Nyungne Retreat
November 8-10, 2025
With the blessing of Spiritual Director, Her Eminence Jetsunma Ahkön Norbu Lhamo, KPC Maryland invites you to join us for a Nyungne Retreat, November 8-10, led by retreat master Khenpo Tenzin Karze.
Registration: $160
Sponsorship: $225
Please note: This retreat is offered in person only. Due to the size of the KPC Prayer Room, registration is limited to 27.
About Nyungne
Nyungne is one of the most powerful practices in Vajrayana Buddhism. Through periods of prostrations, chanting mantra, fasting and silence, this practice purifies environmental pollution and one’s own faults, while also increasing positive energy and harmony. Reciting Om Mani Pedme Hung purifies the six seeds of the six realms, which pacifies the suffering of all beings, bringing peace to the world.
Each day of the Nyungne retreat, practitioners take and maintain eight vows:
- No killing
- No stealing
- No sex
- No telling lies
- No drinking alcohol
- No idle chatter, singing or dancing, makeup or ornaments
- No evening meals
- No sitting in high seats
The Nyungne practice was revealed by Bhikshuni Phalmo, a nun who suffered from leprosy. She performed this practice, along with the Chenrezig practice, for 12 years. As a result, she became a great siddhi and attained the Celestial Body.
Health Considerations about Nyungne
Nyungne is a physically challenging practice. The retreat includes prolonged periods of sitting and chanting, with periods of prostrations, and approximately 35 hours of dry fasting and silence – no eating, drinking, or speaking except when chanting. It is possible to modify prostrations, either performing them slowly or by doing table prostrations.
There are exceptions to no eating and drinking – a small amount of food or water can be taken for those who take medication. All participants will be expected to maintain the Nyungne vows even when they go home at night. Instructions will be provided.
If you have doubts about your health or your physical ability to do extended prostrations, please consult your physician before the retreat.
Schedule
Each session of the Nyungne retreat is two hours long, in person only, with a schedule as follows:
Saturday:
- 8:00am Teaching, vows
- 30 minute break
- 10:30am Session 1 chant and prostrations
- 2 hour lunch – Your final opportunity to eat until the fast is broken Monday morning. You can continue to drink clear liquids until midnight.
- 2:30pm Session 2 chant and prostrations
- 30 minute break
- 5pm Session 3 chant and prostrations
- Go home, continuing to maintain the Nyungne vows.
- Midnight – No more water or speaking until retreat is over.
Sunday:
- 8:00am Session 1 vows, chant, and prostrations
- 30 minute break
- 10:30am Session 2 chant and prostrations
- 2 hour break
- 2:30pm Session 3 chant and prostrations
- 30 minute break
- 5-7 pm Session 4 chant and prostrations
- Go home, continuing to maintain the Nyungne vows
Monday:
- 6:00am Final closing practice
- 7:00am Break the fast with soup and drinks (to be provided)
- 7:30am Tsog practice to close the retreat
If you have never done Nyungne before, you may want to consider taking the day off if you have to work Monday, as it can take some time to recover physically from dry fasting.
Nyungne At-Home Instructions
Khenpo Karze shared some tips about how to keep your Nyungne vows while you are not in practice sessions and at home overnight.
Once you take Nyungne vows, you have to protect them throughout the retreat.
On the first day, there is no more food after lunch. You can keep drinking clear liquids until midnight and then all food, drink, and talking stops at midnight.
The next day is a little difficult. It is a whole day of no talking, drinking, or eating. But on Monday morning, we break the fast after the last practice and can start speaking again.
Those on medications that require a small amount of food or water can do that, but make sure the food you eat with your medication is vegan. If not vegan, then try to eat vegetarian, as Nyungne is one of the four classes of action tantra.
It is best to sit no higher than 24” off the ground. If you are physically unable to do this or do full prostrations, you may sit in a chair and do table prostrations.
When you go home each day during the retreat, the best way to keep your Nyungne vows is to avoid as much of the worldly distractions as you can. Avoid family problems, don’t watch the news or TV. Avoid using your phone as much as possible, unless it is urgent or very important and you must answer it. Tell your friends and family that you’re doing this retreat and that for 36 hours you’ll be silent and that they can support you by only texting, calling, or sending emails if it is very important.
It is not necessary to accumulate mantra at home, but continuing to recite “om mani pedme hung” and thinking about Chenrezig can help you avoid worldly distractions. Avoid distractions as much as you can.
It is also very important to practice cleanliness and wear neat, clean clothes.
At home, do your best to follow the 24” rule. Do your best to avoid seats higher than 24”. If you are able to put your mattress on the floor, do that. If you can’t do that or you are physically unable to sit in seats below 24”, just do your best. This rule does not apply to driving in your vehicle.
If you have permission from the lama and your doctor, you can eat or drink to take medication during Nyungne.
About Khenpo Karze
Khenpo Karze arrived at Namdroling Monastery in 1993 from his village in northern India. In 2006, he graduated from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute’s intensive Buddhist graduate course and received the degree of Khenpo, equivalent to a PhD in Buddhist Philosophy, in 2011. He has received teachings and empowerments from many great Nyingma masters, and taught extensively in various Palyul temples in Nepal, India, Europe and Taiwan. Khenpo has been in residence at KPC since 2023, becoming a member of our community here, providing traditional Dharma instruction to help us deepen our practice of wisdom and compassion.
