Six-Month Retreat
A student was going to be ordained and then do a six-month retreat. He wrote to Rinpoche asking which retreat to do.
My very dear one,
Thank you very much for your kind letter. This is my advice for you as to what practices to do:
100,000 mandala offerings
100,000 prostrations to the Thirty-five Buddhas
Combine this with lamrim meditation.
In one day, perhaps do half a day of prostrations and then half a day of mandala offerings, or you can spend more on one or the other. Then, also do lamrim meditations.
First, in the morning, do Lama Chöpa combined with Jorcho.
In the evening before bed, read the King of Prayers and do protector practices.
If you can, read the Sutra of Golden Light as many times as you can, or a few pages each day. Recite it and make strong prayers for world peace, to stop war, famine, disease, sickness, and dangers of fire, earth, wind, and water.
I have just written some advice for someone else in retreat, mainly about how to think, and how to keep one’s mind in the lamrim. When that is finished I will send it to you so you can also use it.
With much love and prayers...