Inspire Yourself by Doing Home Retreat

Buddhist Philosophy

Back in December 2015, Samye challenged our community to add some practice inspiration by doing a short “home retreat”. We would like to share a short thank-you message from Rinpoche to all those who participated in the ‘Inspire Yourself’ Retreat. For those of you who participated this time, we rejoice in your merit and thank you for your practice. We hope that this self-scheduled retreat gives you the confidence to schedule regular mini-retreats in the future.

We hope that even more students will be inspired to commit to another on-line retreat in the near future–stay tuned for details!

Inspire Yourself Retreat: Repeating the Process

Remember that you can take a mini-retreat on your own for a day, a weekend, or a slightly longer time. And we can gain a lot of benefit from incorporating this new habit into our routine. Here are a couple of tips to help you make this a regular part of your life:

Create a Sacred Space: Even if you don’t have a shrine, choose a clean and quiet spot. Add a photo to inspire, light a candle, burn some incense, offer a flower, and prostrate or bow to the space.
Start Small: If you are a beginner, try out a one-day or two-day retreat
Set Intention and Motivation: Take time to think about why you are meditating. Bring to mind your loved ones, your community, and try to extend the feeling that you are practicing to benefit all sentient beings.
Short Sessions: Be realistic about your ability to sit. If you normally sit for 10 or 15 minutes a day, try to sit for 30 minutes before taking a break.
Incorporate Self-reflection: Choose some key points to contemplate. In the breaks between your silent sitting meditation, read over teachings and spend time seriously considering the teachings. You could choose topics such as impermanence, or kindness, for example. What do those topics mean to you–can you consider them deeply?
Supplication: Reflect on the kindness of the teachers, the lineage of past masters, your dharma community, your parents, and all sentient beings. Really take the time to soak up that kindness and let it open your heart. Repeat this process frequently throughout the retreat, especially if you are feeling a little sad.
Rejoicing and Dedication: Be joyful that you have this opportunity to practice! And at the end of each session, remember to dedicate the merit–all the goodness that you have generated–for the benefit of all beings.

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About the Author

Phakchok Rinpoche

Phakchok Rinpoche was born in 1981 to Kyapjé Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche and Sangyum Dechen Paldrön, within the family lineage of the great treasure revealer (terchen) Chokgyur Dechen Zhikpo Lingpa. Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of the 6th Kyapgön Phakchok Rinpoche, one of the three throne holders (kyapgöns) of the Taklung Kagyü seat (densa) at Marthang Kham Riwoche monastery. Among Rinpoche’s previous incarnations, the 4th Kyapgön Phakchok Rinpoche was a devoted disciple and patron of Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa. During that period, it was the unwavering support of the upholders of Riwoche Monastery that created the auspicious circumstances for Chokgyur Lingpa’s awakened activity to spread and flourish. Under the guidance of his root gurus—Kyapjé Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Kyapjé Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Kyapchok Soktse Rinpoche—Phakchok Rinpoche has received and practiced the profound Dharma teachings handed down in an unbroken lineage from Mahaguru Padmasambhava. Inspired by the life and legacy of Guru Padmasambhava, Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa and the upholders of Riwoche Monastery, Rinpoche has devoted his own life to spreading the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, particularly the Profound Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa (Chokling Tersar). Mahaguru Padmasambhava is renowned for his role in guiding the establishment of Samye Monastery, thereby creating the auspicious causes and conditions (tendrel) for more than a thousand years of authentic practice to unfold in the land of Tibet in an incredible lineage of accomplishment that continues to this present day. Reflecting upon these auspicious beginnings, Phakchok Rinpoche has given his organization the same name, Samye, which means inconceivable. Just as this ancient Tibetan institution lived up to its name, becoming a truly inconceivable source of the Buddhadharma, Rinpoche’s aspiration is for today’s Samye mandala to do likewise and become an inconceivable beacon of wisdom, compassion and dignity for our present world and into the future. In honor of Mahaguru Padmasambhava, Rinpoche has chosen a seal to represent Samye that traces back to Guru Rinpoche himself. This esteemed emblem was originally revealed by the Mahaguru and given to Dharma King Trisong Detsen’s royal heir, Lhasé Murup Tsenpo. Murup Tsenpo subsequently concealed it as a treasure (terma) for the benefit of future generations. Much later, in 18th century Tibet, it was discovered as a treasure by Lhasé Murup Tsenpo’s reincarnation, Terchen Chokgyur Dechen Zhikpo Lingpa. Today, it serves as the emblem for the Profound Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa and for all Dharma activities led by Phakchok Rinpoche and his sangha.

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Samye is a place where students from all corners of the globe explore how to work with their minds in order to lead meaningful lives. Drawing from authentic Buddhist wisdom traditions, our online platform offers live teachings, structured courses, interactive forums, and community for the digital Dharma sangha. Samye Institute aims to be to the digital world what Nalanda was to India and what Samye was to Tibet.

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On this Guru Rinpoche Day message, Phakchok Rinpoche shares some simple benchmarks to measure our progress in our practice. We all go through five successive stages: 1) lack of any understanding, 2) forming misunderstandings, 3) partial understanding, 4) near-complete understanding, and 5) perfect understanding. These five stages equally apply to the view, practice and conduct. Rinpoche then starts explaining each stage. Finally, Rinpoche concludes by inviting us to study these to be able to recognize them, and thereby identify our own level of progress on the path.

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Buddhahood Within Our Reach

On this Guru Rinpoche Day, Phakchok Rinpoche explains the famous opening verse of Omniscient Gampopa’s “Jewel Ornament of Liberation,” as well as the key points we should understand as we read the verses; mainly, that all beings have the cause of Buddhahood within their being, but it is also important that they meet with the right conditions for this seed to bear fruits. Rinpoche further explains how to cultivate the right conditions for our transformation.

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Dharma Reflections

"Why is it so important to discover our buddha-nature? We must know our pure, inherent nature if we want to be fully grounded."

Phakchok Rinpoche, Awakening Dignity, Chapter 3: Beyond the Beautiful and the Ugly

Inspire Yourself by Doing Home Retreat