Benchen Phuntsok Ling Europe

These are the dates for the Summer Seminar 2020 in Benchen Phuntsok Ling in Allmuthen, Belgium.

Like every year the week before the actual teaching period a three-days Drölkar (White Tara) retreat will happen and after the teaching period a three-days Gönkar (White Mahakala) retreat will take place.

A detailed program along with the registration information will follow.

Following the advice of our venerable teacher Tenga Rinpoche, we will again celebrate the prayer festival Mönlam (tib.: "smon lam") this year for the Tibetan New Year (Losar).
Losar this year falls on February 24, 2020 and ushers in the year 2147, the Iron Mouse Year.
"Mönlam" means aspiration prayer. Tibetan Buddhists - monks, nuns and lay people - from around the world will gather at Losar to perform wishing prayers for the benefit of all living beings. Aspiration prayers have a very important meaning as they lay the foundation for our future. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have said countless wishful prayers.

Buddha himself said:
As far as to the ends of the blue sky,
As far as to the ends of sentient beings,
Until the end of karma and afflictions,
This far the ends are of my aspirations.

In Benchen Phunsok Ling, under the guidance of Lama Ngawang Tsultrim, we will recite the prayer "The King of Aspriations: The Noble Aspiration for Excellent Conduct" as often as possible.

Please arrive already Friday, February 21 at 19:00 CET.

Please consider the general information on courses and retreats. Here you will find information how to register and also an overview of all courses in Benchen Phuntsok Ling.

According to the wishes of our venerable teacher Tenga Rinpoche, Lama Ngawang Tsultrim teaches the traditional pujas (tantric ceremonies) and the associated rituals in these workshops. Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche himself was a Vajra master, which means that he was fully master of all tantric rituals and authorized to pass them on.

Just as the rituals once came from India to Tibet and were learned by the Tibetans, today it is necessary to continue the transfer of the lineage to the West.

The goal is for the Western Sangha members to be able to perform the traditional pujas independently. It is planned to learn one puja completely every year. Until now the Mahakala puja, the Bardo puja and the Milarepa Tsok Puja have already been successfully mastered to the joy of our teachers.

This year there will be more explanations of the Milarepa Tsok Puja and the music training will be deepened.

The next exercise weekend will take place on the following date (start always Friday at 19:00 CET/CEST and end Sunday noon, no lunch on Sunday):

28. February - 1. March 2020

3. July - 5. July 2020

Everyone is welcome to participate. No prerequisites are required. Texts and instruments are provided by the Centre. For planning purposes, please register in advance.

Please observe the general information on courses and retreats. Here you will find information how to register and also an overview of all courses in Benchen Phuntsok Ling.

Buddha Akshobhya is one of the five Dhyani Buddhas who are rulers over subtle realms, also called "Pure Lands".
In the mandala Akshobhya is assigned to the East. "Akshobhya" (“Mitrugpa" in Tibetan) means "The Immovable". This refers in particular to the fact that he remains unaffected by anger and aggression. He is the head of the vajra family. His blue body colour is symbolic of mirror-like wisdom and the transformation of the mind factor of anger into mirror-like wisdom. In everyday life, in anger we direct a powerful energy towards something that seems to be outside of ourselves. However, if we recognize the mirror of our own personality in the other person, the anger can be transformed and compassion can arise.

His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje repeatedly emphasizes the connection between Buddha Akshobhya and the Karmapa lineage: Akshobhya features in the highest tantra, the anuttarayoga, where he is invoked as representing the non-dual wisdom of the enlightened mind of Buddhahood. There is also a special connection to the Black Crown Ceremony. According to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Akshobya practice is especially important and beneficial in our current age.

In this course Lama Ngawang Tsultrim will explain the Akshobhya practice and we will perform the corresponding meditation practice together under his guidance.

Important note: during the course no meat, onions, garlic, alcohol or nicotine may be consumed.

Please consider the general information on courses and retreats. Here you will find information how to register and also an overview of all courses in Benchen Phuntsok Ling.