Vajrasattva Winter Retreat (2011-12)
Teachings and short talks given during the Vajrasattva Winter Retreat from December 2011 to March 2012 at Sravasti Abbey.
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Making friends with ourselves
Dropping the negative identities we create for ourselves and learning to embrace and appreciate our good qualities.
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Spiritual washing machine
The role of purification in retreat and in our daily spiritual practice.
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Introduction to Vajrasattva retreat
Preliminary instructions for retreat including working with the mind, caring for the body, mindfulness of others, counting mantra, and much more.
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Retreat motivation
It is in understanding our situation in samsara that we develop our motivation for awakening.
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Being a friend to yourself
Venerable Thubten Semkye How learning to care deeply for ourselves naturally leads to the wish to benefit and cherish others.
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A vast perspective
Venerable Thubten Jigme By broadening our perspective and seeing our great potential, we can begin to transform the judgmental mind that can arise in purification practice.
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Confidence in purification
Developing confidence in purification can be achieved by relying on the Buddhas, our teachers, and our own experience.
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The 100-syllable mantra
Zopa Herron The power of reciting mantra to transform our mind into the mind of a buddha.
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Taking refuge from the heart
Venerable Thubten Samten The importance of taking the time to mindfully go for refuge and generate a motivation in each meditation session.
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Bodhicitta
Generating bodhicitta lights a fire in our practice, giving us the energy to accomplish the path.
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