Nyungne

Buddhist Fasting Retreat

August 8 – 9, 2026

An Online Weekend of Purification, Compassion, and Profound Inner Renewal

Register Now

Join Tulku Pema Khandro and the faculty of the Buddhist Studies Institute and Yogic Medicine Institute for a weekend of fasting, purification, and the re-envisioning of one’s life.

Nyungne (smyung gnas) is one of the most revered and transformative practices in the Tibetan tradition, a profound cleansing in which body, speech, and mind are purified through devotion, silence, mantra, meditation, and fasting. As habitual patterns soften, practitioners reconnect with the innate clarity and compassion that Buddhism describes as their true nature.

This Buddhist fasting practice traces its origins to the eleventh-century Tibetan nun Gelongma Palmo, who turned to fasting as a path of liberation in the face of grave illness and through this practice realized awakening. Drawing on her lineage and on the Nyungne practice as preserved in the Longchen Nyingthig—the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse revealed by Jigme Lingpa—this retreat will guide participants through the journey of Gelongma Palmo by way of the meditation of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara), the Buddha of Compassion.

Across the two days, the retreat will include the eight Mahayana vows, mantra recitation, Buddha of Compassion meditation, and periods of silent practice, all woven together to purify karma and bring healing to body and mind. The traditional structure of partial and complete fasting will be held within an atmosphere of devotion, silence, and mutual support.

Fasting Guidance from Tibetan Medicine, Ayurveda, and the Ketogenic Diet
Many practitioners are inspired by Nyungne but worry that fasting will be difficult or unsafe. One of the unique aspects of this retreat is that you’ll receive guidance from experienced clinicians trained in Tibetan Medicine, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, and ketogenic nutrition to help you prepare wisely.

From Tibetan Medicine and Ayurveda, you will learn how to align your fasting practice with your particular constitution—your nyépa (humors) or doṣa—so that the cleansing process supports rather than depletes you. From the ketogenic perspective, you will learn how becoming fat-adapted in the days leading up to retreat can dramatically ease the transition into fasting, stabilizing energy, reducing hunger, and supporting the body’s natural shift into the metabolic state of ketosis that fasting itself induces. Together, these three approaches offer a remarkably integrated map for preparing the body before retreat, sustaining it during the fast, and breaking the fast skillfully afterward—so that the purifying effects of Nyungne ripple outward into ongoing health and vitality.

Self-Paced Video Recordings Included
Registered participants will also receive the self-paced video recordings from our previous Nyungne retreat, allowing you to prepare in advance, deepen your understanding of the practice, and return to the teachings at any time before, during, or after the weekend.

All are welcome, whether you are coming to Nyungne for the first time or returning to a practice you already love.

“This retreat transformed my understanding of compassion and gave me the confidence to practice Nyungne every year.” ~ K.C.

“The fasting guidance made the entire experience surprisingly easeful.”  ~ R.H.

About the Teachers

Tulku Pema Khandro, Ph.D is an internationally renowned teacher and scholar of Buddhist philosophy. She is the founder of Ngakpa International and its three projects, The Buddhist Studies Institute, Dakini Mountain, and the Yogic Medicine Institute. In her work as a Buddhist teacher, she is an authorized Lama and lineage holder of the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions and was enthroned to carry on the lineage of her predecessor, the first Pema Khandro, an early twentieth-century yogini from Eastern Tibet, whose primary practices were Dzogchen and Chod.

Pema Khandro has led a vibrant worldwide community since 1999. Through the Buddhist Studies Institute, she also offers a complete curriculum of training in Tibetan meditation and Buddhist Philosophy. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s degree specializing in Tibetan studies, and a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Virginia. Today she is a Professor of Buddhist studies. Her scholarly research focuses on the history of Dzogchen and on Women in Tibetan Buddhism.

Derrick Pawo is a NAMA-certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Panchakarma specialist, Tibetan Medicine Amchi, Ayurvedic Pulse practitioner, Vastu Practitioner, and Co-founder of the Yogic Medicine Institute. For more than twenty five years he has helped thousands of people restore health through individualized nutrition, lifestyle medicine, pulse assessment, herbal therapies, and the classical purification methods of Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicine. His teaching bridges traditional Ayurvedic wisdom with practical modern application, helping students prepare for fasting safely and effectively according to their unique constitution. His work emphasizes sustainable vitality, metabolic resilience, and the intelligent use of food, herbs, and lifestyle as medicine.

Aruna Rigdzin Ross was ordained in the Nyingma lineage by Pema Khandro Rinpoche in 2007 and has since dedicated her life to the study, practice, and transmission of Buddhist wisdom. She serves as Director of the Yogic Medicine Institute, Chief Financial Officer of the Buddhist Studies Institute, and Director of Ngakpa International.

A NAMA-certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Panchakarma Specialist with more than twenty five years of experience as an advanced yoga and meditation instructor, Aruna is deeply respected for the warmth, clarity, and grounded presence she brings to her work. Her work helps practitioners cultivate sustainable well-being while embodying the wisdom of the Buddhist path in everyday life.

Satya Shiva has been a devoted student of Pema Khandro Rinpoche and the Vajrayana since 2001 and has served the Buddhist Studies Institute as Faculty, Programming Director, and board member since 2010. She is also Clinic Director of the Yogic Medicine Institute, where she has led international retreats and integrative health programs for over twenty five years.

A Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NAMA-certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Panchakarma Specialist, and founder of Radiance Healthcare, Satya specializes in integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and contemporary metabolic and circadian science. Her teaching helps practitioners prepare for retreat in ways that support both profound contemplative practice and physiological resilience.

Why Practice Nyungne?

For nearly a thousand years, practitioners have turned to Nyungne during times of transition, illness, grief, and spiritual aspiration. Through the combined power of fasting, silence, compassion practice, and mantra, participants often experience:

  • profound mental clarity
  • renewed appreciation for food and daily life
  • release of habitual emotional patterns
  • deep purification of negative karma
  • strengthened compassion and bodhicitta
  • increased confidence in meditation
  • renewed physical vitality
  • a powerful sense of spiritual renewal

Traditionally, Nyungne is regarded as one of the most powerful methods for purifying obscurations, accumulating merit, and deepening the realization of compassion through the practice of Chenrezig.

Whether this is your first Nyungne or your fiftieth, the practice offers an opportunity to step outside ordinary momentum and return to the natural clarity of mind.

Registration Includes

Live Retreat

✓ Eight hours of live teaching and practice

✓ Guided Nyungne liturgy

✓ Eight Mahayana Vows

✓ Chenrezig meditation

✓ Mantra recitation

Fasting Preparation

✓ Tibetan Medicine guidance

✓ Ayurvedic constitutional guidance

✓ Ketogenic preparation strategies

✓ Retreat preparation materials

Continued Learning

✓ Previous Nyungne recordings

✓ Recording of the 2026 retreat

Practical Details

Format: Live online via Zoom. Recordings provided.

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, August 8th and 9th, 2026

Schedule:

  • Saturday: 9:00am–1:00pm PT
  • Sunday: 9:00am–1:00pm PT

Total contact hours: 8 hours of live practice and teaching

Tuition: $288 standard · $180 reduced · $108 hardship

What to prepare: A quiet space. Detailed setup guidance will be sent before the retreat.

Whether you are encountering Nyungne for the first time or returning to a beloved annual practice, we warmly invite you to join us for a weekend dedicated to compassion, purification, and the awakening of your innate wisdom.

Traditional Buddhist Authenticity

Modern Physiological Support

Community & Recordings

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

No. This retreat is open to both first-time and experienced practitioners. Instructions will be given throughout the weekend, and registered participants will receive preparatory materials and recordings to help them become familiar with the practice beforehand.

Yes. Many participants are new to fasting. Throughout the retreat you will receive practical guidance from experienced clinicians in Tibetan Medicine, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and ketogenic nutrition on how to prepare your body, approach the fast wisely, and safely return to eating afterward.

While the traditional Nyungne includes partial and complete fasting, we recognize that every body is different. If you have medical conditions, take medications, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a history of eating disorders, or have other health concerns, we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider and adapt your participation as needed. The purpose of the practice is compassion and purification—not self-harm.

The retreat includes:

  • Taking the Eight Mahayana Vows
  • Chenrezig (Avalokiteśvara) practice
  • Mantra recitation
  • Guided meditation
  • Silent contemplative practice
  • Teachings on the meaning of Nyungne
  • Practical fasting guidance
  • Closing and breaking the fast together

Fasting from speech and digital detox can be participated in fully by everyone.
Food-fasting is not appropriate for everyone. If you have diabetes, significant metabolic disease, or another medical condition requiring regular food intake, please consult your physician before participating in the food fasting. Modified participation may be appropriate for some individuals.

 Yes. All registered participants have access to recordings posted in the course, generally available within 48 hours of each session.

Recordings are available, so you can complete the retreat at your own pace. That said, the retreat is designed as a sustained two-day arc, and the experience is meaningfully different from doing it in fragments. We encourage attending both mornings live if at all possible.

Yes. BSI offers reduced tuition rates and a limited number of full scholarships for those who need them. 

Tuition & Registration

Register Now
  • Standard Tuition
  • $288
  • Apply Member Codes at Checkout
  • Reduced Tuition
  • $180
  • Use code REDUCED at checkout
  • Financial Aid
  • $108
  • Use code HARDSHIP at checkout

Tuition
Sliding scale pricing is offered to support broad access. Please choose the rate that aligns with your financial reality, including factors like income, exchange rates, or other life circumstances.

Member Benefits
Members receive 10-100% discounts on standard tuition. Apply your member code at checkout. Learn More about Membership.

Financial Aid
As a non-profit organization, program costs are supported through tuition and donations. For those needing financial assistance, apply the discount code for Reduced tuition or Hardship tuition at checkout.

Scholarships
Scholarships may be available for some programs. Assistance must be requested in advance. Financial Scholarship Application

Monastics
Programs are always free for monastics. Monastic Scholarship Application

The Buddhist Studies Institute is a project of Ngakpa International, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to sustaining the householder yogi traditions of Tibet.

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