Buddha
Amitayus Retreat Helps Transform Participants —and the Winter
Blues
Learning
about and engaging in the practices associated with Buddha Amitayus
— long life, wisdom and merit — enabled participants at
the recent President's Day Weekend Retreat to deeply experience
special methods for transforming the mind. This practice is a perfect
one to do in dark, gloomy February, said Kadam Morten, who led the
retreat. Amitayus is orange/red like the sun, and like our star
he radiates vitality. In mixing our minds with Amitayus, we imagined
ourselves drawing in all the power of the elements — earth,
water, fire and air — and transforming it into a positive life
force. As Kadam Morten explained, people are ordinarily depleted
by encountering elements, including other people. The energizing
practice of Buddha Amitayus enables us to realize that there are
no intrinsic problems in our reality. By learning how to stay in
the moment, we are able to transform our own delusions and experience
blissfulness and peace. The methods employed during the retreat
— teachings, guided mediations and the recitation of the Buddha
Amitayus
sadhana — combined to energize all those present. This was
the third Chakrasambara Center retreat I have attended, and for
me they just get better. For those who have never been on a retreat,
it is an experience not to be missed. You find yourself in a state
of relaxation and safety, away from the cares of everyday life and
surrounded by a beautiful natural environment, in this case the
serenity of a retreat house in Brewster, NY. In addition to having
the freedom to immerse myself in Buddhist teachings and undisturbed
practice, retreats have also provided me with the opportunity to
meet some of the most wonderful people I have ever encountered.
Learning
about and engaging in the practices associated with Buddha Amitayus
— long life, wisdom and merit — enabled participants at
the recent President's Day Weekend Retreat to deeply experience
special methods for transforming the mind. This practice is a perfect
one to do in dark, gloomy February, said Kadam Morten, who led the
retreat. Amitayus is orange/red like the sun, and like our star
he radiates vitality. In mixing our minds with Amitayus, we imagined
ourselves drawing in all the power of the elements — earth,
water, fire and air — and transforming it into a positive life
force. As Kadam Morten explained, people are ordinarily depleted
by encountering elements, including other people. The energizing
practice of Buddha Amitayus enables us to realize that there are
no intrinsic problems in our reality. By learning how to stay in
the moment, we are able to transform our own delusions and experience
blissfulness and peace. The methods employed during the retreat
— teachings, guided mediations and the recitation of the Buddha
Amitayus
sadhana — combined to energize all those present. This was
the third Chakrasambara Center retreat I have attended, and for
me they just get better. For those who have never been on a retreat,
it is an experience not to be missed. You find yourself in a state
of relaxation and safety, away from the cares of everyday life and
surrounded by a beautiful natural environment, in this case the
serenity of a retreat house in Brewster, NY. In addition to having
the freedom to immerse myself in Buddhist teachings and undisturbed
practice, retreats have also provided me with the opportunity to
meet some of the most wonderful people I have ever encountered.