Dhagpo Dedrol Ling

Coming out of the 3-year retreat

chris — Mon, 31 May 2010 12:12:27 +0000

A group of ten practitioners concluded their 3-year retreat on Thursday 27th of May, the auspicious day of Buddha’s enlightenment. Before they left the retreat boundaries (the Drubkang) a sang puja was performed and the protection circle was dissolved. After that they all went to the Stupa where a mandala offering was held. Together with all the family members and friends who had come on this occasion, as well as the other residents of the place, we then all recited the Mahamudra wishing prayer by the 3rd Karmapa in English in our temple. Next the retreatants wanted to see the newly built house for Karmapa, where they also recited another prayer, before they could finally unite with their families and friends. In a relaxed and joyous atmosphere everybody enjoyed the huge buffet which was arranged in the center as well as in the Drubkang.
In the afternoon the temple, where we all did the Milarepa Tsok Puja, was filled up to the last place. After the Mahakala Puja in the evening little groups of people were spread throughout the place talking and sharing time together.
The next day we were very happy to welcome Jigme Rinpoche in our center. After he had a look at the latest development of the place, he took time to answer the questions of the retreatants in the main temple. Later he gave the reading transmission (lung) for the White Tara practice to everybody, which we had already requested from him.

The 10 retreatants will now go for a few weeks to visit their family homes, before they will continue with another 3 month retreat on shine (mental calm) and lhagtong (deeper insight) in autumn, followed by a period of Buddhist studies. In February 2011 they plan to continue with another year of retreat, where they wish to further deepen the practices which they have learnt so far.

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New Heating system

chris — Mon, 31 May 2010 11:18:32 +0000

After the generous contribution of many dharma friends who had followed our call for donations last winter, we could now install our new heating system. The new system has replaced our old one. The new system will not only heat the main residential building, including the small temple and Lama Henrik´s residence, but also go on to enable central heating in the main temple and hermitage, providing better practice conditions for both guests and residents. Both the temple and hermitage were being heated by less efficient electric heaters which consumed a considerable amount of electricity. In this way our new wood gasification system (including the use of enviromentally friendly solar panels) will substantially save on electricity as well as significantly lowering the amount of pollution produced by our present system, despite the increase in our heating capacity. Our new water tank would store up to 2000 litres of hot water at a time (for the kitchen and bathroom facilities).

On this occasion we really want to thank all you who made it possible for us to realise this project.

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Retreat houses

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:25:10 +0000

In the following years we plan to build a couple of small wooden houses, so that people who have already lived and practiced in Dedrol Ling for some years can continue with retreat and activity in the center.
In the course of 2008 one house was completed while another one is under construction.

News: After a retreat break in winter the work on the second retreat house started again in March 2010. Since then a lot of progress has been made, please have a look at the latest pictures below.

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Losar - Tibetan New Year

chris — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:46:15 +0000

Before Losar, the tibetan New Year, we practiced the Middle-length Mahakala Puja for several days both in the center and in the Drubkhang. This is done in order to remove all the different obstacles which could be left from the last year. On the day before Losar, a Sang Ritual was made to make offerings to the Buddhas, the Protectors and all other beings with the intention to create a peaceful and harmonious environment. On the 14^th February, the actual Losar-day, we started again with a Middle-length Mahakala Puja early in the morning. We spent these days in a very inspiring atmosphere with our close Dharma friends from around, making tormas, preparing the Tsok-offerings and making the pujas. On the fourth day of the new year we hung new prayer-flags in the center and in the Drubkhang where a second Sang-Puja was performed on this day.

We wish you happiness and prosperity for the Tiger-Metal year and that all your wishes may be fulfilled

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Heating

chris — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:02:37 +0000

“Marfond heats to 108° Celsius!”

Dear Friends,

We are now preparing to install a new heating system. The new system would replace our current one which heats the main residential building, including the small temple and Lama Henrik´s residence and provides a hot water supply for the kitchen and bathroom facilities. The new system would go on to enable central heating in the main temple and hermitage, providing better practice conditions for both guests and residents. Both the temple and hermitage are currently being heated by less efficient electric heaters which consume a considerable amount of electricity for the heat they produce. The proposed wood gasification system (including the use of enviromentally friendly solar panels) will substantially save on electricity as well as significantly lowering the amount of pollution produced by our present system, despite the increase in our heating capacity. Our new water tank would store up to 2000litres of hot water at a time.

Generous donators have already given us a large part of the total cost of 13,000€. Combined with our own contribution we only need another 4,320€.

On this page you can see we have our thermometer. When it reaches 108° we will have reached our target and the heating system will be fully financed. We would like to offer you the chance to raise the temperature in Marfond to 108° by sponsoring a degree with a donation of 40€, or as many degrees as you like! You can see how the fundraising is going anytime by checking the temperature on our thermometer. Here are the relevant details for making donations:

For bank transfers send the money to our account under the name: KDC Marfond

at the bank branch: Crédit agricole de Monitignac.

IBAN: FR76 1240 6000 0900 3331 1250 226

BIC: AGRIFRPP824

Please state the reason for transfer as: “Heating donation”.

If you would like to receive a fiscal reciept, please let us know your full name and address along with your donation.

Many thanks for all your donation

For Germans:
Spenden aus Deutschland könnt Ihr an folgende Stiftung überweisen:

Karmapa Stiftung
Sparkasse Allgäu
BLZ 733 500 00
Kto: 92288
Verwendungszweck: “Heizungsanlage Marfond”

Für eine Spendenbescheinigung schickt bitte eine E-mail an:
Karmapastiftung-Hinterschwarzenberg@gmx.de

8. Karmapa Retreat course

chris — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:05:59 +0000

In the beginning of November we had a nine day group retreat with all the residents and some old practitioner friends who support us in our work.

The retreat schedule covered four sessions of Guru-Yoga and included teachings and transmission of the practice. The Droublas Stephane and Marlene went through explanations of the commentary as well as further relevant notes; while Lama Henrik gave the tibetan reading transmission (lung) and answered questions from the participants concerning their practice. We concluded the retreat with a wishing prayer in front of the Stupa.

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Khenpo Ngedön

chris — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:52:54 +0000

Khenpo Ngedön who resides in Spain came to Dhagpo Kagyü Ling from the 24th-30th of October to teach the “Gateway to Knowlegde” in accordance with the wish of Gyalwa Karmapa and Shamar Rinpoche. This text was composed by the 1st Mipham Rinpoche and condenses the Abhidharma teachings.

As most of our community members attended the teachings Khenpo accepted an invitation for dinner at Dedrol Ling, before which we first practiced the daily Mahakala Puja together with him.

Then we shared a meal in an informal and cheerful atmosphere and we could see that Khenpo is not only a learned scolar, but also has a great sense of humour and is very humble too.

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Visit of Sabchu Rinpoche

chris — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:13:39 +0000

The spontaneous visit of Sabchu Rinpoche took place in a very fresh and open atmosphere. Even though young in age (born in 1983), he could brilliantly answer all our questions, either with precision and detail or from the point of higher wisdom. Also his capacity to explain statements from classical buddhist scriptures in the light of modern science was remarkable. Furthermore he gave general advice for the people living here at this retreat place.
In a very easy going manner he shared lunch with us together before he concluded his visit by blessing all the buildings in the center.

We hope very much to be able to accomodate him in the future for another visit in order to strengthen our link with him.

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Gyalwa Karmapa visits Dedrol Ling

chris — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:55:38 +0000

On the 9th of August - under an unceasing shower of rain- we recieved the Gyalwa Karmapa, who first spent an extensive time in the Drubkhang with our ten 3- year- retreatants. They had an extensive exchange of questions and answers where Karmapa responded each time from his very vast wisdom and compassion. The practitioners were deeply touched by the profound simplicity of his answers and his capacity to point out the very essence of each issue with a few words.

Despite the ongoing heavy rain he did not hesitate to visit the new house, which was offered to him on this occasion. We all gathered there in the living room where he thanked us for our enthusastic effort and gave advice for the further development of the place and the community. At the end we recieved the short text transmission (lung) for the prayer of the Verses of the Eight Noble Auspicious Ones, which were composed by the first Mipham Rinpoche and are recited each morning before we start with the work. Before he left he also blessed the new retreat house of our droublas Stephane and Marlene.
Feeling very strengthened in our motivation to keep practising and building a community we thank the Gyalwa Karmapa very much!

P.S. On the same occasion we were happy to welcome Dorith and Pedro from the retreat center in Karma Guen, Spain for the first time in our center. After the visit of Gyalwa Karmapa they shared some stories and pictures of the early years of the Karmapa with us, which was very inspiring to listen to.

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Visit of Mipham Rinpoche

chris — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:52:09 +0000

We felt fortunate, that Mipham Rinpoche kept his word by coming to Dedrol Ling every year, which happened to be at the beginning of August this time. First of all he visited and blessed the new Karmapa House and was very pleased.

Afterwards we gathered in our meditation hall where we requested the five lay vows (Genyen vows) from him, which are; not killing, stealing, telling lies, only having one partner at a time and no intoxication. Before actually giving the vows, he gave detailed explanations on relying on the power of taking refuge as being the stable foundation for these vows. Rinpoche explained, that the first four vows are a skillful means to protect the one who takes them from harming others out of a selfish motivation, while the fifth one should prevent one from forgeting about them and breaking them. In a joyful atmosphere he gave these vows together with the refuge vow.

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