Palyul Retreat Impressions I

Once again, when I stop posting regularly the DODR subscribers shoot up to a near-record. I really am developing a complex about this. Luckily, after 30 days of retreat, such circumstances just float on a flat sea of serenity. Disturbed only by the chatter around me just now, penetrating even through my Pandora Radio dub station. Man, I want my serenity back. Like, now. WHERE DID MY DADBLASTED SERENITY GO, DADBLAST IT?!

 

Ahem.

 

Yes, so, re-entry into the world is always a little bumpy. Let’s revisit the lovely Palyul Ling through images, then, shall we?

 

Palyul Ling, or the Palyul Retreat Center, was created by HH Penor Rinpoche so that Westerners would have the opportunity to receive and carry through the practice instructions contained in Terton Migyur Dorje’s profound Great Perfection, Buddha in the Palm of the Hand. The teachings are given in seven stages, one stage per year. Though I’ve received and practiced much of it, I felt, and my teacher agreed, that I should repeat the innermost teachings within the environment of His Holiness himself. According to the grand scheme, this would have me going back to NY for the next three summers. But since I’m not entirely sure what will happen the rest of this month, who really knows?

 

At any rate, it was a tremendous blessing just to see Penor Rinpoche’s face, though a little anxiety-producing. It’s felt that His Holiness is a truly enlightened master with no need to take ordinary birth within samsara, the various forms we assume and the realms we experience through karmic action impelled by ignorance. He is a realized bodhisattva, one who deliberately appears in whatever forms will most effectively lead beings to the state beyond suffering we call enlightenment. Thus, in our devotional language, we say he is merely displaying old age and illness in order to lead his disciples to the wisdom to be gained through deeply understanding the impermanence of all phenomena.

 

And so, there it was. While His Holiness joined us most mornings at 9 for recommitment to our vows, Guru Yoga practice, and to offer us pith advice, he did so from an armchair. He only ascended his teaching throne once, to conduct a long life ceremony at the very end of retreat. I offer this image out of utter respect to him, a glorious, immovable mountain of true dharma:

 

 

The explanatory teachings were conferred by the inimitable Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso. Mostly he would teach in the main temple, but occasionally he would visit our retreat huts for a more intimate encounter. Our group received him once in this way, and I captured this image:

 

 

The teachings are given section by section. After each section is taught, the retreatants go off and practice for 3-4 days. What is offered at Palyul Ling is considered a secret level of practice. Thus, all but the first-year group have their own huts, at a remove from the main hub of the center. Up to three times a day, most of us trekked down what has become known as the Dzogchen Highway...

 

 

...some, like Ani Palchen, kitting themselves out in fine country style...

 

 

...to a modest shelter like ours:

 

 

The groups chanted through the Guru Yoga practice each time and then practiced their particular meditation methods. Ours were guided as a group to ensure we stayed within the time frames of our sessions. The later years, however, are more self-directed and some opted for more spacious environments:

 

 

At the end of each session we would chant a short practice of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, and then file out to sing his well-known mantra, Om Mani Padme Hung, the half-mile or so back to the temple. Once back, we would circumambulate the temple once and then offer three prostrations, accompanied by the long purification mantra of Buddha Vajrasattva, and a short dedication of the merit to all sentient beings.

This created a lovely, meaningful rhythm to life and I am delighted to say that the whole retreat was extraordinarily calm and harmonious. I barely heard a cross word for the whole 30 days, and even though I had a tricky job for the retreat – scheduling interviews for the lamas – I found that the retreatants minds, overall, were remarkably loosened from ordinary patterns of attachment and selfishness, disciplined, and compassionate.

The obvious lesson? Dharma works.

Next up: Special events and really, really relaxed minds.

Comments

[Sangye]

Glad to have you back online! The photo of HH Penor Rinpoche is just beyond sweet. Though I've received empowerment from HH Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, I've not met him personally. I had the same intimidated feeling, though, every time I saw his photo in our Sedona prayer center. One day, I was standing close to it and happened to look in his eyes. And there it was, just as you said, loving gentleness.

Thanks for bringing the retreat to us! I pray that all obstacles be removed for those wishing to attend next year.

[Leamur]

Not sure what y'all mean about HH Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, I quite like the look of him; I think he looks very intelligent. I'd guess he's a superb teacher.

K, I'm also wondering a little about your, um, complaint? (!), that the number of subscribers went way up? Do you mean hits to your site? I ought to confess that since this weekend I've been expecting you to come out of retreat and post something any minute, so I've been dropping by with ridiculous frequency to check. I'd bet I'm not the only one. No need get a complex, a fan-base is supposed to be a good thing.

So welcome back, you've been missed, and quit fretting about your serenity, it's right... there.

[Tara Ferguson/ Pema Dolma (Pedol)]

Really great photos, and I liked the way you put it all together, K. You did a great job by the way. Not easy at all. Have a safe journey back! See you next year!

Tara/ Pedol

[Samaya]

Although illness kept me from attending most of the retreat, I noticed (quite proudly after attending the retreat every year since it began) that our dharma brothers and sisters were very kind and mindful this year.

A handful of sangha got together and did some research on doctors for me, got me medicine I really needed, and kept me comfortable and protected during the practices and prayer times The gentle, non-intrusive giving brought tears of gratitude to my eyes.

And among the Sambhogakaya displays I witnessed this month, Lama Mike, Bethsaida and I were treated to an enormous double rainbow today-which is Guru Rinpoche day.

Getting older and being so ill during this dharma adventure has softened my heart and opened me up to the all good - Samantabhadra is my friend, if you get my drift.

[Elizabeth]

Great pictures! I somehow came across your blog, how about that? Thanks again for the interview with Khenchen. Hope to see you next year!
Elizabeth
(girl with baby from RI)
:-)