Event : Sopa Choling 3 Year Retreat
Duration : 2011 - 2015
Venue : Sopa Chöling Retreat Center
Website : http://www.sopacholing.org/group-g.htm
Shambhala students who received transmission from either the
Vidyadhara, the Regent, or Sakyong Mipham, whether or not they have
received Vajrayogini Abhisheka, are now eligible to apply for the
first segment of the Three Year retreat, the 6 month phase which
includes the guru yoga practices of Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa and
Mahamudra.
The new revised requirements for applicants for the first phase
are:
* either
applicants have completed their Kagyu ngondro by number, or
* if Primordial
Rigden Ngondro is an applicant's first ngondro, they will
also need to have completed three (3) months of group ngondro
practice AND three (3) months of group Werma practice.
(Note: these months need not be done consecutively by those who
already have done part of this requirement.)
Please email sopacholing [email protected] for an application for
the first phase of the retreat.
GROUP G SCHEDULE
Year I: Enter Fall 2011- (10 Months)
Abhishekas for Practices from The Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche
Guru Yoga and Mahamudra (Revised requirements apply)
Konchik Chidu (Padmasambhava Sadhana) (Standard requirements apply:
completion of Vajrayogini four karmas fire puja)
Year II: Enter Fall 2013 (10 Months)
Inner and Secret Vajrayogini (5 months)
Chakrasamvara (5 months)
Year III: Enter Summer 2015 (11 Months)
Six Dharmas of Naropa (5.5 months)
Jinasagara and Mahakala (5.5 months) (Peaceful and Wrathful
Manifestations of Compassion)
Information about the Three Year Retreat Practices
This retreat was designed in 1989 by Ven. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
for the Shambhala Buddhist community. Because he understood that
the view of the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche was to create
an enlightened society, Thrangu Rinpoche wanted this retreat to be
divided into segments that would allow practitioners to maintain
relationships with family and careers.
In 2004, with the blessing of the Sakyong and Thrangu Rinpoche, the
decision was made to open up the retreat modules so that
practitioners who were unable to attend the entire retreat could do
one or more sections of it. This has proven to be a great success
as people in our community discover the hidden treasure of Sopa
Choling.
1. Mahamudra retreat: The first three months of this retreat are
dedicated to guru yoga sadhanas of Gampopa, Milarepa and Marpa
(which require abishekas). These are followed by three months of
silent group retreat in which we practice mahamudra investigations,
using the text by the 9 th Karmapa, Pointing Out the Dharmakaya,
and a commentary by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. This retreat is a
rare and powerful opportunity to discover and practice vipashyana
mahamudra.
2. Konchok Chidu retreat: Konchok Chidu, meaning “Embodiment of the
Three Jewels”, is a sadhana of Guru Rinpoche, with a commentary by
Jamgon Kontrol Lodro Thaye. It includes an outer, inner, secret and
long-life practice as well as an amending fire offering and feast
practice. His Holiness Dingo Khyentse Rinpoche bestowed this
abisheka for our community in 1987.
3. Inner Vajrayogini retreat: This retreat is an excellent bridge
between Vajrayogini practice and the Six Dharmas. It uses the same
sadhana text as in our previous practice, but the commentary we
follow is by Pawo Tsug-lak Trengwa, which offers a series of five
recitations that progressively train in chandali and mahamudra. It
includes drupchen and fire offering practices.
4. Chakrasamvara retreat: The sadhana text used in this practice is
the same as the one used by other practitioners in our sangha, but
the visualizations are different. We follow a commentary written by
Karma Chagme, a ten chapter practice manual for the outer, inner,
secret and very secret practice, which includes a drupchen and fire
offering. Many people who completed the Chakrasamvara practice
before coming into this retreat found this new commentary extremely
beneficial. The retreat is also open to those who have received the
abisheka but have not done the practice.
5. Six Dharmas of Naropa retreat: The six dharmas are the practices
of chandali, illusory form, dream, luminosity, bardo and powa.
Together they represent the completion stage of
Vajrayogini-Chakrasamvara practice and are methods for transforming
all states of mind into the wisdom of mahamudra. At Sopa Choling we
have an ideal facility for these practices, with guided
instructions for group and individual training. In particular each
retreat has included older practitioners, many in their sixties,
who have found this retreat most workable and beneficial.
6. Jinasagara retreat:
Jinasagara (Tib: Gyalwa Gyatso), red Avaloketishvara with consort,
is a very important yidam practice in the Kagyu lineage, and like
Guyasamaja, it is of the father lineage—an emphasis on the upaya of
compassion, completely transforming aggression.
The lineage comes from Rechungpa who received it from two sources.
First he was asked by Marpa to go to India and receive these
teachings on the nine dharmas of the formless dakinis from
Tiphupa.
Padmasambhava also gave instructions on Jinasagara to King Trisong
Detsen and Yeshe Tsopgyal. They were concealed as a terma that was
later transmitted to Rechungpa by the terton Nyan Rolpa.
Rechungpa’s lineage was transmitted to the second Karmapa, Karma
Pakshi and the practice of Jinasagara remains a heart practice of
the Karmapas.
The practice in retreat is similar to Chakrasamvara in that it has
outer, inner, secret, very secret aspects and a drupchen and fire
puja are included.
7. Krishnachola drupchen: The lineage of instruction for the wisdom
protector Krishnachola (Tib: Pernakchen) and his consort Mahakali
comes from Guru Rinpoche who taught it to Trisong Detesen’s brother
who was a ngakpa. The instructions were passed down through
thirteen generations to Karma Pakshi, who then promulgated the
practice. Throughout retreat, a group daily practice to Vajra
Krishnachola is done, and this culminates in a two month drupchen
at the conclusion of the retreat.
Other practices and trainings included in the retreat:
Fire Offering: Adjacent to the retreat building is a beautiful Fire
Offering shrine room that overlooks the sea. Amending Fire
Offerings are included in Konchok Chidu, Vajrayogini, Chakrasamvara
and Jinasagara retreats.
Feast Offerings: Werma and Padmasambhava feast practices are also
included throughout the retreats, as well as Vajrayogini,
Chakrasamvara, Konchok Chidu and Jinasagara. (the latter 10 th day
feasts are specific to those retreats)
Sadhana of Mahamudra: We follow the custom of performing the
sadhana on full and new moon days, and a Sadhana of Mahamudra feast
is offered at the conclusion of each retreat.
Rain of Wisdom: Normally within the retreat there will be at least
one full day of reading the Rain of Wisdom, with the Milarepa
sadhana.
Sur Offering: On a daily basis, we perform a smoke offering to the
six guests, including bardo beings and our karmic creditors.
Daily Vajrakrishnachola: The wisdom protector practice is done by
the group daily, chanted in the traditional melodies. For most of
the retreat, this is the only group gathering of the day, since all
the other practices are done mainly in your rooms.
Monthly Vajrakrishnachola feast: In some of the retreats, a 29 th
day feast practice to the protector is performed.
Torma: All retreatants will receive extensive training in torma
making, and will make permanent tormas out of clay for each
practice as well as fresh tormas for offerings.
Music: We train in the use of cymbols and drum, conches and the
long horns (radung). Gyaling (trumpet) and kangling (thigh bone
trumpet) trainings are available for those who are motivated to
learn.
Located on the northwestern coast
of Cape Breton Island on the beautiful Cabot Trail, Gampo Abbey is
surrounded by meadows and wooded hills rising above the Gulf of St.
Lawrence.
Gampo
Abbey is located in Nova Scotia,
Canada, on the north west side of Cape Breton Island indicated
on this map by the redish dot near cape north. The map below
provides approximate travel times by car between different points
in Nova Scotia. Click your mouse on the dot to see a map of Cape
Breton Island.
If you would like to locate Gampo Abbey on Cape Breton Island in
Nova Scotia, try the Travel Maps link. If you are travelling by
car, information on possible route(s) are provided through the Car
link. If you are flying you will arrive in Halifax and need to take
a bus to one of the pick-up points. Information is provided on
possible bus routes. Cape Breton is famous for its striking scenery
and rich cultural heritage. Additional pictures of the surrounding
country can be found off the Points of Interest link.
By Plane
to Halifax, Nova Scotia
It is best to
fly to Halifax. When booking your flight try to arrive at Halifax
airport by 11:30 am, which leaves time for plane delays and customs
and immigration clearance if you wish to continue your journey the
same day to the Abbey by bus or shuttle. Return flights should be
scheduled no earlier than 3:00 pm.
Travelling by
Car From Mainland of Nova Scotia
Take
the Trans-Canada 104 to the causeway to Cape Breton
Island.
Take
105 off the traffic circle there to Whycocomagh (also the highway
to Baddeck and Sydney).
Turn
left at Whycocomagh to 395 then follow highway past Lake Ainslie,
Scotsville and Upper Margaree to T-intersection (about 50 kms.)
Turn right and follow highway to the next T-intersection at
Margaree Forks. (5-10 min.)
Turn
left and continue through Cheticamp and over MacKenzie Mountain
through the Highlands National Park to Pleasant Bay.
Turn left at the
sign to Red River, at a disused gas station. Proceed along this
paved road and you will enter the small township of Red River where
the road becomes gravel/dirt across a small bridge.
Keep going for
the another 3 kms or so and watch for the Gampo Abbey sign on your
left.
Driving Times (approximate):
Total
Trip: 5.5 to 6.5 hours
Gas and
Weather – Be Prepared
The last gas
stations on your way are in Cheticamp.
Weather on
MacKenzie Mountain can be intense. During Spring, Fall, and Winter,
if there is any risk of snow or freezing rain, ask for road
conditions before leaving Cheticamp or phone (800) 307-7669 or
(902) 224-2041.
By Train to
Truro, Nova Scotia
Take the
East-bound Via Rail train (800-561-8630) to Truro, Nova Scotia. The
Montreal train, which runs daily except Tuesdays, arrives in Truro
at 2:26 p.m. Please confirm this as schedules
change. The Acadian Bus stops at the Truro bus station at
2:35 pm. This makes for a very tight connection and will
only work if both Via Rail and the Truro bus station (902-895-3833)
are notified that you need to make this connection. It
saves time if you carry on your luggage instead of checking it. The
return trip gets you to Truro at 1 pm in plenty of time for the
3:08 pm Truro-to-Montreal train.
By Bus
or Shuttle Halifax to Baddek
If you are
travelling by bus or shuttle the Abbey can arrange to pick you up
at the Tim Hortens in Baddek. Please contact the Abbey
office 902-224-2752 to confirm all travel arrangements
where you require a pick-up by the Abbey.
The nearest large commercial airport is Halifax,
Nova Scotia. Shuttle services between Halifax and the Halifax
airport to Gampo Abbey will be arranged on your behalf after
confirmation of registration.
Note: Please allow for a day’s travel time for
the shuttle between Halifax and Gampo Abbey.
By personal car: Four winter tires of highest quality are essential
for travel in this area.