Nyungnay: Avalokiteshvara Compassion Fasting Retreat

Tuesday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 16, 2025   starting with Precepts at 6:45 am 

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Every year we celebrate April 15th as Buddha’s Enlightenment day by enjoying this very special fasting purification retreat. Called “Nyungnay” in Tibetan, this annual retreat is performed along with the meditation practice of Thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion.

Everyone is welcome to join in this special annual event. Engaging in this retreat is very powerful for purifying negative karma of body, speech and mind and for pacifying strong delusions, such as desirous attachment and hatred. It is also a special method for receiving the blessings of Buddha and improving our experience of love, compassion and bodhichitta.

This practice is done over two days, with the Mahayana precepts taken near dawn each day (6:45am). On both days, we do three sessions as a group of Avalokiteshvara prayers, mantra recitation and prostrations (according to each person’s ability, recalling that prostration is primarily a humble mental action.)

By refraining from food, we develop our compassion for those beings who do not have access to food. We also purify our karma of negative actions we performed in order to obtain food in the past. On Day 1, we abstain from all meals apart from lunch. On Day 2, we engage in a complete fast, abstaining from all food and drink for 24 hours (per each individual’s capacity).  Those who are unable to engage in a complete fast can still participate in the sessions on Day 2, provided they take Mahayana precepts on that morning.

NOTE: This precious practice is open to everyone according to their capacity. If you have questions or concerns about participating, please talk to your class teacher or resident teacher, or email us at [email protected]

Schedule Tuesday, April 15:

Precepts 6:45am
Session #1: 7:30-9am
Session #2: 10-11:30am
Session #3: 1:30-3pm
Offering to the Spiritual Guide 7-8:45pm

Schedule Wednesday, April 16: 

Precepts 6:45am
Session #1: 7:30-9am
Session #2: 10-11:30am
Session #3: 1:30-3pm

$15 per day  /  Level 3 & 4 Members: Free  *Learn about membership here.    

Add on a Tuesday vegetarian lunch: $8.50