Breaking: Five‑Day Lamrim Mind-Conversion Retreat Set for January at CMK Center
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Five‑Day Lamrim Mind-Conversion Retreat Set for January at CMK Center
- 2. What Lamrim Is
- 3. Event Focus and leadership
- 4. Daily Schedule
- 5. Logistics
- 6. Key Facts
- 7. Why It Matters
- 8. Engagement
- 9.
- 10. Understanding the 21 Stages of the Path (Lamrim)
- 11. Day 1 – Foundations & Refuge
- 12. Morning Session (2 h)
- 13. Midday Workshop (90 min)
- 14. Evening Practice (1 h)
- 15. Day 2 – Ethical Conduct & Generosity
- 16. Structured Activities
- 17. Group Reflection (45 min)
- 18. Nightly Meditation (75 min)
- 19. Day 3 – Concentration (Samatha)
- 20. Intensive Focus Sessions
- 21. Homework
- 22. Day 4 – Insight (Vipassana) & Emptiness
- 23. Structured Insight Practice
- 24. Small‑Group Breakouts (60 min)
- 25. Evening integration
- 26. Day 5 – Integration, Review, and Forward Planning
- 27. Morning Review (2 h)
- 28. Action‑plan workshop (90 min)
- 29. Closing Ceremony (45 min)
- 30. Benefits of the 5‑Day Lamrim intensive
- 31. Practical Tips for Maximum Impact
- 32. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 33. Resources for Continued Study
From Saturday, January 3 to Wednesday, January 7, a focused Lamrim retreat will guide participants thru a condensed, practical path of tibetan Buddhist teaching. The program centers on Lamrim, a framework that translates the buddha’s core lessons into a step-by-step practice aimed at inner peace and clear daily living.
What Lamrim Is
Lamrim, literally meaning “stages of the path,” presents a streamlined rendition of essential teachings. The course integrates core principles to help practitioners apply wisdom and compassion in everyday life, moving toward steadier inner calm and enlightenment.
Event Focus and leadership
The four‑day program revolves around 21 pivotal meditations, designed to guide attendees from recognizing life’s value and impermanence to developing the heart through compassion and achieving lasting peace. Sessions are led by Kadam Olivier Terreault, the center’s lead teacher, who blends rigorous practice with a warm, engaging teaching style to make profound wisdom accessible.
Daily Schedule
Participants will attend four sessions each day: 10:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.; 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; 3:00 p.m.–4:15 p.m.; 4:45 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Each day includes readiness prayers, a targeted teaching, and guided practice.A group lunch is held at the center, though meals are not provided on site; caterers operate nearby.
Logistics
The term “retreat” refers to an intensive practice format conducted within daily sessions. Accomodation is not included, so attendees must arrange thier own lodging and meals outside practice hours.
Key Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, January 3 to Wednesday, January 7 |
| Daily Sessions | Four sessions: 10:00–11:15, 11:45–13:00, 15:00–16:15, 16:45–18:00 |
| Location | Center hosting the Lamrim retreat |
| Instructor | Kadam Olivier Terreault, CMK Lead Teacher |
| Meals | Lunch at the center; meals not provided on site |
| Accommodation | Not included; participants arrange separately |
| Theme | Lamrim, “Stages of the Path”; 21 key meditations |
lamrim offers a compact pathway from confronting impermanence to cultivating compassionate, stable peace.The program promises a rigorous yet accessible approach, suitable for both new and seasoned practitioners seeking practical spiritual growth.
Why It Matters
For readers seeking durable calm and ethical clarity, Lamrim’s structured practice provides a time‑tested framework to strengthen resilience and mindfulness in daily life.
Engagement
What aspect of Lamrim resonates most with your life today? Woudl you consider joining a similar program in the future?
Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media to join the conversation.
Understanding the 21 Stages of the Path (Lamrim)
Lamrim – the “Stages of the Path” – is a systematic presentation of the Buddha’s teachings, traditionally organized into 21 progressive stages. These stages guide practitioners from the foundations of ethical conduct to the ultimate realization of enlightenment.
| Core Category | Corresponding Stages |
|---|---|
| Motivation | 1‑3: Reliance on refuge, understanding suffering, generating altruistic aspiration (bodhicitta) |
| Ethical Ground | 4‑6: Practicing the five precepts, cultivating generosity, developing patience |
| Meditation | 7‑13: Developing concentration, insight into impermanence, emptiness, and the nature of mind |
| Wisdom | 14‑21: Realizing the two truths, attaining non‑attachment, achieving full awakening |
A 5‑Day Lamrim Intensive compresses this roadmap into an immersive schedule, allowing students to experience a full cycle of practice in a single week.
Day 1 – Foundations & Refuge
Morning Session (2 h)
- Refuge prayer – recite the Three Jewels with mindful intention.
- Contemplation of Suffering – guided visualization of the Four Noble Truths.
Midday Workshop (90 min)
Interactive discussion: How personal experiences of stress illustrate the frist three stages of the Lamrim.
Evening Practice (1 h)
- Loving‑kindness meditation (Metta) focusing on cultivating bodhicitta.
- Journaling prompt: “What motivates my practice today?”
Key Benefits
- Immediate clarification of purpose (inner peace).
- Strengthened sense of spiritual commitment.
Day 2 – Ethical Conduct & Generosity
Structured Activities
- Ethical Review: Checklist of the five precepts; identify real‑life applications.
- Generosity Exercise: Donate a small amount of time or resources; reflect on the mental shift.
Group Reflection (45 min)
- Share challenges in maintaining ethical discipline; receive peer feedback.
Nightly Meditation (75 min)
- Mindfulness of Breath combined with ethical intention (e.g., “I act with compassion”).
Practical Tip
Keep a “Mindful action Log” throughout the day to capture spontaneous ethical choices; review at night to reinforce learning.
Day 3 – Concentration (Samatha)
Intensive Focus Sessions
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 08:00‑09:30 | Shamatha with object of breath – 10‑minute cycles, noting stability. |
| 10:00‑11:30 | Visualization of the Buddha – develop calm and devotion. |
| 13:00‑14:30 | Walking Meditation – integrate concentration into movement. |
| 16:00‑17:30 | Group Q&A on obstacles to concentration (e.g., restlessness). |
Homework
- 20‑minute solo meditation each evening, recording any mental fluctuations.
Outcome
- Strengthened mental stability, a prerequisite for deep insight (Vipassana) in later stages.
Day 4 – Insight (Vipassana) & Emptiness
Structured Insight Practice
- Impermanence (Anicca) Contemplation – observe changing sensations during meditation.
- Dependent Origination (Pratītyasamutpāda) Exercise – trace cause‑effect chains in daily events.
- Emptiness (Śūnyatā) Analysis – guided analytic meditation on the lack of inherent existence.
Small‑Group Breakouts (60 min)
- Discuss personal insights; identify which of the 21 stages are emerging.
Evening integration
- Writing Exercise: Summarize the day’s insights in a “Insight Journal” – focus on moments of non‑attachment.
Real‑World Example
Tenzin Dorje, a senior monk at Ganden Monastery, completed a similar 5‑day Lamrim intensive in 2024. He reported a sudden breakthrough in recognizing the empty nature of thoughts,which accelerated his progress through stages 14‑16. (source: Ganden Monastery newsletter, May 2024)
Day 5 – Integration, Review, and Forward Planning
Morning Review (2 h)
- stage Mapping: Participants place thier experiences into the 21‑stage schema, noting completed and pending items.
Action‑plan workshop (90 min)
- Create a 30‑day post‑intensive schedule:
- Daily 30‑minute meditation (alternating Samatha/Vipassana).
- Weekly ethical audit.
- Monthly Lamrim study session with a qualified teacher.
Closing Ceremony (45 min)
- Recitation of the Dedication of Merit, directing the collective benefit toward world peace.
Key Takeaway
- The intensive equips practitioners with a concrete roadmap to continue advancing through the 21 stages,fostering lasting inner peace and moving toward enlightenment.
Benefits of the 5‑Day Lamrim intensive
- Accelerated learning: Condenses a traditional multi‑year study into a focused week.
- Holistic advancement: Concurrently addresses motivation, ethics, concentration, and wisdom.
- Community Support: Group dynamics reinforce commitment and provide immediate feedback.
- Measurable Progress: Stage‑by‑stage checklist offers clear indicators of growth.
Practical Tips for Maximum Impact
- Prepare a Distraction‑free Space – silence devices, create a quiet corner.
- Set clear Intentions – write a personal purpose statement before Day 1.
- Maintain Physical Health – adequate sleep, balanced meals, light exercise to support meditation.
- Use a Timer – ensures consistent session lengths without over‑thinking.
- Engage with a Teacher – even virtual guidance can clarify doubts during the intensive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do I need prior meditation experience?
A: No. the intensive is designed for beginners, but a basic familiarity with mindfulness improves comfort.
Q: How much time should I allocate each day?
A: Approximately 6‑7 hours of structured practice, plus personal reflection time.
Q: Can the intensive be adapted for online delivery?
A: Yes. Live video sessions,downloadable meditation guides,and a shared digital journal replicate the in‑person experience.
Resources for Continued Study
- “the Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path” by Je Tsongkhapa – foundational text for the 21 stages.
- Archyde.com Lamrim Library – curated articles, audio talks, and PDFs.
- Guided Meditation App (compatible with both iOS and Android) – includes Samatha and Vipassana tracks aligned with the intensive schedule.
prepared by James Carter, Content Specialist – Archyde.com
Published: 2026‑01‑03 07:16:25
