Drupon Tinlay Ningpo
An Introduction to Vajrayana Deity Yoga Practice using the Chenrezig Sadhana
October 3-5
2 nights
$130 ($65 deposit) Dana
In Tibetan Buddhism, or Vajrayana, the meditation technique of visualizing Chenrezig and chanting his six-syllable mantra is very common. Bodhisatva Chenrezig has a long history of association with compassion in many Buddhist traditions. The Tibetan word Chenrezig is the name of all forms of this compassion. Chenre is the honorific word for eyes. The eyes symbolize wisdom, which “sees” the cause of suffering, the nature of samsara, the nature of enlightenment and the causes of peace and happiness. Zig means to look or gaze with great compassion. Thus, Chenrezig gazes on the world in order to see how to benefit sentient beings.
In this retreat we will learn to combine the wisdom and compassion of Chenrezig by practicing the “generation” and “dissolution” stages of Vajrayana meditation. Generation is creating the visualization of the deity. One then chants Chenrezig’s mantra “Om Mani Padme Hung.” Finally, one dissolves the visualization into emptiness. The deity yoga practices are begun with Opening Prayers and concluded with Closing Prayers. Drupon will give instructions on how to do the practice, then give the Chenrezig empowerment. We will spend much of the rest of the retreat time doing the practice. There will also be time for questions and answers.
Drupon Thinley Ningpo has studied Buddhist philosophy for many years, and was well- respected as the monastery disciplinarian for several years at Jangchub Ling, Drikung Kagyu’s head monastery in exile in India. After this, he accomplished the traditional three-year retreat at Almora, India, during which he studied and practiced the Five-fold Path of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. He was awarded the title “Drupon,” or retreat master based on these accomplishments. Drupon is the Retreat Master for Phuntsok Dargye Ling, the retreat center for Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick, Maryland.