The Nyung Nay retreat is a two day intensive practice of Chenresig, the Buddha of Compassion, involving meditating on bodhicitta, visualizing Chenresig, reciting prayers, chanting compassion mantras, and performing prostrations. We start early in the morning taking the 24-hour Mahayana Precepts with the addition of complete fasting (no food or drink) and silence on the second day. Doing even one Nyung Nay for just two days is said to be as effective as three months of other purification practices and is extremely powerful for purifying negative karma and opening the heart to compassion.

What you need for the retreat: Preferably a mala, vajra & bell and offerings for the altar

1st  – 6th June: All three Nyung Nays

Or join for one Nyung Nay online.

If you haven’t completed a Nyung Nay before you can unfortunately not join, as we can’t provide enough support while you are on your own at home. If you have done Nyung Nays before in a group please attend the brief introduction on the evening of the 1st June from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.

What is the purpose of this practice?

Lama Yeshe says, “It is nothing other than developing and expanding the dedicated heart of bodhicitta…take the practice of thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara…the whole reason for having your consciousness manifest as a divine light-being with one thousand arms is so that you can lend a hand to one thousand suffering beings.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, “While doing a Nyung Nay, we may experience hunger, thirst, tiredness, pain and other difficulties. The more difficulties…the greater the purification…and we experience the hardships not only for ourselves but for the sake of the happiness of all sentient beings…Since it’s an intense practice, it’s very helpful for realizations…With Nyung Nay practice, you also receive the blessings of Guru Chenrezig in your heart, which makes your mind softer… When you meditate on renunciation, impermanence and death, compassion or bodhicitta, you will feel it strongly. You recite the words and then you feel them in your heart. Otherwise, you recite the words but your heart is like stone; there’s no connection between your heart and the words.”

Francesca has been a regular at Jamyang Buddhist Centre in London for over 10 years, having been a student of Geshe Tashi and now Geshe Namdak. She is a registered FPMT Teacher and has graduated from the 5 year FPMT Basic Programme following on from in-depth study, exams and Lam Rim Retreats. Francesca has been practising Nyungs Nays for nearly 10 years now, and is keen to ensure that this powerful heart-opening practice continues to be offered in the UK.

As we don’t receive any subsidies from other organisations we rely solely on the kind generosity of others. If you would like to make a donation to help us cover our considerable monthly costs (including via an online bank transfer or postal cheque), please choose the amount you would like to offer using the form below (or enter a custom amount), click ‘Donate’, then choose a payment method and provide all the details we require to process your donation. Your generosity will help us continue to offer beneficial services to yourself and others.

You may also like to make a regular contribution to the centre by becoming a Branch of Joy. This kind of support gifts us a steady and ongoing income, which in turn provides the confidence and means for us to continue to flourish for many years to come.

Thank you and may you be happy.