DAILY RETREAT SCHEDULE
All schedules are subject to change as needed. Please arrive on time as the lamas may arrive earlier than noted below.
7:00 AM Morning Practice in Temple with Monks
8:00 AM Breakfast/Work Rota
8:30 AM Assemble in Temple
8:40 AM Morning Meditation—quiet please!
9:00 AM Guru Yoga practice with the Lamas
10:00 AM Teachings/practice by Class Year
12:00 PM Lunch/work Rota
2:00 PM Practice by class – On Weekends: Empowerments (see this year’s schedule here when available)
4:00 PM Break Time/Rota
5:30 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Practice by Class or Teachings
8:30 PM Evening Rota shift
10:00 PM Lights Out – Goodnight!
Daily Practice Sessions
In addition to morning practices, generally each class has three practice sessions as listed on the daily schedule. Teachings are given throughout the retreat to guide the practice, sometimes in the Temple and other times in the practices areas. Students are expected to attend each and every session of class. Sometimes class-specific teachings are not announced, thus attendance to all sessions will ensure that you don’t miss any teachings.
Only attend practice or teachings sessions for your own class. Each student is a member of one, and only one, class.
No one may attend teachings or practices in later-year classes for which the requirements have not been completed. For example, in no case would a Ngöndro student be permitted to attend any of the Tsa Lung or Dzogchen teachings or practices. With the teacher’s permission, however, students from upper levels may attend teachings of earlier-level classes for review purposes. To minimize disruption to your own class and the one you wish to attend, please notify both your own class coordinator of your absence to class, and ask permission of the coordinator of the attended class.
Concluding Circumambulations
At the end of class sessions, each class circumambulates the Temple, chanting the “Mani Mantra” (Om Mani Peme Hung) to dedicate that practice session. This “Mani line” is part of the practice session. Out of respect for the power of these activities to liberate ourselves and all sentient beings, when a class Mani line passes by, we bow slightly and wait quietly until it passes.
Class Duties
Besides the practices, each class has other duties, such as taking care of their altar, keeping the practice area clean, and so on. Each class selects a coordinator to organize these activities, to meet with the other class coordinators, and to represent the class at certain retreat functions.