Details:

Date: Tuesday 26th November – Saturday 30th November

Retreat Leader: Marina Brucet Vinyals

Requirements: In order to participate in this retreat, one must ideally have taken refuge and follow the Buddhist path. Otherwise, one should have some knowledge of Buddhism and its practices. It is not necessary to have received the Vajrasattva initiation or jenang.

Cost: Generosity Model – Donation only (via the donation form at the bottom of the page; no suggested amount).

Format: Online

Schedule: There will be two sessions led by Marina at 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm. You will be doing your own sessions outside these led sessions which Marina will introduce during the first session.

About the Retreat

“We need a powerful purification practice like the tantric yoga method of Heruka Vajrasattva to destroy both the energy forces of the ignorant mind and the negative actions of body and speech that arise from it.” – Lama Thubten Yeshe

The Vajrasattva practice acts at many levels, from purifying the mind from negativities and ignorance, to help healing inner bounds, emotional hindrances, and difficult experiences with which we struggle. It clears the way and lays the ground for practice, both psychologically and spiritually.

In the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the practice of Vajrasattva is one of the preliminary practices, which are traditionally done before engaging in long retreat. This retreat is a wonderful opportunity to purify and clear the mind with the practice and mantra of Vajrasattva.

We will follow the sadhana of Heruka Vajrasattva composed by Lama Thubten Yeshe, and meditations on the gradual path to enlightenment (Lam Rim) will be included. There will be sessions to explain and clarify aspects of the practice, as well as Q&A sessions. The retreat will mostly take place in an atmosphere of silence.

Please bring the meditation manual “Vajrasattva Retreat Sadhanas”, which can be found on the FPMT website:
https://shop.fpmt.org/Vajrasattva-Retreat-Sadhanas-eBook-PDF_p_1220.html

Resources

The Preliminary Practice of Vajrasattva, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FPMT booklet: https://shop.fpmt.org/Vajrasattva-Retreat-Sadhanas-eBook-PDF_p_1220.html

Becoming Vajrasattva, The Tantric Path of Purification, Lama Thubten Yeshe, Wisdom Publications. http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/becoming-vajrasattva

Teachings From the Vajrasattva Retreat, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=article&id=243

Rob Preece, Preparing for Tantra: Creating the Psychological Ground for Practice, Snow Lion

Information about Your Health

Please be aware that meditation practice is in general not recommended for people suffering from severe depression, severe anxiety and other serious mental and emotional problems. If you have or are suffering from one of those, it’s important that you have asked your therapist if it is appropriate for you to do a meditation retreat, as well as that you feel stable and relaxed enough to participate. In any case, everyone is the final responsible about the decision of participating in this retreat.

About the Teacher

Marina FPMT Teacher

Marina Brucet Vinyals was born in Barcelona, Spain. She has completed a six-year full-time study program Masters Program of Advanced Buddhist Studies of Sutra and Tantra at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute, Italy. She studied with great Tibetan lamas such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Jampa Monlam and Khensur Jampa Tegchok, amongst others. She has also completed a one-year individual meditation retreat, amongst others.

She holds a BA and a MA in Biochemistry and a PhD in Molecular Biology in Immunology from the University of Barcelona, where she also performed postdoctoral studies.

Presently, she combines continual development and meditation retreats with teaching meditation and Buddhist philosophy, at both general and specialized levels, with an approach that always takes into account the context and circumstances of Western life.

A Way to Say Thank You

To Land of Joy…

Our generosity model means we do not charge for any teachings, accommodation or food. We are therefore 100% dependant on donations to help us cover our £90,000 a year running costs.

You are therefore invited to give what you can as a thank you for the organisation and hosting of the retreat, including the food and accommodation provided if you stayed onsite.

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.

Everything given will ensure Land of Joy continues to be offered as a precious place for retreat.

To The Teacher…

Teachers and retreat leaders practice generosity by freely offering their time to Land of Joy. We cover their travel expenses but do not pay them for the teachings they give.

You are therefore invited to make an offering to the teacher as a thank you for the time and knowledge they share.

To The Volunteers…

Our retreats are supported by our wonderful team of volunteers, some of whom you will meet during your time at the centre. Those who live onsite offer their time, expertise and dedication in return for food and accommodation. They do not receive a wage or stipend. Unfortunately, we are only able to accept offerings for them in cash, so if you would like to thank them for their service, please do so by bringing cash with you to the centre and placing it in the volunteer collection pot.