The sole medicine for the suffering of all beings,
And the source of all happiness,
May the Buddhadharma be upheld, honoured and remain,
For a very long time.– Śāntideva (India, 8th Century)
Introduction
The world and the mental processes experiencing this world are both results of a confused and chaotic state of mind.
In order to be free from all chaos, liberated from all confusions, we need to bring our mind to an optimum level of clarity through meditation.
The basic principle of all meditation practices is Shiné. This is why it is essential and relevant for anybody, no matter on which level they are, or even if they are Buddhist or not. In order to realize the true nature of self-cognizant awareness, Shiné is quintessential, not just as a foundation, but also in any practice throughout the paths.
Course Prerequisites
In order to participate in the retreat with its special focus on Shiné practice, you do not need to have prior experience or the completion of practices, such as Ngöndro or Lojong. However, you must have taken refuge in the Three Jewels, or must be willing to take part in the refuge-taking ceremony on the first day of the retreat.
Format
This retreat will be presided over and guided by Sabchu Rinpoché. We will be gathering as a group of like-minded Buddhist practitioners, practicing together for seven consecutive days. The format of the retreat will be that of the traditional Three Years retreat, but in a much, much smaller scale. Some of the overlapping elements include maintaining six sessions a day, setting and observing retreat boundaries, maintaining silence and, on specified days, upholding Sojong vows.
After an optional dinner, the retreat will commence on the evening of Saturday, September 7th, with an overview of the retreat guideline and an introduction to Shiné. The program will end late on the 14th. Breakfast on Sunday, September 15th, will be the last meal offered during this retreat. Please register only if you are able to participate in the complete retreat.
Place
This retreat will take place in Grundstein Neukirchen, an assembly of houses just 250 meters from a natural beach on the Baltic Sea near Flensburg, Germany
Schedule
Düntsam 3 is basically a seven-day retreat, and, additionally, an extra arrival day and departure day. The schedule for arrival and departure day is just a vague approximation, accommodating individual plans. However, because the first session starts in the evening of Saturday, 7th of September, please make sure to arrive no later than 6:00 p.m.
The seven full retreat days (Sun-Sat), however, have a definite structure: Every retreat day includes 6 sessions, each session spanning between 50 and 90 minutes. There will be a short Tārā and a Smoke Offering practice in the morning and a short dharmapāla and Chenrezig practice in the evening.
After 10:30 p.m., as most participants will probably be sleeping, you are expected to keep silence in your room and in the corridors. For further details about the schedule and general etiquette, please study the guideline page. You will get a link to this page after the registration.
Since there will be a full moon during our retreat time, we will also be practicing Mahāyāna Sojong on the 13th. On our final day, the 14th, there will be a celebration where everybody is invited to offer an appropriate contribution.
Throughout the retreat time, the main focus will be Shiné. Sabchu Rinpoché, who is known for his subtle, eloquent, creative, and humorous style, will be teaching us in English, with a translator providing German translation. In addition to the formal teachings in which he will be drawing from a wide range of sources, he will also be making himself available for any questions participants might have or that might arise, in a spontaneous and informal way, or also in the slightly more formal and private setting of one-on-one interviews.
Readings
The 14th Shamarpa gave a teaching on this very topic in France in May 2014, shortly before his parinirvāṇa. If you can make time for it, Sabchu Rinpoché recommends that you familiarize yourself with the topic by reading the transcript of the teaching.
Practice Texts
There will be a Düntsam Practice Booklet for daily use during the retreat, copies of which will be available on site for those who attend Düntsam for the first time. This booklet contains most of the practices, except Chenrezigpractice and Calling the Guru from Afar (by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye), so please bring these two practice texts with you.
What else you should bring
You will also need to bring your meditation cushion and mat, plus a small table for your text.
The venue of the retreat provides only the essentials at a bare minimum standard. You will need to bring your own towels and bedsheets, plus any toiletries you may need.
Physical Conditions
You have the choice to sit on a cushion cross-legged or on a chair. If you need to use a chair, you are welcome to sit on a chair. If and when you are physically unable to attend one or more sessions on a day, Rinpoché expects you to inform him as a courtesy to the retreat master. He will then give alternative options for you to still practice without physically attending in the group setting.
If you have any questions, you can always write to us at movingduntsam@gmail.com for further information.