2025 Nung-Nay Chenrezig retreat with Khenpo Tenzin
March 15th & 16th 9am to 6pm with Onsite accommodations available as space permits
Practice Description
Nyung-Nay retreat involves one-thousand-armed Chenrezig practice with visualization and recitation of the long and short Compassion Mantras. This Dharma practice is for the development of great love and compassion for all sentient beings. It is beneficial for beginners and advanced Dharma practitioners to deepen their practice and, through the blessings of the 2-day retreat, greatly increases and strengthens their Bodhicitta, the crucial essence for the attainment of Enlightenment. It is also a great healing, physically and mentally, and brings long life and good fortune to all.
Nyung-Nay (or “Fasting Retreat” in English) is a Vajrayana practice from the Kriya (“Action”) class of Tantra. It is a powerful, quick and effective method to purify a lot of negativities and at the same time collect a vast amount of merit. Meditators of the past have been known to purify such diseases as leprosy through this practice. However, the principal purpose of the practice is the attainment of supreme Enlightenment for the benefit of all living beings.
During the retreat participants take the 8 Mahayana precepts (for the retreat duration) and strictly observe fasting and silence vows. This 2-Day retreat is for full time participants only, either in-person or online (remote). Dharma students (visitors) can join in for recitation at any time, but to actually do the retreat, one needs to attend full-time. Please carefully read all the details below to know what to expect during the retreat.
On the first day of the Nyung-Nay, we take the 8 Mahayana Precepts: avoidance of killing, stealing, sexual activity, telling lies, taking intoxicants, eating more than one meal, singing/dancing/playing music, wearing jewelry and using high seats or beds. We recite the 1000-Arm Chenrezig practice together, recite mantras, make prostrations and other prayers.
On the second day, we take the 8 Mahayana Precepts as above and with the additional vows of not eating, drinking or speaking for 24 hours. Although we vow to keep silence, we continue to recite the prayers and mantras of the sadhana. If communication between participants is necessary, it must be done through writing notes. We recite the 1000-Arm Chenrezig practice together, make prostrations and other prayers.
The second day is the most difficult part of the retreat. We experience (some) hunger, thirst, tiredness and (possibly) pain or discomfort from doing prostrations. Some people may feel ill from the fasting. However, if we understand the purpose of the practice, we will not mind the discomfort. By experiencing hardships in our Dharma practice, we are able to purify a great deal of our negative karma accumulated over countless previous lives. We can also build up positive habits and states of mind to counteract the negative ones. The Buddha advised the “middle way” – not too soft, not too tough. During Nyung Nay, we do experience some discomfort, but it is bearable and not too tough. By experiencing this discomfort, we have a better understanding of the suffering experienced by animals, hungry ghosts, and some humans, and thus can develop greater compassion for sentient beings, and greater renunciation of samsara. (See notes below regarding prostrations for more detail).
BENEFITS OF NYUNG-NAY RETREAT
Nyung-Nay is a very powerful and profound means for karma purification and merit accumulation within a short period of time. It pacifies all kinds of obstacles on the path to enlightenment and brings about swift transformation in one’s spiritual practice. It is particularly beneficial in healing various karmic sicknesses and helps one to develop great compassion. The fasting of the Body (without food and drink), purifies the body’s obscurations and heals the body. The fasting of the Speech (mantra recitations with not speaking), purifies the speech’s obscurations and the negative karma from our words. The fasting of Mind (visualization and meditation), purifies the mind’s obscurations and enhances clarity. Purification is possible due to the power of one-thousand-armed Chenrezig’s compassion and extraordinary blessings as well as our motivation, faith and devotion. When such causes and conditions come together, a true purification inevitably takes place.
Brief History of the Practice:
The Nyung-Nay Retreat is based upon the sadhana of Gelongma Palmo’s tradition. According to some sources, Gelongma Palmo (Bhikshuni Lakshmi) was the princess of Oddiyana, who renounced the palace and became a fully ordained nun. She was extremely learned and endowed with extraordinary beauty, but later was plagued with the dreadful disease of leprosy. Through rigorous and intensive and ascetic practice of fasting, recitations and meditation on Avalokiteshvara, she cured her leprosy and became even more radiant and beautiful than before. From there, the profound Nyung-Nay practice lineage of Gelongma Palmo has since been passed down and spread widely throughout the Himalayan world.
For our retreat, we will follow the text of The Great Compassionate One of the Royal Tradition, which is based mainly on the Mani Kabum. This text was composed by HH Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang in the manner of the teachings of Rigdzin Chodrak. His Holiness led this retreat in Escondido in 1999, which was the first-time outside India and Tibet. The 1999 Drubchen retreat was organized by DKC and held at the Escondido Art Center (before our new monastery was built).
Frequently asked questions
Precepts are to be kept for the next 24 hours, which include strict rules for fasting and silence vows specific to Nyung-Nay practice. This is required to attend the retreat.
Prostrations: Everyone can do prostrations at their own pace during the time allocated for prostrations. There is not a set number to be completed in each session. Once per session we will prostrate for about 15-20 minutes while chanting the Praise to Chenrezig. The instruction is that we should prostrate to the best of our ability. If you can do full prostrations, that is best. If you can only do the kneeling (half) prostration, please do those. If your body cannot prostrate at all, sit and chant the Praise while visualizing yourself prostrating – if you have a prayer wheel, spinning it at this time is very good (if you are sitting).
Fasting: The aim of this retreat is to give us a small idea of the suffering that so many other beings are experiencing, so some level of discomfort is normal and it’s a great opportunity to transform it into a meaningful experience.
Eating food: It’s a good idea not to overeat at lunchtime on the first day. It can result in a slowing process of the digestive system that makes it more difficult to complete the afternoon sessions.
Fasting & Silence
Day 1 – March 15
• You may eat breakfast and lunch only. Lunchtime will be between 12-1pm.
• No food of any kind after lunch is finished.
• Meals should not contain meat, eggs, onion, garlic, radish.
• You may drink liquids all day long.
• You may speak until you fall asleep. Silence begins when you sleep. However, it’s good to aim for ‘moderate’ speaking during the day.
Day 2 – March 16
• No speaking. No eating. No drinking (except water if needed) until after the ending session. After that, when you go home, you can partake, or you can wait until the next (early) morning depending on your health considerations before you eat or drink. The second day is the actual fasting day, where one must continue the practice without food and drink for 24 hours, with strict observation of the Eight Precepts, and the full abstinence from casual chatting. The fasting shall end at early dawn of the third day (if you can), otherwise it will be sufficient to complete at the end of the last session on Day 2.
• If you cannot fast for health reasons, it is possible to do the practice as a Nyine, where eating and drinking small amounts is permissible. Food should be simple, with no meat, eggs, onions, garlic, radish. Liquids must be clear (herbal tea, water; apple juice is ok, orange juice is not.)
Prostrations
Once per session we will prostrate for about 15-20 minutes while chanting the Praise to Chenrezig. The instruction is that we should prostrate to the best of our ability. If you can do full prostrations, that is best. If you can only do the kneeling (half) prostration, please do those. If your body cannot prostrate at all, sit and chant the Praise while visualizing yourself prostrating – if you have a prayer wheel, spinning it at this time is very good (if you are sitting).
Blessed Water
Every morning you will purify yourself with blessed water (see Sadhana Instructions). Those who are attending in-person will receive the blessed water. For those remote (online) to make this water, place clean water in a clean vessel with a few grains and saffron. Rinse out your mouth and spit the excess out.
What to bring
Mala to be used for Chenrezig mantra – best is crystal (if you have). Otherwise, any other wood or stone mala.
Dharma book to read during break times
Clean clothes. Clothing should be comfortable and loose-fitting.
Thermos, if you like
If desired, additional nutritious food (such as nuts, dried fruit, energy bars) to supplement the one meal on the first day. And any special drinks such as rehydration salts.
1000-Arm Chenrezig — Buddha of compassion
This retreat is a wonderful method to accumulate merit and purify negative deeds & actions
Join with Khenpo Tenzin, Ani Tanzin and Ani Chodron
What to expect while on this retreat ?
The 2nd day of the retreat is conducted in Noble Silence
When we are not reciting prayers or mantras, we will hold Noble Silence which 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.
Shared Rooms
DKC offers shared rooms for those who registered to stay over night. See registration page for more details. As we are (primarily) in silence, there should not be any problems with roommates.
Food
On Saturday, our main meal is served at lunch. We will serve vegetarian meals. We will also offer gluten free if you signed up for that in advance. 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. On Sunday, it is a fasting day, so no meals will be offered. If needed, you can partake in water or juice.
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 the daily retreat, room and board depending on your registration selection.
A deposit is due before, so please use the registration page to reserve your spot. This retreats will ALSO available online for those who are remote or not able to attend in-person.
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 retreat.
Self-Risen 1000-Arm Chenrezig statue.
Join us for this special 2-Day retreat to enhance your meditation and bring more compassion, awareness, calm abiding and wisdom into your daily life.