Ven Wangchuk has kindly agreed to return to lead a one month Yamantaka Nearing retreat, his fourth retreat at Land of Joy . Ven Wangchuk has studied with many great masters of this and the previous generation, as well as having studied many commentaries. His teachings on the practice are clear and reliable.
Lama Zopa said : ….”the first retreat in our life should be Yamantaka, and then whatever other practices we do, there won’t be obstacles. So Yamantaka retreat has two benefits: 1) to pacify obstacles, and 2) to develop wisdom.”
Yamāntaka or Vajrabhairava is seen as the wrathful manifestation of Mañjuśrī, the Buddha of wisdom and wasTsongkhapa’s personal deity-practice. Following Intensive practice, Tsongkhapa received direct teachings from Mañjuśrī enabling him to fully understand the Buddha’s Middle Way philosophy. Tsongkhapa instituted Vajrabhairava as the principal Gelugpa yidam-meditation practice and to this very day it is considered one of the most important yidam practices, both for monastic and lay practitioners alike.
The retreat will comprise four sessions of the sadhana each day, complemented by a daily instruction session through which the whole practice will be gradually taught. Those who complete the mantra count will perform a burnt offering at the end of the retreat within Land of Joy’s grounds. Participants will be required to comply with retreat boundaries which will be explained at the beginning of the retreat.
Those who finish the mantra count will also have the an option to join a self initiation at the end of the retreat
This retreat is open to anyone who has received the Solitary Hero Yamantaka initiation.
