This five-day retreat follows directly after Phakchok Rinpoche’s Summer Seminar and offers participants an opportunity to deepen and integrate the Mahamudra and Vajrayana instructions received during the week through sustained meditation and contemplative practice.

During the Summer Seminar, participants are introduced to Mahamudra as a path of direct recognition and growing familiarity with awareness itself. This retreat creates the conditions to continue that process through silence, devotional practice, meditation, and continuity of awareness in daily life.

Led by Tulku Migmar Tsering, the retreat maintains the practice container established during the seminar, including daily sang offering and protector practices for those with empowerment, while placing particular emphasis on extended periods of sitting meditation. Teachings from the Mahamudra lineage and the Dohas of Saraha will continue to inform the retreat environment, emphasizing simplicity, devotion, release of fixation, and confidence in natural awareness.

The retreat begins on the evening of Tuesday, July 28, following the conclusion of the Summer Seminar and a daytime period of rest and integration. Participants are encouraged to maintain continuity of practice throughout the transition day by attending the morning and evening practice sessions.

Prerequisites

Attendance at Phakchok Rinpoche’s Summer Seminar is required for participation in this retreat.

This retreat is intended for practitioners who wish to deepen and integrate the Mahamudra and Vajrayana instructions received during the seminar through sustained meditation practice and contemplative retreat.

Format

The retreat weaves together several modes of practice and contemplation:

• Morning sang offering and meditation practice
• Extended silent sitting meditation sessions
• Evening protector practice
• Brief meditation instruction and practice guidance
• Noble silence throughout most of the retreat

Schedule

Tuesday, July 28 — Saturday, August 1

7:00 – 8:00 am — Personal Practice
8:00 – 9:30 am — Sang Offering, Meditation & Practice Guidance
9:30 – 10:15 am — Breakfast
10:30 am – 12:00 pm — Meditation Session
12:30 – 1:15 pm — Lunch
2:00 – 3:30 pm — Meditation Session
4:00 – 5:00 pm — Personal Practice
5:00 – 6:30 pm — Protector Practice & Meditation
6:30 – 7:30 pm — Dinner
7:30 – 9:00 pm — Evening Meditation Session

Sunday, August 2 — Closing

8:00 – 8:45 am — Breakfast
10:00 – 11:30 am — Closing Session
12:30 – 1:15 pm — Lunch and Departure

Attendance & Meals

This retreat is offered as an in-person residential or commuter program at Samye Hermitage New York. In order to support the continuity and integrity of the retreat container, online participation and drop-in attendance will not be available.

Participants are strongly encouraged to attend the full retreat. However, those needing to depart early may do so quietly and respectfully in coordination with retreat organizers. Please message us at [email protected] to organize a shorter stay.

Commuter registration includes lunch and dinner; residential registration includes all meals and on-site lodging. Scholarships are available upon request — please reach out if cost is a barrier to attending.