Developing Kindness and Compassion Through Meditation
A Thanksgiving Weekend Chenrezig Retreat
with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche
Chenrezig Empowerment, Lung and Bodhisattva Vows
Dates
Friday, November 24, 2023, 10:00AM-12:30PM, 2:30PM-5:00PM
Saturday, November 25, 2023, 10:00AM-12:30PM, 2:30PM-5:00PM
Sunday, November 26, 2023, 10:00AM-1:00PM
Event Format
In-Person and Virtual
Location
Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center
2013 Eureka Canyon Road
Watsonville, CA 95076
About the Retreat
We are excited to announce this year's Thanksgiving Retreat with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche. This year, Rinpoche will be teaching on a special Chenrezig practice: "A Blessing-filled Sadhana of Supplication to the Great Compassionate One with the Six-Syllable Mantra". Chenrezig (Skt. Avalokiteshvara) is the patron saint of Tibet, known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion. According to the text, this sadhana was spoken directly by Avalokiteshvara to Drubchen Tshultrim Zangpo, who had the same wisdom mind as Tangtong Gyalpo. The lineage was lost for some time, then rediscovered by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. The empowerment text was written by Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche.
Tulku Thadral Rinpoche will give the Empowerment and Oral Transmission (Lung) on November 24th at the 10:30AM session. In addition, Rinpoche will give daily teachings on the text, answer questions, and lead practice sessions.
Registration
Register for the full Chenrezig Retreat or just the Empowerment, Lung and Bodhisattva Vows here
Thanksgiving Day Celebrations
Join us on Thanksgiving Day, at 1:00PM, for Amitabha Puja and Tsok followed by our annual Thanksgiving Sangha Potluck at 5:30PM. Thanksgiving Day events are optional and not a part of the Chenrezig Retreat schedule. Thanksgiving Day events are free and open to all. Please RSVP to office@vajrayana.org.
Please use this link to join the Amitabha Puja and Tsok virtually. You can follow along using this online text or purchase a digital download or printed hardcopy from Dharma Treasures.
Thanksgiving Day Potluck Invitation:
"Thanksgiving is a special day for loved ones to join together however they are able, and for that reason it is positive... We are doing this puja to pray that these turkeys be reborn in Amitabha's Pureland. This practice will focus our compassion for them and all sentient beings, including our loved ones who may be ill or have passed away." Lama Sonam Rinpoche, 2014
**Click Here to make offerings for tsok or butterlamps for Amitadha Puja and Tsok**
Retreat Scedule
Friday, November 24
7:30 am – 9:00 am - Daily Puja with Protectors and Tsok
9:00 am – 9:30 am - Breakfast
10:00 am – 12:30 pm - Empowerment, Lung, Teachings and Practice with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm - Lunch
2:30 pm – 5:00 pm - Teachings and Practice with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm - Dinner
Saturday, November 25
7:30 am – 9:00 am - Daily Puja with Protectors and Tsok
9:00 am – 9:30 am - Breakfast
10:00 am – 12:30 pm - Bodhisattva Vows, Teachings and Practice with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm - Lunch
2:30 pm – 5:00 pm - Teachings and Practice with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm - Dinner
Sunday, November 26
7:30 am – 9:00 am - Daily Puja with Protectors
9:00 am – 9:30 am - Breakfast
10:00 am – 12:30 pm - Concluding Teachings and Practice with Tulku Thadral
Rinpoche
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm - Tsok Khang Dechen with Tsok
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm - Lunch
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm - Dinner (for those who are staying for Vajra Armor Retreat
Price List
Streaming (*Sliding Scale) $75, $108, $250
Orchard House, Redwood Cottage or Sangha House - Private Room - Includes all sessions, meals and 3 nights
$515 member, $464 non-member
Orchard House, Redwood Cottage or Sangha House - Shared Room - (2 or 3 people per room); includes all sessions, meals and 3 nights
$455 member, $410 non-member
Cabin or Yurt - Private Room - Includes all sessions, meals and 3 nights
$440 member, $396 non-member
Cabin or Yurt - Shared Room - (2 or 3 people per room); includes all sessions, meals and 3 nights
$395 member, $356 non-member
RV Camper (No Tent Camping, per person) - Includes all sessions, meals and 3 nights
$350 member, $315 non-member
Commuter - Includes all sessions, facility fee and 3 lunches
$194 member, $215non-member
*To get special retreat discounts and find out more about becoming a member, please check out this page.
** See below for housing descriptions.
Text List
The text we will be using for this retreat is, "A Blessing-Filled Sadhana of Supplication To the Great Compassionate One with the Six-Syllable Mantra". Available to purchase either in hardcopy or digital download.
Pre-Retreat Information
Download PDF
Please read the following information, as it could be helpful before and during your stay.
Directions, Parking and Driving on the Land
You will find directions for getting to Pema Osel Ling by car and public transportation here. If you bring a car, please park inParking Lot A(sign-posted). You may park by the Orchard House or Sangha House only if you are staying there. Please do not park in front of the pond, down by the cabin area or behind the Sangha House. Unless you have a physical disability, please do not drive around on the land. If you need to drive to the Shrine Room or Dining Hall, contact the office for a Parking Permit. Please keep onsite driving speed to less than 5 mph.
Arrival and Departure
Your housing assignment, maps and welcome information will be posted at the Information Booth, across from the pond at the entrance to the property. Check-in time is 12:00 pm Thursday, November 23, unless by prior arrangement. Check-out time is 4:00 pm Sunday, November 26.
Accommodations (see ** below for a description)
We currently provide indoor housing with 2 people per room, and some single rooms. Housing is assigned first-come-first-served. Each bed comes complete with sheets, a light comforter and pillow with case. A bath towel is also provided. Rooms and bathhouses are heated. Camping is discouraged this time of year due to unpredictable weather. We have space to park but no hook-ups for RVs.
Food
We serve vegetarian options at all meals and meat dishes at most lunches. We will have gluten-free meal options but other than this, we apologize for not being able to accommodate individual dietary restrictions or requirements. If you have high protein needs please bring supplemental snacks. There is limited refrigeration by pre-arrangement. Tea and hot water are available at the Dining Hall at all times. Coffee is available at breakfast. Thanksgiving dinner is pot-luck, with traditional dishes being prepared by our kitchen. You are welcome to bring something to share or make a contribution if you wish. Dinner at 5:30 will be the first meal of retreat.
What to Bring
●Water and/or hot drink bottles
●Rain gear: umbrellas, rain coat, waterproof clothing and shoes
●Flashlight
●Ear-plugs (if disturbed by noise)
●Comfortable warm- and cool-weather clothing (layers work best)
●Warm clothing, and a light blanket for the Shrine Room (windows will be open)
●Sensible shoes for uneven terrain
●Special chair and cushion, if needed (we provide both in the Shrine Room)
●Prescription medication, especially asthma medication and heart medicines. The nearest
hospital or emergency care clinic is an hour away.
Phones and Computers
Verizon provides the best cell phone service for this area. The phone in the Information Booth can be used to make free local calls. Use your calling card for long distance. WiFi is available at the Dining Hall and the Bookstore, and the password will be available at check in. The only WiFi in the housing is at the Orchard House (for those staying there only). Please limit your WiFi use to a minimum, especially during sessions.
Work Assignments
We ask everyone to contribute an hour of work each day towards the smooth running of our retreats. These assignments may include changing candles or water bowls, sweeping the shrine room, or preparing and cleaning up for tsok. If physical or other limitations affect your ability to do this, please
let us know beforehand.
Payments and Cancellation Policy
Please review our Payment and Cancellation Policies here. Payment in full or an approved Payment Plan is due prior to the beginning of retreat.
Miscellaneous
●This is a rustic location. Poison-Oak is a plant that induces allergic reactions in most people after contact so please keep to the paths to prevent contact with it.Tick Bites- If you feel a bite, and there is a small black spot on your skin you may have a tick bite. Some ticks carry Lyme disease.
●Wildlife–do not feed or encourage the wildlife. Do not keep food in your room or tent as it will attract ants, skunks, wild pigs, raccoons, etc.
●Smoking, alcohol and recreational drugsare not permitted on the land at any time.
●Candles, fires and incenseare not permitted on the land at all. We are at a high fire risk year-round.
●Pets are not permitted at Pema Osel Ling. If you have a service animal please contact the office.
Dharma Treasures Gift Shop
Our store stocks practice items, sadhanas, photos, books, gifts, cards, thangkas and other artwork, a selection of clothing, snacks, basic toiletries and flashlights. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted. Contact details: (831) 761-6274; store@vajrayana.org; www.dharmatreasures.com
Offerings
It is traditional for individuals to make an offering to teachers and translators at the end of retreats. Tibetan offering scarves (khatas) can be purchased at the Dharma Treasures store and we provide envelopes for monetary offerings. Please bring enough cash as the bookstore is only able to offer limited cash back on debit purchases, and we do not have an ATM on the land.
Additional Information
* Housing is limited. We urge you to register early for your choice of housing.
* Video recordings of all teaching sessions will be available for at least one month at the YouTube links for those registering for the online sessions. To receive the links to live-stream or to access the teaching recordings, please make your offering according to your circumstances during registration. After making your payment, PayPal will direct you to a webpage with the YouTube links. All donations for the streaming and any online texts will cover not only the cost of this event, but will help support the ongoing expenses of Pema Osel Ling.
* Financial Aid: We do not want finances to be an obstacle to participation and no one will be turned away from the teaching sessions. Please contact office@vajrayana.org if you have special circumstances and are not able to register at one of the suggested levels of donation for streaming.
**Housing Descriptions
Orchard House
Located in a private meadow, the spacious Orchard House features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen. The living room has vaulted ceilings as well as a gas-burning fireplace. The great deck wraps around both the living and dining area and has a beautiful mountain view. Each large bedroom has a balcony and sliding glass doors. The downstairs master bedroom offers a queen-size bed, private entry, and a private bathroom. The three upstairs bedrooms have one or two queen beds each, and share a common bathroom. The Orchard House has WiFi and minimal cell phone reception.
Sangha House
Our Sangha House is a large, ranch style, four-bedroom lodge with a full kitchen and two group-size bathrooms, one with handicap access. The living/meeting room has an adjoined full-size terrace overlooking Monterey Bay. This house has 4 bedrooms with a total of 18 beds. Three of the bedrooms have queen beds, allowing couples to share a room for retreat. The Sangha House has adequate cell phone reception (Verizon) but no WiFi.
Yurt and Cabins
On a quiet hillside there is a Yurt and seven heated cabins with high ceilings and large sunny windows. Heated bathhouses for both men and women are nearby. Most cabins contain a queen bed, a set of bunk beds, and a small clothing cabinet.
You are welcome to email office@vajrayana.org or leave a message at (831) 761-6266 with any questions you may have. We hope you enjoy your retreat!