Presented by the Mahasiddha Retreat Centre, the Amitābha Retreat will be held both onsite at Maitrivana in Vancouver and online via Zoom.
To Pre-Register and other details: https://mrclodgeandcabins.com/events/amitabha-retreat-2025/
Vancouver is grateful to host an esteemed group of Acharyas and Lamas for the weekend practices, including Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyalsten, Acharya Tashi Wangchuk, Lama Rabten Tshering, and guest teacher Lama Tenzin (from Kagyu Kunkhyab Chuling).
This is a precious opportunity for Nalandabodhi members and friends to make prayer requests for the living and departed. For the first time in our community, the lamas will be performing the name-burning ceremony.
Sadhana recitation will be in Tibetan with the screen-shared liturgy in Tibetan, English, and Chinese.
All are welcome to participate; you may attend all or some of the practice sessions. Please note: Registration in Chinese is coming soon.
About AMITĀBHA PRACTICE
According to Mahayana Buddhist sutras, Amitābha was a king who renounced his kingdom and became a monk named Dharmakāra. Inspired by the teachings of Lokesvararaja Buddha, he made 48 great vows for the liberation of the sentient beings.
The Eighteenth Vow, the basis of the Pure Land known as Sukhāvatī, is thus:
“When I have attained Buddhahood, all sentient beings in the ten quarters who aspire in sincerity and faith to be reborn in my land and who have thought of me (or repeated my name) up to ten times; if they fail to be born there, then may I not attain the Perfect Enlightenment …”
After five aeons of self-cultivation, the Bodhisattva Dharmakāra finally attained the Supreme Enlightenment and became Buddha Amitābha. Due to his infinite merit and compassion, simply calling out Amitābha Buddha’s name is enough to draw his infinite life.
Repeated recitation of Amitābha’s name praise or his mantras — especially when dying — can help a devotee be reborn in Sukhāvatī Pure Land.
