2024 Sharavasti meditation retreats with Ani Chodron
Please join us for HH Drikung Kyabgon’s Chetsang’s dynamic, newly expanded meditation curriculum: Sarasvati Meditation Retreat! Ani Chodron will teach an ancient Technique of Meditation developing Mindfulness of breath, based on Anapanasati Sutra, the origin of which comes from the Buddha. The practice of Mindfulness of breath is revived in the Drikung Kagyu Tradition thanks to efforts of H.H. The Drikung Kyabgon Chetsangp. This course will also include instructions and techniques that His Holiness has given in the course of Shravasti Meditation Retreat to his disciples.
According to the text, the practice consists of four Progressive Meditation Stages starting from Meditation on coarse sensations of the body by observing the mind. During the meditation sessions we will also experience Tibetan Yoga exercises recommended by His Holiness, which clean the channels, calm the winds and make meditation stable and clear. For beginner meditators we will cover the basics of meditation posture, sitting techniques and use of the meditation belt. This is the first time we are teaching in the US and Mexico. The meditation course is based on the teacher’s course which Ani Chodron received from His Holiness in the 10-Day Teacher’s retreat November 2023 in Sarasvati India. Tow Four-Day retreats are being offered in April 2024.
April 4,5,6,7 (tentative to be confirmed—may be postponed) at DKC in Escondido and April 25,26,27,28 (confirmed) in Mexico City
The Sarasvati curriculum integrates the traditional Buddhist fundamentals of Calm Abiding and Insight Meditation, commentary from both ancient scriptures and Kagyu Masters, ancient yogic practices of somatic learning and walking meditation. It is for new and continuing students, with key instructions for all practitioners to clarify and deepen their practice. His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang has introduced this meditation as an easy but comprehensive mind training approach following the Sutra of Mindfulness of Breathing taught by the Buddha in Sarasvati while illuminating and supplementing it with teachings and techniques from Vipassana, Zen, and Mahamudra & Dzogchen traditions. This healthy, well-balanced mind training method is suitable for everybody in this modern-day life. The purpose of these sessions is also to deepen our understanding of our own mind to expand our innate loving kindness, compassion, and bodhicitta through study, contemplation, and meditation. These silent sessions create conducive conditions for wisdom to arise.
Each 4-day program is designed to offer each student the rare opportunity to deepen familiar practices of concentration and compassion and develop new levels of understanding through Ani Chodron’s instruction and concentrated times for sitting, walking, eating, and resting meditation. “Through extensive meditation training and holding silent contemplation throughout the day, our undistracted minds reveal their natural warmth and wisdom. We move gradually from states of confusion to inherent wisdom. You may not fully understand all of the subtle levels of meditation instructions at first, but if you commit to fully engaging with your heart and mind, you will set into motion a life-long path of practice that has the potential to expand as you grow in understanding.”
HH Drikung Kyabgon
His Holiness’s Vision: The Shravasti Meditation curriculum was designed by H.H. Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang as a nonsectarian introduction to meditation for 21st-century practitioners and for a life-long practice. It begins with Calm Abiding Meditation and Insight Meditation using the Sutra on Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapati sutra) as a structure. This sutra is Buddha’s actual meditation instructions to his students. This modern meditation system, that His Holiness developed, incorporates the views of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana in a clear and accessible format which he named Shravasti, after the sacred site where Buddha transmitted most of the Sutras. During COVID His Holiness had the opportunity to reflect deeply upon the training adding more detail, sutra references and personal instruction in meditation and its stages of understanding. The result is a more comprehensive evolution of meditation instructions. This profound practice segues naturally into advanced understanding regarding the nondual nature of reality found in Mahamudra, Dzogchen and the completion stages of Vajrayana. The program curriculum incorporates yoga, QuiGon and meditation exercises for a complete practice which engages our Body, Speech and Mind.
Ani Chodron was trained personally by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang to teach this curriculum in 2023. She traveled to Sharavasti to join a group of around 200 disciples for His Holiness’s teacher’s training course. In this final course taught by His Holiness, he presented the newly expanded curriculum in Shravasti, India and asked those in attendence to please carry on these meditaiton teachings and practices.
Why His Holiness created this curriculum:
“Among the three tools the Buddha taught for cultivating wisdom: listening, contemplation, and meditation, meditation is often neglected. Many people dedicate their entire life to studying Buddhism, but fail to practice what the Buddha taught.
“Among the three tools the Buddha taught for cultivating wisdom (i.e., listening, contemplation, and meditation), meditation is often neglected. Many people dedicate their entire life to studying Buddhism, but fail to practice what the Buddha taught. There are many meditation approaches. For example, we Tibetans have the common and uncommon preliminaries. During the traditional three-year retreat, various approaches to meditation are also taught. However, most people mainly focus on completing the required number of accumulations while neglecting the essence of these practices: keeping our mind undisturbed!
Teacher’s training program at the Drikung Center in Taiwan
“Many practitioners have attended advanced teachings on Dzogchen or Mahamudra without being able able to meditate with a single-pointed mind for 10 or even 5 minutes. Meditation is not easy. You should start with calm-abiding to stabilize your mind and, if possible, attend a Shravasti Meditation retreat, not only to receive teachings, but to whole-heartedly engage in meditation practice and increase your ability to stabilize your mind. The Shravasti Meditation is an integrated meditation approach that relies directly on the Buddha’s words as the source of instruction. It is based on the Anapanasati Sutta (Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing).” HHDKC
What is the Curriculum/Training?
For the traditional 10-day retreat, please see below. We will modify slightly for our 4-Day introductory course.
The Shravasti curiculum is a nondenominational, nonsectarian Buddhist meditation system suitable for non Buddhists as well. Ideally it is a ten day residential immersion into progressive stages of meditation. In such a setting, students immerse themselves in a strict schedule, experiencing the meditation (typically) from 5:00 AM to 9 PM. This is a traditional retreat schedule such as you would find in 3 year retreats. Students keep the monastic practice of not taking an evening meal, as it leads to better concentration. Each morning begins with reading the Sutra on Awareness of Breathing, a combination of yogic exercises and meditation. There are five meditation sessions each day structured around the Sutra’s 16 contemplations on breath practice, along with 45 minutes of walking meditation in the early afternoon. One or more Dharma talks per day provide insight into the subtlety of Buddha’s instructions. The focus on the meditation practice for 10 days provides a thorough foundation for continued practice. The Shravasti system is intended to be a complete practice path.
What to expect while on this retreat ?
Retreat Philosophy
Every aspect of the retreat reflects the long retreat tradition of the Drikung Kagyu and His Holiness’s thoughtfulness applied to every aspect. The schedule, vegetarian diet, and silence have been proven effective for supporting deep concentration, mindfulness, and ethical conduct. We invite simple, modest, neutral clothes with no patterns. And please wear loose, not ‘tight fitting’ pants. At future retreats, we may suggest specific yoga uniforms,
Daily Retreat Activities
The daily schedule was designed by His Holiness and reflects a traditional Tibetan Retreat, as done in three-year retreat centers and caves. We combine Dharma talks, extensive sitting meditation, yogic exercises, and walking meditation. Over the course of the retreat, Ani Chodron will guide students in a progressive understanding of meditation, leading to subtle investigation of our minds. Although we are in silence, you can write meditation questions for Ani Chodron at any time.
The retreat is conducted in Noble Silence
After the orientation we begin noble silence. If you need help or wish to ask a question before the last session, you can write a note. In cases of family emergency, your friends or family will be provided with a contact person who can get that message to you and vice versa. Noble Silence is more than not speaking. It is a practice of insight and compassion for ourself and other retreatants. Watching our minds and holding stillness, we become familiar with ways we distract ourselves and pull others out of their mindfulness. Using Noble Silence, retreatants create an environment that supports focus on and absorption of the teachings. Noble Silence includes a media pause—phones, smart watches, and all electronics are left with the retreat management and picked up at the end of the retreat. While on retreat, students do not communicate within the retreat or outside of the retreat. Hand signals, facial expressions, and mouthing language are all examples of unnecessary communication.
Shared Rooms
The rooms are similar to a monastery as well. It is not a hotel. We will have shared rooms. As we are in silence, there should not be any problems with roommates.
Food
Concentration is supported by light food in the evenings, so our main meal is served at lunch. We will serve vegetarian meals. There will be sufficient varieties so that vegans and other special dietary needs are accommodated within the meals as prepared. If you are following an unusual diet, you can store limited supplemental food in the dining area in plastic containers that you bring with you. At times, the facilities may be shared, and in this case, meals will be staggered so that we can maintain silence while eating.
Cost and Offering
The spirit of generosity, foundational to the Buddhist path, guides Drikung Kyobpa Choling’s mission of peace, practice, and service as well as operational upkeep of the center and to provide for our resident monastics and programs.
The Registration fee includes an offering. The amount for the retreat is being finalized and will be shared soon. The cost covers room and board, our Ani Chodron’s room and board (for Mexico), and a contribution towards essential DKC out-of-pocket administration fees for preparing the retreat.
A deposit of (tbd) is due before (tbd), but please register now to reserve your spot. DKC Mexico is required to make a deposit to the retreat facility to secure our retreat dates. The cancellation policy is also being finalized and the Registration process/page will be available soon. We have a fixed number of available beds (onsite) for each program. These retreats will not be available online, but for in-person only.
After you register, we will provide a list of ‘What to bring” and What is not needed. We thank you in advance for your interest in these special retreats being offered which help to fulfil His Holiness’s vision and to designed to bring growth to your spiritual practice and mediation.
Ani Chodron at the Drikung Monastery in Sharvasti India where she recieved the teachings and instruction from His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang.
Join us for this special 4-Day meditation retreat to enhance your meditation and bring more awareness, calm abiding and wisdom into your daily life.