Dark retreat refers to advanced practices in the Dzogchen

Dzogchen

According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...

 lineages of the Nyingmapa, Bönpo and other schools of Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...

.
The time period dedicated to dark retreat varies from a few hours to decades. Dark Retreat in the Himalayan tradition is a restricted practice only to be engaged by the senior spiritual practitioner under appropriate spiritual guidance. This practice is considered conducive for navigating the bardo

Bardo

The Tibetan word Bardo means literally "intermediate state" - also translated as "transitional state" or "in-between state" or "liminal state". In Sanskrit the concept has the name antarabhāva...

 at the time of death and for realising the rainbow body

Rainbow body

In Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, a rainbow body is a body made, not of flesh, but of pure light.-In Dzogchen:...

. The traditional dark retreat requires stability in the natural state

Rigpa

Rigpa is the knowledge that ensues from recognizing one's nature i.e. one knows that there is a primordial freedom from grasping his or her mind . The opposite of rigpa is marigpa ....

 and is only suitable for advanced practitioners. Ayu Khandro

Ayu Khandro

Not to be confused with Ayya KhemaAyu Khandro, formally Ayu Khandro Dorje Paldrön was a teacher of Dzogchen and Tantric Buddhism in East Tibet.She was a student of both Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Nyala Pema Dündul....

 and Dilgo Khyentse

Dilgo Khyentse

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was a Vajrayana master, scholar, poet, teacher, and head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1987 to 1991.-Biography:...

 are examples of modern, if not contemporary, practitioners of significant periods of Dark Retreat sadhana

Sadhana

Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...

.

Ayu Khandro

Ayu Khandro

Not to be confused with Ayya KhemaAyu Khandro, formally Ayu Khandro Dorje Paldrön was a teacher of Dzogchen and Tantric Buddhism in East Tibet.She was a student of both Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Nyala Pema Dündul....

 performed the Yang-Ti (Tibetan), an advanced practice of the Dzogchen Upadesha

Menngagde

In Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Menngagde , , is the name of one of three scriptural and lineage divisions within Dzogchen, teachings...

, a version of the Dark Retreat.

Dark retreat in other cultures

Ancient Egyptians and Mayans

Maya civilization

The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...

 practiced a form of the dark retreat, traditionally lasting ten days. Holy men would enter into the center of their respective pyramids, completely removed from light and sound, and have visions of the workings of the universe.

See also

• Retreat (spiritual)
• Thoughtform
  Thoughtform
  A thoughtform is a manifestation of mental energy, also known as a tulpa in Tibetan mysticism. Its concept is related to the Western philosophy and practice of magic. links mantras and yantras to thoughtforms:...
  
  
• Tantra techniques (Vajrayana)
  Tantra techniques (Vajrayana)
  Tantra techniques in Vajrayana Buddhism are techniques used to attain Buddhahood. Vajrayana partially relies on various tantric techniques rooted in scriptures such as tantras and various tantric commentaries and treatises...
  
  
• Personal identity (philosophy)
• Floatation tank
• Prisoner's cinema
  Prisoner's cinema
  The Prisoner's Cinema is a phenomenon reported by prisoners confined to dark cells and by others kept in darkness, voluntarily or not, for long periods of time. It has also been reported by truck drivers, pilots, and practitioners of intense meditation...
  
  
• Phosphene
  Phosphene
  A phosphene is a phenomenon characterized by the experience of seeing light without light actually entering the eye. The word phosphene comes from the Greek words phos and phainein...
  
  
• Ganzfeld effect
  Ganzfeld effect
  The Ganzfeld effect is a phenomenon of visual perception caused by staring at an undifferentiated and uniform field of color. The effect is described as the loss of vision as the brain cuts off the unchanging signal from the eyes...