Nyungne Purification and Fasting Retreat Information
Please note that this retreat is unguided (apart from the Precepts sessions)
Nyungne is one of the most precious Dharma Jewels in the Kadampa calendar, and as a Centre practice it comes around just once a year.
Nyungne is a special purification and fasting practice that is performed together with prayers and prostrations to 1000-Armed Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. Nyungne is an especially powerful practice for purifying negative karma and strong delusions such as desirous attachment and anger, as well as being a special method for receiving blessings and improving our experience of love, compassion, and the supreme good heart of Bodhichitta.
To engage in Nyungne purification retreat you are required to take The Eight Mahayana Precepts on each morning of the retreat, and then subsequently engage in 3 sessions of Drop of Essential Nectar, which incorporates prayers, mantra recitation, and prostrations to 1000-Armed Avalokiteshvara.
The taking of The Eight Mahayana Precepts involves taking a set of vows for 24 hours to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual activity, lying, taking intoxicants such as alcohol, sitting on high or luxurious thrones or seats, and wearing ornaments, perfume, make-up, jewellery, not eating after lunch etc.
In addition, as part of the retreat you vow to limit consumption of food and drinks as follows:
Day 1: No breakfast, only 1 meal for the day taken at lunchtime, with no eating for the rest of that day. Lunch should not contain any meat/fish. Also ingredients such as onions, garlic, spices such as chilli or pepper (basically not using anything that creates strong flavours).Drinks for day 1 should be limited to light beverages such as water or tea, which can be consumed throughout the day. Coffee shouldn’t be consumed as it acts as a stimulant and we often have strong attachment to it. “Food beverages” such as milk or fruit juices should also not be consumed, however a small amount of milk in tea is okay if you wish.
Day 2: Full Nyungne practice requires a complete fast on day 2 of the retreat, (i.e. no eating or drinking at all until dawn the next day). For those who are unable to fast in this way; it is possible to repeat the same fasting practice as day 1 of the retreat.
If you have further queries, please contact epc@meditateinnorthants.com for more explanation on this retreat before you sign up.
Prices
Non-residential £60
Timetable
Saturday and Sunday
7am: Precepts
8am: Session 1
11.00am: Session 2
4pm: Session 3
