Guru Yoga-Mandala Retreat

June 1 – 5

at KMC South Carolina
2999 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169

Introduction to Guru Yoga-Mandala Retreat
Saturday, May 30; 10:30am – 12pm 
at KMC South Carolina (2999 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, SC)
with Resident Teacher, Kelsang Tabkay

Engaging in the practice of Guru Yoga together with making mandala offerings creates a vast collection of merit through which we can receive the powerful blessings of our Spiritual Guide and fulfill our spiritual wishes.

The word “guru” is Sanskrit for “spiritual guide” or “spiritual teacher.”  These days, it is possible to have a spiritual guide who is male or female, lay or ordained, Eastern or Western.  During this retreat, we will visualize our personal spiritual guide appearing in the aspect of Je Tsongkhapa, an emanation of the wisdom Buddha Manjushri and the 15th century founder of the New Kadampa tradition.

The word “mandala,” in this context, means “universe.”  In a traditional rice mandala offering, we utilize a rice mandala kit to create an offering that represents a completely pure universe, a universe in which all living beings are free from suffering and filled with peace.  When we participate in the Guru Yoga-Mandala retreat, we first use the prayers entitled “Offering to the Spiritual Guide” to imagine our spiritual guide appearing in front of us as Je Tsongkhapa.  We then use the mandala kit to make repeated offerings to him, imagining we are giving countless purified universes, along with the imagined purified objects of our own attachment.

This practice is a very powerful way to create positive karma and purify negative karma.  In this way, we can fulfill our deepest wishes to experience lasting happiness.

Everyone is welcome to attend; no prior experience is required.  With the exception of the introductory talk on Saturday, all sessions are self-guided and free to attend.

 

Schedule:

Monday, June 1

7:00am, 10:30am, 5:45pm. 7:00pm

Tuesday, June 2

7:00am, 10:30am, 5:45pm. 7:00pm

Wednesday, June 3

7:00am, 10:30am, 5:45pm. 7:00pm

Thursday, June 4

7:00am, 10:30am, 6:30pm – Offering to the Spiritual Guide

Join us for a special Offering to the Spiritual Guide practice to celebrate the 84th birthday of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day.

Friday, June 5

7:00am, 10:30am, 5:45pm. 7:00pm