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THE CHENRESIG RETREAT AT SRAVASTI ABBEY IS WELL UNDER WAY

After all the excitement and activity of the ten day teachings by Khensur Jampa Tegchok Rinpoche, the Chenresig retreat officially began.

With seven participants for the first month and five continuing on for the 3 month, as well as over eighty participating from afar, the abbey environment shows itself once again to be one of the most conducive for retreat.

This is as good as it gets:

  • simple yet comfortable living conditions,
  • nutritious vegetarian meals,
  • a retreat schedule with practice as well as study,
  • a secluded location and natural landscape that supports the silence and the inner work so crucial for a successful retreat.

Venerable Chodron as well as many of the past abbey retreatants have said that a longer silent retreat deepens their Dharma practice more than any other experience they know of, and encourage others to create the causes in their lives to be able to do them, not only for short term benefit but long term Dharma aspirations. So the retreatants dedicate their practices to all sincere practitioners everywhere that they may have this wonderful and precious opportunity in the near future.

The one and three month Chenresig retreatants pose just after the retreat begins
Over 80 people including 40+ inmates are participating in the retreat from afar. Their photos and names grace the meditation hall wall to remind us how much this is a group retreat!
The abbey’s beautiful log built meditation hall is set against a dazzling blue sky and snow covered pines
Barbara and Rocio who participated on the 1 month retreat are all smiles as they get ready to depart. Rocio is due to have a child in late spring and took the opportunity to do retreat for her self and for him. Barbara who lives locally and is a long time student of Venerable’s and experienced in doing retreat, will be making weekly visits to the abbey to keep her retreat connection going.
Weekly Q&A’s with Venerable Chodron help the retreatants’ gain better understanding of their experiences on and off the cushion as well as check in with each other and give support
Karri brings a great sense of humor, and a wonderful inquiring mind to the retreat. She says she has wanted to do the retreat for a long time and is so glad it’s happening.
Is that turkey circumambulating the Om Mani Padme Hum stone? Only the Buddha knows for sure...
Venerable Tarpa takes her retreat experience to a whole new level with a roll down a snowy hill after a big storm. Who says this is all work and no play?
Imagine each of these sparkling frost crystals a 1000 armed Chenresig
A yearling fawn waits patiently for its mother under the Ponderosa boughs. There’s evidence (2 bare circles close to one another in the snow) that they sleep in the abbey garden under the 3 huge Douglas Firs otherwise known as the Triple Gem.

 
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