The Course Program

28 June   —   Öpame Empowerment by H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje
27 June–2 July   —   Phowa Course with Lama Ole Nydahl
2 July   —   Bodhisattva Promise with H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje

Empowerment and Phowa

The Pratice of Conscious Dying, or Phowa, is one of the most profound teachings of Diamond Way Buddhism (Vajrayana). During this practice we learn how to transfer the consciousness to a state of highest bliss. Thanks to this skill we will be able to get into the Pure Land of Buddha of Limitless Light (sanscr. Amitabha; tib.Opame) at the moment of death. While doing this practice, with a help of secret technique students learn to send their consciousness-energy through the central channel and top of a head up to the red Buddha of Limitless Light. In the beginning of Phowa Course Gyalwa Karmapa is going to give Empowerment on Buddha of Limitless Light that will allow practitioners to create the connection with him and his Pure Land. In the end of the Course, as a holder of Karma Kagyu transmission lineage, Karmapa will accept from us Boddhisattva Promise — a promise to bring all sentient beings to Enlightenment. Phowa practice belongs to high-level teachings in the gradual way of Tibetan Buddhism. According to the tradition, one could start learning it only after long preparations and extensive meditation practice. We have an unique opportunity to accomplish this powerful practice during the five-day Course with Lama Ole Nydahl, who was asked by important teachers from Karma Kagyu lineage to transmit this practice in the West. Skillfulness and power of the Lama makes it possible for us to accomplish this practice successfully without staying many years in solitary retreats. But one certain preliminary preparation - special meditation practice connected to the Buddha Öpame, one still has to complete in advance. Please, receive necessary instructions for this meditation in your local centre and perform required number of repetitions before the Course starts. It is Lama Ole’s wish that you take it as a necessary condition for the Phowa practice.

Registration   

To register for the Minkovka course and to ask questions please write to: course09(at)buddhism.org.ua

Attention, please!   The Course starts on 27th of June at 11 a.m. with meditation on Diamond Mind and Buddha of Limitless Light. Accommodation in camp would be already possible since 26th of June — there will be meditation sessions and everybody is welcome to help us with last preparations and the Course organization. If you would like to come even earlier, it’s possible only in case you participate in building retreat - please, register then via email as well. The end of the Course is on 2nd of July, late evening.

Accommodation

Please take your own tents, mats, sleeping bags, warm and spare clothes in case weather is capricious. Information for people who need special living conditions due to the health concerns about accommodation in nearby town of Valki and in the camp will be available soon.
Take a note, our gompa will not be available as a sleeping place.

Food & Catering

A big canteen, cafe and a food store selling also necessities will be working on site during the course. Plates and dishes, boiling water will be available as well. No registration in advance is needed.

How to get there

Minkovka is located in 55 km from Kharkiv between Kharkiv-Kiev and Kharkiv-Simferopol freeways.

Public transport: Bus schedule from Kharkiv
By car: Map
We are going to organize buses from Kharkiv’s central railway station, details and conditions will be provided soon.

Parking place

Important: At the moment we don’t have possibility to provide parking place at our place because of limited space, Ukrainian chernozem soil and bad road to the camp.

Child care

Kids will be allowed to the gompa only after empowerments, for the blessing by Gyalwa Karmapa and Lama Ole. During the sessions child care will be provided. Conditions and details we will be announced later.

Attention!   Starting from 25th of June and all the time during the Course drinking alcohol/taking drugs as well as being drunk/intoxicated is strictly prohibited in the Camp! Disturbers will be removed from the camp and will not be allowed to proceed with the Course. Also we kindly request you to leave musical instruments and your pets at home. Our neighbors and countrymen around are our friends for a long future. Please, respect them. Do not walk in their fields and gardens, for city dweller they are kind of exotic fun but for the farmer they are the only source of income.

After-course program

Nöndro course with travelling teachers is planned after the Course. Details will be announced.

Contacts

course09(at)buddhism.org.ua

+38 050 576 69 18 — Vika
+38 068 613 87 23 — Olya

Welcome to Minkovka to the Summer Course!