Is it ok for me to attend even though I do not have much experience with Buddhism?
Absolutely! At every event such as our Winter Retreat there are a good number of people who are listening to teachings and receiving empowerments for the first time.
Should I bring my own cushion?
If you have your own meditation cushion and it is convenient for you to bring it along, please do so!
Are there also chairs available at your center?
We have several pews at the back of the temple. There are also chairs for those who want them.
Why do you ask for donations?
Putting on an event such as our winter retreat involves considerable costs including plane fares, translator fees, donations to the lama food and so forth. At Gar Drolma we try hard to make our special events affordable for everyone. That is why we have a sliding scale. Our intention is not to make money on retreats, but to at least break even at the end of each year!
| SCHEDULE TUESDAY | MAY 4
WEDNESDAY | May 5
THURSDAY | MAY 6
FRIDAY | MAY 7
SATURDAY | MAY 8
|
EVENTS DESCRIPTION
All of our retreat events are open to everyone. In fact, we always have a wide range of visitors at our retreats ranging from people who are just curious about Buddhism to experienced practitioners. In addition, you are welcome to attend a part of the retreat or the entire four days as your schedule permits.
Public Talk
On Tuesday evening Traga Rinpoche will offer a public talk. This will be a general introduction to Buddhist view and conduct. Practicing Medicine Buddha helps to dispel all sicknesses and alleviates suffering. Simply hearing the Medicine Buddha?s name removes many obscurations.
Medicine Buddha Empowerment
On Wednesday evening Traga Rinpoche will offer Medicine Buddha Empowerment. Practicing Medicine Buddha helps to dispel all sicknesses and alleviates suffering. Simply hearing the Medicine Buddha's name removes many obscurations.
DZOGCHEN TEACHINGS
It is generally said that when pointing out the nature of mind the instructions are given in accord with the capacity of "an instantaneous realizer," but that regarding the practice itself, the practitioner should take the approach of "one who progresses in gradual stages." This ensures the practitioner can develop the completely perfect meditative absorption that is free from error and obstacles. Therefore in these teachings Rinpoche will emphasize the technique of trekchod, the method for settling the mind in the natural state, as it is taught according to Patrul Rinpoche in his text titled The Ultimate Great Perfection, the Profound Method for Buddhahood Known as the Self-Liberating Meditation. Do You Hear, Do You Hear?
REFUGE CEREMONY
On Saturday, Rinpoche will offer a refuge ceremony. The refuge ceremony is an opportunity to participate in the ritual of committment to the Buddhist path. During the refuge ceremony we formally take shelter in the protection and guidance of the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. You can find further information about taking refuge here. If you have questions about taking refuge, please feel free to contact us - either in person or on email. (937) 252-2220 events@gardrolma.org
Tsok practice
On Saturday evening we will conclude our retreat with a tsok practice. Tsok practice Tsok means gathering or accumulation. We gather together the things we're offering, and we ourselves gather together. In the tsok practice we make food offerings, imagining that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas come and accept our offerings. This offering is very important for renewing commitments and averting obstacles. Our wealth, merit, and great bliss will increase through this practice. Tsok is a time of spiritual celebration. Children and families are welcome to join us!
personal interviews with TRAGA Rinpoche
During this visit we have made time for personal interviews with Traga Rinpoche on Wednesday, May 5th and May 6th. There will be no other time available during the teachings for interviews. Interviews will be scheduled on a first-come first-serve basis. Each interview will be approximately 10 minutes long. Please email us to inquire about an interview slot at: events@gardrolma.org
ABOUT TRAGA RINPOCHE
Venerable Traga Rinpoche is an accomplished Dzogchen master, having received profound foundational and the most advanced teachings from some of the greatest living masters of Tibetan Buddhism -- including His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, Khenchen Jigme Phuntsog and many others -- and has completed many retreats.
In early 1984, Traga Rinpoche received full gelong (monk) ordination from the Nyingma master Khenpo Munsel, who gave him the detailed teachings on Dzogchen Cutting Through the Resistance to Primordial Purity. Khenpo Munsel gently looked at Traga Rinpoche and said, "Your karmic propensity is to practice Dzogchen. I am your karmic lama. If you can meditate, you have today found the way to liberation in one life. You will never find something like this even if you went to look for it with your horse's hooves encased in steel. Spend one year near me and meditate." For the next seven years, Traga Rinpoche did retreat near Khenpo Munsel, and practiced Trekchod ("Cutting Through"), Togyal ("Passing Over"), and many other advanced practices.
At Garchen Rinpoche's request Traga Rinpoche served as the retreat master for at least six years at the Garchen Buddhist Institute in Arizona, and now resides at his own Dharma Center, RigDzin Dharma Foundation, in Albuquerque, NM.
RETREAT DETAILS
FEE INFORMATION: We make every effort to make our retreats affordable for all individuals. Therefore, we present our fees as a sliding scale. The minimum fee is what we must collect in order to cover our costs. You may be able to offer a bit more. If some people pay more than the minimum, we are better able to keep the base fee low for everyone.
regular fees
$35–$75 per day sliding scale
student fees:
If you are a full-time student you are eligible for a student rate. Please present your student ID card at the door.
monastic fees:
Our policy is that if you are a full-time ordained sangha member without an outside job, then you are welcome to come to any of our events free of charge.
financial need:
If you are currently receiving public assistance, such as Ohio Direct, OWF or SSD, we will waive your entrance fees. Please contact events@gardrolma.org if you are eligible and wish to make a waiver request. You must contact us in advance in order to qualify for this waiver.
If you are in financial need but do not qualify for a waiver, we would like to invite you consider working in ou rservice program called Gar Bucks. The Gar Bucks Program is a way for individuals to work for GDC and earn internally recognized $ that can be applied toward the cost of teaching events and membership. No person should fail to attend for lack of the requested fees. However, it is important that you contact us ahead if you need to make financial arrangements.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES: There are many opportunities to help out during events such as these– and we really encourage everyone to participate in this way! Most of our service opportunities are organized through the Gar Bucks Program. Please check out this exciting program to see the ways in which you might be able to help!
REGISTRATION: There will be no pre-registration for this retreat. All registration will be at the event itself– in the commons area of the temple - on the lower level. You should bring your own cushion if possible. Since there will be many people coming to this retreat - be sure to come early in order to facilitate the process.
ELEMENTS OF A LAMA VISIT: Click here to download more information on various aspects of a lama visit including: Taking Empowerments, Taking Refuge, The Katta Offering Ceremony
LOCATION & DIRECTIONS: All of our events will be held at our temple in Dayton. The address is 1329 Creighton Avenue, Dayton Ohio 45420. The temple is located in Belmont, just off of Wayne Avenue. For directions click here.
CHILDREN: Children are welcome at these events if accompanied by an adult.
PARKING: Gar Drolma is located in a quiet, old city neighborhood with narrow streets. There is no parking lot. It may be necessary for individuals to park down the street or around the block. We do want to be good neighbors, so please allow room for the people in front and back of you to get out when you park. We are able to provide 3 parking spaces in the front of the building for less able attendees. Please tell us in advance if you need a special parking space. (events@gardrolma.org) If you are able to fold your side mirror in - we suggest you do so.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR OUT OF TOWN GUESTS: We are not able to provide housing for out of town guests– and our temple is not equipped to handle overnight campers. There are several motel options available near Gar Drolma Buddhist Center. Click here for motel options.
AIRPORTS: Dayton International Airport (DAY) is the nearest airport; it is approximately 30 minutes from the center. The Columbus airport (CMH) is about 1.5 hours from Gar Drolma. The Cincinnati airport (CVG) is actually located in Kentucky - just over the river. The Cincinnati airport is also about 1.5 hours from the center. All three of these airports are international airports. When making your travel plans, please keep in mind that the weather is quite unpredictable in Ohio in late December.
MEALS: We are not able to provide hot meals at the temple. Retreatants are welcome to bring their own food if they wish and eat downstairs in the basement of the temple. There is a refrigerator and a microwave in the basement which are now for retreatant use. There are a few basic kitchen rules for retreatants to follow:
1.
Do not use the stove or oven.
2. Clean up your dishes and cups after yourself.
3. Mark your food with your name.
4. Take all of your food with you when you leave retreat.
Anything left behind will be thrown away.
Otherwise, we recommend local restaurants. To download a list of local restaurants click here.
FLOWERS: You are always welcome to bring flowers as an offering if you care to.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please email us at: events@gardrolma.org or phone (937) 252-2220. We are not in the office every day, so please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible. We are always happy to answer your questions!