The practice of daily meditation and attending intensive meditation retreats are important aspects of all training at XFVU. In Buddhism, there are three types of prajna (wisdom). Prajna obtained through the written and spoken word and prajna obtained through contemplating reality are both cultivated in order to realize the prajna of ultimate reality. The first two types of prajna are the prerequisites necessary to realize the prajna of ultimate reality. The first type is obtained through listening to discourses by enlightened beings and traditional academic work, but the second is through various forms of meditation. It is through both processes that one obtains transcendental or true wisdom—the goal of all Buddhist practice. Meditation is stressed in the XFVU curriculum in three ways:
1-DAILY PRACTICE: All students should maintain a daily meditation practice. They may keep a daily log of what they do and their experiences in a journal or use one of the related meditation Apps (e.g. “ZenFriend”). They should submit this journal and review their practice with their spiritual advisor (Master) or mentor. Certain types of esoteric practice can only be shared with their Master. Their Master or mentor must then report to XFVU for the student to receive credit. If the student does not have a spiritual advisor, XFVU can assign a mentor to work with the student. Students may learn various types of meditation while on retreat that they can use in their daily practice.
2- SHORT-TERM RETREATS: The Holy Vajrasana Temple and Meditation Retreat Center located in central California near the city of Sanger conducts three and seven-day and longer retreats or practice periods whereby one can focus on an aspect or a particular set of discourses by His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III and/or Shakyamuni Buddha, learn a particular dharma or meditation, and practice one’s cultivation and dharma. The temple also has limited sleeping accommodations for those who want to conduct a private retreat, and/or practice and listen to discourses by the Buddha that are available when classes and formal retreats are not being offered. Accommodations include a dorm bed or cabin; shared bath; and vegan/vegetarian meals. At least three shorter retreats are required in the Buddhist Studies and Practices Program and one longer thirty-day retreat is required for anyone wanting to be admitted to a Long-Term Retreat in the XFV Seminary Program. One does not need to be enrolled in XFVU to attend retreats, but priority will be given to XFVU students. Although H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha has told us that it is not really a retreat unless it is for at least seven days, special arrangements can sometimes be made to allow students to do shorter retreats who so not have the time available for longer retreats.
3-LONG-TERM RETREATS: These retreats conducted through the Xuanfa Five Vidyas Seminary are customized to fit the needs of the individual student and will normally be held for three years, three months and three days. Special meditation caves are being planned for the site of the Ancient Buddha Temple for these retreats. These retreats are for very serious practitioners who have cultivated themselves well and have excellent meditation skills and who are ready to live in total isolation for at least three years.