The practice involves maintaining strict 8 Mahayana Precepts vow and meditating while reciting mantras and prayers, and performing prostrations and visualizations. Undertaken in sets of two days, the first day includes one vegetarian meal at noon, drinking water throughout the day as needed. The second day is a complete fast performed in noble silence.

First time practitioners are encouraged to choose the first Nyungne because the explanations for the meditation will be given then.

The Nyungne is renowned as a superior means to purify negative karma and accumulate great merit. It is said that completing even one Nyungne prevents rebirth in the lower realms, and the practice of eight consecutive Nyungne leads to birth in Buddha Amitabha’s Pure Land of Dewachen.

H.E. Garchen Rinpoche has given this specific message regarding the Nyungne practice series:  “Geshe Ngawang Phuntsok Rinpoche said: ‘The Nyungne ritual is simple but has great benefits.’ As said in The Benefits of the Mahayana Sojong Vows, ‘Completing this practice even just once, one could take rebirth in the human or god realm; one could gain a precious human body that leads to temporary happiness and, ultimately, to enlightenment.’ Lama Bu Nima attended the first Nyungne I led in Gargon in 1982, and he has done many more since. He continues to conduct this practice in the traditional way. And now he is responsible for leading this monthly Nyungne retreat.”