New Year Retreat 2026–the Heart Sutra & Chenrezig Empowerment

February 14 @ 8:00 am - February 16 @ 5:00 pm

New Year Retreat 2026: Teachings on the Heart Sutra and Chenrezig Empowerment
with Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
Saturday through Monday, February 14-16
Wave Street Studios
774 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940
10:00am to 6:00pm Saturday
9:00am to 5:00pm Sunday
9:00am to 3:30pm Monday
In-Person (Recorded, but not hosted on Zoom)
Registration required, donations requested, but no one turned away for lack of funds
Suggested donation: 180.00 for all three days, sliding scale

Register Here (via EventBrite)

Can’t register online?  No problem!  Contact Rachel at rachelmdc2016@gmail.com or call 831-277-0529. We will get you signed up to attend!  Walk-ins also welcome. 

About the Heart Sutra

The Heart Sutra is one of the most precious texts in all of Buddhism.   In the space of a single page, in words ascribed to the bodhisattva (“buddha-to-be”) of compassion, Avalokiteshvara (known as Chenrezig in Tibet), the Heart Sutra discusses the doctrine of “emptiness” (shunyata), a profound Buddhist concept referring to the lack of inherent, independent existence in all phenomena. It signifies that things are “empty” of a permanent self or essence, existing instead in a state of interconnectedness and potential.

Realizing the true nature of reality and the true nature of one’s own mind is the ultimate goal of all Buddhist practice. This realization frees one from all fear, all harmful inner states, and allows the flow of infinite love and compassion, innate within all of us, to emerge and shine.

We are so fortunate that we will receive three days of teachings on this foundational text from Rinpoche!

Translations

About Chenrezig

Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig in Tibetan, is the Bodhisattva who embodies the love and compassion of all Buddhas. Chenrezig is an important deity in Tibet and considered the patron Bodhisattva of the Tibetan people. Chenrezig is also believed by Tibetans to be the actual progenitor of the Tibetan people. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Karmapa are considered living Buddhas, emanations of Chenrezig. It is said that in Tibet even babies upon birth know the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM.

About Empowerment

An empowerment is a ceremony to formally introduce the transformative energy represented by the Buddha or Boddhisattva (in this case Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion) to the student’s mind, and can only be transmitted by a qualified lineage holder.  We are very fortunate that Khenpo Karten Rinpoche is a highly qualified and realized teacher, and is willing to impart this empowerment to us.  This is only the second empowerment he has offered to his western students.   Empowerment is an energy and oral tradition transfer which depends on the intentions of the teacher and students to awaken the qualities of the Buddha within us.   All the Buddhas represent energies that are innate to us, but that may be clouded by the delusions of anger, attachment, and ignorance.

As Rinpoche wrote last year, there are two types of empowerments, jenang (རྗེས་གནང་།) and wang chen (དབང་ཆེན།)–the Chenrezig empowerment we will receive at this retreat is jenang.  With this type of empowerment, there are not so many commitments, samaya, and tantric vows and connections between the Teacher and students.  Jenang in Tibetan means “subsequent permission.” With this empowerment, practitioners are given ‘permission’ from the Lama to practice, visualize, and chant mantras associated with the deity, etc. Though one can most definitely practice a deity without being given this empowerment, this je nang empowerment ensures that the practice is being properly rooted and practiced.

The second type of empowerment which Rinpoche will not be giving is referred to as wang chen (དབང་ཆེན།), which is a full initiation into the Vajrayana path and also has many types and stages. This is much longer, much more elaborate, tantric empowerment, establishing deeper connections between the Lama and disciples and is associated with more serious vows and samaya. This type of initiation is something that he may consider for the future.

Empowerment Commitments

Rinpoche will clarify this for us in the coming days, but a typical empowerment commitment is to practice the sadhana (chanted prayers) once a month, or at least have that intention.   We practice the Chenrezig sadhana in-person and on Zoom each month at our center–attending that or another Dharma center’s practice, or practicing on your own will keep the commitment.  Nurturing the energy of the deity in one’s mind is the main point of empowerment commitments.

Practice Texts

For more than two thousand years, the Heart Sutra has been part of the daily life of millions of Buddhists. This concise text, so rich and laden with meaning, concentrates the very heart of Buddhism into a powerful and evocative teaching on the interdependence of all reality. In Essence of the Heart Sutra, the Dalai Lama masterfully unpacks the Heart Sutra so that any reader can benefit from its teachings – teachings meant to help us release ourselves from suffering and live with true compassion. Comprised of his Heart of Wisdom talks, originally delivered to thousands of listeners in 2001, the book offers the Dalai Lama’s commentary as well as his easy-to-follow overview of Buddhist philosophy that places the sutra within its historical and philosophical context. With additional contributions by scholar and translator Thupten Jinpa, Essence of the Heart Sutra is the authoritative presentation of a text seminal to the world’s religious heritage.

Retreat Schedule

Saturday
Empowerment will take place on Saturday–NOTE:  we will start an hour later on Saturday, due to the late-night of setting up
Venue opens at 9:30am
10:00am to 11:30am
11:40am to 1:00pm
3:00pm to 4:30pm
4:40pm to 6:00pm

Sunday
Venue opens at 8:30 am
9:00am to 10:30am
10:40am to 12:00pm
2:00pm to 3:30pm
3:40pm to 5:00pm

Monday
Venue opens at 8:30 am
9:00am to 10:30am
10:40am to 12:00pm
2:00pm to 3:30pm

General Retreat Considerations

  • Special Retreat Commitment: As with most Buddhist retreats, there are some commitments asked of attendees for the retreat days. Rinpoche asked only that no alcohol or drugs be consumed. He did not state that participants need to be vegetarian, etc. , though participants can follow the retreat traditions they are familiar with.
  • Texts: texts will be provided during the retreat
  • In-person, TBD if  available via live-stream nor will it be recorded
  • Food and personal comfort: there will be floor seating, floor cushions, and chairs available, but attendees should bring anything that would make them comfortable for the teaching; attendees should plan to bring their own food/beverages or purchase from nearby restaurants during the lunch break. Coffee/tea/snacks will be provided to retreat participants from the many options available at Wave Street studios.
  • Flowers for the altar: participants may bring flowers for the alter if they wish, but this is not to be considered a burden or requirement.
  • Open to all with an interest in Buddhism, no special prerequisites required

Donations & Registration

  • Sliding scale: Participants can register and make the suggested donation of  $180.00 for all three days via EventBrite, but if you cannot donate at this time, please do not feel any shame or hesitancy to attend. A minimum of $1.00 is required by the EventBrite system to complete the registration. All donations are tax deductible.
  • Additional Donations to Help Fund Others: When you register with EventBrite, you will have the opportunity to donate additional funds on behalf of those who cannot afford to give at this time. Please specify your wishes in the registration.
  • Dana: On the last day of the retreat, it is customary to offer Dana (a monetary gift of respect) for Khenpo Karten Rinpoche and for translator Jampa Tharchin (David Molk). Please bring cash and please put it in an envelope.  For Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, we will also offer katas, a white ceremonial scarf–we will have katas and envelopes available at the retreat.
  • Other ways to donate: Participants can donate via PayPal, Venmo, by check or cash if preferred. Please visit the Manjushri Dharma Center donation page for details, or contact: manjushridharmacenter831@gmail.com (please be patient as this is volunteer staffed)
  • Other ways to register: Participants who cannot complete the EventBrite registration are asked to email Rachel at rachelmdc2016@gmail.com or call 831-277-0529. Walk ins will be welcome to attend as well.

Retreat Location & Parking

Wave Street Studios  is located at 774 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940, and the main entrance is accessible from the Recreation Trail.

For more than 20 years, Wave Street Studios has created a beautiful space for the community, supporting the arts, honoring history, demonstrating sustainable building and lifestyle practices, and celebrating cultural expressions of many kinds.   They have created sacred space for weddings, meditation, yoga, healing, and prayers of many traditions.  Thank you Wave Street Studios for hosting our retreat once again!  Want to know more?  About Wave Street Studios

Parking

Free parking on Ocean View Blvd. and walk up the recreation trail.  There is also a garage on Foam and Prescott.

Questions

Contact Rachel at rachelmdc2016@gmail.com or call 831-277-0529.

The Lineage Gurus–Khenpo Karten Rinpoche’s Precious Teachers

Here are some photos and links to stories about Khenchen Karma Tseten, Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, and Drupchen Karnor Rinpoche.

About the Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche

Khenpo Karten Rinpoche is an accomplished teacher and practitioner of the Karma Kagyu Lineage and is also trained in the Nyingma Lineage of Buddhism. He was born in the beautiful mountains of the Himalayas of Tibet.  At the age of twelve, he was ordained at Ja-pa monastery, where he began his formal education of reading, writing and ritual practice. At the age of fifteen having completed the basic studies, he furthered his studies in the Sutra and Tantric texts under the accomplished master Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche and Pema Tsewang Rinpoche for eight years. Subsequently Khenpo Karten Rinpoche went to the hermitage of anther accomplished teacher, Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche and completed five years of retreat under the great master. In the retreat he completed the practices of the Naropa’s six yoga, Mahamudra and many others.  In recognition of his achievements, Sangye Tenzin Ringpoche bestowed upon him the title, Khenpo Karma Lekshe Tharchin in 1994.

In 1996, he left Tibet and traveled to Dharamsala, India to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Upon His Holiness’ advice, he spent another two years doing retreat. H.H Dalai Lama also recognizing his achievement, bestowed upon him the title Khenpo Rinpoche. After his retreat, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche was requested by H.E Tai Situ Rinpoche to go to the monastery of Venerable Tsoknyi Rinpoche, to teach the young monks there.

Khenpo Karten arrived in the United States in 2008, and taught in the Monterey Bay area for the first time in September of that year. After meeting a group of prospective students and seeing the hills of Big Sur which remind him of Tibet, he returned in 2009 to make the Monterey Bay his home. Since then, Rinpoche has established the Manjushri Dharma Center (MDC) in Pacific Grove, California, which has become his main teaching location and his home residence.  With unflinching faith in the precious Buddha Dharma, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, now a U.S. citizen, bestows sacred teachings to thousands of people all over the world, with weekly teachings and events.

 

About David Molk aka Jampa Tharchin, esteemed Translator, Interpreter, and Author

David Molk studied Tibetan language at Venerable Geshe Rabten’s Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Mont-Pèlerin, Switzerland. Since 1987 he has interpreted and translated for many Tibetan lamas.  David will be joining us in-person.

Learn more about David’s translated books:  David Molk (shambhala.com)

 

 

 

 

Header image used in this announcement: from the 2025 Phowa retreat at Wave Street Studios

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