Detailed List of Retreats

The Heart Sutra can be said to be the most essential point of the 84,000 sets of teachings that the Buddha gave. It is said that only an incredibly fortunate being can receive teachings on this Sutra. Taught during the second turning of the wheel at Rajgir, Vulture’s Peak, the conversation which became the Heart Sutra occurred between Avalokiteshvara and Shariputra whilst the Buddha was engaged in absorption meditation. The conversation addresses the emptiness of inherent existence of the five aggregates of a person and is thus a summary of all Buddha's wisdom teachings.Understanding and experiencing emptiness is necessary to alleviate gross and subtle misconceptions of mind. This leads us to the state beyond suffering, Nirvana.Chamtrul Rinpoche will explain the key points of the sutra, which are obscure to the ordinary mind, to help us deepen our insight into the true nature of existence. “Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Soha” (the essence meaning of the heart sutra condensed into mantra).