Nyungney (Buddhist Fasting Practice) is a silent retreat with a fasting ritual focusing on loving-kindness, compassion and Bodhicitta. It is a renowned supreme method of purification of our karmic debt and ignorance, and development of loving-kindness and compassion. It is also a highly beneficial practice that we can take up for the purification of deceased or living.

The Druk Ralung Shedrup Choling dratshang will be conducting it’s annual Four sets of Nyungney from 11th - 18th June, 2023.

NOTE:

1. Interested participants should register online at here (Once registered, we will share the detailed program and login details before the start of the Nyungney to your email and WhatsApp Nyungney group).
2. The Nyungney will start on morning of June 11 and will conclude on the morning of June 18 coinciding with the auspicious month (saga dawa) of lunar calendar. There will be Ganackhara offerings on the morning of June 19.
3. The Nyungney will also be 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 streamed and facilitated by the organizers for virtual participation.The acceptance of your in-person participation will be conveyed by the organizers.
4. For any inquiry, please email to teaching@gyalwadokhampa.org

A BRIEF HISTORY OF NYUNGNEY

The lineage of Nyungney practice comes from Gelongma Palmo who reached enlightenment through the practice of Chenrigzig (Avalokiteshvara – the Buddha of compassion). It is a practice of fasting and keeping the eight precepts of Buddhism for purification and accumulation of merit.

It is pronounced as Nyung-ney or Ngyen-ney. “Nyung” in Himalayan region means “less” – less of everything compared to our daily lives such as eating, drinking, wearing, talking, etc. and practicing austerity. “Ney” means to “stay”. On the other hand, “Ngyen” in choekey means “close by” – meaning closer to enlightenment. Basically, meaning the method to reach enlightenment. The practice helps purify negative karma of body, speech and mind through the practices of fasting, remaining in silence and concentrating on the practice.

Abiding by the following eight precepts which are taken during Nyungney is the highest vow that a lay person can take.

• MORAL & ETHICAL DISCIPLINE:
  • Refrain from killing
  • Refrain from stealing
  • Refrain from engaging in sexual misconduct
  • Refrain from saying untruthful things
    
    
• CONSCIENTIOUS DISCIPLINE:
  • Refrain from consuming intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs
    
    
• YOGIC DISCIPLINE:
  • Refrain from performing dances, songs and other forms of entertainment and wearing makeup and jewellery
  • Refrain from sitting on any high or luxurious bed/seat
  • Refrain from eating at wrong times
    

Taking the 8 precepts helps oneself overcome the 3 afflictive emotions (Dhug sum) – Desire, Anger and Ignorance. Therefore, practicing Nyungney helps oneself to develop concentration and understanding, which are the seeds for harmony and happiness in this life and for ultimate enlightenment. It is believed that practicing Nyungney closes one’s door to be born in lower realms and benefits oneself to obtain a human birth with the ability to continue engagement on the spiritual path

Practicing abiding by the above 8 precepts for as many days as possible and making them a part of our daily lives will strengthen our concentration, understanding and compassion, eventually getting rid of one’s afflictive emotions and will help tame our mind.

DIET restrictions during Nyungney

• No consumption of meat, egg, onion and garlic
• First day – NO consumption of solid food after lunch
• Second day – NO consumption of both solid food and liquid including blessed water (Thrulchhu)
  

TENTATIVE TIME (Bhutan Standard Time – BST):

Morning 4:30am - Evening 5:00pm

*Also, one is allowed to talk on Day 1 but not allowed on Day 2 but if possible recommended to be on silence during this retreat.

BENEFITS OF NYUNGNEY

Benefits to the Participants: Nyungney is said to heal chronic illnesses, nurture compassion, and purification of negative karma. Completing one set of Nyungney (two days) is said to be equivalent to three months of other purification practices and practicing eight sets of Nyungney has the merit of being born in the pure land of Amitabha Buddha. A complete twenty-five set is said to have the merit to purify our negative deeds of eighty thousand aeons and practicing 108 sets is equivalent to achieving Arhathood and will be born in the pure land of Buddha Amitayus (Long Life Buddha). Even one set of Nyungney will avoid oneself being born in lower realms and be born in the human realm.

BENEFITS TO THE SPONSORS:

It has been said that this practice is so great that even offering a meal to a Nyungney practitioner is like offering a meal to an eighth-bhumi bodhi- sattva, which is obviously a deed of considerable merit. It is also believed that if you offer a meal to a Nyungney practitioner on the day the practice ends, the merit is equal to offering a meal to five hundred solitary realizers (pratyekabuddhas). The merit of offering a meal to someone who merely took the eight precepts equals making such an offering to an arhat, so the merit of the offering in itself is extraordinary. One of the lineage holders of Nyungney told his disciples to use his possessions just to support Nyungney practitioners when he died; nothing else would be needed.

In conclusion, just by supporting Nyungney practitioners one will receive tremendous benefit. Through such deeds one will not fall into the lower realms, one will be able to develop bodhichitta, in all future lives one will have abundant wealth and, eventually, one will be able to completely perfect the practice of generosity.