$20/day
$5/session
Free for Supporter Members ($60) and above
with Gen Kelsang Chokyi, Resident Teacher at KMC Indianapolis & KMC Bloomington
Guru Yoga and Mandala offering retreat combines two of the four great preliminary guides that we need to practice if we want to gain Mahamudra realisations – the quick path to enlightenment. We all wish for spiritual realisations, but these depend upon creating certain inner conditions such as purifying negativity, accumulating merit, and receiving blessings.
In this retreat we focus on the preliminary practices of accumulating merit and receiving blessings. Making mandala offerings is the gateway to accumulating the collection of merit and attaining an enlightened pure land and Guru yoga is the gateway to receiving powerful blessings of all the Buddhas of the ten directions through our Spiritual Guide.
What is Guru Yoga?
‘Guru’ is a Sanskrit word meaning Spiritual Guide. A Spiritual Guide is any spiritual teacher who sincerely leads us into correct spiritual paths by giving correct instructions and by embodying the teachings in their daily activities. Guru Yoga is a special way of relating to our own spiritual teacher where we regard them as an enlightened being. This is a special and powerful method that enables us to receive the blessings of all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and holy beings.
What are Mandala offerings?
The mandala is the entire universe visualized as completely pure and offered to all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and holy beings. When we offer the mandala we imagine we are offering the entire universe in our hands. This can be offered both mentally and physically with a mandala kit.
This is an advanced retreat and combines chanted prayers, visualizations and using a mandala offering kit. Offering to the Spiritual Guide prayer booklet is being used with a mandala kit, both are available to use at the Center or for purchase at the bookstore. This retreat is for practitioners who wish to deepen their spiritual practice.
Retreat Schedule
9am – 10:30am | Session 1
11am – 12:30pm | Session 2
Lunch break*
1:30pm – 3pm | Session 3
3:30pm – 5pm | Session 4
* Bring your lunch or get something nearby to enjoy with the community.
Try out our New Member Special
$40 for 30 days
For just $20 more than the cost of the course, you can do a one month trial membership that includes all drop in classes, courses 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.