September 8-22, 2009

(Page last updated on 28Feb2010 18:49)

In order to better serve those who will be participating in the Light of the Path Retreat, we are asking that everyone register by the deadline of midnight EDT on August 28. This will help us be sure that there will be enough to eat and enough chairs and cushions for sitting!

Light of the Path Retreat 2009 will be the first of a 5 year series of teaching retreats led by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The root text for the course is Lama Atisha's Lamp on the Path to Enlightenment. These are FPMT retreats hosted by Kadampa Center, the FPMT affiliate located in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

In the 11th century, Lama Atisha (Shri Dipamkara) was invited from India to Tibet for the purpose of transmitting the complete teachings of Lord Buddha to the Tibetan people, and presenting them in a way that was clear, precise, and easy to practice. To that purpose, Lama Atisha wrote and taught the Light of the Path to Enlightenment (jangchhub lam gyi drönma), which became the cornerstone of teaching and practice for thousands of Tibetans and provided a foundation for understanding and realizing Lord Buddha's teachings which has flourished to the present time.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has now offered to give a modern day commentary on this profound and ancient text over a number of years, beginning in September of 2009. We consider this event to be the ultimate teaching and practice lineage transmission available for FPMT teachers and students and strongly encourage everyone to attend in person. We will also make full use of the spectrum of information technology to make this new program available to a worldwide audience.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is a unique teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He is well-known for teaching long hours into the night and for rarely teaching in a linear fashion according to a text, but rather for teaching according to what is most karmically beneficial for his audience. For over 45 years, Rinpoche has been gathering examples of the truth of Dharma and perfecting his ability to discern what practices and teachings are best suited for his students. It is our belief that Rinpoche's offer to give a commentary on Atisha's Light of the Path, which had a tremendous impact on how Buddhism was subsequently understood and practiced in Tibet, is an indication of how transformative this teaching event will be for the way Buddhism is practiced and understood in our time.

Kadampa Center was founded in 1992 as an expansion of a study group formed some years earlier by Don Brown. The Center has been directed by either Don or Robbie Watkins since its beginning. We are incredibly fortunate to have had Geshe Gelek Chodha as our resident teacher for the past ten years.

We are a small but growing city center in Raleigh, NC, and in 2007 we attained the long-time goal of purchasing our own building. Since then we have been able to expand our spiritual program offerings considerably. We offer Discovering Buddhism courses, the Basic Program, a regular schedule of pujas, Sunday morning teachings, weekly discussion groups, film nights, regular children's and teens' programs, and many special events such as All Night Green Tara practice, animal liberations, and memorial services. We offer a monk and nun sponsorship program that helps many monks at Sera Jey Monastic University and also nuns at the FPMT nunnery in Mongolia.

Kadampa Center has had the good fortune to host visits by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, Gyüme Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Delek, Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Donyo, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, Geshe Yeshe Tobden, Geshe Tsulga, Ven. George Churinoff, Ven. Robina Courtin, Ven. Sangye Khadro, Ven. Tsen-la, Gareth Sparham and many other western and Tibetan teachers.

Kadampa Center is thrilled to host this important teaching retreat. We look forward to providing a home for the retreat and for Rinpoche's students from around the world -- and to meeting and serving all who attend!

During the two-week retreat, Rinpoche's commentary will be supplemented by practice and review sessions, discussion, and guided meditations lead by senior FPMT teachers. Course participants will engage in group practice of Lama Chöpa Jorcho, prostrations to the 35 Buddhas, and take the Eight Mahayana Precepts for a portion of the retreat, as well as engage in other practices to accumulate positive energy and purify obstacles so that realizations may dawn quickly in the mind. Course participants will also be assigned karma yoga for the duration of the retreat.

In this way, the Light of the Path retreat and subsequent program will include all aspects of FPMT integrated education: study, practice, service, and ethical behavior.

For those interested to watch the event via webcast or receive information about future Light of the Path courses based on Rinpoche's teachings at this retreat, please refer to the FPMT website.

The Retreat is not being held at Kadampa Center. Light of the Path Retreat 2009 will be held at Blue Ridge Assembly, a retreat center in Western North Carolina.

Airlines The Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), is a 30 minute drive from the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, and is the recommended arrival point for flyers. The airport has daily non-stop flights from Charlotte (CLT), Newark (EWR), Houston (IAH), Atlanta (ATL), Cincinnati (CVG), and Detroit (DTW) among others, and can be reached via connections from anywhere in the country. Airport Shuttle Shuttle service from Asheville Regional Airport to Blue Ridge Assembly can be arranged by contacting Diamond Executive Transportation. Ask for the LOP Retreat group rate; prices vary from $8-$60 depending on time of arrival and number in group. The shuttle service will group travelers who arrive at similar times together so the maximum you will pay is $35 $60 if no one else needs a shuttle at the same time as you. You should book your return shuttle at the same time that you book your incoming ride. Give the service your departure date and time, and they will arrange a time for pickup at Blue Ridge Assembly to get you to the airport in time for your flight. Nearby international airports include Please note that the preferred final destination airport is the Asheville Regional Airport. Ground transportation from any of these other airports is expensive, and would require either renting a vehicle or paying a very high fee for public transportation. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) (with flight connections available to Asheville Regional Airport, or 2 hours by ground transportation directly to Black Mountain), Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) (1 1/2 hours by ground to Black Mountain), Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) (2 1/2 hours by ground to Black Mountain), and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) (3 1/2 hours by ground to Black Mountain). Highways Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain is just off Interstate 40 in Western North Carolina. Driving directions to Blue Ridge Assembly

Average September temperatures are high 76°F (24°C), low 53°F (11°C), average rainfall 3.3 inches (8.4 cm). Bring modest comfortable clothes suitable for sitting and meditation practice, comfortable walking shoes. Bring rain coats and a light jacket or sweater for evenings.

Kadampa Center never wants money to be an obstacle for receiving the Dharma. As a result, we don't charge a fee for the teachings - or even request a suggested donation. Kadampa Center continues this tradition for the Light of the Path Retreat.

For this reason we have divided the costs of the retreat into two segments: those associated with the venue and lodging, and those associated with all of the spiritual program aspects. The registration fee covers the first segment: costs related to room/board and use of the retreat facility. We are depending upon donations to cover the entire cost of the spiritual program segment which includes the teachings and transporting and caring for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the teaching staff.

The cost of all aspects of the spiritual program portion of the retreat, including costs associated with travel, housing, and offerings to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the retreat staff, costs associated with the gompa arrangements, altar offerings, study and welcome materials will be approximately $53,000 beyond what the registration fees cover. Please consider becoming a sponsor, the very basis for teaching programs to arise.

In addition to the limitless merit generated by supporting the spread of the Dharma, sponsors will also benefit by:

• priority reserved seating in the gompa for the retreat for sponsorships of $1,000 or more,
• the opportunity to share a meal with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and priority reserved seating in the gompa for the retreat for sponsorships of $2,500 or more.

The "room and board" portion of the retreat Fees for room and meals for entire retreat start at $680 and are based on type of accommodation and length of stay at the retreat. Partial Sponsorship for Sangha has now been offered. Along with a kind and generous sponsor, IMI and Kadampa Center are now able to offer funding of $380 for each ordained sangha member attending the retreat. This reduces the cost of double accommodation in Lee Hall from $680 to $300. Sangha who have already registered will have their balance due reduced accordingly.

It is possible to arrive at Blue Ridge Assembly on September 7 for an additional modest charge. Unfortunately all rooms are full for the Labor Day holiday over the weekend of September 4-6. For anyone concerned about resting after travel, the first day of the retreat Tuesday, September 8, will be a light schedule with an orientation session in the evening after dinner.

There are no camping facilities available.

Two types of rooms are available:

• a simple dormitory style room, with two twin beds and a dresser. Most rooms share a bath off the hallway. Rooms with a private bathroom will be assigned to ordained Sangha first.
• a limited number of hotel style rooms, with two beds, a phone and a private bathroom.

Wireless internet service is available in several locations on site, but NOT in the rooms.

Unfortunately, there are no laundry facilities on site. Please pack with this in mind.

Meals are included in the cost of accommodation. All meals are served buffet style in a private dining room. All meals will be vegetarian.

We may begin precepts as early as the second day of the retreat. A light supper will be available during that time for those not taking precepts.

All retreat participants must have an FPMT Retreat Prayer Book. You may preorder it on the registration page and receive it upon arrival at the retreat. Cost of the book will be $40 with payment due at the retreat. Note: If you are attending the upcoming Mani Retreat, you will receive this prayer book, so do not order the book.

The Retreat Prayer Book is still being produced. It is not yet available from the FPMT website but will be available at the Retreat.

There will be a limited number of meditation cushions provided at the retreat. If you are unable to bring your own cushion please indicate this on the registration page.

Since the only fee being charged is for costs associated with room and board, we are unable to offer work exchange options.

Unlike teachings at a center, a retreat attempts to provide the participants with an atmosphere conducive to practice 24 hours a day. Basic retreat discipline includes observing the 5 lay vows, attending all sessions and keeping silence for at least the first half of the day and for the rest of the day, no idle speech or gossip. Everyone is encouraged to participate as fully as possible but no one is expected to do more than they are able. Observing the 5 lay vows in the context of a retreat means no killing of any being (including insects); no sexual conduct of any kind; no lying; no stealing or taking that which has not been given; and no intoxicants, including drugs, alcohol or cigarettes.

• Tobacco use is not permitted anywhere on Assembly property.
• Pets are not permitted.
• No candles, alcohol, decorative lighting, helium balloons, glitter, or confetti is permitted in any building.
• Mountain biking, inline skates, and skateboards are prohibited.

If you have special needs or questions, please contact our Light of the Path Retreat Coordinator.

 

Kadampa Center, Raleigh, NC, USA
Affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition in the lineage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama