Mahamudra Retreat at KDOL on Salt Spring Island
with HH Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche
Sunday September 22 – Wednesday September 25
An extraordinary and humorus speaker, Phakchok Rinpoche’s command of the English language delivers a clear and profound explanation of the practical aspects of Buddhist ideals and teachings. Phakchok Rinpoche was ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in recognition as the supreme head of the Taklung Kagyu Buddhist lineage.
Since 1999 H.H. Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche has served as Professor of Buddhist Philosophy at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute Shedra, Center of Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, where he teaches Buddhist philosophy with an emphasis on the Middle Way. He has also been guest-lecturer at numerous centres in Europe, North America, South America and South East Asia.
The Sanskrit term Mahamudra means “Great Seal” or “Great Symbol.” In the Kagyu meditation tradition Mahamudra is synonymous with the Nature of Mind which is a pivitol concept in their practice. Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche will be presenting the progressive instructions on Mahamudra according to the Taklung Kagyu tradition that leads meditators from the very beginning of the path to its fruition.
These teachings are based upon the The Amrita of Essential Accomplishment (Mahamudra) and the Luminous Bindu (84 Mahasiddha) texts. These texts are included with the Required texts package which attendees are required to buy for an additional $15. A Mahakala tsa tsa (a support for the protector practice found in the Luminous Bindu) is optionally available for $40.
* Please register ASAP to ensure that all students receive the complete practice materials.
Schedule
— Morning Meditation
— Healthy Body, Healthy Mind with Yogi David
— Breakfast
— Teaching w/ Phakchok Rinpoche
— Meditation
— Lunch
— Meditation
— Teaching w/ Phakchok Rinpoche
— Dinner
— Q&A Session w/ Tulku Migmar and/or Yogi David
— Meditation
Additionally, students will have opportunity for personal contact with Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche.
Accommodation
The retreat centre KDOL is located in a forested mountain overlooking the ocean on beautiful Salt Spring Island, BC Canada. Students are encouraged to stay in a cabin the centre provides making it easier to attend the entire teachings. Although single cabins are available at request all cabins are shared. If you are attending the retreat with another please let us know and we can book you in the same cabin. Although the facilities are somewhat limited KDOL provides a superior way to enhance the learning experience.
Single Rooms – All rooms will be double occupancy with same gender (unless otherwise requested/agreed by both roommates). If you would like a single occupancy room you can reserve one but there is an additional $70 cost for this. To add a single occupancy room upgrade, click the below link to add it to your shopping cart. Once you have done that you can close that window and resume your registration here.
Single Room Occupancy Uprade – $70
Have your own accommodations – This is only available for people who live on Salt Spring Island. The minimum daily commute to KDOL is estimated at 30 minutes one way. If you are familiar with the situation and understand the additional commute time then you may receive a $60 registration discount to use your own sleeping accommodations, food will still be provided. To receive this discount, enter the below discount coupon code when prompted during the registration/payment process. It will be on the page where you choose the payment method. It will instantly apply a $60 discount to your online registration (or if you pay by cheque you may subtract this amount from your registration fee).
Have Your Own Sleeping Accommodations Discount – Save $60 by using this coupon at checkout: OWNROOM108
Food
The program fee includes a delicious vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Although we cannot make any guarantees please let us know if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs and we will do our best to accommodate.
Transportation (Ferry)
General Information:
The cost for a round trip thru fare individual ticket for the retreat dates is $27 per person. If you take a car you still must pay additionally for each passenger including the driver. The car round trip ticket alone cost $81.30 or $108.30 including just the driver. There are two ferry routes from Vancouver (Tsawwassen Terminal) to Salt Spring Island. Our recommended ferry goes to Swartz Bay where one must transfer to a second ferry from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island). This ferry takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes with the connecting ferry taking approximately 30 minutes and reverse for the return trip.
We will be leaving as a group on the 1:00 pm ferry from Tsawwassen arriving at Swartz Bay at 2:35pm. Then transferring onto the 3pm ferry to Fulford Harbour which arrives at 3:30pm. Make sure that when you purchase your ticket you tell them your final destination (Fulford Harbour) to buy a thru fare. We recommend that you take this ferry as a walk-on passenger. This will save having to pay for a vehicle.
If you are driving:
You need to reserve your ticket online in advance (the sooner the better) at www.bcferries.com. The online website booking only allows you to book to Swartz Bay. When you checkin and pay for your fare they will adjust your ticket price after telling them that you need a “thru fare to Fulford Harbour”. When you checkin they will provide you with instructions for the “loop” which is how you exit the ferry terminal in Swartz Bay and re-enter for boarding the connecting ferry to Fulford Harbour. You must checkin no later than 30 minutes prior to departure.
If you are walking on the ferry:
You cannot pre-book walk-on tickets but they are plentiful. Someone from Mangalashri will be at the Tsawwassen Terminal by 12pm to meet other walk-on passengers and to travel together as a group. We recommend arriving 45 minutes early.
Directions to BC Ferries Tsawwassen Terminal click here
More information at www.bcferries.com
Upon Arrival
Attendees will be picked up and shuttled to the retreat location at KDOL. This is about a 30 minute drive. If you are arriving at any time other than our recommended ferry, please make sure to contact us to arrange for a shuttle pickup. If you are driving yourself you may follow the Google map directions and then follow the blue arrows nailed to trees at all road forks. Please be aware that this road is very rough and smaller cars may have difficulties with the bumps and unevenness. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm followed by orientation and the first sessions beginning Monday morning.
Return Ferry
We recommend taking the return ferry from Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay leaving at 5:50 pm. Then connecting in Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen at 7pm and arriving around 8:30pm. If you are taking a vehicle you must reserve the Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen leg online and the fare will then be adjusted when you checkin on the return.
What to Expect
The retreat location (KDOL) is a rustic environment. There are two shared showers on premises. The buildings there have no electricity. People who plan to attend should be in good physical and mental health.
All people coming to KDOL should bring:
– Comfortable footwear for trail hiking
– Flashlight and spare flashlight with extra batteries
– Sleeping bag
– Warm and/or waterproof clothing to suit the season
– Personal hygiene items, (toothbrush, etc.)
– Alarm clock
Each bed in the rooms will include one set of sheets, a pillow and a pillowcase.
Additionally we are asking that upon arrival people be prepared to commit to signing up for approximately 1 hour per day in community upkeep which may be in the form of meal preparation or cleaning of the common areas.
By registering for this retreat you agree to follow and abide by the KDOL Retreat Rules & Policies and the Mangala Shri Terms and Conditions.
Costs:
Teaching, Food, Cabin: $295; Required Text: $15; Mahakala tsa tsa:$40; Marpa Life Story: $20
Accompanying Retreat Material and Texts
Please make sure to read this information carefully. To attend the retreat you are required to purchase the required texts from the link below ($15). The Mahakala tsa tsa ($40) and “Marpa Life Story” ($20) are optional but recommended. Please add them to your cart now: Click on links, in pop-up window add to cart and close the window.
Mahakala tsa tsa – $40 (optional)
Marpa life story – $20 (optional)
How to Register
Important! You will NOT be registered until BOTH payment and registration form is received!
First fill out the form below and after it is submitted you will be redirected to a PayPal page to use your credit card or PayPal. You can also opt to mail us a cheque for CA$295 (plus selected materials) at the end of the registration process and payable to:
Mangalashri Taklung Kagyu Foundation
2145 West 15th Avenue
Vancouver, BC Canada V6K2Y4
Questions or if you need help with registration
Email John: mangalashrifoundation@gmail.com
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