Preliminary Guide Retreats

 

The Source Of Happiness

Guided Preliminary Retreat & Refuge Vow Ceremony

April 5-11, 2024
with Gen Samten Kelsang

Entire Retreat: $150
Friday: $10
Saturday: $60
Sun-Wed: $20/day
Thursday: $10

Refuge practice is the very essence of Buddhism. It is the gateway to enter into Buddhism and make progress on the spiritual path to enlightenment. Going for refuge means relying on the Three Jewels– Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This course will involve a special Refuge Vow Ceremony, teachings on how to rely on the Three Jewels, and instructions on how to engage in the great preliminary guide of Refuge. 

In the special Refuge Vow ceremony, we make a commitment to seek refuge in the Three Jewels – Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, in order to liberate ourselves permanently from all fears and suffering, so that we may become someone who can help others do the same. This is the foundation of our refuge practice. 

The Preliminary Guide of Going for Refuge

It is a complete contradiction to ignore the practice of the four great preliminary guides and yet still hope to achieve special Sutra and Tantra realizations. If we want our practices of Sutra and Tantra to bear fruit we must apply effort in the preliminary practices. These are the foundations, and we can only advance step by step on the spiritual path to full enlightenment by gradually building on these foundations.” Ven Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

This Refuge retreat is a unique chance to train in the great preliminary of going for refuge. Traditionally, we recite 100,000 refuge mantras throughout the year to go deeper in our practice. Each year at KMC New York, we will emphasize one specific preliminary guide during this weekend. Through attending this retreat, we will receive special guidance on how to go for refuge and train in this practice for the year. Then, year after year we can train in each of the four great preliminaries. As a result, we will prepare a rich, vibrant foundation in our mind for our own spiritual development.

A more detailed schedule coming soon. 

General Sessoin times:

9 – 10am
11:30 – 1 pm
4:30 – 6pm
7:30 – 9pm

Everyone welcome!

Vajrasattva Preliminary Retreat

Guided Preliminary Retreat

June 10-14, 2024
with Gen Samten Kelsang

‘Buddha taught many different methods to purify non-virtuous actions, downfalls and broken commitments but the supreme method is the practice of meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva. This practice is the scientific method to purify our mind and to transform our mind from an impure mind into a pure mind using Tantric technology.’ – Ven. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

In this preliminary practice retreat, we will spend time meditating on the “four powers”, a special technique to uproot negativity in our mind and discover our enlightened potential.

This retreat provides an opportunity to learn and gain deep experience of this important spiritual practice. Through Vajrasattva practice we can transform our life and world simply through transforming our mind.

vajrasattva

Mandala Offerings Preliminary Retreat

Guided Preliminary Retreat

September 9-13, 2024
with Gen Samten Kelsang

We all wish for spiritual realizations, but these depend upon creating certain inner conditions such as purifying negativity, accumulating merit, and receiving blessings. To do this we need to practice the four great preliminary guides. As a result, we will gain mahamudra realizations – the quick path to enlightenment.

In this retreat we focus on the preliminary practices of accumulating merit. Making mandala offerings is the gateway to accumulating the collection of merit and attaining an enlightened pure land. This practice creates immeasurable positivity in our mind, or merit. This good fortune allows us to fulfill our wishes, accomplish our aims, and benefit others.

Everyone welcome!

Guru Yoga Preliminary Retreat

Guided Preliminary Retreat

December 2-6, 2024
with Gen Samten Kelsang

Enjoy a retreat on Guru Yoga! All practitioners eventually discover the power and elegance of Guru Yoga.

Guru yoga is an especially powerful method for receiving the blessings of the Buddhas and increasing our merit. By following the Sutra path alone it would take a thousand aeons to accumulate the vast amount of merit needed to attain Buddhahood, but by wholeheartedly practicing Guru yoga we can accumulate the same amount of merit in the brief span of one human life.

Contact Us

Phone

(845) 856-9000
9am-5pm Monday - Friday

Location

47 Sweeney Rd
Glen Spey, NY 12737