Meditation Retreats


What is a retreat?

On retreat we stop all forms of business and extraneous activities so as to emphasize a particular spiritual practice. There are three kinds of retreat: physical, verbal and mental. We engage in physical retreat when with a spiritual motivation we isolate ourself from other people, activities, and noise, and disengage from extraneous and meaningless actions; we engage in verbal retreat when with a spiritual motivation we refrain from meaningless talk and periodically keep silence; and we engage in mental retreat by preventing distractions and strong delusions such as attachment, anger, jealousy, and strong self-grasping from arising, and by maintaining mindfulness and conscientiousness.

Chanted Prayers

Chanted Meditations (pujas) are traditional prayers translated into English and set to beautiful tunes composed by ordained Sangha of this tradition.

The practice of prayer in the Buddhist tradition has many aspects; it enables us to make a close connection with enlightened beings, receive their blessings and inspiration and thereby strengthen our own minds of wisdom and compassion.

Through concentrating on their meaning with a good motivation we can purify negative karma and gather virtuous karma, filling our minds with pure, positive healing energy. 

Retreats at Clear Light

Chanted Prayers

Offering to the Spiritual Guide
Three Principal Aspects of the Path
Medicine Buddha

Highest Yoga Tantra

Dakini Yoga
Quick Path to Great Bliss
Essence of Vajrayana

Prayers of Compassion

Twenty-one Taras
Avalokiteshvara

Prayers of Long Life

Amitayus
White Tara

Prayers of Purification

35 Confession Buddhas
A Pure Life
Vajrasattva

Prayers of Wisdom

Heart Jewel
Wishfulfilling Jewel
Manjushri
Melodious Drum