What to eat during the long Retreats
and what to be carefull with.
01
Do not overthink and notice when you do.
This can lead to mental illness onset, especially if you do the retreat without any guidance. I noticed, that ability to over analyse chains of events and emotions, unfortunately, sometimes, leads to ... blockages to true relaxation and visualization.
Habitual analytical concept arise every time you enter state of not-thinking. You have to learn to truly ignore any thought that arises, yet continue function in ordinary physical reality, responding to all people and reality demands. Learn how to relax and not analyse, ignore all and any of your thoughts.
03
Do not believe everything you see or hear.
Many people experience profound changes during silent retreats or drupchens, but... There is a lot of self-illusion involved in our spiritual growth.
Do not believe that you are an incarnation of some Royal Entity, please stick with possibility you could have been a ... HItler in a past life? Everyone wants to think they were Marie Antoinette or Catherine the Great, but we are not. This called mental alteration of your reality based on desires.
All kind of thought can come on the surface when you begin clearing Karma, do not follow them. Let them come and then GO... And when you let go of imagination stage completely, even the thought "I am meditating" should be ignored.
02
Always think ahead and prepare for weather changes.
No matter where you are retreating always prepare for retreat conditions to change.
I end up developing hypothermia in retreat in the tent, because I did not think ... Arizona can have a snow in November... It snowed. And rained, and fogged ... The more clothes I put on, the more I felt shivering and began having hard time breathing, because my body experiences pain. Most horrible thing I was actually sweating, yet shivering, as I was put into the ice fridge. It was horribly painful too. My tent bed had a metal frame that got colder with sunset. I was able to get up and go take a hot shower in the main dorm to warm up and stop hypothermia.
My point is ~ check the weather, before going to long retreat in a new state. This was my 15 days Vajrakilaya drupchen experience.
04
It's ok to be someone else in retreat, but don't forget to come back to reality.
Its is ok to imagine yourself as something other then your present body in retreat, however coming back to the everyday reality thinking you Kurukula is not healthy.
You have to be to 100% honest with your own mind. Do not believe that you are spiritual deity and begin acting like one in public. It is a mental disorder. Let your ability to transform back and forth make you a chameleon, but do not believe in your unrealistic fantasies.
Why silence makes a difference?
When we stop talking, different portions of our brains become more active.
"Broca's area, located in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere of the brain, is responsible for speech production and articulation."
"Neuroscientists believe that, in humans and mammals, the cerebral cortex is the “seat of consciousness,” while the midbrain reticular formation and certain thalamic nuclei may provide gating and other necessary functions of the cortex. Your cerebral
cortex, also called gray matter, is your brain’s outermost layer of nerve cell tissue. It has a wrinkled appearance from its many
folds and grooves. Your cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, thinking, learning, reasoning, problem-solving, emotions, consciousness and functions related to your senses."
When we function on "the everyday autopilot" we mostly use overactive front lobe, but when we spend some times contemplating or resting in silence, we activate our gray matter, or improve all of our senses. Our brain is very flexible,
it has ability to regenerate and shows Neuroplasticity. The more time you spend in silence, the more you will be able to see
& hear your own thoughts, as they begin arising. You will recognize what emotions cause certain thoughts and what actions
they lead to. You will have much better control of what is beneficial in your life an what thoughts are not. You will begin noticing how other people act and think, you can learn how to read others better. This process will eventually become your
"new autopilot", and silence would not matter much, you will be able to do it in any ordinary situation: on the bus, in the car,
in the store, in the kitchen, etc. I spend about 4 years in nearly complete silence. I communicated with a sticky notes and emails.
Dharma Retreats in
North America and Canada
 Karma Triyana Dharmachakra335 Meads Mountain Rd, Woodstock, NY 12498 |  Garchen Buddhist Institute9995 E Blissful Path, Chino Valley, AZ 86323 |  Ananda Dharma Center3888 Balcom Road, San Jose CA 95148 |  Land of Medicine Buddha5800 Prescott Rd, Soquel, CA 95073 |
|---|---|---|---|
 City of Ten Thousand Buddhas4951 Bodhi Way, Ukiah, California 95482 |  Sudhana Center1991 Virtue Way, Ukiah, CA, 95482 |  Jikoji Zen Center12100 Skyline Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95033 |  Vajrapani Institute19950 Kings Creek Rd, Boulder Creek, CA 95006 |
 Milarepa Center1344 U.S. Route 5 South Barnet, Vermont 05821 |  Pema Osel Ling2013 Eureka Canyon Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076 |  Rangjung Yeshe Gomde66000 Drive Thru Tree Rd, Leggett, CA 95585 |  Karmê Chöling369 Patneaude Ln Barnet, Vermont 05821 |
 Drikung Meditation Center29 Mohawk Street, Danvers, MA 01923 |  Pema Osel Do-ngak Choling322 Eastman Cross Rd, Vershire, VT 05079 |  Natural Dharma Fellowship253 Philbrick Hill Rd, Springfield, NH 03284 |  Vermont Zen Center480 Thomas Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482 |
 Samye Hermitage New York412 Glimmerglen Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326 |  Palyul Retreat Center359 Hollow Road McDonough, NY 13801 |  Ithaca Zen Center56 Lieb Road Spencer, NY 14883 |  Rochester Zen Center7 Arnold Park, Rochester, NY 14607 |
 Sravasti Abbey692 Country Lane Newport WA 99156 |  Tsongkhapa Meditation Center1551 Côte Saint-André Sainte-Sophie, Quebec, Canada J5J 2S6 |  Gajang Buddhist Center82 Jameson Avenue Toronto, ON M6K 2X5 Canada |  Dai Tong Lam690 Chemin de la Rivière Rouge Canton D'Harrington, QC J8G 2S7 Canada |
 Gampo Abbey1533 Pleasant Bay Rd Pleasant Bay, Nova Scotia B0E 2P0 Canada |  Sati Saraniya Hermitage1702 McVeigh Road Perth, ON K7H 3C9 Canada |  Dorje Denma Ling2280 Balmoral Rd, The Falls, NS B0K 1V0, Canada |  Kathok Tibetan Buddhist Centre2800 Grafton Ave, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1W8, Canada |
 Earthspring Sanctuary Retreat405 Hazlitt Creek Rd, Victoria, BC V9E 2A3, Canada |  Sea To Sky Retreat Centre95 East Daisy Lake, Whistler, BC V0N 0A0, Canada |  Drala Mountain Center151 Shambhala Way, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545 |  Phuntsok Choling Mangala Shri45640 CO-72, Ward, CO 80481 |
 Vajra Vidya Retreat Center3203 Camino Baca Grande, Crestone, CO 81131 |
335 Meads Mountain Rd,
Woodstock, NY 12498.
1
5800 Prescott Rd,
Soquel, CA 95073
4
12100 Skyline Blvd,
Los Gatos, CA 95033
7
Closest Lodging:
Saratoga Oaks Lodge 14626 Big Basin Wy, Saratoga, CA 95070
2013 Eureka Canyon Rd,
Watsonville, CA 95076
10
Closest Lodging:
Seacliff Inn Aptos by Hilton 7500 Old Dominion Ct, Aptos, CA 95003
29 Mohawk Street,
Danvers, MA 01923
13
480 Thomas Rd,
Shelburne, VT 05482
16
Closest Lodging:
Quality Inn Shelburne 2572 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482
56 Lieb Road
Spencer, NY 14883
19
Tsongkhapa Meditation Center
1551 Côte Saint-André, Sainte-Sophie, QC J5J 2S6, Canada
22
Closest Lodging:
Motel la Cheminée 2374 Bd du Curé-Labelle, Saint-Jérôme, QC J7Y 5E9, CA
25
Closest Lodging:
Cliff Waters Vacation Properties 1773 Red River Rd, Pleasant Bay, NS B0C1E0
2800 Grafton Ave, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1W8, Canada
28
Closest Lodging:
Qualicum Beach Inn 2690 Island Hwy W, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1G8, CA
151 Shambhala Way, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
31
9995 E Blissful Path,
Chino Valley, AZ 86323
2
Closest Lodging:
Days Inn by Wyndham 688 Fletcher Ct, Chino Valley, AZ 86323
4951 Bodhi Way,
Ukiah, CA 95482
5
Closest Lodging:
Fairfield Inn & Suites 1140 Airport Park Blvd, Ukiah, CA 95482
19950 Kings Creek Rd,
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
8
Closest Lodging:
Masood's Lodge 13420 Big Basin Wy, Boulder Creek, CA 95006
1344 U.S. Route 5 South
Barnet, VT 05821
11
322 Eastman Cross Rd,
Vershire, VT 05079
14
412 Glimmerglen Road,
Cooperstown, NY 13326
17
Closest Lodging:
The Inn at Cooperstown 16 Chestnut St, Cooperstown, NY 13326
7 Arnold Park,
Rochester, NY 14607
20
Closest Lodging:
The Strathallan Rochester Hotel 550 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
82 Jameson Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 2X5, Canada
23
Closest Lodging:
The Parkdale Hostellerie 83 Elm Grove Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 2J2 CA
1702 McVeigh Road
Perth, ON K7H 3C9 Canada
26
Closest Lodging:
Perth Plaza Inn and Suites 40 Dufferin St, Perth, ON K7H 3A6, Canada
405 Hazlitt Creek Rd Victoria BC
Canada V9E 2A3
29
Closest Lodging:
Misty Meadows B&B 2627 Bukin Dr E, Victoria, BC V9E 1H4, Canada
45640 CO-72, Ward, CO 80481
32
Closest Lodging:
Foot of the Mountain Motel 200 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302
3888 Balcom Road,
San Jose, CA 95148
3
369 Patneaude Ln
Barnet, VT 05821
12
253 Philbrick Hill Rd,
Springfield, NH 03284
15
Closest Lodging:
Maple Hill Farm B&B 1200 Newport Rd, New London, NH 03257
359 Hollow Road
McDonough, NY 13801
18
Closest Lodging:
Wildflower Cottage 333 Bradley Hill Road, Oxford, NY 13830
692 Country Ln,
Newport, WA 99156
21
Closest Lodging:
Stoneridge Resort 150 Holiday Loop, Blanchard, ID 83804
690 Chemin de la Rivière Rouge
Canton D'Harrington, QC J8G 2S7 CA
24
Closest Lodging:
Hotel Drouin F Inc 108 Rue du Château, Les Laurentides, QC J0T 1G0, Canada
2280 Balmoral Rd,
The Falls, NS B0K 1V0, Canada
27
Closest Lodging:
Forest Haven Inn 8627 NS-311, Tatamagouche, NS B0K 1V0, Canada
95 East Daisy Lake, Whistler, BC V0N 0A0, Canada
30
Closest Lodging:
Nita Lake Lodge 2131 Lake Placid Rd, Whistler, BC V8E 0B2, Canada
3203 Camino Baca Grande, Crestone, CO 81131
33
Closest Lodging:
Cozy Remote Retreat * 3708 Enchanted Way, Crestone, CO 81131
The question of veganism, vegetarianism and meat eating.
Is it REQUIRED for me to become a vegetarian in order to practice Dharma in retreat?
It depends on the type of retreat and spiritual Deity you follow, as, in some cases, it is Required. But, NO, it is not required, but recommended in many practices.
However, if you practice tummo, HYT or live in a silent retreat for over 3 months, with little to no access to society in general, and, with lack of transportation in the Northern Region, or High Elevation, with harsh winter or fall conditions, you should eat meat and drink fat milk or use butter. Otherwise you will develop Lung (overthinking pattern, that can lead to nervous system overload and crash) and we can go crazy. Literally. Why? Because animal proteins and fats, keep us grounded when we need to be. Carbs and sugars keep us hyper. Dharma is about balance, not extremes.
The only thing that is REQUIRED to practice Dharma is common sense.
THUKPA SOUP
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
-
Beef /Meat
-
Shiitake Mushrooms
-
White Kidney Beans
-
Ginger
-
Celery
-
Onion
-
Potato
-
Carrot
-
Nutmeg
-
Cardamom
-
Coriander
-
Cloves
-
Black Pepper
-
Garlic
-
Olive oil Ghee for sauteing
-
Handmade flat noodle
For the HANDMADE NOODLES you will need to combine flour, water and salt to form a dough. Flatten the dough with a rolling pin or hands, then shape the dough into anything your prefer.
Boil meat together with spices.
"Butter braise" all vegetables, including shiitake mushrooms, and mix together with the beef/meat broth. Add noodles 20 minutes before soup is done. Serve with fresh parsley or dill with scallions mix sprinkle.
BARLEY DISHES
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
-
Barley
-
Mushrooms
-
Onions
-
Celery
-
Scallions
-
Celantro
-
Dill
-
Bay leaves
-
Carrot
-
Nutmeg
-
Cardamom
-
Cloves
-
Black Pepper
-
Garlic
-
Ghee for sauteing
-
Salt
"Butter braise" all vegetables, including mushrooms, before mixing it with steamed or boiled barley. You can serve plain yogurt or sour cream with fresh herbs on the side.
Shiitake Mushrooms
MUST have for TUKHPA
Barley
MUST have for BARLEY
CHAI
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
-
Cinnamon sticks
-
Fresh Ginger
-
Cloves
-
Nutmeg
-
Green cardamom pods
-
Black peppercorns
-
Fennel seeds
-
Unsalted Butter
-
Organic Raw Sugar
-
Black Ceylon Tea
-
Milk
-
Butter
Boil milk, add all spices together and lower the heat to the minimum.
Continue to boil and mix for 25 minutes on the lower heat until the color of the tea turns solid "coffee cream" color. Drain all remaining spices and serve, either hot
or cold.
GREEN CURRY
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
-
Thai basil
-
Lemongrass
-
Bamboo shoots
-
Red bell pepper
-
Green curry paste
-
Makrut lime leaves
-
Coconut milk
-
Fish sauce
-
Organic Raw or Brown sugar
-
Boneless skinless chicken or tofu
-
Chicken broth
-
Eggplant
-
Ghee for sauteing
Saute: curry paste, basil, lemon grass, coconut milk and bamboo shots together with coconut milk, until it thickens. Add chicken and remaining ingredients together and let it shimmer on the low heat until chicken is fully cooked. Add green leaves and serve with steamed rice.
Ginger
MUST have for CHAI
Red Curry Paste
MUST have for RED CURRY
SAMOSAS
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
-
Russet potatoes
-
Onion
-
Carrot
-
Green Peas
-
Cilantro
-
Garlic
-
Ginger
-
Olive oil/Ghee
-
Lemon juice
-
Cayenne Pepper
-
Coriander Powder
-
Crushed Chilies
-
Cumin Seeds
-
Curry Powder
-
Fennel Seeds
-
Garam Masala
-
Garlic Flakes
-
Salt & Ground Black Pepper
For the DOUGH you will need to combine flour, carom seeds (Ajwain seeds)butter and salt. Use deep fryer
or boiling butter to cook it.
RED CURRY
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
-
Red curry paste
-
Coconut milk
-
Chicken meat or tofu
-
Chicken broth
-
Fish sauce
-
Celery
-
Thai basil
-
Red Pepper
-
Mild dried chilies
-
Spicy dried chilies
-
White peppercorns
-
Eggplant
-
Scallions
-
Celantro
-
Brown or raw sugar
-
Nutmeg
-
Garlic
-
Shallots
-
Lemongrass
-
Galangal Root(it is not ginger)
-
Makrut (kaffir) lime
-
Ghee for sauteing
-
Salt
Saute: curry paste, basil, lemon grass, coconut milk and bamboo shots, red pepper and eggplant together with coconut milk, until it thickens. Add chicken and remaining ingredients together and let it shimmer on the
low heat until chicken is fully cooked. Add green leaves and serve with steamed rice.
Potato
MUST have for SAMOSA
Lemongrass
MUST have for GREEN CURRY
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