4:00pm: We arrive in silence, open the shrine, recite the Kagyu Lineage Chant in Tibetan and an
English version of the "Four Reminders from Jamgön Kongtrül the Great", and start silent
meditation. We try to avoid conversations because that would stimulate discursive mind. We
always start on time, and people who arrive a few minutes late know exactly what they will find and
what to do by looking at the clock.
4:10-4:20pm:
4:20-4:30pm:
4:30-4:40pm:
Two or three 10 minute periods of shamatha, each period marked by a gong. We encourage using
different shamatha techniques, typically different objects of meditation or formless shamatha if
one's stability permits. Our texts and online manual provided over a dozen to choose from, and
there are dozens more available. Occasionally we do a somatic exercise, perhaps vase breathing,
belly rotations, or some other related technique to compare the effects with a traditional shamatha
practice.
RATIONALE: Shamatha (Tibetan shinay) calms the mind prior to performing mahamudra
investigations. Different techniques and objects of shamatha seem to suit different mental states.
The practice of picking different forms of shamatha seems to increase one's prajna, one's ability to
perceive one's own mental state and prescribe an appropriate meditation remedy. Perhaps this
ultimately makes it easier to examine one's mind during investigations. Short periods have worked
well for us.
4:40pm: (about 3-5 minutes):
Someone reads the instructions for today's specific mahamudra investigation. These instructions
may be drawn from the online mahamudra study guide . The particular investigations are usually
known in advance, and participants often have worked on them before our group practice session.
People occasionally ask detail questions about how to do the investigation, but we avoid
conversations or stories at this point.
4:45-4:55pm:
4:55-5:05pm:
Two or three short periods of mahamudra vipashyana (Tibetan lhagtong) investigations, each
period of 8-10 minutes marked by a gong. We work on the specific investigation that was read out
loud, and try to come back to it when our minds wander. Sometimes we find we can just rest for a
while in a simple experience of ordinary mind. As Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche wrote, "Short moments,
repeated many times."
5:05-5:25pm (approximately):
We take turns describing our findings from doing the investigations. We often find that we have
short moments of insight interspersed with longer periods of frustration or discursive mind. Then
we tie the results of this investigation to the text. If the investigation went well for most people, we
move on to the next one for the next session. Sometimes we agree to stick with a particularly
challenging or juicy one for another week.
The coordinator tries to keep the talk connected to the particular investigation of the day. We
avoid broad discussions about Buddhism, the meaning of life, or our emotional states until after the
end of our practice session.
5:30pm:
Close with a long life prayer for our teacher and the Kagyu Buddhist "Dedication of Merit" in Tibetan.
English version of the "Four Reminders from Jamgön Kongtrül the Great", and start silent
meditation. We try to avoid conversations because that would stimulate discursive mind. We
always start on time, and people who arrive a few minutes late know exactly what they will find and
what to do by looking at the clock.
4:10-4:20pm:
4:20-4:30pm:
4:30-4:40pm:
Two or three 10 minute periods of shamatha, each period marked by a gong. We encourage using
different shamatha techniques, typically different objects of meditation or formless shamatha if
one's stability permits. Our texts and online manual provided over a dozen to choose from, and
there are dozens more available. Occasionally we do a somatic exercise, perhaps vase breathing,
belly rotations, or some other related technique to compare the effects with a traditional shamatha
practice.
RATIONALE: Shamatha (Tibetan shinay) calms the mind prior to performing mahamudra
investigations. Different techniques and objects of shamatha seem to suit different mental states.
The practice of picking different forms of shamatha seems to increase one's prajna, one's ability to
perceive one's own mental state and prescribe an appropriate meditation remedy. Perhaps this
ultimately makes it easier to examine one's mind during investigations. Short periods have worked
well for us.
4:40pm: (about 3-5 minutes):
Someone reads the instructions for today's specific mahamudra investigation. These instructions
may be drawn from the online mahamudra study guide . The particular investigations are usually
known in advance, and participants often have worked on them before our group practice session.
People occasionally ask detail questions about how to do the investigation, but we avoid
conversations or stories at this point.
4:45-4:55pm:
4:55-5:05pm:
Two or three short periods of mahamudra vipashyana (Tibetan lhagtong) investigations, each
period of 8-10 minutes marked by a gong. We work on the specific investigation that was read out
loud, and try to come back to it when our minds wander. Sometimes we find we can just rest for a
while in a simple experience of ordinary mind. As Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche wrote, "Short moments,
repeated many times."
5:05-5:25pm (approximately):
We take turns describing our findings from doing the investigations. We often find that we have
short moments of insight interspersed with longer periods of frustration or discursive mind. Then
we tie the results of this investigation to the text. If the investigation went well for most people, we
move on to the next one for the next session. Sometimes we agree to stick with a particularly
challenging or juicy one for another week.
The coordinator tries to keep the talk connected to the particular investigation of the day. We
avoid broad discussions about Buddhism, the meaning of life, or our emotional states until after the
end of our practice session.
5:30pm:
Close with a long life prayer for our teacher and the Kagyu Buddhist "Dedication of Merit" in Tibetan.
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Last updated: 13 Mar 11
| "Mind is so overwhelmed by its clarity that it fails to recognize its emptiness." - Thrangu Rinpoche |
Our Current Work
Typical Session Schedule
For 2010-2011 we meet once each month for a six hour retreat in a private
home. The basic schedule for these sessions is described here.
From 2005-2010 we met from 4:00-5:30pm on Sunday evenings in a small
shrine room. The following schedule applied to all vipashyana sessions held
after completing the initial shamatha training. During the first few weeks we
focused on learning a variety of new shamatha techniques described in the
texts, with a slightly different schedule.
For 2010-2011 we meet once each month for a six hour retreat in a private
home. The basic schedule for these sessions is described here.
From 2005-2010 we met from 4:00-5:30pm on Sunday evenings in a small
shrine room. The following schedule applied to all vipashyana sessions held
after completing the initial shamatha training. During the first few weeks we
focused on learning a variety of new shamatha techniques described in the
texts, with a slightly different schedule.