Dhagpo Dedrol Ling

Impressions from the place and the people

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The White Tara statue, which we received this summer from Nepal is now in our central shrine of the meditation hall (gom.pa). We were very fortunate that Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche took the time to consecrate the statue on an auspicious day. Before this so called rab.ne ritual was done the statue got filled by two of his attendants with all the mantra rolls which we had prepared, and with the many precious substances which we had received from people everywhere. (more…)

From the 10th - 12th of November we had the pleasure to have Lama Lhundrup in our center. He is residing at the monastary of Kundrol Ling (Le Bost), Auvergne, where he resides as a Drupön in charge of the three year retreat centers.

While being here he gave us the reading transmission (lung) of Gampopa’s “Jewel Ornament of Liberation”, which we had requested from him. During these days we all enjoyed the warm and hearty atmosphere of being with him.

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In the first week of August Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje came to visit Dedrol Ling. He was welcomed by his parents as well as the residents and visitors. He then went into the Drubkang, where he gave a teaching and answered questions from the retreatants.
Afterwards he met the group of resident practitioners in the gompa and gave advice concerning retreat and activity.
We were all deeply moved by the simplicity and clarity of his teachings.

During the visit of Gyalwa Karmapa in the Dordogne we were very happy to accomodate his parents Mipham Rinpoche and Ma-Yum for two weeks in our center. The atmosphere was especially warm and cheerful at that time and everybody was deeply touched by the blessing of Mipham Rinpoche.
During his stay he offered a copy of the collected works of the 1st Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912) for our shrine.
During that time the center was visited by several Khenpos, Tulkus and Rinpoches and we were happy to listen to a spontaneous teaching given by Lama Jigme Rinpoche in our gompa on such an occasion.
In the end Mipham Rinpoche and Ma-Yum expressed their wish to return regularly to Dedrol Ling, which is a great honor and joy for us.

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In 2008, after several years of preparation, the project of building a house for Gyalwa Karmapa and his parents, Mipham Rinpoche and Ma-Yum, the time was finally ripe to start with the actual building. The place is located slightly uphill above the center on the southern side. Later it will be surrounded by further retreat houses.

While in 2008 we were mainly occupied with building the structure of the house, foundations, walls and roof; in 2009 we mostly did all the interior work. So now by the end of the year all the rooms are basically done. This summer we had Gyalwa Karmapa as well as his parents Mipham Rinpoche and Ma-Yum visit here, to see and bless the project. Also other Rinpoches and Lamas visited the place, so we hope and sincerely wish that through this project a good connection is being created for the further activity and blossoming of the center.

For this year we wish to conclude the work by furnishing the rooms and building a balcony railing.

In the last two years the project was generously supported by a large number of our friends so that the works never had to be interrupted. Therefore, we hope to also receive what is still missing to make house ready for living in.

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Recently we received a beautiful, 70cm high White Tara Statue from Nepal. She will find her place in the central shrine of the meditation hall (gom.pa). We are now in the actual process of filling the statue with mantra rolls and all the other required substances.

update: the process is finished. See pictures here

One of the first projects in Dedrol Ling was the building of a Stupa following the wish of Gendün Rinpoche.

He said it would be the support of the center, as a Stupa is a representation of the enlightened mind.

The place for it was blessed by Shamar Rinpoche in 1997. Afterwards the first group of residents, together with the Droublas Stephane and Marlene constructed and filled it in the traditional manner. It was first consecrated by Lama Jigme Rinpoche in 1998 and one year later Beru Khyentse Rinpoche made an extensive consecration.
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Since 1999 three-year-retreats take place in Dedrol Ling.
All different retreat groups have been guided by the Lamas Henrik and Walli as well as by the Druplas Stephane and Marlene, who are also responsible for the transmission of the ritual aspects.
The necessary empowerments were given by Shamar Rinpoche, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche and Lama Jigme Rinpoche. In 1999 a group of practitioners started the first traditional 3-year-retreat. Before they could start they had to transform the old stables into a Drubkang with all the required facilities.
In 2002 a second and larger group extented the Drubkang by constructing a second building with additional rooms and a bathroom. The second retreat cycle lasted from 2003 to 2006.
Both groups did the program of the traditional three year retreat.
From 2007 to 2010 a third group of practitioners completed a new cycle with a slightly modified program. In this foundation retreat, which also lasted three years and three months, they were practicing intensively the preliminary practices (Ngöndro), Bodhicitta (Lojong), Guru Yogas as well as Shiné and Lhaktong.

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Thanks to the generous support of many people, we have been able to build a bigger meditation hall. Here group practices are held and teachings are given regularly. It was built and painted in 2006 by the people who are currently practising in the Drubkang. It was consecrated and blessed by Gyalwa Karmapa and a traditional consecration (Rab.ne) was performed by Beru Khyentse Rinpoche.