Receiving the Blessings of the Mahayana Spiritual Guide
and Offering Retreat
Annual Guru Yoga Mandala Retreat
Everyone welcome.

The word "mandala" in this context means "universe." When we do the mandala practice, we imagine that we are offering the purity of entire universes to enlightened beings—we offer them pure enjoyments, pure environments, pure foods, even other pure beings. In particular, we imagine that we are making offerings to our personal Spiritual Guide. In practicing such extensive generosity, we accumulate vast amounts of positive energy which hastens our spiritual development. Although the offerings we make are based in imagination, they function to create positive results because reality itself is first created mentally, in our imagination, before it ever manifests physically.

Format

This is a traditional devotional practice which has been practiced in Buddhism for generations, and is appropriate for students of all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners.

Each session uses portions of the Offering to the Spiritual Guide chanted prayers and lasts approximately 45 - 90 minutes. Most of that time will be spent making traditional rice mandala offerings, using a mandala kit. You may bring your own mandala kit, purchase one from the bookstore, or borrow one if you just want to try a session.

Retreat Schedule

September 22: Sessions at 6:30am, 11am, 4:30pm, and 7:30pm
September 23: Sessions at 6:30am, 11am, and 4:30pm
* Gen Mondrub is giving a special talk at the High Museum on 9/23
September 24: Sessions at 6:30am, 11am, 4:30pm, and 7:30pm
September 25: Sessions at 6:30am, 11am, 4:30pm, and 7:30pm
* Last session is the full practice of Offering to the Spiritual Guide, with tsog offerings
September 26: Sessions at 6:30am, 11am, and 4:30pm, and 6:30pm