with Gen Kelsang Chokyi, Resident Teacher
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 or download from Tharpa US.
“It is a complete contradiction to ignore the practice of the four great preliminary guides and yet still hope to achieve special Sutra and Tantra realizations. If we want our practices of Sutra and Tantra to bear fruit we must apply effort in the preliminary practices. These are the foundations, and we can only advance step by step on the spiritual path to full enlightenment by gradually building on these foundations.”
— Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
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
Pricing & Registration
FREE for Supporter Members
$30 non-members
$20 students and seniors
Pre-register or pay at the door
Try out our New Member Special
$40 for 30 days
For just $15 more than the cost of the retreat, you can do a one month trial membership that includes all drop in classes and retreats.
This is a non-renewable 30 day trial membership with no further financial obligations.
About the Teacher
Gen Kelsang Chokyi is the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Centers Indianapolis and Bloomington.
As a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Gen Kelsang Chokyi is a modern-day Kadampa nun. With joy, wisdom, and experience, she shows how everyone can easily integrate Buddha’s teachings into daily life. She has been a student of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for 20 years.