Five-day Vajrasattva Retreat
A Purification Retreat
Partially guided by our Resident Teacher
Gen Kelsang Thekchen
Sun. Dec. 15 - Thurs. Dec. 19
In this retreat we'll practise purifying all our past negative karma, or negative actions of body speech & mind, by relying upon Vajrasattva, the Buddha of Purification. Under the influence of deluded minds, we have engaged in many negative actions and, as a result, we now experience suffering and problems everyday. But we have the opportunity to purify this negativity, and thus transform our mind and our experience of the world we live in. The meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva is a powerful practice of purification, and a quick method to attain future happiness and spiritual realizations.
This retreat follows a half-day course called "Detox the Mind", which is about what karma is, and how to purify negative karma. We highly recommend you attend if you're interested in joining the retreat. It's on Saturday Dec. 14, from 10am to 1pm. Click here for more information about the course.
The Vajrasattva purification retreat will be partially guided by our Resident Teacher, Gen Kelsang Thekchen. On Sunday, we'll have a guided retreat of Vajrasattva, using the "Solitary Vajrasattva" prayer booklet. Starting Monday, we'll be using the "Offering to the Spiritual Guide" prayer booklet. Copies are available here for you to use and/or purchase.
Course and Retreat Schedule
Schedule for Detox the Mind Course and optional 5-day Retreat:
Saturday December 14 - Detox the Mind Course
10am-11.15am: Teaching and meditation
11:15-11:45am: Tea/coffee break
11.45-1pm: Teaching and meditation
Sunday December 15 - Retreat Day One
8-9.30am: Session 1 - Guided meditation
10.30-12pm: Session 2 - Guided meditation
1:30-3pm: Session 3 - Guided meditation
Monday December 16 - Retreat Day Two
8-9.30am: Session 1 - Guided meditation
10.30-12pm: Session 2
1:30-3pm: Session 3
7-8.30pm: Session 4
Tuesday December 17 - Retreat Day Three
8-9.30am: Session 1 - Guided meditation
10.30-12pm: Session 2
1:30-3pm: Session 3
7-8.30pm General Program Class
Wednesday December 18 - Retreat Day Four
8-9.30am: Session 1 - Guided meditation
10.30-12pm: Session 2
1:30-3pm: Session 3
7-8.30pm: Session 4
Thursday December 19 - Retreat Day Five
8-9.30am: Session 1- Guided meditation
10.30-12pm: Session 2
This retreat will be partially led by Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Thekchen, who is a Kadampa Buddhist monk & senior Teacher in the New Kadampa Tradition. He has been a Teacher under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for more than 25 years. Gen Thekchen has taught widely in Canada and in the UK, and is now the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Centre Ottawa. He is well known for his ability to present Buddha's teachings in a practical, profound and often humorous way, making them very accessible and easy to practise in everyday life.
To hear a great sample of a teaching with Gen Thekchen, click on the arrow below.
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.