A nyungne is a religious fast specially designed for lay practitioners to purify negative karma (action) and accumulate merit and wisdom. It is a widely accepted sacred act that leads to noble suffering, allowing participants to experience the different realms of existence, such as the hungry ghost realm by remaining hungry and thirsty, the animal realm by refraining from talking, and the hell realm by tolerating continuous hunger, exhaustion and pain. This journey of self-discipline and spiritual growth is a testament to the strength and dedication of the participants.
This type of fasting involves maintaining strict vows for three days, generating the Bodhisattva attitude, and reciting the sadhana practice of the thousand-armed Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of compassion. The vows taken include not killing, stealing or lying and abstaining from sexual activity, intoxicants, luxury, ornaments and entertainment for the duration of the Nyungne. The Nyungne puja festival, which lasts for one or two weekends, is a time of shared experience and spiritual growth, where participants come together as a community to support each other on their journey.
On the first day, participants take only one meal at noon and fast the rest of the day, engaging in three sessions of practice. Like other Vajrayana sadhanas (practice), the Nyungne sadhana involves the visualisation of the deity, accompanied by prayers, offerings and prostrations and the extensive recitation of mantras. The sessions begin early in the morning and conclude in the late afternoon.
On the second day, participants abstain entirely from food and water and maintain strict silence except for the recitation of the sadhana. The third day is the concluding day; the vows, fasting and silence are concluded in the morning of the third day, and this is followed by a short practice session and a Tashi Delek, greetings (silence breaking first word) from the officiating lama, who plays a key role in guiding and blessing the practitioners throughout the Nyungne.
A talk from Khenpo Ngawang Lhundup, Jiri
For us, our guests are everything. Atithi Devo Bhava or the guests are gods, and all of you exceeded the ceiling of the meaning of support. Your words are everything for us, thank you!
