10 day phowa retreats

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KonchokZoepa
Posts: 1358
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:50 pm

10 day phowa retreats

Post by KonchokZoepa »

are there any 10 day phowa courses in europe?

if not do you know a monastery or a retreat center where you can do an intensive 10 day phowa retreat?
If the thought of demons
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....

In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….

-Milarepa

OMMANIPADMEHUNG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6P9tOYmdo
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Grigoris
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Location: Greece

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by Grigoris »

KonchokZoepa wrote:are there any 10 day phowa courses in europe?

if not do you know a monastery or a retreat center where you can do an intensive 10 day phowa retreat?
I did my phowa retreat at home (after receiving the prerequisite instructions and explanations from my lama).
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
KonchokZoepa
Posts: 1358
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:50 pm

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by KonchokZoepa »

i received the drikung phowa chenmo last summer and we did the practice together , but i didnt receive any extensive instructions. it was more like guiding doing the practice 3 times together with HH Chetsang Rinpoche.

does that qualify me to do home alone?
If the thought of demons
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....

In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….

-Milarepa

OMMANIPADMEHUNG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6P9tOYmdo
User avatar
Grigoris
Former staff member
Posts: 21908
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:27 pm
Location: Greece

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by Grigoris »

So you have the prayers and know the visualisations?
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
KonchokZoepa
Posts: 1358
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:50 pm

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by KonchokZoepa »

yes i have the whole sadhana and know the visualizations but im currently waiting to get in actual sadhana paper form and not as a booklet.
If the thought of demons
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....

In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….

-Milarepa

OMMANIPADMEHUNG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6P9tOYmdo
User avatar
Grigoris
Former staff member
Posts: 21908
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:27 pm
Location: Greece

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by Grigoris »

Well then, if you can have phone contact with your Lama or an experienced practitioner during the retrat "just in case", then there is no reason for you to not do it at home. The only thing you may need to do is see a Lama at the end of the ten days to check for signs of sucessful completion.
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
KonchokZoepa
Posts: 1358
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:50 pm

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by KonchokZoepa »

cool, i have acces to experienced sangha friend but not to a lama. but i think you can feel the sign of succes in your head.
If the thought of demons
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....

In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….

-Milarepa

OMMANIPADMEHUNG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6P9tOYmdo
AlexanderS
Posts: 416
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:58 am

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by AlexanderS »

Does it have to be a 10 day retreat?
KonchokZoepa
Posts: 1358
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:50 pm

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by KonchokZoepa »

well 7 or 10 days so that it is possible to achieve accomplishment through the practice.
If the thought of demons
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....

In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….

-Milarepa

OMMANIPADMEHUNG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6P9tOYmdo
AlexanderS
Posts: 416
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:58 am

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by AlexanderS »

I went to a 5 day Phowa retreat organized by Diamondway buddhism and led by Ole Nydahl at the europe center in Southern germany. We were around 4000 participants and everyone got the outer signs of success. Whether everyone got the inner signs too, I don't know because that is not something speak too loudly about. We are encouraged to recite 100.000 amithaba mantras as preparation. My decision to join the course was probably the best decision in my life so far. I think Ole leads 3 phowa courses in europe a year. Poland, Germany and Spain I think.
KonchokZoepa
Posts: 1358
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:50 pm

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by KonchokZoepa »

whats your experience with Lama Ole, i dont feel very drawn towards him.
If the thought of demons
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....

In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….

-Milarepa

OMMANIPADMEHUNG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6P9tOYmdo
AlexanderS
Posts: 416
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:58 am

Re: 10 day phowa retreats

Post by AlexanderS »

I think he is very skillfull and authentic.
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