Dhagpo Dedrol Ling

Beginn of retreat year

chris — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:41:57 +0000

On the 7th of March 2011 a one year retreat started in Dedröl Ling . During the two weeks prior to this, we practiced middle-length Mahakala and performed a Sang Puja in order to celebrate the Tibetan New Year (Losar). We, as a community, enjoyed spending this time all together. A group of 10 people are already back in the Drubkang for one year. As we have mentioned before (see About 2011), not only will the Drubkang do retreat, but everybody living here.

We hope, that our practice will be of benefit and we wish you all good health and excellent conditions for dharma practice in the following year.

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About 2011

chris — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:05:42 +0000

The whole center participated in a three month retreat guided by Lama Henrik from August to November 2010. Afterwards, the group dedicated some weeks for buddhist studies, before starting a new cycle of a one year retreat in March 2011.

Inspired from the good experience from the last retreat as well as the fact that no bigger building projects are planned for this year, all people living in Marfond will start a new cycle of retreat. Among them, 10 people will practice in the Drubkang, four sessions per day, whilst the rest of the practioners in the center will reserve one session in the afternoon for center work, if necessary. If you like to support our retreat financially, we would be very grateful: The Drubkang still needs about 200€ per month to cover expenses such as gaz, electricity etc. If you are able to help us, even with a small amount, please consult our support page.

Karmapa House

chris — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:42:55 +0000

We feel very fortunate that the project Karmapa/Lama House has come to fruition and was completed at the end of 2010. After about two years of construction we were happy to present the house to the Karmapa for the first time. During his visit in 2009 he accepted and blessed the house. It has three rooms (one living room, a private room for Karmapa and a third for his parents, Mipham Rinpoche and Ma-Yum), as well as a kitchen, bathroom and a balcony. We feel very fortunate to be able to strenghten our link with the Karmapa and the lineage in this way, and we hope that it will be of great benefit in the future. On this occasion we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the many friends and helpers who supported this project, either through their financial generosity or by their work, without them it would have been impossible.

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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

Since 2008 we have started to build a couple of 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 2009 a first house was built, and in 2010 we completed work on a second chalet (please have a look at the pictures below).
A third retreat house is in planning, if you feel inspired by this project and wish to support it financially, please click on our support page.

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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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