On October 6, 2009 H.E. Kabje Kalu Rinpoche installed 20 Monks in the Traditional Shangpa Kagyu three Year Retreat at Sonada Monastery, Kunzang Dechen Retreat Center. For the next three years and three months the Retreatants will remain totally secluded in the retreat facility separate from main grounds of Sonada Monastery. Inside the retreat complex, secure from outside view by privacy walls, each monk has a small room that houses a personal shrine and a meditation box, the room being just large enough to make a full prostration where they will spend most of the day in seclusion except for daily group practice and teachings in the Retreat Shrine Room. When entering Retreat every one must leave their duties and responsibilities to family, friends and community, to others and at no time during the retreat, is anyone permitted to enter the retreat except for designated Teachers. Kabje Kalu Rinpoche has requested, his monks practice the New Shangpa Nungdro written by Tai Situ Rinpoche. Kabje Kalu Rinpoche asked Tai Situ Rinpoche to compose a Shangpa Nungdro and it is this new Shangpa Nungdro Text, that will practice for the very first time during this current Shangpa Retreat .
We ask that all of you offer prayers for the well-being and success of all of the 20 monks now sequestered in the Kunzang Dechen Retreat Center here in Sonada. They are all dedicated to accomplishing this very difficult Retreat in which from now on there will be no days off, holidays or vacations, only a daily schedule that begins at 3am and goes until late night, they will sleep in boxes sitting up, subsist on simple foods and spend each day in constant prayer and meditations, all of them having the sincere hope of reaching enlightenment for the benefit of others. These Monks are people just like you and they will do their best but they also need help and support to be successful. Beside their own dedication and pure aspirations they need the blessings of the Teachings and guidance of their Teachers; they need a secure sound Retreat Center and they need monetary support, food and medical care. For this complete Auspicious Shangpa Three Year Retreat under the Spiritual Guidance of H. E. Kabje Kalu Rinpoche we ask you please keep all of the Monks in your prayers, and If you are able, please consider providing material supports and assistance, to learn more about making a donation for the Retreat you may contact Sonada Monastery.
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