The Supreme Mandala Offering Weekend Retreat

AN OFFERING OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE

As aspiring Bodhisattvas who wish to benefit beings, it is essential we know how to do so by following in the footsteps of those who have accomplished this aspiration. As part of the 5-fold path of Mahamudra of the Drikung Kagyu lineage (as well as paths laid out in other Tibetan Lineages) the supreme Mandala offering is regarded as one of the highest methods for accumulating merit.

Since have this aspiration to benefit the world and its beings, we need an immense amount of merit to bring our aspirations into fruition of the actions and capacity that can actually carry out that benefit. The root cause for our current lack of capacity to do so comes from our innate habit of self grasping and attachment. When we work with these afflictions skillfully by counteracting them with the exact opposite quality, generosity and giving, then we are able to grow into our unlimited potential.

Based on his extensive experience in retreat, Drupon Lama Dorje will teach of the practice of Mandala which is the primary a method for accumulating merit and purifying attachment by symbolically offering the entire universe to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

PRE REQUISITES REQUIRED FOR THIS PROGRAM

This practice is particularly being offered for those students who are following the 5-fold path of Mahamudra program with Drupon la. Yet this retreat can be open to others if you meet the pre-requisites of having completed 10,000 Prostrations and Vajrasattva accumulations. If you are part of Mahamudra program, and have not completed your accumulations yet, you are encouraged to join this transmission live then continue accumulating your practices in the given sequence.

This weekend retreat will be held at Dewachen World Peace Sanctuary in Costa Rica, It will also be available to participate on Zoom (online) for free as a Mahamudra student.

GENEROSITY ENCOURAGED:

Donations are highly encouraged for Mandala weekend. Mandala is a practice of accumulating Generosity and it is customary in the Tibetan tradition to make an offering from your heart ❤️. This is often a time when Lamas and practitioners make significant offerings to support their teacher’s Dharma activities. Whether small or big, offer in a way that makes your heart sing with joy! It is an offering of enlightened activity in the world!

We suggest a minimum of $25, if you are able, yet no size is too small. If you are in a position to offer more, we rejoice in your merit to create the conditions for Lama and Dewachen to expand Dharma activities to touch the heart of others.

SPECIAL GUEST ADDITION!

We are very grateful that the Venerable YuZan is traveling all the way to Costa Rica to share the Flame of Hope with Dewachen World Peace Sanctuary.

The Flame of Hope is the unification of sacred fires from all around the world including sites like the Buddha’s birthplace flame, Ghandi’s eternal fire and Martin Luther King’s eternal fire. It carries the prayers and aspirations of many holy leaders and communities around the world.

YuZan Toyoda is a Japanese Buddhist monk of the Pureland Tao Sangha and the Flame of Hope ambassador of North America.

He will be offering the Flame of Hope to Lama Dorje and the Dewachen sangha to carry this prayer of peace in Latin America.

This special occasion will occur on the closing day of the Mandala retreat. It will be so special for all of us to witness intercultural exchange between Yuzan La and Lama Dorje’s distinct traditions, and unifying the offerings of the Mandala and Flame of Hope as an aspiration for a peaceful world.

*There will also be an opportunity to express your generosity to Yuzan La to support his plane ticket.

For anyone who is a Mahamudra practitioner, you will be part of the whole weekend Friday-Sunday. 

For anyone who is not a Mahamudra practitioner, you are welcome to join the Sunday Flame of Hope portion.

SCHEDULE:

(Costa Rica time zone)

Friday July 31:
(Mandala Participants only)
                 3:00  pm: Arrival to Dewachen (for those staying on site)

                5:00  pm: Welcome Mandala instructions (Including Online Participants)

                 7:00 pm: Dinner

Saturday August 1:
(Mandala Participants only)

7:00 am: Tsa Lung Yoga morning practice

                8:30 am: Breakfast

                10:00 am: Session 1: Mandala Teaching

                11:30 am : Tea Break

                12:00 pm: Session 2: Mandala Instructions

                1:30 pm: Lunch break

                3:30 pm: Session 3: Group Practice Session

                5:00 pm: Tea Break

                5:30 pm: Session 4: Group Practice Session

                7:00 pm: Dinner

Sunday August 2:
(Open to public)

               7:00 am : Tsa Lung Yoga morning Practice

               8:30 am: Breakfast

               10:00 am: Session 1: Flame of Hope with Venerable Yuzan La

               11:30 am: Break

               12:00 pm: Session 2: Qi Gong + Flame of Hope continued

               1:30 pm: Closing Dedication + Community Potluck

ITEMS TO PREPARE:

Small altar that includes:
Flowers
Candle
Incense
Water
(or the 8 traditional altar setup if you can)

Mandala practice preparations:

Mandala set (clean)
Cleaned and dried rice (or gem stones)
Safron water (or plain water if necessary)
A large cloth
Clean plate

We look forward to an incredible weekend together: Making an offering of the Supreme Mandala to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and reciving the Flame of Hope at Dewachen World Peace Sanctuary on behalf of the Sangha.