Vajrasattva Retreat
Information and advice for attendees
Information and advice for attendees
Buddha Vajrasattva is the aggregate of consciousness of all the Buddhas, appearing in the aspect of a white-coloured Deity specifically in order to purify sentient beings’ negativity. He is the same nature as Buddha Vajradhara, differing only in aspect. The practice of meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva is a very powerful method for purifying our impure mind and actions. See Guide to Dakini Land.
The information on this page is offered in support of practitioners attending a Vajrasattva retreat.
Please make use of these materials to support your practice and attendance at a Vajrasattva retreat, but please also be aware that this information and website page is not available to members of the general public and should not be shared outside of the centre’s community.
Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December 2024.
Further explanations and instruction on karma and purification can be found in the following books by Geshe Kelsang:
Please note page numbers may vary between editions.
(Information taken from NKT Website).
In our previous lives, while under the influence of deluded minds, we accumulated a lot of negative karma, and we also transgressed our vows and commitments and incurred root and secondary downfalls. As a result, we now experience difficulties in developing faith and conviction in Dharma, and in making progress on the stages of the path to enlightenment. Moreover, if we do not purify all this negativity while we have the chance, we will have to experience great suffering in the future.
Any living being, even a worm or an insect, can commit negative actions; but only humans have the fortune to be able to purify them. We have been accumulating non-virtuous actions and experiencing their suffering results since beginningless time; but now we have an opportunity to purify them completely.
We should make use of this precious opportunity to purify our negative karma, not to create more! Since purification is the root of future happiness and spiritual realizations, we should strive to cleanse our mind of delusions and negative karma by practising the meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva. This is a very powerful method of purification.
Please note that these kind teachers are not referencing our next retreat if any dates or times are mentioned – these are historic presentations
Please feel free to download and print your own copy of this useful guides to Purification Practice for use on the retreat.
If printing a copy we suggest you do so as back to back, two-sided copies, as the PDF file page layout is set for printed copies. Select “flip on short side” when printing or the equivalent on your printer.
A short guide to the Purification Practices – the Four Opponent Powers
Some items may be available to purchase at KMC Plymouth and copies of the sadhana will be freely available to use. You may wish to purchase your own copies of these items from Tharpa – links below.
Copies of Heart Jewel and Wishfulfilling Jewel are also available for use at the centre.