Fasting and Purification Retreat

This special fasting and purification practice known as Nyungnay is traditionally done by Kadampa Centers worldwide on Buddha's Enlightenment day, which is celebrated on April 15th. We can spend two days with Thousand-Armed (eleven-faced) Avalokiteshvara, the nature of our Guru's great compassion, making exquisite offerings, praises and prostrations. It is a very powerful practice to accumulate merit, purify vast negative karma of body, speech and mind of ourself and others, and receive the most powerful blessing to propel ourselves swiftly along the path to enlightenment.

Wrapped within the practice of Mahayana Precepts, it involves fasting and offering prostrations over two days. On the first day of the retreat, we abstain from all meals except for a vegetarian lunch and we only drink water. On the second day, we abstain from all food and drink for twenty-four hours. Although strongly recommended, this is not compulsory. Participants may attend both days of the retreat or they may attend on the 14th only, depending on their abilities and preferences. The retreat is concluded with Offering to the Spiritual Guide prayers with tsog (food) offering on Buddha’s Enlightenment Day.

In order to take the vows necessary for the retreat, participants must attend the 7 AM session.
Everyone is welcome to join us for this special retreat.

Prayer Booklets (sadhanas) used will be A Pure Life for precepts and Drop of Essential Nectar for sessions. Both are available in our bookstore and online at Tharpa.com.