Guru Yoga & Mandala
Offering Retreat
partially guided by our Resident Teacher
Gen Kelsang Thekchen
Sunday June 21 - Thursday June 25
at Kadampa Meditation Centre Ottawa
For those who wish for a deep inner transformation, this annual retreat offers an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with two in-depth Buddhist practices: Guru Yoga and Mandala Offerings. Both practices are powerful ways to fill our mind with merit, or good fortune, and to receive profound, transformative blessings. They are indispensable for those who are serious about attaining authentic spiritual realizations, in particular the state of full enlightenment.
The practice of Guru Yoga is a special way of relying upon our Spiritual Guide with faith and correct imagination, in order to receive his or her blessings. The practice of Mandala Offerings is an offering of the entire universe visualized as a Pure Land, with all its inhabitants as pure beings. Although this is an in-depth Buddhist practice, it is suitable for everyone.
This retreat is partially guided by our Resident Teacher, Gen Kelsang Thekchen.
Retreat Schedule
Sunday June 21 - All three sessions will be guided by Gen Thekchen, and we'll be using the prayer booklet, The Hundreds of Deities of the Joyful Land.
Guided Session 1: 9-10:30am
Guided Session 2: 11-12:15pm
Guided Session 3: 1:45-3pm
Then, from Monday to Thursday, we'll offer unguided sessions using Offering to the Spiritual Guide prayers.
Monday June 22
Session 1: 8-9:30am
Session 2: 10:30-12pm
Session 3: 1:30-3pm
Session 4: 7-8.30pm
Tuesday June 23
Session 1: 8-9:30am
Session 2: 10:30-12pm
Session 3: 1:30-3pm
Wednesday June 24
Session 1: 8-9:30am
Session 2: 10:30-12pm
Session 3: 1:30-3pm
Thursday June 25
Session 1: 8-9.30am
Session 2: 10:30-12pm
Session 3: 2-4pm (This session will be Offering to the Spiritual Guide Prayers with Tsog Offerings)
This retreat will be led by our Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Thekchen, who is a senior Teacher in the New Kadampa Tradition. He has been a Kadampa Buddhist monk and Teacher under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for more than 30 years. He is well known for his ability to present Buddha's teachings in a simple, profound, practical and often humorous way, making them easy to put into practice in everyday life.
Register below or just drop in (cash or card).
In the beginning of our practice the most essential thing is to tame our mind, for only this will enable us to benefit all sentient beings.