Extended practice periods of sitting meditation are where you will meet your mind face-to-face in ways that rarely happen in the midst of the busyness and distractedness of everyday life. The Three-Yana Retreat is structured around extended practice periods, alternating with extended periods of study.

 

The main practice at the retreat is shamatha-vipashyana meditation. Shamatha is the practice of cultivating peace—not in the sense of getting rid of inner and outer disturbances—but of making peace with whatever arises that disturbs you. This is the way to truly make friends with yourself. Vipashyana is the practice of cultivating insight. It is cultivating insight into both the patterns of your inner mental processes and realizing the nature of that inner reality.

 

Shamatha-vipashyana includes both sitting meditation and walking meditation. Simple, elegant forms surround the meditation sessions: forms for entering the shrine room, lighting the shrine, chanting, bowing, and so on. 

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For people who are already doing ngöndro before the retreat, there will be optional periods for ngöndro practice. After vajrayana transmission is given during the third week of the retreat, everyone will have the opportunity to explore ngöndro.