This retreat will offer students an opportunity to engage in compassion and purification practices in the space of one short weekend.

Nyungné is the most effective course of practices to purify both environmental pollution and our own faults. The practice was revealed by Bhikshuni Phalmo, a practitioner who suffered from leprosy. She performed this practice for 12 years in conjunction with Chenresig (Avalokitesvara) practice and become a great siddhi, attaining the Celestial Body. The retreat course involves powerful practices of purification such as periods of fasting, prostrations, and silence. Practitioners will also recite the six syllable Mani Mantra (Om Mani Peme Hung). This mantra purifies the six seeds of the six realms within oneself and, furthermore, has the effect of pacifying the suffering of all beings. In this way, the practice brings peace to the entire world and can be a cause for World Peace, very appropriate to these degenerate times. The purification practices increase positive energies and so in and of themselves are causes for happiness and harmony.

The traditional Nyungné purification retreat consists of maintaining eight vows and repeating practices of purification for a set number of days. The retreat is generally scheduled around the July 4th weekend schedule according to days off for the holiday. Please check the yearly schedule for more info, in the navigation to the left of this page. There is usually a chance to see HH Penor Rinpoche, who is in-residence at that time, to offer a katag and receive a blessing.

Please visit the yearly schedule page, located as a link to the left, to find out the dates of the Nyungné retreat for this current year.

The vows to be kept for the practice include:

l. No killing
2. No stealing
3. No sex
4. No telling lies
5. No drinking alcohol
6. No idle chatter, singing or dancing, makeup or ornaments
7. No evening meals
8. No sitting in high seats

The morning session will include a teaching and the remaining day will consist of intensive practice. If you have any doubts about your health and your ability to physically handle this retreat, please consult your doctor. The prostrations are strenous but it is possible to perform them at a slow speed. The retreatants from previous retreats have found the fasting and prostrations easiest to maintain. Many have observed that silence is the most difficult of all the vows!

For more information about accommodations, please read the online manual. The cost of the retreat depends up on your accommodation. Please check the registration form for more info on costs. To register, use the currently posted registration form and mail to 359 Hollow Road, McDonough, NY 13801.

When the retreat falls over July 4th Weekend, arrangements can be made for those who wish to assist in the following time between retreats with set-up for the month-long annual retreat with His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. However, we may need to ask that only those who are able to help with set-up remain after the Nyungné retreat as we will be operating with a "skeleton" crew.

Schedule:
Day 1 Arrival (usually Friday, but depends on the date of July 4)
Day 2 Vows and Instructions at 7:00 AM, practice
Day 3 Practice and Fasting
Day 4 Concluding Tsok Practice (usually Monday, but, again, based on July 4 holiday)

Day 1
3:30 PM Arrival and Registration
9:00 PM Registration closes

Day 2
7:00 AM Breakfast
7:30 AM Vows and Instructions
11:30 AM Lunch before fast, ends at noon.
Remainder of day: Practice through evening. No evening meal served; no drinking after bedtime

Day 3
Practice sessions throughout day
Full fast: no water, food, or talking

Day 4
7:00 AM Practice Begins
8:00 AM Soup for breaking fast
9:00 AM Tsok offering practice

The morning session will include a teaching and the remainder of the day will consist of intensive practice. If you have any doubts about your health or your ability to physically handle this retreat, please consult your physician.