Vajrasattva January Counting Retreat

We dedicate most of our time and energy to trying to avoid problems by making changes to the external world. However, the main cause of our unhappiness and difficulties cannot be found in external conditions. It is the negative karma we have created in the past through performing harmful actions. By relying upon Vajrasattva, the Buddha of purification, we will cleanse our mind of delusions, negativity and obstacles. Through special meditation and mantra recitation, we have the great opportunity to purify our minds quickly, so that we can make swift progress on the spiritual path.

 During January, we will have a precious opportunity to engage in a purification retreat, collecting 100,000 Vajrasattva mantras according to the instructions in the Oral Instructions of the Mahamudra. This will count as one of the four great preliminaries, and it is the first time we have the opportunity to engage in this retreat at KMC Ottawa.

The retreat will consist of four sessions each day using the prayers, The Hundreds of Deities of the Joyful Land According to Highest Yoga Tantra. The retreat will be mostly unguided but will include an introduction with Gen Thekchen on the evening of the 2nd of January. 

 You are welcome to attend for part, or all, of the retreat.

 “All Buddhas specifically appear in the form of Vajrasattva to purify the minds of living beings. For this reason, the practice of meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva is superior to other purification practices.”

The Oral Instructions of the Mahamudra
~ Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Retreat Schedule - Jan 2 to Jan 23

Saturday January 2nd - 7pm - Introduction with Gen Thekchen

Sessions times for the retreat:

Session 1  8-9.30am

Session 2  10.30-12pm 

Session 3  1.30-3pm

Session 4  7-8.30pm

(Please note there will be no 4th session on Jan 10, 12, 19, 20, 21. )

This retreat will be partially guided by 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 30 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.