Essential tips for a retreat according to the Buddhist religion

This book contains from reflections by Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s on the importance of the retreat and the sense of carrying it out; to writings and advice of Pabongkha Dechen Ñingpo for those who wish to adventure in a retreat, through concrete recommendations on how to meditate as we walk along the road. We may also find tips on how to identify when one has integrated the deeper understandings that a retreat may have brought. It also mentions the four fundamental retreats, the necessary preparations when addressing a retreat, how to organize the sessions and what to do among them, in addition to other practical advice.

In the following lines we will try to unravel the importance of going on a spiritual retreat.

A simple reason is happiness. The peace and happiness of parents, for example, depends on the love and compassion of their children; in the same way that the peace and happiness of their children depends on the affection and compassion of their parents. This is equally true for relationships with friends or partners: the peace, happiness and well-being of each depends on the compassion and kindness of the other. Similarly, among teachers and students, their peace and happiness depends on each other.

On a larger scale, the relationship between the leader of a country and its inhabitants also depends on the cultivation of an adequate attitude, with a good heart and compassion. After all, people would stop causing problems to a country, such as those related to violence, if they developed compassion, kindness and warmth in their heart. (..)

Now, even if we tried to spread the message around the world that compassion and tolerance are needed today, both for individuals and for world peace, it would not be enough, since we would have to know how to develop such qualities. The solution is to go on a spiritual retreat. Retreats put ourselves in a situation where it is possible to exercise the basic human potential and develop all our inner qualities. After all, a retreat provides us time and space for these basic human qualities to grow, and this is crucial and very pressing.

Thus, another reason for retirement is to develop the basic human qualities of affection and kindness. If we do not do it and do not express it to others, we will not receive the love on which our own happiness depends. In addition, rereats offer us the time to put into practice the teachings we have received from our teacher. Finally, this reason is related to the hustle and bustle of our daily life. We tend to be so caught up in hallucinations and sensory enjoyments, in the various obligations to others, that a retreat has become the only time to be with ourselves. In a spiritual retreat we are given the time to relax, to think, to have a peaceful and quiet time for us, without distractions. Because it is a safe place where we can finally face ourselves.

The retreat environment helps to separate the consciousness from hallucination and place it in reality, to discover our inner being. We can only improve our lives if we unmask the deceptions that trap the mind and learn to distinguish between true and false. Retreats favour this process; they make us better as human beings, and better dharma practitioners.

That is why I believe that Retreats are the foundation of true development

Without it, without remaining alone, the mind is like murky water. But in solitude and free from external distractions, the mind is like a calm and clear lake. When you are in a retreat, you get the clarity you need to know yourself better and discover your own Buddha nature. This allows us to understand the importance of having adequate facilities to carry out the retreats, because with the appropriate conditions we will have the opportunity to experience the various types of happiness mentioned before, not to talk about the many benefits of the spiritual practice itself. (..)

In conclusion, spiritual retreats are important because they imply distancing oneself from ignorance, from the unsatisfied mind of attachment and selfish thinking – the fundamental forces from which we must move away. This is the true intention of meditation: transform the mind into virtue, free ourselves from suffering and its causes. This is the essential purpose of dharma practice.

As long as we think that the reasons for happiness and suffering reside outside of us, we will continue to suffer from problems and dissatisfaction. But what we experience in life and what the omniscient mind tells us is that the origin of happiness is in the mind itself. You only find satisfaction, peace and happiness in your own mind. Therefore, the retreat and the practice of meditation are the definitive solution to all our problems.

Extracts from the book Heart Advice for Retreat by Lama Zopa Rinpoche