Dark Retreat Preliminaries by Chaphur Rinpoche
(teachings from the Zhang Zhang Nyen Gyud)
Weekly on Saturdays, May 30th-July, 2020 11th 8PM-8:30PM (PST)
(The retreat is on Zoom only. The retreat will be recorded.)
The Bönpo Dzogchen traditions divide Dzogchen practice into two parts – trekchöd (cutting through), and tögel (leaping over). The latter comprises methods to enhance and elaborate on the inherent clarity of the natural state. The dark retreat is one of those methods.
This retreat will last for 49 days. Each Saturday night, Chaphur Rinpoche will lead us in the visualization for the week, and we will practice during the interim week. Whil
e abiding in the natural state is the basis of practice during this retreat, there are different methods which are specific to each week. The practice of dark retreat is useful in deepening one’s experience of th
e natural state bybecoming more familiar with the visions that self arise from the natural mind. It will also help the practitioner eventually to see the Bardo (after death) visions as a manifestation of one’s own basic awareness. This is also one of the main reasons that the retreat is traditionally 49 days in length – it is the same length of time that one spends in the intermediate state.
Rinpoche will relay his own experience with this retreat and give advice and instructions to those who wish to practice a dark retreat on their own.
This retreat is open to students that have any level of familiarity with the Bön teachings. All are warmly invited to attend via Zoom. Please register at least 1 hour before the retreat begins. Also the retreat will be recorded and weekly sessions are sent out shortly afterwards.
