Refuge Retreat: Protection with the Three Jewels
SAT, May 4
9:00am - 5:00pm
Our mind has tremendous power to either help or harm us. Through practicing refuge, we gradually learn how to become our own protector, instead of our own worst enemy, building stable habits of peace, joy and freedom within our own heart which we can then share with others.
We can achieve complete and permanent protection from all suffering by sincerely relying upon the Three Jewels: Buddha – the source of all refuge; Dharma – the realizations of Buddha’s teachings; and Sangha – pure Dharma practitioners who help us with our spiritual practice. Dharma is like medicine that prevents the sufferings of samsara, Buddha is the doctor who gives us this medicine, and the Sangha are the nurses who assist us. This retreat is part of the four great preliminary guides, and gives us an opportunity to gain some experience of Buddhist refuge. It will be guided by Gen Kelsang Chokyi.
This retreat will be using the chanted prayer "Essence of Good Fortune" by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. It's not required to have your own copy, but some people like to have them on hand during the event. You can purchase this chanted prayer booklet in our Bookstore & Shop.
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Retreat Schedule
9 – 10:30am | Session 1
11 – 12:30pm | Session 2
12:30 - 1:30pm | Lunch break
1:30– 3pm | Session 3
3:30 – 5pm | Session 4
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$20/Full Retreat
$5/ A Session
Free for FP, $30 for 30 Days,
Basic Plus and Supporting Members
with Gen Kelsang Chokyi, Resident Teacher
More information about Refuge Retreat
We all want a solution to our problems and spend much of our time and energy seeking refuge outside of ourselves – in our social life, our work, or simply time-wasting and indulging in meaningless activities. This is a fruitless search since none of these has true power to help us.
In Modern Buddhism Geshe Kelsang writes:
“When our life is in danger or we are threatened by someone, we usually seek refuge in the police. Of course, sometimes the police can protect us from a particular danger, but they cannot give us permanent liberation from death. When we are seriously ill we seek refuge in doctors. Sometimes doctors can cure a particular illness, but no doctor can give us permanent liberation from sickness. What we really need is permanent liberation from all sufferings, and as human beings we can achieve this by seeking refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.”
We can find true refuge within ourselves by cultivating love, compassion, and wisdom. This inner experience is the Dharma – a Sanskrit word meaning “protection.” Deep experience of these minds has complete power to protect us from suffering and give rise to deep inner happiness. We cultivate this inner refuge by relying on Enlightened Beings (Buddhas) and our spiritual friends and companions (the Sangha).