Nyungne Retreat

About this Retreat

This special retreat celebrates Buddha’s Enlightenment Day on the 15th April . 

After taking Mahayana Precepts we engage in a day retreat that consists of 3 sessions of beautiful chanted prayers combined with physical prostrations to Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of compassion. This uplifting practice is a very powerful method for purifying negative karma and for pacifying strong delusions such as desirous attachment and hatred. It is also a special method for receiving blessings and improving our experience of love, compassion, and bodhichitta.

Eight Mahayana Precepts

The day begins with taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts. When we take Precepts we promise to abstain for 24 hours from negative actions of body, speech and mind and to eat just one meal avoiding certain food such as meat and spices, to be eaten before 1pm.

On the second day, we engage in the full fast. No food or drink is consumed for 24 hours.

For those with health conditions, food and drink may be consumed as needed.