Three-year Retreat Program

Kundreul Ling, 3rd July 2007

On the Gyalwa Karmapa’s recent visit to all ten retreat centres in Kundreul Ling, he established – in consultation with the drupöns (retreat guides) – the programme for future three-year retreats. The intention is to offer a thorough grounding in the foundations of Dharma practice, before continuing with the traditional vajrayana practices of yidam and the Dharmas of Naropa for suitable candidates.

Foundation retreat

• Chenrezi practice (~1 month) with transmission of Chenrezi commentary
• Mahamudra preliminaries (~12 months) with transmission of the “Torch of True Meaning” (Ngedön Drönme) and supplementary passages from “The Words of my Perfect Teacher” (Kunzang Lame Shallung);

  The first year will also include the transmission of:
  - the shorter Chöd commentary including practice of Lüdjin Chöd
  - the commentary to the Dorje Chang prayer
  - basic explanations on Mahakala to be able to do the short daily Mahakala practice (Kham-yig-ma)
  

• Lojong practice (~6 months) with transmission of the Lojong commentary, plus a few texts from the Lojong “Gyatsa” collection
• Shine-Lhaktong-Mahamudra and Guru Yoga practice (~6 months) with transmission of the 3 meditation manuals of the 9th Karmapa accompanied by the Guru Yogas of Milarepa, short Gampopa, and Mikyö Dorje
• Long Gampopa Guru Yoga (~9 months)
• Chöd Tsoklé practice (1 month) with transmission of the longer Chöd commentary
• White Tara practice (2 months)

  The retreat will also include:
  - the Jewel Ornament of Gampopa (Dhagpo Thargyen)
  - an introduction to the “Gateway to Knowledge” by the First Mipham Rinpoche (Abhidharma and Buddhist philosophy)
  - an introduction to the history of Buddhism

Further details will be decided by the drupöns as the necessity arises. The above programme means that about two months of the traditional time span (3 months and 3 years) will remain, to be used at the drupöns’ discretion.

First traditional three year retreat

• Karma Pakshi Guru Yoga (3 months)
• Vajrayogini practice (~15 months)
• Tummo and Mahamudra practice (~18 months)
• Chöd (1 month)

Once again, about two months of the traditional time span (3 months and 3 years) will remain, to be used at the drupöns’ discretion.

Second three year retreat

• Dorje Phurba (3 months)
• Demchog or Gyalwa Gyamtso (~18 months)
• Mahakala (~18 months)

After that: Retreat of the six Dharmas of Naropa

• Complete transmission and profound practice of the six Dharmas of Naropa

Signed by H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa Trinle Thaye Dorje, July 3rd, 2007, at Dhagpo Kundreul Ling, France