Pure Lands, Hidden Lands, Sacred Lands: Spiritual Pilgrimage for Dark Times
An Online Weekend Retreat April 1-3, 2022 REGISTERRETREAT SCHEDULEPure Lands, Hidden Lands, Sacred Lands: Spiritual Pilgrimage for Dark Times
An online weekend retreat
April 1 – 3, 2022
Night Club Premium Members Receive a $30 Discount, Click Here for Code (must be logged in).
Have you been meditating for a long time, but aren’t sure you’re ever going to reach enlightenment?
When you consider reincarnation, and you look at the trajectory the world is on, have you thought, “I am not so sure I want to be born back here”?
Does the concept of heaven sometimes seem a lot more appealing?
Do you long to discover sacred places for spiritual rejuvenation, both inner and outer?
Do you wish that Buddhism didn’t seem so lonely, and require you to work so hard to become enlightened?
Discover the profound connection between the Pure Land principle, as a form of Buddhism, and the sacred hidden places that exist in the physical world, and within each one of us.
Learn what it takes to be reborn in a Pure Land, and how, in this life, you can merge landscape with mindscape, discovering the nonduality of inner and outer.
Pure Land Buddhism is the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in the world. From its origins in India, Pure Land doctrine spread to China, Japan, Vietnam, and Korea, where it is the principle form of Buddhism. There are over 100,000,000 Pure Land disciples worldwide. You may have studied and practiced Buddhism for a long time, and yet not realize there’s a form of Buddhism that is largely based on faith.
Pure Land Buddhists revere the Buddha Amitabha Buddha (Amida in Asia), the “Buddha of Infinite Light,” a gentle and all-accepting Buddha. Faith in this Buddha allows adherents to be reborn in his Pure Land, where enlightenment comes swiftly. From a Pure Land perspective, one doesn’t have to attain superlative spiritual achievements before being accepted.
This program will guide you on a discovery of Tibetan mystical traditions where hidden places, both inner and outer, become adventures for the mind.Through lecture, Q and A, daily meditations, and small group break-out sessions (which work well on Zoom), we will explore outer, inner, and secret pilgrimage; how the elements of the mind, the body, and the outer landscape interconnect; and the importance of making pilgrimage.
Pure Lands, Hidden Lands, Sacred Lands: Spiritual Pilgrimage for Dark Times
Overview
The Pure Lands are an integral aspect of Tibetan Buddhism rarely taught in the West. For most of us, they represent our greatest opportunity after death. We’ll explore the origins and development of the Pure Land tradition, and the lineage of masters that continue to support it. We’ll define the many types of pure lands, their entry requirements, and why Amitabha’s Pure Land of Sukhavati is so unique. This program is designed to provide you with everything you need to know about the Pure Land tradition.
Hidden Lands (beyul) are places where the spiritual and physical worlds overlap. Designed as places of refuge in challenging times, Hidden Lands have particular relevance in our current dark age. Sacred Lands are places where prepared visitors can experience heightened awareness and rapid spiritual progress. These include traditional places of pilgrimage, as well as sacred geographical locations. Just as all beings have “buddha-nature,” all lands have special sacred ground.
Some Topics We Will Explore:
- The intimate relationship between mind and matter
- Where does Shambhala fit in?
- Self-power vs Other-power
- The role of faith and devotion
- The importance of merit, and the power of transferring merit
- The causes for rebirth into a Pure Land
- The difference between sutra and tantra Pure Lands
- Who is Amitbha, and how did he create Sukhavati?
- How is a Pure Land different from heaven?
- Is Amitabha different from God?
- Where exactly are these Hidden Lands, and how do they accelerate awakening?
- The maps for getting to a Hidden Land
- Nature dharma (ri-cho)and symbolic guru
- The relation of Hidden Lands and terma (treasure texts)
- How does the Garden of Eden connect to the Hidden Lands?
- The role of meditation in removing veils of perception
- How does opening your mind open a beyul?
- How does the “fourth moment” lead you immediately into a Hidden Land?
- Pilgrimage as a journey into pure perception
- How to use landscape to awaken mindscape
- The role of “golden gates” and “secret gates” to enter paradise now
- Replacing materialism with idealism
- Physical fulcrums of perception
Night Club Premium Members Receive a $30 Discount, Click Here for Code (must be logged in).
Retreat Schedule
Friday, Saturday:
11:00 am – 2:30 pm
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sunday:
11:00 am – 2:30 pm
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm