3-Year Retreat
3 Year Retreat
ལོ་གསུམ་ཕྱོགས་གསུམ་
Next 3 Year Retreat at the Garchen Buddhist Institute begins the end of August 2023.
Retreat Master:
We are so fortunate that Drupön Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche has agreed to lead another 3 year retreat group as the retreat master. For more information on Drupön, please read his bio by following this link: https://garchen.net/teachers-2/
Application Process:
Is Closed for the 2023 three year retreat. If you are interested to attend a future three year retreat please email us for an application.
We can only accept U.S. citizens for this retreat because of visa restrictions. For practitioners interested please send your inquires to questions@garchen.net to receive an information packet and application.
May All Beings Benefit!
The Importance of a Three-Year-Retreat
It has to be emphasized that having attained a human body is an extraordinary precious opportunity because it’s suitable to attain liberation. However not only does it not remain for a long period of time, but one can die at any moment, as the life-span isn’t definite. After death, consciousness does not become non-existent but rather is controlled by karma which determines one’s next incarnation – whether it is with or without a form.
In samsara beings are constantly facing unwanted suffering and looking for methods that can liberate. However simply wishing not to suffer is not sufficient. It is only through the authentic practice of the sublime Dharma that stable unchanging happiness can be achieved. Therefore, it is of great importance not to waste your precious human life on worldly affairs but rather engage in the retreat practice.
What is being practiced in the 3 year retreat is the innermost essence of all the sutras, tantras and commentaries, and the oral instructions based on experiences and realizations in an unbroken continuum from Vajradhara up to the present day; the heart essence of the teachings of the former Kagyü masters, in particular those of the glorious Phagmodrupa, Jigten Sumgön and their spiritual heirs.
If the opportunity to carry out the practice of the short path through which buddhahood can be obtained within one life-time arises for fortunate disciples, it is a rare circumstance. The five-fold path of Mahamudra along with the profound path of the six Dharmas of Naropa all include key points of the path.
As more and more people practice bodhicitta, it will pervade and change the whole world. It is so very important to have a place where this practice is permitted and can be cultivated. The Garchen Buddhist Institute enables people to cultivate bodhicitta by offering 3-year retreat continuously. Love can only be cultivated if you practice bodhicitta, and if even one in ten of them generates bodhicitta it will benefit the whole world.
Gar Konchog Gyaltsen, Septemper 5th, 2011
The Significance of Retreat in the Drikung Kagyu Tradition
In general, in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism as compared to other lineages, there is a stronger emphasis on meditation practice. It is therefore considered and called a practice lineage. The Drikung Kagyu Lineage in particular focuses strongly on practice. At the main Drikung Kagyu Seat of Drikung Densa Thil in Tibet, since its founding in 1179, there was and still exists a retreat center divided in a western and an eastern section.
Many Mahasiddhas (great accomplished masters) have emerged from this retreat center, among them Nongar Chösum, Guya Gangpa, Yakru Paldrak, Dorzin Gowoche, Rinchen Drakpa, Dudul Phurpa and so forth. For more than 800 years this tradition confirms the continuity of the practice lineage. Recently, in the 20th Century, there were in Drikung Thil the well known Mahasiddhas Agon Rinpoche and Pachung Rinpoche.
When the Dharmalord Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön, the founder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage, reached the age of 70, the protector of the three holy places of Chakrasamvara at Lapchi, Tsari, and Mount Kailash came to Jigten Sumgön and requested to send Yogis to these three holy places which are the abodes of the enlightened body, speech, and mind of Chakrasamvara. Consequently Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon sent hundreds and thousands of practitioners to Lapchi, Tsari, and Mount Kailash in three different stages of times. In the end Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön had sent to each of these holy places more than fifty thousand Yogis.
Since 1979, a strong effort was undertaken in the Drikung Kagyu Tradition to re-establish and continue this practice tradition. Many retreat centers in various Drikung Kagyu Monasteries in Tibet, Nepal, and Ladakh have been renovated or newly constructed, as well as in India at Jangchubling Monastery in Dehradun and in Almora. In order to keep alive this precious tradition of retreat in our practice lineage also outside of Tibet, we have started to build in the western world major retreat centers which represent the holy places of Mount Kailash, Lapchi, and Tsari.
In general the Dharma is interdependent, and in particular Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön said: “The Drikungpa are empowered with the law of interdependent origination.” Therefore we associated the names of the three holy retreat places Kailash, Lapchi and Tsari with three main retreat centers in the West, so that the practitioner will receive the blessing power and meet success without obstacles.
I sincerely hope and pray that this practice tradition may be well rooted at the various retreat centers, bear the fruits of enlightenment, and benefit many sentient beings.
With blessings,
Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Thrinle Lhundrup, March 2012
Three Year Retreat – 2023
Starting the beginning of 2023, Drupon Rachel Dodds and Giorgio Savigliano will guide the second Three Year Retreat at the Milarepa Retreat Center. Drupon Rachel has been authorized by His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche as Drupon of the Milarepa Retreat Center with authority to lead the three year retreat and give empowerments.
Click here to view more info.