Werma Feast

March 5th (2019)

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    Restricted to Shambhala tantrikas received the empowerment at Rigden Abhisheka or at Kalapa Assembly.

    What is feast practice? Feast practice is a type of sadhana practice that includes food, conversation and entertainment or celebration. It is often a longer and more elaborate form of people’s daily practice, practiced at least once a month, and offering a lovely way to connect with other practitioners.

    What is a sadhana? Sadhana (pronounced sod-n who have a) practice is a traditional form of meditation practice that involves reading through a liturgy, and following its instructions. Sadhanas have different parts, including visualization, contemplation and meditation, and they frequently focus on one or more representations of enlightened mind and heart. Many sadhanas are the practice form of “tantras,” which are longer written dharma texts. This is one reason that people who practice sadhanas are called “tantrikas” – people who practice in the tradition of tantra.

    Who can do a sadhana feast practice? Usually, one receives a permission blessing connected with the particular practice after doing some preliminary practices. At the Ottawa Shambhala Centre, after people have completed Sacred World Assembly they are tantrikas and can start participating in Padmasambhava and Werma feasts. We have regular feast practice of the Werma and Padmasambhava sadhanas, and we also have special times when specific feast practices are opened to the whole community, usually for the Sadhana of Mahamudra feast or the Shambhala Sadhana feast.