Mahamudra Seminar / Retreat

Led By: 
Lama Michael Conklin and Lama Tara
Location: 
SCOL, Goldendale, WA
Date: 
Jun 29 2011 - Jul 9 2011

This seminar/retreat provides the essential teachings for the Mahamudra Program established by Venerable Bokar Rinpoche. The program is based on the idea that in the midst of daily life it is necessary to have a coherent approach that presents the essential elements of practice in a clear and concise progression. This structured path will allow one to fruitfully persevere in Dharma practice throughout an entire life. At all levels of the program there are yearly commitments to meditation practice which require between one and two hours per day (first-timers may choose a lesser level)

The first six years focus on becoming familiar with the stages of meditation: Calm Abiding (Zhinay), Insight (Lhatong) and Mahamudra (the union of Calm Abiding and Insight). During this time practitioners receive instruction in the preliminary practices (Ngöndro), the cultivation of Bodhicitta and Chenrezig meditation. The retreat is a mix of teaching and practice, with ample time for questions.

If you have any questions about the content of the retreat, please contact Bill Spangle at billspangle@comcast.net


Retreat Requirements
1) already practicing Buddhism, or ready to commit to the Buddhist path; 2) attend the full ten days of the retreat; and 3) willing to make a commitment to a program of daily meditation practice for one year. First timers may choose from several levels of practice commitment.

You are required to attend all eleven days of the retreat.

Goldendale
The retreat land is 240 acres of meadowland and forest, with a small house and a big, old barn, in addition to the retreat facilities. There are old logging roads for walking as well as a small year round stream that runs through the property.

Please be prepared for varied weather by bringing appropriate clothing. From mid-June through mid-September, it is likely to be hot during the day and cool at night. There is an occasional mosquito at dusk and a chance of encountering ticks. To reduce risk of being bitten by a tick, it’s best to wear light colored, long sleeved shirts & long pants, tuck your pant legs into your socks when walking in brush, use tick repellent, and check yourself daily.

The retreat facility includes indoor shrine/teaching hall, sleeping quarters, cooking, dining and bathing facilities.


Accommodations
Indoor accommodations
The north wing has cabins and rooms that sleep 2, and 2 dorm rooms sleeping 3 or 4. These spaces include beds and mattresses but not bedding. There are no singles available.

Camping
Designated camping areas offer some shade. Please bring all your own equipment and bedding.

There are three bathrooms and 2 showers in the retreat center. Showering will be at designated times, by gender. Meals will be served in the kitchen and dining areas.


Shrine Room
Please bring all sitting gear-- zabutons, cushions, pecha tables

Chores
Retreatants will be asked to participate in a small daily chore, as well as helping out with final clean-up at the end of the retreat. No chores will interfere with attending scheduled meditation sessions.

Meals
Meals will be vegetarian. Tea and snacks will also be provided. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advanced notice. Please be sure to indicate any such restrictions on your registration form, and plan to adhere to those restrictions throughout the duration of the retreat.

Travel Information
Arrival: June 29‒ no later than 5:00 PM & no earlier than 12 Noon. Orientation will be at 7:00 PM.

Departure: July 9‒ after breakfast & final chores. Approximately 10:00 AM

It takes approximately 2 hours to get to Goldendale, Washington from Portland, Oregon.

 Price:

Pledging Member: Camping $650 or Cabin $750

Non Member: Camping $775 or Cabin $875

Cancelation policy

Registration must be completed by June
15th. The cancellation policy is in place so that KCC can cover the
financial costs of hosting a retreat. If you discover that you are unable to
attend this retreat, please immediately contact Sherry Bohannan
(sherrybohannan@comcast.net). Your deposit, minus a $10 fee, is refundable
up to May 27th. Your deposit, minus a $150 fee is refundable up to June
15th. If you cancel after June 15th, you forfeit your deposit. Any amount
paid above the deposit amount is refunded in full, regardless of
cancellation date.
 

Scholarships:

If you want to apply for a scholarship please click here:  http://www.kcc.org/about-kcc/governance/policies-procedures/Scholarship%20Committee%20Guidelines

If you are applying for a scholarship, you can complete the online registration and not pay (ignore the payment page) until you have been approved for a scholarship.  Sherry Bohannan can let you know the scholarship amount you will receive. When you know the amount you can send a paypal payment to KCC at this address: kcc-paypal@kcc.org at https://www.paypal.com/.  Please include "Mahamudra Retreat 2011 -SCOL JUN 11" in the subject field.

 
Online Registration

Click here for online registration

https://kccretreats.wufoo.com/forms/mahamudra-seminar-retreat/


In an effort to improve the ease and access to signing up for KCC classes and events we are happy to offer online registration.  Online payment for retreats is available through PayPal.  From the KCC website you can read about classes and follow a link to secure online registration.  This new system keeps your personal information safer, saves paper and simplifies the behind the scenes work that goes into organizing a retreat.  Paper registration is no longer available at the center but fliers with the            retreat details and registration website links are available.


The retreat committee realizes not everyone can register online. In those cases, Kay Heartsock has offered to help register for KCC classes and events should the need arise. For help with registering online please call Kay at: 503.651.3496  

For questions on specific retreat details please contact Registrar Sherry Bohannan at: sherrybohannan@comcast.net or 503.381.5669

 
Offerings (Dana)
For some, retreat participation depends on the kindness of others in the form of monetary donations for scholarships. The number of scholarships directly depends on donations to the Scholarship Fund. With your help we can expand our sharing of the dharma with those who otherwise would be unable to participate. Please consider contributing to the Scholarship Fund. There are a limited number of scholarships available (up to 50% of the retreat cost) for individuals with serious financial constraints. To request a scholarship, please include a brief written statement of financial need and practice history along with your completed registration form and deposit of $300.


 

Recommended Readings
For newcomers to the program
If you order books online, please go to If you order books online, please go to http://www.kcc.org/resources and link to Amazon or Powell's. and link to Amazon or Powell’s. Accessing these sites via the KCC home page allows KCC to receive a portion of the profit from such sales.


 

The following three books are the most important books to read for newcomers to this program, and especially for those with a meditation practice history of less than 3-4 years.
Advice for Beginners by Bokar Rinpoche
Chenrezig Lord of Love by Bokar Rinpoche
Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up by B. Alan Wallace (or a similar book covering fundamental tenets of the Buddhist path in the Tibetan tradition)
Additional books, such as the following, may be useful, especially in the second or later years
Books on Mahamudra, including Zhinay and Lhatong (2nd year or beyond)
Opening the Door to Certainty by Bokar Rinpoche
Essentials of Mahamudra by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Crystal Clear by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Mahamudra: Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance (or Ignorance of Darkness) by Wangchuk Dorje
Lamp of Mahamudra by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol
Books that support the practice of Ngöndro
Torch of Certainty by Jamgon Kongtrul: Highly recommended for its complete instructions for the Ngöndro practices in the 1st or 2nd year, whenever the Ngöndro commitment is taken.
Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche: Inspirational classic text in an excellent translation, covering many essential elements of the Bodhisattva path. The specific Ngöndro instructions are from the Nyingma tradition, so not all are applicable.
The Foundations of Tibetan Buddhism by H E Kalu Rinpoche.
Rain of Wisdom by Nalanda Translation Committee: Songs of lineage masters, may be especially inspirational for the guru yoga practice.
Commentary on the Ngondro Practice by Venerable Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche
Books covering the seven points of mind training, which includes tonglen practice
Start Where You Are by Pema Chodron
Buddhism with an Attitude by Alan Wallace
The Great Path of Awakening by Jamgon Kongtrul
The Practice of Lojong by Traleg Kyabgon
Books on the Buddhist path
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gompopa, translated by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche: Comprehensive foundation for study and practice in the Kagyu tradition. 12th century classic. There are several other translations.
The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva: Classic text on the Bodhisattva path. There are several translations.
No Time to Lose by Pema Chodron: Commentary on the Way of the Bodhisattva


 

Kagyu Changchub Chuling (KCC) http://www.kcc.org, a Dharma Center in Portland, Oregon, is sponsoring this retreat. KCC was founded in 1976 by the Very Venerable Kalu Rinpoche, one of the eminent meditation masters of modern Tibet and a holder of the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu lineages. The mission of KCC is to make the teachings of these lineages accessible for all practitioners, whether they are just beginning to investigate Buddhism or are long-time students.