Summer Half Dathun

Dathun was developed by the Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to bring together the Kagyu and Nyingma meditation style with the Zen approach of silent group meditation intensives. It is not widely known in the west that silent group meditation was not particularly a feature of the Tibetan system. Chogyam Trungpa felt that for westerners, a solid ground of sitting meditation was important.

Dathun (meaning moon session) was traditionally a month long. Although this retreat will be two weeks, we will maintain the forms and traditions developed for Dathun, which are as much a part of the retreat as the meditation itself.

Dathun was a prerequisite for Vajradhatu Seminary, the program formally introducing students to Vajrayana practice. 3 Yanas: Entering the Vajra World is the current iteration of this. However, Dathun is a tradition unto itself and is regarded as one of the most important innovations the Vidyadhara contributed to establishing the dharma in the west.

The Practice of Dathun

The daily schedule begins at 7am and ends around 9pm most evenings. Sitting meditation sessions are alternated with walking meditation throughout the day. Meals will be taken in silence, [with lunch served in the meditation hall using the Zen contemplative eating practice of oryoki – this is what they did at DDL]. After lunch, there is a mid-day work period, when participants have light cleaning and kitchen tasks, which are opportunities for meditation in action.

Silence or “functional talking” is practised most of the time. Silence is not regarded as cutting off or isolating ourselves, but as a profound way to open our awareness and senses to ourselves and our world. The retreat will be led by Gaylon Ferguson, a senior practitioner in Trungpa Rinpoche’s lineage. He will be supported by a staff of experienced meditation instructors. There will be regular dharma talks and individual meetings with a meditation instructor to talk with about your practice throughout the retreat.

Recommended Reading

The Heart of the Buddha: Entering the Tibetan Buddhist Path, by Chögyam Trungpa

The Path Is the Goal: A Basic Handbook of Buddhist Meditation by Chögyam Trungpa

The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving Kindness, by Pema Chödrön

Don’t Bite the Hook: Finding Freedom from Anger, Resentment and Other Destructive Emotions, by Pema Chödrön

Who is this retreat for?

This two week retreat is well-suited for those who have practiced meditation in the past or have some knowledge of Buddhism. For those who are new to Buddhist practice, this rigorous and structured retreat provides on-going meditation instruction in both sitting and walking meditation. Talks and video teachings along with a short period of daily movement will support the practice of sitting meditation. Meditation sessions are divided into four different sittings, with a total of 8.5 hours of practice a day.

What will participants get out of this retreat?

Dathun could be a leg of one’s journey on the Buddhist path. It could be a means to deepen or expand one’s mindfulness practice. For many, Dathun becomes a complete path. Ultimately it is an expression of the wisdom of the Buddhadharma coming into contact with the western mind, and though it is born of the Buddhist traditions, it is presented here as an offering to anyone who wants to cultivate sanity and wakefulness in their lives.