The practice of the Niungne fasting ritual is a simple yet powerful means of dispelling obstacles to physical and mental well-being. It leads the practitioner to the essence of Avalokiteshvara’s supreme secret, the compassionate embodiment of all buddhas.
By reciting prayers, repeating Avalokiteshvara’s mantra, and offering prostrations, all kinds of negative actions are purified, and conditions favorable to spiritual growth flourish.
By adopting the eight temporary precepts (vows), the conditions are created to experience happiness in this and future lives and, ultimately, to attain enlightenment.
Prerequisite: to have received Amitabha empowerment, from the Dudjom lineage, or Cherenzig empowerment, from the lineage of Drimed Kachod Wangpo.
The Amitabha empowerment will be granted on August 22.
During this retreat, there will be 4 cycles of fasting practice. Partial participation is available.
Please read the following information carefully about how the retreat will work before registering!
The foundation of the Nyungne practice we will be doing is a Vajrayana Buddhist sadhana. For this reason, it is recommended that participants already have some familiarity with this type of meditation, as there will be no teaching sessions. The focus of the retreat is the practice itself.
Please also consider your physical and mental health in light of a long fast like this one.
The austerities of Niungne include extreme thirst, hunger, fatigue, and changes in body temperature. In addition, compassion for the suffering of others deepens and can become almost unbearable.
The Buddha’s Dharma offers other methods of purification and merit-generation; therefore, participants should carefully consider whether the discomforts and challenges of the Niungne practice are appropriate at this point in their spiritual journey.
There is an alternative way to participate: NIENGNE, which involves partial fasting. See below for more information.
Questions or further information: [email protected]
Drubchöd é uma prática elaborada e extensa, que inclui a recitação de uma sadana, mantras e danças rituais.
Um Drubchöd possui oferendas tão elaboradas quanto as de um Drubchen, porém em um período menor.
This retreat requires that all participants stay at Odsal Ling. There is no option to participate without staying overnight.
The first day of each cycle begins at 4:30 am (UTC-3), so participants must arrive at Odsal Ling the night before the first day of the cycle in which they will participate.
For those choosing to do NIUNGNE:
Registration deadline: August 14, at 6:00 pm (UTC-3)
Accommodations from August 21 to 31
Includes dinner on the 21st; breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the 22nd, and all other meals according to the event’s cycles.
Includes the Amitabha empowerment.
• Dormitory: R$ 2,101
• Shared room: R$ 2,356
• Suite: R$ 2,596
Accommodations from August 21 to 25
Includes empowerment + 1st Cycle
• Dormitory: R$ 943
• Shared room: R$ 1,031
• Suite: R$ 1,127
Accommodation for:
• August 24–27 (2nd cycle) or
• August 26–29 (3rd cycle) or
• August 28–31 (4th cycle)
Does not include the Amitaba empowerment. Registration for the empowerment must be completed separately via the link available on the website.
• Dormitory: R$ 544
• Shared room: R$ 610
• Suite: R$ 682
This retreat requires that all participants stay at Odsal Ling. There is no option to participate without staying overnight.
The first day of each cycle begins at 4:30 am (utc-3), so participants must arrive at Odsal Ling the night before the first day of the cycle in which they will participate.
For those choosing to do NIENGNE:
Registration deadline: August 14, at 6:00 pm (UTC-3).
Accommodations from August 21 through 31
Includes dinner on the 21st; breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the 22nd; breakfast and lunch from the 23rd through the 30th; and breakfast on the 31st.
Includes the Amitabha empowerment.
• Dormitory: R$ 2.404
• Shared room: R$ 2.530
• Suite: R$ 2.864
Accommodations from August 21 to 25
Includes empowerment + 1st Cycle
• Dormitory: R$ 1.010
• Shared room: R$ 1.098
• Suite: R$ 1.194
Accommodation for:
• August 24–27 (2nd cycle) or
• August 26–29 (3rd cycle) or
• August 28–31 (4th cycle)
Does not include the Amitaba empowerment. Registration for the empowerment must be completed separately via the link available on the website.
• Dormitory: R$ 611
• Shared room: R$ 677
• Suite: R$ 749
See how the Niungne cycle works and choose which one you’d like to participate in. You can participate in one or more cycles, either sequentially or not.
(All times UTC-3)
Cycle 1
August 23–25
August 23 (Day 1)
• 4:30 am: before dawn, the eight vows are taken. From that moment on, no eggs or meat are eaten.
• Breakfast: only porridge is eaten.
• Lunch: a hearty vegetarian lunch is served.
• After lunch: the fast from solid foods begins. Until bedtime, only water, black coffee, and tea are allowed.
• Silence: speaking is permitted until bedtime.
Day 24 (Day 2)
• 4:30 am: the eight vows are renewed before dawn.
• Total fast: eating and drinking—including water—are not permitted throughout the day.
• Silence: silence is observed throughout the day, except during the recitation of prayers and liturgies.
Day 25 (Day 3)
• Conclusion
At dawn on the third day, a complete cycle of Niungne concludes.
Retreatants who will not continue into the next cycle surrender their vows and conclude the retreat.
Retreatants who choose to begin a new cycle renew the eight vows before dawn and enter the next cycle, repeating the schedule from Day 1.
The schedule described above is repeated for the cycles below.
Cycle 2
Day 25 (Day 1)
Day 26 (Day 2)
Day 27 (Day 3)
Cycle 3
Day 27 (Day 1)
Day 28 (Day 2)
Day 29 (Day 3)
Cycle 4 – Last Cycle
Day 29 (Day 1)
Day 30 (Day 2)
Day 31 (Day 3)
In this option, Niengne, days 1 and 2 are the same, except for the vow of total silence on day 2. In other words, the fast from solid food begins after lunch. From lunch onward, you may drink water, black coffee, and tea.
In this case, please let us know your decision by email so that we can plan accordingly and include your additional meals in your registration.
Cicle 1
August 23–25
August 23 (Day 1)
• 4:30 am: before dawn, the eight vows are taken. From that moment on, no eggs or meat are eaten.
• Breakfast: only porridge is consumed.
• Lunch: a hearty vegetarian lunch is served.
• After lunch: the fast from solid foods begins. Until bedtime, only water, black coffee, and tea are permitted.
• Silence: speaking is permitted until bedtime.
August 24 (Day 2)
• 4:30 am: the eight vows are renewed before dawn.
• Breakfast: only porridge is consumed.
• Lunch: a hearty vegetarian lunch is served.
• After lunch: fasting from solid food begins. Until bedtime, only water, coffee, and tea are permitted.
• Silence: silence is maintained throughout the day, except during the recitation of prayers and liturgies.
Day 25 (Day 3)
• Conclusion
At dawn on the third day, a full cycle of Niengne comes to an end.
Retreatants who will not continue into the next cycle submit their vows and conclude the retreat.
Retreatants who choose to begin a new cycle renew the eight vows before dawn and enter the next cycle, repeating the schedule from Day 1.
The schedule described above is repeated for the cycles below.
Cycle 2
Day 25 (Day 1)
Day 26 (Day 2)
Day 27 (Day 3)
Cycle 3
Day 27 (Day 1)
Day 28 (Day 2)
Day 29 (Day 3)
Cycle 4 - final cycle
Day 29 (Day 1)
Day 30 (Day 2)
Day 31 (Day 3)
The eight Niungne vows are:
- Do not kill
- Do not steal
- Do not engage in sexual activity
- Do not lie
- Do not use perfumes—that is, seductive substances—or jewelry—that is, attractive adornments
- Do not dance or sing—that is, do not engage in entertainment activities
- Do not sit on high seats or luxurious beds—that is, do not seek excessive comfort
- Do not eat, except during designated periods.
It is also not permitted to eat meat, eggs, onions, garlic, or strongly odorous white vegetables, such as cabbage. It is also not permitted to use intoxicating substances. It is important to dress more warmly than usual while fasting.
Cycle 1
Day 23 (Day 1)
Day 24 (Day 2)
Day 25 (Day 3)
Cycle 2
Day 25 (Day 1)
Day 26 (Day 2)
Day 27 (Day 3)
Cycle 3
Day 27 (Day 1)
Day 28 (Day 2)
Day 29 (Day 3)
Cycle 4 - Last Cycle
Day 29 (Day 1)
Day 30 (Day 2)
Day 31 (Day 3)
Please remove your shoes and hat before entering.
Photography, recording, or filming inside the meditation hall or during teachings is not permitted.
Do not touch the practitioners’ objects or musical instruments.
Do not lie down in the practice and teaching area.
It is traditional, in the presence of Rinpoches and Lamas, to wait standing until they sit down. Then, three prostrations are made as a sign of respect.
Do not point your feet toward statues, lamas, or sacred objects.
Do not step over sacred texts, practice objects, or benches.
Do not place texts directly on the floor.
Sacred texts are loaned for use only during meditation practices and should not be taken home or copied without the Temple’s permission.
If you find any object that does not belong to you, please hand it over to one of our volunteers present on site.
You must reserve a parking spot at the time of registration and wait for confirmation via email from the events department.
Since our parking is limited, we strongly encourage participants to carpool.
Check out the different ways to get to the Temple here.
