Bodhicitta and the Illusory Nature of Self and Other

18th Annual Summer Retreat at Crystal Mountain

with Lama Mark Webber

Dates: June 30 to July 29th, 2018

Location: Crystal Mountain Society Retreat, Galiano Island, B.C. Canada

Contacts: For Registration, Susan Van Asselt at vanasselt.susan@gmail.com – For more information, Gisele Sabourin at gis.sabourin@gmail.com

Crystal Mountain Society is very pleased to announce that for the 18th year Lama Mark Webber will be teaching, leading meditation and guiding practitioners at the Crystal Mountain Summer Retreat.

Schedule and Topics:

Week 1:

Buddhist teachings and meditations on bodhicitta, the mind of enlightenment. Reading transmission and commentary of Lama Khunu Gyaltsen’s Jewel Lamp, 356 verses praising bodhicitta. Teachings and the meditation of Tonglen uniting loving-kindness, compassion and emptiness.

Week 2 & 3:

A) Teachings on the Illusory nature of self, other and all experience. In weeks two to four—a penetrative insight retreat—Lama Mark will teach and give meditations on the illusory nature of self and all phenomena: penetrative insight or completion stage meditations with support. Lama Mark will bestow both the Longevity and Three Roots empowerments from the Drikung Yangzab lineage.

The main meditations will be on mirror like wisdom (the mirror of the mind practices), impure and pure illusory body meditations, some classic examples of illusion, the Dharma of dreams (dream yoga) from the tradition of Naropa, and the infinite vast compassion for all beings. This retreat is organized around frequent daily classes, daily group and individual meditation sessions.

B) Reading Transmission of Je Gampopa’s text, Precious Garland of the Sublime Path. An extraordinary deep collection of 28 topics of pithy advice, in Gampopa’s own words, distilled from his teachers’ guidance and two lineages of great masters. The text is intended for practitioners who wish to deeply unfold compassion and wisdom, thereby comprehending the nature of the Dharma. It is a collection of the most direct and pithy daily living and meditation instructions. There will be commentary given.

Week 4:

Lama Mark will lead group sessions and teach on Phowa (consciousness transference), from the practice text called The Ruby Garland by 19th century saint Orgyen Nuden Dorje.

Lama Mark will read short sections and give a brief commentary of both the Jewel Lamp and Gampopa’s Precious Garland of the Sublime Path before each class throughout the retreat. He will give out meditation and contemplation themes and give personal meditation interviews.

The retreat will end with a purification smoke offering, empowerment and community feast (Tsog).