Vajradhara Gonpa
Three Year Retreat Centre
Kyogle, New South Wales, Australia
"Three year retreat should be taken as an ignition of your spiritual life."
- Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
The Three Year Retreat Program
Three year retreat at Vajradhara Gonpa is a residential program of contemplative practice according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The emphasis is on structured experiential training rather than intellectual study. The retreat is conducted within a formal boundary, and retreatants are expected to remain at the Gonpa for the entire period of the retreat. Practice is divided into four daily sessions for the duration of the retreat. The actual length of the retreat may be up to three and a half years.
The retreats are conducted in the spirit of the Tibetan Rimé (nonsectarian) tradition and are patterned on the "Eight Chariots" retreat curriculum designed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö. Participants undertake the preliminary practices (ngöndro) and then the development and completion stage practices according to sadhanas of the three roots (guru, deva, and dakini).
Retreats are guided by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Rinpoche also appoints someone who has completed three year retreat to serve as a resident retreat master.
The language of the program is English. Texts and liturgies are provided in English translation. Liturgies are optionally made available in the original Tibetan for those who read Tibetan or wish to learn it.
Integral to the three year retreat is the experience of practitioners living together as a yogic community, encouraging development of the lifelong habit of a practitioner's lifestyle. As a yogic community, retreatants share with volunteer staff the responsibility for the care and upkeep of Vajradhara Gonpa.
The inaugural retreat began in December 2004 with 28 Australian and overseas participants.
Vajradhara Gonpa and the Gesar Springs Community
Established in 1986 under the spiritual guidance of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Vajradhara Gonpa has over the years accumulated the blessings of the many authentic Buddhist masters who have taught programs there to audiences of up to 170. Beginning in early 2003, the Gonpa began a process of transition to become a dedicated three year retreat facility.
Over time the Gesar Springs lay Buddhist community has grown up in affiliation with the Gonpa and has contributed to its development. Today the continued generosity and commitment of the Gesar Springs community and many other local sangha members provides essential external volunteer support for the three year retreat.