The Psychology of Tantra Retreat

We all have fears, anxiety, depression and the rest, but the trouble is we over-identify with these aspects of our self, believing that they are who we really are and assuming that we’re stuck with them. But we’re not.

As Lama Yeshe shows us so clearly in his Introduction to Tantra how to instead consciously identify our sense of self in terms of our beauty, courage, compassion and the other marvelous qualities that are at the core of our being – and finally identify with our ultimate nature, that of a buddha: our potential to be utterly free of all delusions and fully developed in wisdom and goodness.

This is the essence of the psychology of tantra. The various buddhas are simply manifestations of these qualities: the buddha of compassion, Chenrezig; the buddha of wisdom, Manjushri, and Tara – in Tibetan, Drolma, the Liberator: the liberator from the fears of samsara – the manifestation of power, courage, action. By meditating on them, identifying with them, we become our own Chenrezig, our own Tara..

During our retreat Ven.Robina will introduce this approach in the framework of the three principal aspects of the path: On the basis of renunciation, the understanding of reality, and compassion we can enter into the most advances stages of Buddhist practice, which explains how to transform all aspects of ourselves, all the good and all the bad, into the path to enlightenment. 

Venerable Robina Courtin

Since being ordained as a Buddhist nun in the late 1970s, Ven. Robina has worked full-time for Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s FPMT. 

Over the years she has served as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala Magazine, executive director of the Liberation Prison Project, and as a touring teacher of Buddhism.

 Her life and work with prisoners have been featured in the documentary films Chasing Buddha and Key to Freedom.

 For more information on the activities and teachings of Ven. Robina Courtin, please visit https://robinacourtin.com/