The Tibetan word for retreat is ‘tsam’, which means ‘stop’ or ‘make a break’. This indicates we must stop, or make a break from, our normal activities and concentrate on a particular spiritual practice. The most important thing to stop during retreat is our distractions—to stop our busy mind.
At Kadampa Meditation Center, we offer a variety of retreats to give the practitioner an opportunity to ‘take a break’ from normal activities and a distracted mind.
These retreats are offered throughout the year at the center and provide an opportunity to gain retreat experience in a quiet, peaceful environment. We offer meditation retreats that range from half-day retreats on Saturdays, to full weekends, to away retreats during which we stay at a retreat center in the mountains. These relaxing and profound retreats help us create the space to more deeply contemplate and meditate on specific teachings.
Preliminary Guide Retreats are held every year at the center. They are usually a week in length, four sessions a day, and allow people to gain deeper experience of a particular practice. They are an integral part of the Teacher Training Program (TTP), but are also open to everyone. You may attend any number of sessions. Preliminary Guide Retreats include the following:
During this event we will have the opportunity to take the Bodhisattva Vow and receive teachings on how to follow the Bodhisattva’s way of life in modern-day society. Led by Gen-la Kelsang Jampa, Deputy Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition.
Becoming aware of the kindness we encounter every day and throughout our lives is a powerful way to cultivate gratitude and overcome feelings of isolation. Enjoy an appetizer buffet with sangha friends and a meditation and brief talk led by Kadam Gerry, Resident Teacher.
Fasting Retreat
In this retreat we accumulate huge merit, purify vast negativity for ourselves and others, and receive powerful blessings to propel ourself swiftly along our path to enlightenment.
Vajrasattva Purification Retreat
This retreat is a powerful method for purifying our negative karma. By deepening our reliance on Buddha Vajrasattva in this retreat, we will cleanse our mind of delusions, negativities, and obstacles that both cause us suffering and hold us back from reaching our full inner potential.
500 6th St Hermosa Beach, CA
info@meditateinthesouthbay.org
310-848-9680
© 2023 Mahamudra KMC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
