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(Click for Dudjom Rinpoche poem read at the retreat by Michael Brownstein)
Tsoknyi Rinpoche held a month-long retreat/practice session in Crestone during September 2008. Nearly 80 people attended, each of whom had previously attended four or more 6-day retreats with Rinpoche as a prerequisite. This was the first long retreat held for westerners on the Yeshe Rangsal retreat land. Attendees kept a 10-hour per day meditation and teaching schedule, with strict discipline as a primary emphasis. Rinpoche taught deeply from The Flight of the Garuda, and gave the full transmission (lung) for it, as well as for all volumes of The Light of Wisdom. Chokyi Nyima (Richard Barron) translated nearly all of The Flight of the Garuda teachings, to the great delight of all students. Rinpoche taught nearly three hours every morning and held small groups wherein he gave instructions on ngondro, deity practice, and dzogchen. All students had one brief interview with Rinpoche in order to receive personal instructions. He told students at the end of the retreat that it had gone well, and he was pleased that everyone kept to the practice schedule and disciplines. Despite the challenges of loss of water, electricity, and frequent rain, all retreatants were able to complete the month-long session. Tsoknyi Rinpoche plans to teach again in 2009, to build upon the teachings already given.
Rinpoche had a full teaching schedule during August/September 2008 with two retreats in Crestone (The 4 Dharmas of Gampopa, and Development and Completion Stage of Deity Practice) followed by the Month-long, then the Nature of Mind Retreat held at Tara Mandala.
Retreat Manager Gary announces the presence of bears, mountain lions, water shortages, and dangerous rabbits, mainly for the benefit of citified visitors to this wild countryside.
Prior to the translator's arrival, Rinpoche spent the first five days of the retreat answering questions about practical life matters and practice questions.
Giving the transmission for the entire Light of Wisdom and Flight of the Garuda
The Desert Sage Restaurant hosts Pundarika's first tsok, with Khenpo Jigme of Vajra Vidya attending; the tsok was an abbreviated version from the Guru Rinpoche Lamey Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel.
Tshering Dorje and Ling create a warm, wonderful environment for the tsok.
Brady's award: Brady's kindness, like the warm sunshine helped
everyone throughout the retreat
Gyalpo sings the Long Life prayer for Rinpoche on closing day;
Gyalpo resigned from his job in NYC, so that he could come to
Crestone and serve Rinpoche as his chef.
Students requesting Rinpoche to remain as Vajra Body, Speech, and Mind
Rinpoche gives Month-long participants a tsa-tsa from the Enlightenment Stupa
Final group photo
~ Finis ~
~For more wonderful Month-long and Dorje Yudronma blessing photos by Tony and Kathie Barrs, please click here!~ |
