Nyungne Retreat (20/06/2008 to 23/06/2008) conducted by Khenpo Tsultrim

Nyungne is the practice of the thousand armed Avalokiteshvara. One pair of Nyungne requires the practitioner to observe eight precepts (no killing, stealing, lying, dancing and singing, claiming a high seat, drinking intoxicants, wearing of accessories and sexual misdeeds) on the first day and observing the eight precepts, no idle speech, eating or drinking on the second day.

This practice is able to purify bad karma accumulated from beginningless time and is a meditation of great compassion for the sufferings of sentient beings particularly in the hungry ghost realms. One day may consist of 4 sessions of practices in which the six-syllable mantra will be recited many times.

The practice orginates from Gelongma Palmo (or Bhikkuni Lakshmi) who lived in the tenth or eleventh century C.E. She was born in a royal family of an Indian Kingdom, and was ordained in her youth. She received many teachings from the great masters of her time and practiced diligently. Due to the ripening of her past karma, she contracted leprosy and was cast into the forest by the people. She had a vision of King Indrabodhi who advised her to practice Avalokiteshvara.She recited the mantra of Avalokiteshvara and subsequently went through continuous Nyungne retreats before the image of Avalokiteshvara. Through devotion and diligence in her practice, she was able to recover from leprosy. She also developed great love and compassion for all beings and became an enlightened nun who guided many disciples in the practice of Avalokiteshvara.