Question asked by May
What do we need to prepare to start a 100,000 Prostration Retreat at home or in a temple – please elaborate the whole process from beginning till end. Please include situations like "I cannot do it daily continuously, I can only do it on weekends or on holiday, do I do a sadhana before the start of each retreat and do I end the daily and each retreat with the Completion Dedication and what if I forgot to do prostration the next day and so on. Thank you for your patience.
Dear May
This is the set of prayers we do in Kechara when engaging in prostration retreat. The prayers are available here http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/sadhana-prayers.html
Taking Refuge & Generating Boddhicitta
The Four Immeasurables
Practising Guru Devotion with the Nine Attitudes
Guru Yoga of Je Tsongkhapa
35 Confessional Buddhas
* Start PROSTRATIONS
AFTER PROSTRATIONS, RECITE THE 35 CONFESSIONAL BUDDHAS ONCE AGAIN
Guru long-life prayer and mantra
Completion Dedication
Yonten Shigyurma
If you set your goal to complete 100 000 prostration retreat, then you will need to do prayers listed above and prostrations daily. On days when you are busy, it is important to still keep up with the prayers and do at least a minimum of 3 prostrations.
Best wishes