Introduction to Buddhist Meditation Retreat
Introduction to Buddhist Meditation Retreat
Lamrim Retreat: The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment Meditations
Friday, January 15 - Saturday, January 30
Saturday sessions guided by modern Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Norbu, other sessions self-guided
at Kadampa Meditation Center North Carolina
Registration Coming Soon
“Occasionally, when we have the opportunity, we should do a retreat on Lamrim.” - The New Meditation Handbook, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Lamrim means “stages of the path” to enlightenment. The Lamrim meditations are presented in the order in which realizations develop, and are a complete path to enlightenment, without anything missing. If we want to make spiritual progress past calming the mind, making it clear, and reducing our distractions through breathing meditation, the Lamrim meditations are what we want.
In this retreat for all levels of experience, Gen Norbu will introduce and guide the Lamrim meditations. Beginners are strongly encouraged to attend at least the Introduction and the Saturday sessions. Each weekday session will stand alone, at the same time as being part of the retreat as a whole, so if you are unable to attend the complete retreat, you are welcome to attend whichever sessions you are able. When the group is ready, there will be opportunities to practice guiding ourselves through some of the meditations silently.
Schedule:
Friday, January 15
6:30-7:45pm Introduction with Gen Norbu
Saturday, January 16
10-11:15am Meditation 1—Our precious human life
11:45am-1pm Meditation 2—Death and impermanence
2:45-4pm Meditations 3 & 4—The dangers of lower rebirth and refuge practice
4:30-5:45pm Meditation 5—Actions and their effects
Sunday, January 17
1:30-3pm Meditation 6—Developing renunciation
3:30-5pm Meditation 7—Developing equanimity
Monday, January 18
9-10:30am Meditation 8—Recognizing that all living beings are our mothers
11:30am-1pm Meditation 9—Remembering the kindness of living beings
4-5:30pm Meditation 10—Equalizing self and others
6:30-8pm Meditation 11—The disadvantages of self-cherishing
Tuesday, January 19
9-10:30am Meditation 12—The advantages of cherishing others
11:30am-1pm Meditation 13—Exchanging self with others
4-5:30pm Meditation 14—Great compassion
6:30-8pm Meditation 15—Taking
Wednesday, January 20
9-10:30am Meditation 16—Wishing love
11:30am-1pm Meditation 17—Giving
4-5:30pm Meditation 18—Bodhichitta
Thursday, January 21
9-10:30am Meditation 19—Tranquil abiding
11:30am-1pm Meditation 20—Superior seeing, meditation on emptiness
4-5:30pm Meditation 21—Relying on a Spiritual Guide
6:30-8pm Meditation 1—Our precious human life
Friday, January 22
9-10:30am Meditation 2—Death and impermanence
4-5:30pm Meditations 3 & 4—The dangers of lower rebirth and refuge practice
6:30-8pm Meditation 5—Actions and their effects
Saturday, January 23
10-11:15am Meditation on Renunciation—The first Noble Truth
11:45am-1pm Meditation on Our Determination to Recognize, Reduce and Abandon Our Self-grasping Ignorance, the Root of Samsaric Rebirth—The second Noble Truth
2:45-4pm Meditation on Our Determination to Engage in the Actual Path to Liberation, the Three Higher Trainings—The third Noble Truth
4:30-5:45pm Meditation on Our Determination to Attain True Cessations—The fourth Noble Truth
Sunday, January 24
1:30-3pm Meditation 7—Developing equanimity
3:30-5pm Meditation 8—Recognizing that all living beings are our mothers
Monday, January 25
9-10:30am Meditation 9—Remembering the kindness of living beings
11:30am-1pm Meditation 10—Equalizing self and others
4-5:30pm Meditation 11—The disadvantages of self-cherishing
6:30-8pm Special Session: Offering to the Spiritual Guide puja w/ tsog offering
Tuesday, January 26
9-10:30am Meditation 12—The advantages of cherishing others
11:30am-1pm Meditation 13—Exchanging self with others
4-5:30pm Meditation 14—Great compassion
6:30-8pm Meditation 15—Taking
Wednesday, January 27
9-10:30am Meditation 16—Wishing love
11:30am-1pm Meditation 17—Giving
4-5:30pm Meditation 18—Bodhichitta
Thursday, January 28
9-10:30am Meditation 18—Bodhichitta
11:30am-1pm Meditation 19—Tranquil abiding
4-5:30pm Meditation 19—Tranquil abiding
6:30-8pm Meditation 19—Tranquil abiding
Friday, January 29
9-10:30am Meditation 19—Tranquil abiding
5-8:30pm Special Session: Melodious Drum puja w/ tsog offering
Saturday, January 30
10-11:15am Meditation 20—Superior seeing, meditation on emptiness
11:45am-1pm Meditation 20—Superior seeing, meditation on emptiness
2:45-4pm Meditation 20—Superior seeing, meditation on emptiness
4:30-5:45pm Meditation 21—Relying on a Spiritual Guide
Gen Kelsang Norbu
Resident Teacher
Gen Kelsang Norbu was ordained in 2006 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, and was requested by him to be the Resident Teacher of KMC North Carolina. He earned the title “Gen” in 2012, indicating that he is a senior ordained teacher in the New Kadampa Tradition of modern Buddhism.
Gen Norbu is known for his loving and gentle nature and holds a very clear and sharp understanding of Buddha’s teachings. Through his teachings and his personal example, Gen Norbu shows us how to integrate Buddha's teachings into our daily life.