Le-rung Practice Part 5 / May 14-20 2009
Pian dei Ciliegi, Monte santo, Piacenza - Italy
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The retreat
The Medicine Buddha's Le-rung practice is a key way to become a disciple of the Medicine Buddha, be reborn in the Medicine Buddha Bedurya land, become a healer in one's next life and improve ones healing energy in this very life. Only doctors, therapists, healers, patients and genuine Buddhist practitioners can participate in this retreat. Dr. Pasang Y. Arya will personally select the participants, who must be Buddhists and possess the qualification to assimilate and practice the traditional retreat in accordance with the altruistic concept of Mahayana Buddhism. In the Tibetan tradition, physicians must perform the Medicine Buddha practice in their daily lives or go to long Medicine Buddha retreats in order to improve their knowledge and increase their spiritual awareness.
The Medicine Buddha practice pacifies all negative energies, karmic disorders and external obstacles. It increases one's positive mind and spiritual development, while bringing harmony in relationships with the self, family, friends, community and environment in order to achieve a full ecological balance. The retreat, led by Dr. Pasang Y. Arya, will focus on the traditional Medicine Buddha rites and ritual, meditation practices.
Participants will do Medicine Buddha mantra reciting, refuge taking, mandala offering and make prostrations as part of the retreat daily routine until having completed, with next retreats, the 100,000 mantra recitations. The retreat will last one week and will be in accordance to the Tibetan traditional practice and dedication.
Teaching programs during the retreat
Teachings will be specially given on the Medicine Buddha sadhana and meditation practice.
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RETREAT RULES
The retreat will be purely spiritual. All participants should practice noble silence and abide in nonviolence and follow correct moral discipline during the retreat.
Diet
During the retreat there will be only "white food" and participants will not be allowed to eat or use either any kind of white or red meat, garlic, onions, fish, eggs, or toxic substances such as alcohol, cigarettes etc.
The healing "white food", in the Buddhist tradition and culture, is believed to pacify negative energies and disorders, and develop healing power and mental awareness
General Discipline
All participants should abide in the positive actions and avoid the ten negative actions which are:
killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, idle gossip, harsh speech, divisive speech, envy, malice and wrong view.
But one should:
help those suffering by disease, poverty and pain, regard lesser life forms such as insects, as being similar to oneself in desiring happiness and fearing suffering, smile to others, speak the truth, specially seek to benefit one's enemies, have love for all beings, subdue the body, speech and mind, have a generous attitude and consider the welfare of others
Physical behaviors
Especially during this seven-day retreat, it is strictly forbidden to lose physical energy. Therefore, sexual contact, music, hugging are not permitted. It is also not allowed to cut one's hair, mustache, nails, clothes etc. It is prohibited to sleep during the practice, lie on the ground, change one's meditation place or physically disturb others. All should learn to respect others.
Speech discipline
During the retreat, it is prohibited to use harsh words, gossip, lie, use cell phones during practice etc.
Mind discipline
During the retreat, dualistic thoughts or words must be avoided. Participants must make all possible efforts to cut off negative thinking and must concentrate on positive thinking and on the practice. The body mind and speech should be "clean inside and outside". Therefore, the retreat should start with a "pure and positive motivation" of the mind.
Special conditions
Rules concerning contacts and communication:
1. Because it is necessary to receive permission from the retreat master on the first day of the retreat, the day before the retreat, one must decide how many people they will need to contact (by cell phone or other way) or meet physically, and who these people will be.
2. Aside from the people approved by the retreat master, it is prohibited to meet or call anyone and participants must maintain their mental calm and serene.
3. Participants are not allowed to bring any friends or family members to the retreat.
4. All practitioners become vajra brothers and sisters therefore no quarrelling is allowed and misunderstandings should be avoided.
Practice seat
Practitioners should not change their meditation seat for the whole week.
Necessary objects to bring to the retreat
- Dark blue or blue colored clothes (if possible)
- A vajra and a bell, the sadhana text, a mala/rosary and a recitation bag
- Incense, flowers (not red), candles, natural perfume, for offerings
- 1 kilo of white rice mixed with different grains, semi-precious stones and coins.
- A nice and light piece of cloth for the mandala offering (three square feet)
- A ready-made mandala or, if this isn’t possible, a beautiful plate.
Duration of the retreat
Seven days
Program
Arrival (lunch time): 14.5.2009
Special activities
May 14th:
The preparation for the retreat begins after lunch.
May 15th
Medicine Budhha sadhana, general practice day.
May 16th,:
Taking of the Bodhisatva's vows and fasting day.
Individual meditation in the afternoon.
May 17th:
Full day in silence
May 18th and May 19th:
Medicine Buddha practice.
May 20st:
Medicine Buddha ceremony in the morning.
The retreat finishes at noon
Daily routine program from first to last day
Morning
- 5.30: Meditation
- 6.00: Tibetan yoga practice
- 6.30-7.30: 1st practice session:
Medicine Buddha practice: prostration and Kyabdro
- 08.00: Breakfast
- 9.30-10.30: 2nd session:
Medicine Buddha practice and mandala offering
- 10.30: Tea break
- 11.30: 3rd session:
Practice resumes: reciting refuge practice
- 12.30: Lunch break
Afternoon
- 14.30: 4th session:
Teachings on Medicine Buddha sadhana and practice
- 16.30: Tea break
- 17-18.30: 5th session:
Reciting Medicine Buddha mantra
- 19.30: Dinner
Evening
- 20.30: 6th session:
Medicine Buddha sadhana practice and meditation.