues.
Gen Kelsang Chöyang