Question and Answer

By Irma Gomés

In each edition Irma Gomes, one of our staff writers, will answer two or three questions about the practice within this page. If you have questions you would like her to address please email her at irma_gomes@hotmail.com

How can I prevent obstacles when preparing for retreat?
Interferences, as everything else, are a result of previously collected karma. We can’t really know what our karmic destiny is until it has ripened. In which case, it may be too late to change the course of our retreat. It’s crucial that we plan our retreat in advance, keeping our motivation firm and ongoing, by dedicating our good actions to the prosperity and success of the retreat.

Rejoicing and supporting others provides us with great opportunities to support our own retreat efforts. The karma is powerful because of our pure intention and because of how special the object is we’ve chosen. We are helping those who have the Wish for Enlightenment - those who have released their attachment to relationships, jobs and leisure to serve all beings - to achieve their ultimate goals.

There are so many ways that we can help others for retreat. We can assist someone with finding a cabin for the weekend; take care of their children while they are away; help pay their bills; bring them groceries and much more.

A lovely way to help others with retreat is to write encouraging notes. It’s not always easy to be in isolation - we go through many emotions - and it can feel so good just to get a note saying, “I am thinking of you.” This can really have a profound effect. Making offerings to our lamas, teachers and spiritual friends before going on retreat, and dedicating the merit to a successful retreat, can also be of great benefit.

The longer our retreat, the greater our efforts and offerings have to be, as there are several things that can go wrong, and so few things that keep us going!

Does the place I choose matter?
There is no guaranteed place for a successful retreat. However, the texts recommend to pick a place where others have meditated before, or which has been consecrated for those purposes. Always ask your lama to bless your retreat. It’s a great blessing to do retreat where she or he has done so in the past. Otherwise, find a place with few distractions and no noise.

If you’re doing retreat at home, throw a blanket over the TV, computer and other things that could distract you. Disconnect the Internet. Talk to your friends and family about what you are about to undertake and specify the only emergencies for them to contact you.

Is there a particular ritual I should do before I start?
It’s recommended that you start your retreat in the afternoon before sunset. Enjoy a little party and rejoice in this remarkable opportunity. Be grateful and dedicate your time to all living beings. Bless your meditation cushion and your space. Set up a beautiful altar with offerings.

You can recite the Heart Sutra three, seven, or twenty-one times. Imagine that you are in a paradise surrounded by an impenetrable wall. Nothing can hurt you. Nothing can distract you. You are exactly where your teacher wants you to be, and she or he is with you, blessing you at all times. This is the most powerful protection. For longer and more elaborate retreats, you should get oral instructions from your teacher on how to consecrate your retreat space.