About the Event: This special Chokhor Duchen three day retreat will focus on the text - The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, more simply known as the Heart Sutra. It is a powerful text to study to create the conditions for having a direct realization of emptiness.
Chokhor Duchen, known in English as “Turning the Wheel of Dharma,” commemorates the anniversary of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching. It is said that for seven weeks after his enlightenment, the Buddha did not teach. Afterward, Indra and Brahma offered a Dharmachakra and a conch shell and requested Guru Shakyamuni Buddha to teach. Accepting, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma for the first time at Sarnath by teaching the four noble truths.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that the only thing that can directly cut ignorance, which is the root of suffering and samsara, is wisdom realizing emptiness. There are many teachings on emptiness, but these teachings are found condensed in the Heart Sutra.
Just hearing the Heart Sutra, or reading it, Rinpoche tells us, leaves a positive imprint to be free of samsara and to actualize the path, achieving enlightenment to free numberless sentient beings from oceans of samsara and bring them to enlightenment.
About our Teacher:
Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim is immensely popular for the warm and approachable way in which he presents the Dharma and inspires our community. He became a monk in Tibet and did extensive study at Sera Je Monastery in India, where he was awarded his Geshe degree (the equivalent of a doctorate in Buddhist studies) in 2005. He began teaching at Chenrezig Institute in 2014 after being chosen for our community by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. He teaches in Tibetan with the help of an interpreter.
Geshe Tsultrim has a warm hearted, caring and practical approach to teaching Dharma. He has been the resident Geshe at Chenrezig Institute since 2014. Since then he has taught Dharma both in the Gompa and by the example he sets outside of the Gompa.
Schedule:
The general schedule for the weekend is below (this may be subject to slight change):
Saturday 26th July
9:15am - 10:00am Morning Meditation
10:00am - 10:30am Break
10:30am - 12:00pm Teaching with Geshela
12:00pm - 1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm - 2:30pm Discussion/Q&A with Geshela
2:30pm -3:00pm Afternoon Tea
3:00pm - 4:30pm Teaching with Geshela
5:00pm - 6:00pm Supper
Sunday 27th July
7:00am - 8:00am Breakfast
9:15am - 10:00am Morning Meditation
10:00am - 10:30am Break
10:30am - 12:00pm Teaching with Geshela
12:00pm - 1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm - 2:30pm Discussion/ Q&A with Geshela
2:30pm - 3:00pm Break
3:00pm - 4:00pm Teaching with Geshela
Monday 28th July
7:00am - 8:00am Breakfast
9:15am - 10:00am Morning Meditation
10:00am - 10:30am Break
10:30am - 12:00pm Teaching with Geshela
12:00pm - 1:30pm Lunch
This retreat weekend will be available to attend in person or online.
Registration and payment
The suggested donation for this two-day weekend is $150
BUT – you may pay whatever you feel comfortable with.
A donation of $75 will be very helpful
A donation of $50 will cover our basic costs.
A suggested donation of $150 will cover our costs and help us to continue to offer other teachings to so many – often free of charge.
Sangha are always able to attend our courses free of charge but are encouraged to please register (using their coupon).
If there are any issues booking food or accommodation, please email info@chenrezig.com.au
Note: When you are planning to register to attend online, please read the attached information and requests for the benefit of our students and volunteers: Information for online participants