Annual Retreat

Fasting Retreat (Nyung-Ney)

Fasting Retreat (Nyung-Ney) is an effective practice for purifying our negativities. The practice was revealed by Bhikshuni Phalmo, a practitioner who suffered from leprosy. She performed this practice for 12 years in conjunction with Chenrezig or Buddha of Compassion (Avalokiteshvara) practice and became a great Siddhi, attaining the Celestial Body. The retreat course involves fasting and multiple daily sessions of prostration and recitation of the sadhana and praises. This is an intensive spiritual practice to purify obscurities and negativities and accumulate merit. The practice involves taking only one vegetarian meal on Saturday and then fasting until an early morning breakfast on Monday at sun rise. Practitioners will also recite the six syllable Mantra OM MANI PEDME HUNG. This mantra purifies the six seeds of the six realms within oneself and has the effect of pacifying the suffering of all beings.
Prerequisites: For those who are planning to attend the retreat, there is a prerequisite of having had either a Chenrezig empowerment or one of the highest yoga tantra initiations.
Cost of the Retreat: Gyuto Foundation offers all teachings free of charge, but we request a $60 donation per person for the retreat.

The Eight Mahayana Precepts

Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts: for one day, one can take the precepts to refrain from killing, stealing, any sexual conduct, lying, intoxication, taking a high or luxurious seat, singing, dancing and wearing ornaments, and eating after midday. (The first time, one should receive the precepts from a qualified teacher; thereafter one can take them by oneself.) The Mahayana Precepts, taken before sunrise at around 5.30 am, are observed until sunrise the following morning. The 24-hour fasting practice cleanses body, speech, and mind. Common times for taking the precepts are during the Buddha’s birth month of May.

What Are the Eight Mahayana Precepts?

The Eight Mahayana Precepts are taken for twenty-four hours. It is especially good to take them on full and new moon days and on special Buddhist days. The essence of this practice is to be mindful of the Mahayana motivation; to take these precepts in order to lead all sentient beings to enlightenment.

Observing precepts for even just a short time has tremendous benefits: One accumulates a tremendous amount of positive potential (merit) in a short time. One will achieve pleasant rebirths and eventually will attain enlightenment. One is protected from harm and the place where one lives becomes peaceful and prosperous. One’s mind is peaceful and calm. One gains control over one’s bad habits. There will be fewer distractions when meditating. One gets along better with others. One will meet the Buddha’s teachings in the future and can be born as a disciple of Maitreya Buddha.

The eight precepts are:
1. Avoid killing, directly or indirectly.
2. Avoid stealing and taking things without the permission of their owner.
3. Avoid sexual contact.
4. Avoid lying and deceiving others.
5. Avoid intoxicants: alcohol, tobacco and drugs (except for medicinal purposes).
6. Avoid eating more than one meal that day. The meal is taken before noon, and once one has stopped eating, the meal is considered finished. At other times of the day one can take light drinks, but not undiluted whole milk or fruit juice with pulp. Avoid eating black foods: meat, eggs, alcohol, onions, garlic, and radishes.
7. Avoid sitting on a high, expensive bed or seat with pride. Also avoid sitting on animal skins.
8. Avoid wearing jewelry, perfume, and make-up. Avoid singing, dancing or playing music with attachment.

The rules about food (if you take precepts): You may have a light breakfast and your lunch (as large as you want) must be finished by noon. If this is not possible, eat lunch as early as you can. When you have stopped eating for 15 minutes, you cannot eat again until you wake in the morning. No dinner or snacks. No “black foods” such as eggs, meat, onions, garlic, and alcohol.

The first time one takes the precepts, it is done from a master or Lama. Thereafter, one can do the ceremony before a Buddha image by regarding it as the actual Buddha.