Sister Bhusita of the Correct Cultivation Learning from Buddha Academy in North Carolina and two other nuns attended a Seven-Day Solitary and Silent Retreat at the Holy Vajrasana Temple in Sanger, California. Two other nuns from the Academy supported them with meals and whatever else they needed. Sister Bhusita reported on her experience staying in the Dharma Protector Chapel and adjacent tent and seeing and feeling amitra flow from a mulberry tree located near the chapel. This is her story:
Our monastic sangha recently came to Holy Vajrasana Temple to spend time with Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche and for some of us to complete a 7- day silent retreat.
I was fortunate to have the great opportunity to spend my retreat time practicing in the Dharma Protector Chapel. While we live in a monastery in NC, many of our days are busy. The silent retreat, focused on nothing but practice and contemplation, and was precious, needed, and beneficial.
The day before the retreat, I noticed some agitation, tearfulness, and feelings of internal pressure to “get it right”. I was advised by my teacher, Venerable Pannavati, to focus on my intentions being the driver. The intentions I jotted down were to surrender to the holy beings, to enter into practice wholeheartedly, and to loosen the bonds of attachment to self.
The first day was full of stray thoughts, a sore body and the hindrance of sleepiness. However, I noted feelings of gratitude for being alone with the birds and dharma protectors. I engaged in intensive practice, consistent with the retreat schedule and in deep contemplation on the nature of impermanence, emptiness, and causality. Over the course of the 7 days, devotion and commitment to this path deepened and the preciousness of this life and the opportunity to study and practice according to the Dharma imparted by our Buddha Master filled my heart with joy.
At the end of day 6, I met with Master Zhaxi Zhuoma to ask questions and discuss the experience of the retreat. I noticed my heart was easeful and happy. I sat down outside to watch the outdoor temple kittens and made my way over to a white chair under a mulberry tree in the back of the property in a non-descript part of the courtyard. As I sat there, I noticed something falling from the tree. As I looked -and looked again- I realized it appeared the same as amrita we had witnessed falling from within the trees at the Museum in Covina. I began to look more closely and noticed that it indeed was the same substance that I had seen that day. It lightly but substantially rained from the trees without hitting the ground but I could feel it lightly touch my hand and body.
As I took in this experience, I was moved to tears by the kindness of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. This path is not easy. We encounter many obstacles and tests and times of uncertainty. This moment felt like an expression of encouragement for the effort, faith, and devoted practice and cultivation that we were collectively engaged in at the temple.
Additionally, I later learned that Ayya Saddha had been spending some time in meditation under that tree. Her devotion and commitment to the Triple Gem are deep and pure.
Several days later, I decided to go to that tree again. Indeed, once again, a very fine, very light amount of amrita was falling. This time, I was not on silent retreat so I gathered the rest of my monastic siblings and my teacher and we were all able to sit together under the beautiful little tree to see and feel this bestowal of precious nectar. Samaneri Kedara sang an original song about the treasure of true refuge and we chanted Homage to the Three Buddhas.
Following our gathering under the tree, we wandered over to the vajra poles and witnessed some vibration and movement from the poles as well.
Our deepest gratitude to Master Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche for her diligent care of this holy space, her generosity in opening it to us, for directing and guiding retreat and practice, and her many offerings of Dharma and other transmissions.
Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III. Namo Shakyamuni Buddha. Namo Kuan Yin Bodhisattva. Namo all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions.
The good fortune and blessings of encountering and learning from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in this lifetime is beyond description. To practice the Retreat Dharma He transmitted directly to Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche was transformational. May all beings encounter the correct teachings of the Buddha.
CLICK for more information on the Xiuxing Practice Program and Solitary Retreat Requirements and links to other articles of the experiences others have had on these retreats.
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