Mahamudra retreat
25 to 30 July 2026
Five days of intensive retreat with Tenzin Sherab, a monk from Nalanda, from Saturday, July 25 (7:00 p.m.) to Thursday, July 30 (12:00 p.m.)
Treating yourself to a five-day retreat to explore the practice of Mahamudra and reconnect with the natural freshness of your mind is such a precious gift!
This requires a desire to step away from daily life, which is cluttered with endless demands, as well as the blessing of the Lama, who helps us reconnect with our true nature.
To this end, we will begin each day with Guru Yoga according to the instructions of Lama Thubten Yeshe.
Then, we will alternate between sitting and walking sessions, using the tools of mental calm to settle the mind and analytical meditation to explore it.
These preliminaries will lead us toward the experience of Mahamudra, which lies beyond meditation.
The retreat will be held in silence to maintain the quality of presence of mind. The evening session will be devoted to discussion, Q&A, sharing of experiences, and reading an inspiring text on Mahamudra.
Individual interviews will be available between sessions.
Continuing the practice after the retreat will lead us to integrate this awareness into our daily activities.
Schedule
Saturday 25 July:
7pm–9pm: Introduction to the retreat
Sunday 26 July:
7.00–7.45 am: Preliminary practices
7.45–9.00 am: Breakfast
9.00–9.45 am: Sitting 1: Stillness of Mind
9.45–10.15 am: Walking meditation
10.15–11.00 am: Sitting 2: Stillness of Mind – Dissolution of the Elements
11.00–11.30 am: Break
11.30 am–12.15 pm: Sitting 3: Observing the mind – ‘searching for the mind’
12.30 pm Lunch
3.00 pm–3.45 pm: Sitting 4: Observing the moving or thinking mind – Introduction to Higher Vision through thoughts
3.45 pm–4.30 pm: Walking meditation
4.30pm–5.15pm: Break
5.15pm–6pm: Sitting 5 Free
6pm Dinner
7pm–9pm: Q&A. Discussion about the day. Meditative reading of Mahamudra texts.
Monday 26 July
7.00–7.45 am: Preliminary practices
7.45 am: Breakfast
9.00–9.45 am: Sitting 1: Observing the mind that reflects appearances and the mind in relation to the body
9.45–10.15 am: Walking meditation
10.15–11.00 am: Sitting 2: The combined observation of the peaceful mind and the restless mind
11.00–11.30: Break
11.30–12.15: Sitting 3: Free
12.30: Lunch
15.00–15.45: Sitting 4: Recognising the nature of the peaceful mind
3.45pm–4.30pm: Walking meditation
4.30pm–5.15pm: Break
5.15pm–6pm: Sitting 5: Free
6pm Dinner
7pm–8.30pm: Q&A. Discussion about the day. Meditative reading.
Tuesday 27 July
7.00–7.45 am: Preliminary practices
7.45 am: Breakfast
9.00–9.45 am: Sitting 1: Recognising the nature of the moving or thinking mind
9.45–10.15 am: Walking meditation
10.15–11 am: Sitting 2: Free
11–11.30 am: Break
11.30 am–12.15 pm: Sitting 3: Recognising the nature of the mind that reflects phenomena and that of the mind in relation to the body
12.30pm: Lunch
3.00pm–3.45pm: Sitting 4: The joint recognition of the nature of the peaceful mind and the animated mind
3.45pm–4.30pm: Walking meditation
4.30pm–5.15pm: Break
5.15pm–6pm: Sitting 5: Free
6pm: Dinner
7pm–8.30pm: Q&A. Discussion about the day.
Wednesday 28 July
7.00–7.45 am: Preliminary practices
7.45 am: Breakfast
9.00–9.45 am: Sitting 1: ‘Ordinary’ consciousness
9.45–10.15 am: Walking meditation
10.15–11 am: Sitting 2 (Free)
11–11.30 am: Break
11.30 am–12.15 pm: Sitting 3 (Guided)
12.30 pm: Lunch
3–3.45 pm: Sitting 4: Unguided
3.45–4.30 pm: Walking meditation
4.30–5.15 pm: Break
5.15–6.00 pm: Sitting 5: Unguided
6.00 pm: Dinner
7.00–8.30 pm: Q&A. Discussion about the day.
Thursday 29 July
7.00–7.45 am: Preliminary practices
7.45 am: Breakfast
9.00–9.45 am: Guided sitting 1
9.45–10.15 am: Walking meditation
10.15–11 am: Unguided sitting 2
11–11.30 am: Break
11.30 am–12.15 pm: Walking meditation
12.30 pm: Lunch
3–3.45 pm: Guided sitting 3
3.45–4.30 pm: Walking meditation
4.30–5.15 pm: Break
5.15–6 pm: Unguided sitting 4
6 pm: Dinner
7–8.30 pm: Q&A. Discussion about the day.
Friday 30 July
7.00–7.45 am: Preliminary practices
7.45 am: Breakfast
9.00–9.45 am: Guided sitting 1
9.45–10.15 am: Walking meditation
10.15–11.00 am: Sitting 2 – Tonglen practice
11.00–11.30 am: Break
11.30 am–12.15 pm: Sitting 3 (Unguided)
12.30 pm Lunch
3.00 pm–4.30 pm Sitting 4 / Inspiration for continuing the practice.
End-of-retreat discussion. Dedication
4.30–5.15 pm: Break
5.15–6.00 pm: Sitting 5 (optional)
Translations
The venerable Tenzin Sherap will lead the retreat in French.
Nalanda will provide an English translation.
According to the needs, we will try to organize a Spanish translation.
Registration for the retreat, lodging and meals
To contribute to the organization of the retreat, we are requesting a minimum suggested donation of 50€.
On top of that, one will have to pay a flat rate for the accommodation and food.
If you can not afford it please kindly write to the director at director@nalanda-monastery.eu
The participation for the Sangha is free. Sangha who don’t live at Nalanda will benefit 50% discount on food and lodging.