2026 Full Saga Dawa Event

FULL SAGA DAWA EVENT
Nyung Ne Retreat
and
100 Million Mantra Accumulation Chenrezig Drupchen

H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
Drupon Tsering
Lama Bu Nima
Garchen Institute Lamas

Full Saga Dawa Event: May 30 – June 6
(In Person Arrival 1 pm to 5 pm on May 29 and Departure after lunch on June 6)

Nyung Ne – Partial Saga Dawa Event: May 30 – June 1
(In Person Arrival 1 pm to 5 pm on May 29 and Departure after breakfast on June 1)

Chenrezig Drupchen – Partial Saga Dawa Event: June 2 – 6
(In Person Arrival 1 pm to 5 pm on June 1 and Departure after lunch on June 6)

We are delighted to announce the upcoming Saga Dawa Event with H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, Drupon Tsering, Lama Bunima and the Garchen Institute Lamas during a very auspicious time. Saga Dawa Duchen is considered one of the most holy times in Tibetan Buddhism, marking the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana (death) of the Buddha Shakyamuni. This year it begins on May 17th and ends on June 15th.

It is said that during this time period and especially on the day of Saga Dawa, the karma of all positive and negative actions is multiplied 100 million times. Thus, it is an extremely auspicious time to engage in virtuous practice, and perform acts of kindness and generosity. Because of this multiplying effect, this is a golden opportunity to accomplish vast merit and virtue in a short amount of time.

The Garchen Institute will celebrate the Saga Dawa Event in person and online starting with our annual Nyung Ne retreat. We will finish the Saga Dawa event with 100 million mantra accumulation Chenrezig drupchen, practicing day and night. May 31st is the full moon day called Saga Dawa Duchen, which will be a day of fasting with no food and water.

Nyung Ne is a powerful purification practice of the thousand-armed Chenrezig. It is a retreat of body, speech and mind, which lasts two and a half days. Nyung Ne combines a commitment to fasting, silence and prostrations (as your physical condition allows.) Doing a Nying Ne, which includes partial fasting, is also possible.

Let us all gather in person and online to generate immense love and compassion for all the realms of existence. Engage in the practice of Chenrezig – the Buddha of Compassion by taking part in this drubchen to accumulate 100 million mantras of:

OM MANI PADME HUM HRI

We will engage in the Royal tradition of the Mani practice in the morning. In the afternoon and night sessions we will engage in the Red Chenrezig practice that is performed annually at Gar Monastery.

Chenrezig Empowerments are required to participate in person or online and must be taken online before arrival at the Institute and the start of the drupchen.

For those attending online only, if you are unable to attend the formal sessions, it is permissible and important to participate in the Mani recitation and submit your mantra accumulations on our website.

EMPOWERMENTS:

Royal Tradition

If you have not received the Royal Tradition Chenrezig 1000 Arm Empowerment, please click on this link to take the empowerment online from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche before attending the Chenrezig Drupchen. Click here for Empowerment.

Red Chenrezig

If you have not received the Red Chenrezig Empowerment, please click on this link to take the empowerment online from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche before attending the Chenrezig Drupchen. Click here for Empowerment.

IN-PERSON REGISTRATIONS
– Please do not order Nying Ne breakfast and lunch on May 31 if you are practicing Nyung Ne.
– If you know you are cancelling your registration, please notify us as early as you can we can offer your bed and seat to another participant.
– If you prefer a bed and could only book Indoor Camping or Outdoor Camping, calling or emailing will not give you any priority. Please book Indoor Camping first and choose to be waitlisted for a bed. Your waitlist request is considered in the order that it is received in our registration system. We will inform you if a bed opens up.
Click here to register for Full Saga Dawa Event
Registration for Nyung Ne – Partial Saga Dawa Event opens at 10 am PST (UTC-7) on April 25.
Registration for Chenrezig Drupchen – Partial Saga Dawa Event opens at 10 am PST (UTC-7) on April 25.

Click here to apply for Karma Yoga service to receive a reduced rate.

IN-PERSON SCHEDULE [All times are PDT (UTC-7)]:
Full Saga Dawa Event
May 29 | Arrival time between 1 – 5 pm
May 30 – 31 | Nyung Ne
June 1 | End of Nyung Ne
June 2 – 5 | Chenrezig Drupchen
June 6 | End of Chenrezig Drupchen and Departure by end of day

Nyung Ne Retreat – Partial Saga Dawa Event
May 29 | Arrival time between 1 – 5 pm
May 30 -31 | Nyung Ne
June 1 | End of Nyung Ne and Departure after breakfast

Chenrezig Drupchen – Partial Saga Dawa Event
June 1 | Arrival time between 1 – 5 pm
June 2 – 5 | Chenrezig Drupchen
June 6 | End of Chenrezig Drupchen and Departure by end of day

ONLINE REGISTRATION:
H.E. Garchen Rinpoche appreciates your online participation so please register to let us know you will be attending. Thank you.
Nyung Ne Retreat
Click here to register for online Nyung Ne
Chenrezig Drupchen
Click here to register for online Chenrezig Drupchen

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE [All times are PDT (UTC-7)]:
May 30
8:30 am – 11:30 am Nyung Ne Session 1
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Nyung Ne Session 2
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Nyung Ne Session 3

May 31
8:30 am – 11:30 am Nyung Ne Session 1
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Nyung Ne Session 2
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Nyung Ne Session 3

June 1
6:00 am – 8:00 am Nyung Ne Final Session

June 2 – 5
9:00 am – 12:00 pm Chenrezig Drupchen Practice
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Chenrezig Drupchen Practice

June 6
9:00 am – 12:00 Chenrezig Drupchen Practice

We offer all of our online dharma programming and retreats for free by relying on your donations. All donations are welcome and greatly appreciated. CLICK TO DONATE.