Dear Sangha and Friends,

In our daily lives, we inevitably encounter the friction of a fragmented world. When the pressures and pleasures of our ordinary lives distract us from our true inner work, the unintentional breaches of our ethical commitments can cloud our innate clarity, leaving us feeling disconnected from our spiritual path. Within the Vajrayana tradition, however, we are never left without a remedy. The ancient lineages have preserved a precise and powerful method to clear these obscurities: the purification practice of Vajrasattva.

This weekend, the KPC community will gather for a special Ngöndro Vajrasattva Retreat. Far from being a mere preliminary, the Ngöndro is the very bedrock of our path, containing the complete essence of the lineage’s realization. Within these foundational practices, it is specifically the meditation on Vajrasattva that purifies negative karma and restores broken samaya (sacred commitments), generating a powerful field of merit. We are explicitly dedicating this collective merit to prolonging the life of our beloved teacher, Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo, for the complete accomplishment of all her holy aspirations, and to secure the vibrant future of KPC.

Crucially, Sunday of our retreat marks Saga Dawa Düchen—the sacred full moon day celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni. On this auspicious “10-Million Multiplier Day,” the karmic results of all virtuous actions, prayers, and practices are multiplied ten million times, vastly amplifying the power of our collective dedication. We invite you to join the sangha in this vital work of purification for the benefit of all beings.

How to Participate 

Please note that this retreat will be held in person only at our Maryland temple so we may practice together as a unified body. Hard copies of the Ngöndro practice books will be available for purchase onsite at the Mani Jewel gift shop. 

If you are unable to attend in person, we invite you to participate from afar by sponsoring the retreat or Tsog offerings. You may submit your prayer dedications and sponsorships online HERE. Please add a note specifying “Vajrasattva Retreat” so we can properly route your offering.

Retreat Schedule

Saturday May 30

• 9:00–10:30 AM – Teaching & Open Practice
• 11:00 AM–12:30 PM – Mantra Accumulation
• 12:30–2:30 PM – Lunch Break
• 2:30–4:00 PM – Mantra Accumulation
• 4:30–6:00 PM – Mantra Accumulation & Tsog
• 6:15–6:30 PM – Medicine Buddha Practice (Online Only)

Sunday May 31  (Saga Dawa Düchen — 10 Million Multiplier Day)

• 9:00–10:30 AM – Teaching & Open Practice
• 11:00 AM–12:30 PM – Mantra Accumulation
• 12:30–2:30 PM – Lunch Break
• 2:30–4:00 PM – Mantra Accumulation
• 4:30–6:00 PM – Mantra Accumulation & Tsog
• 6:15–6:30 PM – Medicine Buddha Practice (Online Only)
• 6:30–7:15 PM – Drum Circle for Rain (In-Person Only — Meet at the Guru Rinpoche Statue in the Peace Park)

Event Update: “From the First Nuns to Now”

Please note that our special poetry presentation, “From the First Nuns to Now,” originally scheduled for this Saturday at the koi ponds, has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 PM to allow our entire community to fully focus on this weekend’s vital purification retreat. We appreciate your ongoing flexibility and look forward to gathering by the koi ponds this September to explore this rich poetic tradition together.

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