My first experience with Nyung Nä was in 1991, when I sponsored someone to do it on my behalf. When the next Nyung Nä came around, I jumped into it. I realised I might get a little bit of merit from sponsoring someone but that that person could not purify my negative actions. I had to do the practice myself in order to purify my own past negative karma. It takes one deeper in our faith. Later I was told that doing Nyung Nä practices is the best solution for those who have no time to do long retreats.
The first Nyung Nä was really testing. Every step was new. I tried to follow the whole way through, although I was tired or sleepy at times. To master chanting in Tibetan and how to do the mudras when making offerings was a bit confusing at first. However, I always loved this part as it woke me up from drowsiness!
If one took the eight Mahayana precept vows, it was very inspiring to think how fortunate one was, when countless beings in the world were suffering from starvation, sickness and other natural disasters.
The first day passed without much difficulty. We had plenty to eat for lunch on Saturday. I dared not overeat as we had another session of prostrations to do, even though there would be no more food until the break of fasting on Monday morning.
About prostrations: in the first session, I started to follow the pace of others and soon found myself panting and perspiring. I stopped following the others and did the prostrations in the Tai-chi way, slowly getting down and up again. It worked much better. To be honest, I had not done any exercise like this in my life! (I would rather eat less than exe4cise.) I was tired. It was good to chat with other practitioners and hear about their experiences and advice. After some short prayers, I went to bed around 9pm. I slept like a log until my alarm at around 4.20am.
We began the first session on the second day by taking the precept vows again, with the additional vows not to drink, eat or speak until the end of the retreat. As I began the prostrations my body ached. I slowed the pace. As the four sessions continued over the day and the aches increased, I started to visualise myself prostrating with all my family members and friends around me. Sometimes the thoughts of hardship of countless beings suffering from famine, sickness and war in half the world spurred me on. Sometimes, when one or two younger practitioners were having difficulty, I prayed to take on their suffering or difficulty so that they could gain the strength to finish the practice with ease. All these compassionate thoughts helped a lot and visualisation of the merit field in front of me gave strength in difficult times; concentrating on listening to the recitation of prayers on the tape helped me to.
After the last session I quickly had a hot shower, did my evening prayers and went to bed around 7pm. I woke up about 2.15am; I always made extra time to do my morning prayer commitments before starting the Nyung Nä session. ( I would do my evening commitment prayers during the day in-between sessions so I could get to bed early; a good sleep is very important.)
At last the Monday morning session arrived and started at 3.15am. More aches in the body … just doing my first three prostrations in front of the altar was difficult. Still, I took things as they came, thinking it was just a matter of two hours or so and it would all be over. Looking forward to drinking the nectar to break the fast at the end of the session inspired me! Later people said I looked pale and greenish. I did feel a bit dizzy and weak but I continued the slow prostrations as well as I could, thinking more people were facing starvation in the outside world.
This first Nyung Nä was the first time I had fasted in my life. It was the first time I felt how hunger and thirst felt, because I am lucky to have had food and drink all my life.
Finally, the nectar came around. The first sip was delightful and precious. By the time I finished the third sip, I felt blissful; all my aches gone, gone, gone. Bliss and delight flew through my body. Like icing on the cake, dakas and dakinis brought in juices and chai to break the fast. I just loved the tea. After a healthy breakfast I was off to work for the next 10 or 12 hours. The bliss lasted the whole day; no aches or tiredness, just bliss.
All the aches and prostrations were worth every bit to earn this bliss. I always sent straight to work for the whole day. I am sure that many enjoyed bliss like this, or even better. No amount of money can buy the feeling that comes from real cleansing of the body, speech and mind. This is why I have not missed a Nyung Nä retreat, until now when my physical body is catching up with me.
In dedication, may all new Nyung Nä practitioners benefit from my personal experiences.
by Lai Chong.
