Compassion & Fasting Retreat 2024

Introduction - April 3 at 6:30pm
Retreat - April 5 - 6

We celebrate Buddha’s Enlightenment Day with this special fasting and purification retreat, also known as Nyungnay. This is a very powerful spiritual practice, incorporating meditation, prayer, fasting, physical prostrations (those who are able), and reciting mantras - all motivated by the compassionate wish to help this troubled world. In this practice, we turn to the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara, for his blessings, help and purification.

This practice is very powerful for pacifying our unpeaceful, suffering minds such as desirous attachment and hatred. It is also a special method for receiving blessings and improving our experience of love and compassion. Kadampa centers worldwide offer this retreat at this time of year and everyone is welcome to participate.

Please note this practice includes making prostrations – a mental exercise in which we develop faith and respect for enlightened beings. For those who wish to express this mental prostration with a half or full-length physical prostration, comfortable clothing is recommended.

Each day begins with taking special vows-for-a-day, the Mahayana Precepts. Please read about them here.

About the Fast

Usually this practice is done over two days, with the eight Mahayana precepts being taken at the beginning of each day. On the first day, it is customary to abstain from all meals apart from lunch. On the second day, we engage in a complete fast, abstaining from all food and drink for twenty-four hours. On both days, we do three sessions of the puja – one first thing in the morning, one before lunch, and one late in the afternoon. If we wish, we can repeat the pattern of the two days many times. Those who are unable to engage in a complete fast can participate in the puja on the second day, provided they take the eight Mahayana precepts on that day and again only have lunch.

Both days we avoid the so-called "black foods" such as alcohol, meat, eggs, onion, garlic, or spices. Coffee and tea are ok, but no chai ;-)

Schedule

In the breaks, those who wish may also participate in making tormas for our shrine.