Dorje Shugden Retreat in Kechara Forest Retreat
Good news, everyone. Another group of five Kecharians have completed their three-day, two-night Dorje Shugden Retreat at Kechara Forest Retreat. This is an annual retreat that is organised by Kechara Puja House and four out of the five retreatants joined the retreat for the first time. The retreat took place at Manjushri Guest House, which is a special place perched on a hilltop within the enchanting forest landscape of Kechara Forest Retreat.
Dorje Shugden Retreat
The 9-foot statue of the mighty Dorje Shugden in Kechara Forest Retreat
Who is Dorje Shugden?
Dorje Shugden is an enlightened protector who is also the emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. According to Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, there are two types of Dharma Protectors: one is enlightened and one is not enlightened (worldly). Worldly Dharma Protectors are unenlightened beings that were bound by powerful oaths or they have sworn allegiance with a high lama to protect the Buddhadharma. Since they are unenlightened, they still have the eight worldly concerns and emotions just like any other samsaric beings. Hence, sometimes it might be inconvenient or dangerous to rely on them.
Enlightened Dharma Protectors are beings who are the manifestation of a higher Bodhisattva or Buddha who achieved Buddhahood a long time ago. Within this class of protector, there are two types of protectors: one type show their enlightened forms and the other show the form of a worldly protector. Dorje Shugden belongs to the latter form, as he is fully enlightened and one with Buddha Manjushri. He manifested in the form of a worldly protector, in order to be closer to us karmically, which makes it easier to help us swiftly.
What is a retreat?
The altar set up for the retreat with abundance offerings
A retreat is where we set aside a time to be away from our daily mundane activities to specifically focus on deeper meditation and spiritual practices to gain some benefits, and in this case, Dorje Shugden is the deity that we focus on. Traditionally, a retreat last for three years, three months and three days. However, due to the hectic lifestyle of the people in this degenerated age, a shorter retreat is recommended. It is very good for us to engage in a Dorje Shugden retreat where we focus all of our attention and our energy on Dorje Shugden and his practices in order to get closer to him. Through his practice, we are able to achieve the benefits of his practice: generating compassion, kindness, wisdom, insight, clarity, good memory and the removal of obstacles. We can do the retreat anywhere we want, but it has to be in a place where outside disturbances are dramatically reduced so that we will be able to maintain our focus and concentration on the meditation.
During the retreat, the retreatant is required to adhere to several strict rules that are designed to help the retreatant be successful in their retreat. One of the examples is that the retreatants are required to follow a strict vegan diet, in which they must refrain from eating black foods, such as meat, garlic, onion, dairy and eggs. With all the outer temptations and possible interferences removed temporarily, one can engage in the retreat whole-heartedly.
Benefits of a retreat
When we engage in a retreat, it brings us closer to the deity of the retreat and allows us to merge with the deity. It does not mean we become one with the deity; this would not be logical since there are two consciousness involved here. What it means is that we start to adopt the enlightened quality of the deity and we will be able to develop the three qualities, which are renunciation, bodhicitta and shunyata. With these three qualities, we will be able to fight our inner samsara and solve all of our physical or mental problems.
On top of that, when we do the Dorje Shugden retreat, we are actualising the blessings of the protector to help us. This is very important because we are living in this degenerated age where our actions of body, speech and mind makes it very easy for us to open up negative emotions such as anger, selfishness, desire, and hatred. Hence, we need Protector practice to counter all of this and to hold off our negative karma from manifesting too quickly. The Protector is holding our hand in the sea of samsara, lifting us above the water level so that we are able to take a breather while we are being ravaged mercilessly by our negative karma.
As a side benefit, Dorje Shugden will help us to remove obstacles and gather resources so that we have a chance and right conditions to practice real Dharma. At the same time, since Dorje Shugden is the emanation of Buddha Manjushri, we will be blessed with Lord Manjushri’s seven types of wisdom such as clarity, good memory and clear understanding of Dharma. For these reasons, it is very beneficial for anyone to take a spiritual break once every few months to engage in a Dorje Shugden retreat. It gives us the opportunity to recharge ourselves spiritually and take a break from the materialistic life that leads us nowhere.
More images of the retreat
Pastor Gim Lee with the retreatants
Before the start of the Dorje Shugden retreat, Pastor Gim Lee gives an explanation and guidance to the retreatants of what a retreat is, what are the dos and don’ts
Retreatants are provided with very healthy and delicious food prepared from the Kechara Forest Retreat community kitchen
Retreatants make offering to beautiful Tara at Kechara Forest Retreat
Images of Manjushri Guest House
For more interesting information:
- Dorje Shugden Retreat: A powerful practice to fulfill wishes
- Dorje Shugden Gyenze to Increase Life, Merits and Wealth
- Dorje Shugden Shize: A practice for healing and long life
- Dorje Shugden Trakze to Dispel Black Magic & Spirits
- Dorje Shugden Wangze for Power and Influence
- Dorje Shugden – The Protector of Our Time
- What He Can Do For Us | 祂能为我们做些什么？
- Calling Upon the Divine
- Beginner’s Introduction to Dorje Shugden
- A Wish-fulfilling Shrine
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Kechara Forest Retreat provides you conducive environment for your spiritual and non-spiritual retreat. The Buddha statues were so stunning and blessed.I loved the idea of this retreat for choosing Manjushri Guest House, which is a special place perched on a hilltop within the enchanting forest landscape of Kechara Forest Retreat.
Away from other activities in KFR, the much-needed silence and tranquillity in retreats can be found here.Hope more people will take part in Dorje Shugden retreats in KFR in the near future.
I rejoice to all the retreatants! May they all be protected and blessed by the Great King Protector!
Rejoice for all the retreatants. Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) is indeed a very special and conducive place for us to engage in retreat. KFR is a holy land blessed by many high lamas and built specially for all who would like to engage in various dharma activities. I am very fortunate to be able to participate in Lama Tsongkhapa and Manjushri retreat held in KFR. Everytime after the retreat I feel so calm and mind is much clearer. Thank you Rinpoche for your kindness and compassion to conceptualise KFR and benefit everyone.
Kechara Forest Retreat is a holy land blessed by many Lamas. The blessing helps us while we are doing our retreat. The accommodation provides is very comfortable and the area surrounded by the nature that brings peace and calmness to our mind.
Kechara Forest Retreat provides you conducive environment for your spiritual and non-spiritual retreat. The Buddha statues were so stunning and blessed. The monument in KFR is an object for a blessing for us to collect merits and purification.
Once again, rejoice to all the retreatants. It’s so blessed just to be in KFR, and now what’s better than this? A Dorje Shugden retreat!
He who bestows wisdom, grant protection and gathered resources. The Almighty Dorje Shugden, in You, I place my trust.
Thank you for this amazing news.
Tashi Delek Rinpoche & the blog Teams,
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Thank you so much for sharing DS Retreat
Thank you RINPOCHE?
Rejoice for the retreatants who completed their Dorje Shugden retreat. Kechara Forest Retreat is a quiet and peaceful place for anyone who needs relaxing getting away with city life, meditation and get connected spirituality. Inspired by H.E the 25th Tsem Rinpoche ‘s vision of a unique and healthier living retreat centre. Where one can experience a sustainable spiritual lifestyle.
May more people coming to this beautiful retreat centre for retreat and meditation.
Thank you Rinpoche for having such a convenient place and accommodation for us to retreats at Manjushri Guest House., to be away from the hustle and hectic daily life.
Thanks for the wonderful experience and beautiful sharing of the Dorje Shugden Retreat at Kechara Forest Retreat. I loved the idea of this retreat for choosing Manjushri Guest House, which is a special place perched on a hilltop within the enchanting forest landscape of Kechara Forest Retreat for the Dorje Shugden Retreat. Of course learning anything in a super awesome environment is always amazing.
A good news for those who are planning for mind relaxing in a retreat and choosing a best programmes at the right time. Well, besides exploring the forest retreat the programmes has also strongly connect for all participants to experience their power for overcoming obstacles and bringing peace and fulfillments through the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. This wonderful information and a beautiful programmes should not to be missed in life time.
Hope this Dorje Shugden Retreat programme will be frequently held for the benefits of the article readers.
Thank you, Rinpoche and the blog team to share this good news with us. I rejoice for the retreatants who completed their Dorje Shugden retreat. Dorje Shugden retreat is a very beneficial activity for us to do to take a breather away from our city life where we are stressed out with many issues every single day.
I have personally done retreats in Kechara Forest Retreat, and the experience is fantastic. Kechara Forest Retreat is a spiritually charged place where so many blessings were done on the land. Hence, any spiritual activities carried out there will be more effective. No to mention the environment here is stunning and so close to nature, which is very beneficial if we are looking to heal our mind and body.
Thanks to Rinpoche, we now have an ideal place to do our retreats, which is Manjushri Guest House. Away from other activities in KFR, the much-needed silence and tranquillity in retreats can be found here. Rinpoche is always thinking of ways to improve our spiritual experience in KFR and hence KFR turned out to be as it is, a heaven on earth.
Rejoice to everyone who completed Dorje Shugden retreat in KFR. It’s good to find time and connect with spirituality whenever we can. Hope more people will take part in Dorje Shugden retreats in KFR in the near future. Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this wonderful update. Will share this on fb to encourage more people to participate in retreats!????☘️?