Preparing for 7 day Ngondro retreat

[Challenge23]

Good morning,

I'm doing my first Ngondro retreat(actually my first real retreat period) next month and was wondering if anyone here had any ideas re; how to prepare, what to do(and not do), etc.

I have already spoken to my teacher(who approved the retreat) and, because he is not individually responding to e-mails this month, is unavailable to give precise advice. Usually I would be more than happy to wait to get information but if there is something I absolutely need to start doing right now before the retreat I need to know about it in order to do it.

Also, has anyone else done a specific Ngondro retreat? What are your observations?

[Schrödinger’s Yidam]

Get into shape. Do some sit-ups at least. If your'e out of shape and spend a week doing prostrations your'e going to hurt.

[conebeckham]

Start slow....on the first day, do 4 sessions but focus on the four thoughts for most of your time. Gradually build up the amount of accumulations, don't try to start off with a large number each session on the first couple days. And for the last day, ease up a bit as well. Also, it's best to end the last day before noon.

[Challenge23]

Get into shape. Do some sit-ups at least. If your'e out of shape and spend a week doing prostrations your'e going to hurt.

Good point. My teacher is having me do mandala right now. I was thinking I would do mandala until my arm cramps, then end that round, do some prostrations to uncramp my arm and then go back to more mandala. As it is the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro it is pretty easy to cycle through to a new round as the text itself is super short.

Also, sorry for being pedantic but from a safety/utility point of view, planking is much better for you than situps. Also, I'm finding that doing pushups seems to help prostrations.

Start slow....on the first day, do 4 sessions but focus on the four thoughts for most of your time. Gradually build up the amount of accumulations, don't try to start off with a large number each session on the first couple days. And for the last day, ease up a bit as well. Also, it's best to end the last day before noon.

Very good idea and exactly what I was looking for.

[pemachophel]

Apropos of what Cone said, best to start your first session in the evening and end your last session just before and at sunrise. If you can start during the dark of the moon and end during a waxing moon, that'd be great, but, for a one-week retreat, that may not be possible. Also, if possible, after concluding your accumulations on the morning of the last day, it'd be great to offer tshog in thanksgiving and say lots of dedication and aspiration prayers. If you know any multiplication mantra for before and after each session, those would also be skillful to say. And don't forget your Lama's long-life prayer. You can say that many times as well, even one mama's worth at the end of each session. Also, four sessions were previously mentioned (I think by Cone). That usually means four sessions of three hours each.

Good luck and best wishes.

[dzogchungpa]

And don't forget your Lama's long-life prayer. You can say that many times as well, even one mama's worth at the end of each session.

One mama's worth?

[philji]

Why four sessions of three hours each!!! Unless that is the instruction from his teacher... Isn't it better not to be so tight about it.. Stay relaxed and enjoy your practice.

[Sherlock]

Properly executed burpees are also good

[pemachophel]

Dzogchungpa,

"One mama's worth?" One mala's worth.

Apple's auto-correct. I hate it and I can't figure out how to disable it.

[Konchok Namgyal]

1. DONT try to complete the entire ngondro in one retreat.
2. sleep when your teacher has told you to sleep and rest
3. let go of the outside world, hopefully you are locked in somewhere where there are no electronics period.
4. make sure you are eating the proper foods, no spices, no garlic, onions peppers meat etc, but make sure you are getting proper protein and liquids.
5. remember Bhodicitta !
6. and last but definitely not least, do as your teacher has described to you, dont deviate from the plan too much or not at all if you can.

I applaud you for doing retreat and having the aspiration do do so, thank you ! May all sentient beings benefit !

[Rroman]

Make many offerings before and after the retreat. Give as much as you can...
You could change the offering bowls after each session, if you have enough time and energy.
I too rejoice in your modivation and aspirations.

[ngodrup]

What has been said is very good.
I add just two things:

It is very good to offer a Lha Sang in the morning, such as ri wo sang chod,
but there are other ones.

If you have a short protector chant, it is good to recite that in the evening.

These two small things add auspiciousness and dispel any obstacles to
having good practice and results. If you don't have them, no worries, they
certainly aren't required. If you do have them, then they are valuable.

[Challenge23]

Why four sessions of three hours each!!! Unless that is the instruction from his teacher... Isn't it better not to be so tight about it.. Stay relaxed and enjoy your practice.

That is good advice for most people. However, in my case I'm working on a practice that is known, in some cases such as my own, to be very not enjoyable. My goal for this retreat is to delve deeply enough into the practice so I can have the enthusiasm that everyone else I know seems to have, or at least enough enthusiasm to be able to complete my teacher's request that I complete my Ngondro.

[quince]

This is really great!!! Good luck!

[ClearblueSky]

Why four sessions of three hours each!!! Unless that is the instruction from his teacher... Isn't it better not to be so tight about it.. Stay relaxed and enjoy your practice.

That is good advice for most people. However, in my case I'm working on a practice that is known, in some cases such as my own, to be very not enjoyable. My goal for this retreat is to delve deeply enough into the practice so I can have the enthusiasm that everyone else I know seems to have, or at least enough enthusiasm to be able to complete my teacher's request that I complete my Ngondro.

That is more or less how I structured my ngondro retreat as well. Though some more emphasis on number (in other words, stop at 2.75 hours, or go 3.25 hours if that's when you actually complete the round of recitations, not just stop in the middle when the clock strikes the hour). Remember that that only adds up to 12 hours... have an idea what you're doing the rest of the time. Also that's a good thing perhaps that you're not assuming it will be enjoyable. Then you're either pleasantly surprised, or you're seeing the benefit even if it feels hard, it's a win win.