“The establishment of the three year retreat, or in Tibetan, drupta, is the fruition and sign of the ripening of my aspiration and karma. Although I had no intention of settling in America, the winds of karma blew me here and karmic glue made me stick. I had no expectation when I came that my activities would result in anything, nor did I have the motivation for personal material benefit. In addition, I have no special personal qualities. However, in spite of all this, incredible progress has been made in a very short time. There is absolutely no doubt that this is the result of the blessings of my teachers, the power of the dharma, and the ripening of our karma together.

My motivation has always been to offer to those of you in the West the gift of dharma. I have done so with my meager, limited ability and all of my life’s energy. Even though through this effort I am getting to the point of total exhaustion, I am still happy and have no regrets. I am full of joy and gratitude that dharma is taking root in this country. Without the support of the sangha none of this would be possible. It seems that the combination of our motivation together has a kind of pure energy and positive effect that manifests incredible and miraculous things.

This is the cause of our rapid progress in establishing the dharma. Clearly we have planted positive seeds of aspiration and pure samaya together in the past.

Twenty years ago no one in the West had even heard of such an idea as a three year retreat. Now we have retreatants in drupta who with great dedication and pure motivation are directing all their energy and effort towards the attainment of enlightenment. Try to imagine these people as they practice twelve hours a day every day without even a weekend off. This is inspiring!

I am very pleased that the first five people who entered drupta in 1992 have now completed their three year retreat. Those who knew them before can see how much they have changed and those just meeting them for the first time can directly benefit from their experience and practice. This can enrich our own practice and encourage future retreatants.

Through the compassion and blessing of Guru Rinpoche and our own good fortune, drupta has been established. Although only a few have the opportunity to practice with this kind of depth and intensity, we are all supporting them equally whether our connection appears direct or indirect. We are all involved and inseparably connected with the retreatants because we are sangha. Their practice and our support is intermixed like a drop of water in a vast ocean. The motivation of each of us is contributing to the great accumulation of merit.

Our tendency is to have a material view, thinking that the retreatants are practicing and we outside are not.

However, we are all connected within the same mandala, supporters and supported alike. We should be rejoicing and generating positive thoughts.

Milarepa said the yogi who meditates on the mountain and the sponsor who supports the yogi can attain enlightenment together through their interdependent connection and purity of their motivation.

Therefore, I will dedicate all our merit towards the enlightenment of all beings without making any distinction between sponsors and retreatants. I hope we can all hold the retreatants in our hears and make offerings and contributions whenever possible for all our accumulation of merit and wisdom.”

~ Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

Source:
Lotus Light News
from the Vajrayana Foundation
Vol 4 No1 .January 1997

Take Refuge in Retreat

Today is the first day of Fall, a perfect time
to make plans for a meditation retreat.

We have two special opportunities for personal practice in our Three-Year Retreat (Drubdra) facility. The current group of retreatants has graduated and a new group will not be starting until after Losar in 2024, making this sacred space available.

• Serious students will be able to do 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year long retreats beginning in February 2024.

• Practitioners will be able to do short retreats for 1 week to 3 months, between October 2023 and February 1, 2024.

The facility contains a beautiful shrine room, private cabins, and shared kitchen and bathrooms. These cabins may be rented by practitioners in any lineage, upon approval by our resident lamas. Limited personal instruction by Drubpon Pema Rigdzin can be arranged.

This is a perfect time to finish your Ngondro accumulations before the 2024 Trekchod Retreat, complete a Vajra Armor healing retreat, or focus on accomplishing a deity practice.

Find out more here. To apply, please fill out the Personal Retreat Questionnaire and email it to the Dharma Programs office.

Make your life more meaningful by prioritizing practice,
Your Dharma friends at Pema Osel Ling

Source:
Vajrayana Foundation 09-22-2023
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