Dhamchoe, the Gaden Samten Ling’s resident teacher, will lecture and lead contemplation of verses on enlightenment during the retreat. The spiritual practices are deeply rooted in history.
Almost seven hundred years ago, Gyalsay Thogme Zangpo composed The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva, which have been described as the essential practices leading to enlightenment.
Bodhisattvas are individuals striving for enlightenment, who are movtivated by love and compassion to release other beings from suffering. Those verses will play a major role during the retreat.
The weekend is kicking off with a seminar in anger management called, How to Get Along in our Society.
It is being held at the retreat centre and is open to the general public and no obligation to attend the rest of the weekend is required.
Tickets cost $10 at the door.
The rest of the retreat will continue after the anger management seminar.
Dhamchoe was orphaned as a child and escaped the Chinese occupation of Tibet to study at the Namgyal Monastery.
The escape from Tibet took him on a weeklong walking journey through the Himalayas into Nepal, where he travelled to India to enter a monastery in 1972.
Dhamchoe has since become an expert in Buddhist Scripture, ritual, philosophy, chanting and meditation, among other aspects of the religion.
As the name suggests, this is not the first time that the Buddhist monk has come to Jasper.
On his last visit, he said that coming to Jasper is like returning to the chains of snowy mountains in Tibet.
Last year’s retreat was entitled The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva and attracted people from all over the province and country.
The retreat includes accommodations, morning walk meditations, multiple teaching and meditation sessions each day, as well as time to relax and take in the scenery the area has to offer.
For more information about the retreat visit www.gasmling.ca or call 780-484-8646.