The Gompa retreat in 2010 runs from September 6 to September 19 for full details go here.
Home Mani Retreat 11 begins on 29th October 2010 (ends on Saka Dawa in 2011)
Some nine years ago the Mani
Retreat was another wonderful idea of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Rinpoche requested that Chenrezig Institute conduct a Chenrezig Retreat
on an annual basis and recite 100,000,000 mani mantras, as was the
age-old tradition of Tibet. It seemed absolutely perfect that the
Chenrezig Retreat should be the annual endeavour of Chenrezig
Institute.
With enthusiasm and
the blessings of Rinpoche’s presence the first retreat at CI was very
strong with Sangha and lay people participating. It became obvious
after 12 weeks of formal retreat and only 25 million mantras recited
that some other approach would be necessary if the community was to
fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes.
It
was decided at this point to adapt the retreat to our busy western
lifestyles and time constraints simply by doing it from our home
cushions, as this would definitely help to achieve the goal. Rinpoche
gave permission for ‘home retreaters’ to participate and created a
short, very sweet sadhana for the practice. The retreat would still
continue as a formal retreat at the centre and the home retreat concept
could then include people from the Dharma community wanting to be
involved who otherwise could not physically be there. The help of many
was enlisted from FPMT Centres and individuals alike, worldwide. Also
clear was that the home retreat was going to take quite some time to
accumulate the required number of mantras. An auspicious day was
selected to start (usually in November of each year- Buddha’s descent
from Tushita Heaven) and an auspicious finishing date affirmed as Saka
Dawa (May or June) OR 100,000,000 mantras (whichever came first). Thus
was born the Home Mani Retreat and this is the schedule that it still
follows.
This year the Home Mani Retreat 11 will begin on October 29th 2010 and will continue through until Saka Dawa on June 15, 2011.
Allowing a recess between retreats permits a ‘space’ from the retreat
although some practitioners are so endeared to the practice that they
continue it on a daily basis throughout the year. ‘Inbetween’
participants are asked to record the malas recited and offer them at
the beginning of the next retreat (contributing to the upcoming retreat
count). An email reminder is sent out at the end of each month to
participants who have pledged manis (or joined in) requesting they
submit their count in malas. This means that the count is progressively
accumulated. Alternatively participants may phone in their monthly
count to Caroline by phoning (07) 5492 9745 A/H.
A
short practice is emailed to the participant meaning there is an
opportunity for anyone to join the retreat at any time. One does not
have to wait until the “official” start of the retreat to be involved.
If you would like to participate in this year’s Home Mani Retreat
(MR11) please email
There may be questions arising when doing the retreat and
these are addressed on an individual basis via the same address. To
pledge a specific mani count, please use the online form (CLICK HERE).
It is not mandatory for anyone to make a pledge to participate, however
in doing so one creates a very positive mental imprint and a firm
resolution to participate.
Over the past ten years the manis recited have totaled in excess of 442
million mantras. Of these manis recited more than 80% of them have been
contributed by the home retreaters. On the face of it this may appear
to be a disappointing result and well short of our intended goal but I
think that this is actually quite amazing!! And certainly a reason to
rejoice! What is abundantly clear is that people from all over the
world want to maximise this opportunity to develop the compassionate
good heart. Emails come from Sangha, Dharma Centres, ‘old students’,
new students, brand new students and even prisoners. In my role as
‘book-keeper’ I am delighted and grateful every time I am able to
record that even ONE mala has been recited bringing us closer to
fulfilling Rinpoche’s wishes and I sincerely thank everyone who has
contributed over these many years.
Over
time we have come to understand that the purpose of the retreat is not
the number of manis recited. It is the development of compassion with
persistence, determination, effort and dedication. Best expressed in
the words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
“The prime mover of every human action is the motivation or the
determination. First, our motivation should be simple and sincere.
Whether we achieve the goal or not does not matter so long as our
motivation is very sincere and we make an attempt. Finally, even if we
fail to achieve our goal, we won’t regret making the effort”. Universal Responsibility and the Inner Environment HHDL
In the words of Rinpoche, “Everyone is most welcome to join in the Mani Retreat”.
Caroline
Crossman is an invited Elder of Chenrezig Institute, mother of Darcey,
businesswoman and co-ordinator of the Home Mani Retreat for nine
consecutive years in a voluntary capacity
News
Quotation
Since everything is but an apparition, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter.
-Longchenpa