“There are 160 million mother tantras, and of these the one that has the greatest and swiftest blessing in this degenerate era is this very tantra of the Glorious Heruka Chakrasamvara.” – Ngulchu Dharmabhadra

An enabling action retreat is an approximation retreat to the deity in which one completes the number of mantra recitations that permits one to perform mandala actions such as the fire puja and the self-initiation among others.

We will use the sadhana composed by Yangchen Drupai Dorje. The daily schedule will consist of four sessions a day and the retreat will take place in an atmosphere of silence, trying to keep a quiet atmosphere and avoiding to talk in the common spaces. The retreat will end with the fire puja and—if suitable—with the self-initiation.

Hans will give instructions, guidance and individual support—if required—to all participants.

Implements

Participants should bring a vajra, bell, and damaru, an inner offering (or at least a suitable receptacle to hold it) and a mala with 111 beads.

Offerings

Participants are invited to contribute with the offerings presented during the retreat (altar offerings, tsog offerings, and fire puja offerings).

Important advice about the mantras

It is highly advised to learn and become familiar with the mantras that are recited during the retreat before it, to make sure that one is fluid enough in reciting them by the time of the retreat. If one were not able to complete the number of recitations qualifying for an action-permitting retreat, still one could consider that has completed an approximation retreat but would not be able to do the fire puja and the self-initiation.

Resources

It is highly advisable to read or get the following book before starting the retreat:

• Source of Supreme Bliss. Heruka Chakrasamvara Five Deity Practice & Commentary by Ngulchu Dharmabhadra & the First Panchen Lama Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen. Snow Lion Publications.

Also, the following books are of interest in the context of this particular practice:

• A Teaching on Heruka by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archives.

• Chakrasamvara Root Tantra. Translated by David Gonsalez. Dechen Ling Press.

The following books might be of interest for those wanting to deepen their understanding of the tantric path:

• Tantra in Tibet. by The Dalai Lama, Lama Tsong Khapa, and Jeffrey Hopkins. Snow Lion Publications.

• Introduction to Tantra by Lama Yeshe. Wisdom Publications

Hans has completed the Masters Program of Advanced Buddhist Studies of Sutra and Tantra at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (Italy) and several personal retreats up to one-year. He holds a BA and a MA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a PhD from the University of Barcelona, where he spent seven years doing research.

He has been meditating since 2002 and is a student of great Buddhist masters including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Jampa Monlam, Khensur Jampa Tegchok and others. Currently.

He teaches meditation and Buddhism at Tushita Meditation Center Spain and other FPMT centers, and is co-founder and coordinator of the Initiative for an Emotional, Ethical, and Social Education, that promotes the establishment of Emory University’s SEE Learning in Spain

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