This year, the 45 day Yarne retreat was held from August 15 through September 30 at Tara Abbey, Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, and Vajra Vidya Institute. The annual summer retreat, often referred to as the ‘rains retreat,’ is a tradition dating back to the time of the Buddha who established the retreat so that his monks could gather for an intensive period of study and meditation. In addition, by staying in a single location for the duration of the rainy season, the monks avoided harming many insects and other small beings that proliferate during the rainy season. Another benefit of the retreat is that it gives faithful patrons an opportunity to accumulate merit by making offerings of food and other needs.
As part of the conclusion of the retreat at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery in Namo Buddha, retreatants circumambulated the stupa at Namo Buddha, chanted auspicious prayers in the main shrine hall and V.V. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche gave a short teaching on the importance of the three ground practices of the summer retreat.