Mahamudra Retreat | The Guhyasamaja Buddhist Center

Mahamudra is the ultimate meditation in Buddhism; it's the practice that all other Dharma practices lead one towards. Mahamudra refers to meditation on the nature of your own mind. The practice of Mahamudra is therefore the means for experientially discovering your own deepest nature.

"Mahamudra, emptiness, is always here. It is unchanging, permanent. It is not something special in some special place If you think that samsara is your ordinary life and emptiness is up here somewhere--no!" ~ Lama Yeshe

The great Buddhist teachers of India such as Nagarjuna, Naropa and Saraha were famed for having mastered Mahamudra practice. Similarly, great Tibetan lamas such as Milarepa, Sakya Pandit, and Je Tsongkhapa were renowned as masters of Mahamudra.

Je Tsongkhapa transmitted a unique lineage of Mahamudra meditation that combined the practices he'd learned from his teachers with other things he'd learned in direct visions of the archetypal Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri.

Gyume Khensur Rinpoche is a holder of this unique lineage of Mahamudra famed as the Gelug-Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra. It's extremely rare to be able to receive teachings and meditation instructions on this lineage, which is part of the ear-whispered lineage coming from Je Tsongkhapa. Gyume Khensur Rinpoche will fully teach Mahamudra practice using an important root text from the First Panchen Lama of Tibet.

"When I practice Mahamudra,
I rest myself in the intrinsic state,
Relaxing without distraction or effort.
In the realm of voidness,
I rest myself with illumination.
In the realm of blissfulness,
I rest myself in awareness.
In the realm of non-thought,
I rest myself with a naked mind. ...Free from both hope and fear, I feel very joyful."

~ Jetsun Milarepa

The first two days of this retreat (August 15 & 16), Rinpoche will teach on the approach to Mahamudra based on the Buddha's Sutra teachings. These two days are open to all sincere students.

For the second two days ( August 17 & 18), Rinpoche will teach on the approach to Mahamudra based on Buddha's Tantric or Vajrayana teachings. Rinpoche has indicated that these two days of teachings will only be open to those who have previously received a Highest Yoga Tantra Initiation (such as the full initiation of Guhyasamaja, Yamantaka, Chakrasamvara, Hevajra, or Kalachakra).

These teachings will include an explanation of a unique method for gaining calm abiding based on the skillful means of Tantra. (For those who will be attending the Bliss of Inner Fire retreat in June, the Mahamudra retreat will be an excellent follow-up to that. Also, please note that it will be difficult to fully appreciate or benefit from the last two days of this retreat without attending all or most of the first two days.)

A Restriction: FPMT has released a new policy on Dorje Shugden in accordance with the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has expressed the wish "not to have a guru-disciple relationship with anyone who is practicing Shugden." Likewise, Gyume Khensur Rinpoche has recently made a commitment at Sera Monastery with respect to the Shugden issue. Therefore, those who are doing this practice are requested not to attend any initiations or tantric teachings with Rinpoche.

The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190, Main Sanctuary

Registration questions?

Herbert Kong: registration at guhyasamaja.org (replace the at with "@"), or call 703-774-9692.

Lake Fairfax Park Campground -- 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive Reston, Virginia 703-471-5415. It would take about 20 minutes to walk from the campground to the church.

The nearest airport is Washington Dulles International. It's about 15 minutes West of the church by car ($20 cab ride).



Home About Us Calendar Get Involved First Time Visitors Membership Our Teachers Join Our Email List Blog Basic Program Teachings & Events Links Photos Contact us affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition	Mahamudra is the ultimate meditation in Buddhism; it's the practice that all other Dharma practices lead one towards. Mahamudra refers to meditation on the nature of your own mind. The practice of Mahamudra is therefore the means for experientially discovering your own deepest nature. "Mahamudra, emptiness, is always here. It is unchanging, permanent. It is not something special in some special place If you think that samsara is your ordinary life and emptiness is up here somewhere--no!" ~ Lama Yeshe The direct, unmistaken antidote to ignorance, to suffering, and to the unenlightened state of existence is Mahamudra meditation. The great Buddhist teachers of India such as Nagarjuna, Naropa and Saraha were famed for having mastered Mahamudra practice. Similarly, great Tibetan lamas such as Milarepa, Sakya Pandit, and Je Tsongkhapa were renowned as masters of Mahamudra. Je Tsongkhapa transmitted a unique lineage of Mahamudra meditation that combined the practices he'd learned from his teachers with other things he'd learned in direct visions of the archetypal Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. Gyume Khensur Rinpoche is a holder of this unique lineage of Mahamudra famed as the Gelug-Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra. It's extremely rare to be able to receive teachings and meditation instructions on this lineage, which is part of the ear-whispered lineage coming from Je Tsongkhapa. Gyume Khensur Rinpoche will fully teach Mahamudra practice using an important root text from the First Panchen Lama of Tibet. "When I practice Mahamudra, I rest myself in the intrinsic state, Relaxing without distraction or effort. In the realm of voidness, I rest myself with illumination. In the realm of blissfulness, I rest myself in awareness. In the realm of non-thought, I rest myself with a naked mind. ...Free from both hope and fear, I feel very joyful." ~ Jetsun Milarepa The first two days of this retreat (August 15 & 16), Rinpoche will teach on the approach to Mahamudra based on the Buddha's Sutra teachings. These two days are open to all sincere students. For the second two days ( August 17 & 18), Rinpoche will teach on the approach to Mahamudra based on Buddha's Tantric or Vajrayana teachings. Rinpoche has indicated that these two days of teachings will only be open to those who have previously received a Highest Yoga Tantra Initiation (such as the full initiation of Guhyasamaja, Yamantaka, Chakrasamvara, Hevajra, or Kalachakra). These teachings will include an explanation of a unique method for gaining calm abiding based on the skillful means of Tantra. (For those who will be attending the Bliss of Inner Fire retreat in June, the Mahamudra retreat will be an excellent follow-up to that. Also, please note that it will be difficult to fully appreciate or benefit from the last two days of this retreat without attending all or most of the first two days.) A Restriction: FPMT has released a new policy on Dorje Shugden in accordance with the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has expressed the wish "not to have a guru-disciple relationship with anyone who is practicing Shugden." Likewise, Gyume Khensur Rinpoche has recently made a commitment at Sera Monastery with respect to the Shugden issue. Therefore, those who are doing this practice are requested not to attend any initiations or tantric teachings with Rinpoche. Schedule: Friday, August 15 -- 7:30 - 11:30 PM Saturday, August 16 -- 1:30 - 5:30 PM Sunday, August 17 -- 1:30 - 5:30 PM (Highest Yoga Tantra initiates only) Monday, August 18 -- 1:30 - 5:30 PM (Highest Yoga Tantra initiates only) Location: The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190, Main Sanctuary Directions to The Unitarian/Universalist Church Suggested Donation: Members: $30 per day Non-members: $40 - $60 per day (no one will be turned away due to lack of funds) Registration: Download the registration form and mail it to: Guhyasamaja Center P.O. Box 1511 Centreville, VA 20122 Registration questions? Herbert Kong: registration at guhyasamaja.org (replace the at with "@"), or call 703-774-9692. Hotel Information: Reston Chamber of Commerce -- hotel list Camping Information: Lake Fairfax Park Campground -- 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive Reston, Virginia 703-471-5415. It would take about 20 minutes to walk from the campground to the church. Airport Information: The nearest airport is Washington Dulles International. It's about 15 minutes West of the church by car ($20 cab ride). Suggested Readings: Available through Snow Lion Publications. Buying books and other products from Snow Lion Publications using our affiliate link helps support our center. The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra , by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Snow Lion Publications. Essentials of Mahamudra: Looking Directly at the Mind , by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Wisdom Publications. The Mahamudra: Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance by The Ninth Karmapa, Wang-Ch'ug Dor-je Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. last updated: March 10, 2008 Top
	The Guhyasamaja Center, P.O. Box 1511, Centreville, VA 20122, (703) 774-9692 The Guhyasamaja Center is a religious non-profit 501(c)(3) organization registered in the State of Virginia. Copyright @ 2007 The Guhyasamaja Center