The Start of the Summer Retreat

Today was the first day of the summer retreat, a tradition which dates back to the very beginning of the sangha (the Buddhist monastic community). According to the sutras, the Shakyamuni Buddha instructed the monks to spend the monsoon season in retreat, away from the world, largely because during the rains there are so many insects that it is almost impossible to travel without killing them.  What this proscription translates to for the monks at modern day Rumtek is not leaving the gates of the monastery until the retreat is over (along with a number of other, lesser restrictions). These days not all monks keep to the summer retreat, but it is considered very meritorious to do so.

In years past the monks of Rumtek only did the retreat for 45 days, but from this year onwards the Karmapa has decreed that they should stay in retreat for a full 90 days. A good number of monks shared with me that this was going to be difficult, but none of them questioned the value of the increase.

To prepare for the retreat, several days were spent cleaning the monastery and Institute, inside and out. 

(even the top of the sign got cleaned)

Many of the monks dressed in lay-clothes for the cleaning. It was very odd to see men who I had only ever before seen dressed in monastic robes walking around dressed like any other 20 year old.

In addition to the cleaning, some time was spent continuing repairs of the damage from the earthquake last fall. 

(buckets of plaster for the cracks in the library walls) 

(monks cleared things from their rooms out onto the balconies, in order to get that real deep clean)

On the last night before the retreat started, everyone was out around town, enjoying walks and having dinner. Dinner is another thing that monks in retreat don't indulge in (they take a vow not to eat after a certain hour of the early afternoon). Also, when they're eating their allowed meals, they only eat from begging bowls (rather than the hodgepodge of plates / bowls / cups they normally use).

(in a restaurant in town which has fantastic daal and rice)

(the restaurant was packed continuously with monks, with more sitting every time an earlier group finishe

On the morning of the first day of the retreat, there was a puja and a series of circumambulations around the main prayer hall to kick everything off. 

(circumambulation is very important in Tibetan Buddhism)

(trumpets made from conch shells!)

The order in which the monks were walking is based mostly on seniority, though not by age or class level; it is rather based on when a monk became ordained. 

At Rumtek there are 2 levels of monastic ordination; the lower one has 10 rules and the upper one 203. In addition to the added strictures of the upper vow, monks are only allowed to take it following their 20th birthday. And even though they are 20, and thus legally and societally adults, monks of any age are required to have the permission of any living parents in order to take the vows. 

Because of all of that, many monks wait until after they have graduated from the institute (often 27 years old or older) before they take the upper level vows. However, any monk who wishes to go on meditation retreat is required to have the upper level ordination, so most will eventually do so. 

There are a number of exciting events coming up, including the Karmapa's birthday, so make sure to check back! You won't want to miss it.