Doing a nyung nä means your body is abiding in retreat, your speech is abiding in retreat and your mind is abiding in retreat. The essential meaning of retreat is retreat from nonvirtuous actions of body, speech and mind. Abstaining from negative karmas that harm others is the fundamental tantric practice.
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Abiding in the Retreat is a commentary to a nyung nä sadhana composed by Kälzang Gyatso, the Seventh Dalai Lama. Nyung nä is an intensive two-day retreat that combines meditation on Thousand-Arm Chenrezig and recitation of Chenrezig's mantra, OM MANI PADME HUM, with prostrations, fasting and silence.
In this book, editor Ven. Ailsa Cameron has skillfully combined teachings on nyung nä practice given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche from 1984 through to 2009. The book contains the benefits of nyung nä retreat and of various practices within the retreat, stories of Chenrezig, Bhikshuni Lakshmi and the lineage lamas, and actual instructions on how to do a nyung nä.
