Vipashyana: Exploring the Nature of Being

In the wisdom tradition of Mahamudra, the principal meditation practices are shamatha and vipashyana. The mind resting at ease through shamatha (or calm abiding meditation), we gain some respite from the seemingly constant barrage of thoughts and emotions, which when not understood, serve to veil the nature of our being. But shamatha practice is not sufficient to eradicate our confusion. It is vipashyana meditation that leads to liberating insight into the nature of our being and the nature of our experiences of thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.

Vipashyana practice is an analytical approach to meditation, but not in an ordinary intellectual sense. As Traleg Rinpoche says, these investigations are “designed to cut through to the very heart of things—to pave the way for a direct insight into the very nature of ultimate reality itself… The Mahamudra teachings counsel that we cannot understand the nature of reality without understanding the nature of the mind, and this understanding is the whole purpose of vipashyana meditation.”

In general, before beginning vipashyana practice, a decent foundation of shamatha meditation is important. If you are new to vipashyana practice, it is suggested that you have at least a year of relatively consistent shamatha practice experience. Otherwise, it may prove difficult to maintain mindfulness and awareness during the insight investigations. If you are not sure if the retreat is right for you, contact Lama Eric.

This retreat is held as a shared practice container, and we ask that everyone who registers plan to be present for all sessions. Recordings will be available as a reference for those who attend live, but not as an alternative way to take part.

Book References
In Mind at Ease, Traleg Kyabgon speaks clearly and eloquently about vipashyana meditation and the nature of mind. It also contains wonderful teachings on shamatha practice. For the investigations themselves, we will follow Dakpo Tashi Namgyal’s Clarifying the Natural State and Thrangu Rinpoche’s commentary on that text, Crystal Clear. You needn’t necessarily have any of these to participate, but they would be beneficial reference materials.

Retreat Schedule 

The retreat opens on Friday, May 8 with dinner and an evening session and ends on Friday, May 15 with a closing session and breakfast in the morning. For retreat days, the schedule will be as follows:

AM
6:30 – 7:30 am             Group meditation
7:30 – 9:00 am             Breakfast break
9:00 – 10:30 am           Teaching and meditation
10:30 – 11:00 am         Tea break
11:00 – 12:00 pm         Self-guided practice

PM
12:00 – 2:30 pm           Lunch break
2:30 – 4:00 pm             Meditation and discussion
4:00 – 4:30 pm             Tea break
4:30 – 5:30 pm             Teaching and meditation
5:30 – 7:00 pm             Dinner break
7:00 – 7:45pm             Evening chanting and prayers