Place
At the end of the year 2008, on advice of Tenga Rinpoche, additional land could be bought which includes neighbouring plots and an older house which Rinpoche chose the name "Shenpen Ling" for.
The house will serve for accomodation during Dharma courses and also offer some rooms for retreats.
After summer course 2013 some refurbishment was necessary and a new bathroom was installed which makes the house much more comfortable.
- Details
During the summercourse it is possible to stay in your own tent. It is also possible to bring a mobile home or a caravan.
The Dharma centre Benchen Phuntsok Ling consists of a former farmhouse, stables, a barn and an older house on 7.2 hectare of land. A substantial part of the property is zoned as building land. Tenga Rinpoche visits every year and oversees the development of the centre as well as all building activities.
Since the establishment of the centre in 1999, ongoing building activity is focused on improving and expanding the structures already present. During the first years, amongst other tasks, a biological sewage system has been put into place, bathroom and shower facilities and the eating hall as well as a new entrance have been made ready for use. Also appropriate accommodation for Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche’s and Tenga Rinpoche's stay were well prepared.
In 2009, just in time for the 10th anniversary of Benchen Phuntsok Ling, the reconstruction of the enlarged Lhakhang had been completed so that the summer course could take place in there. The great beautiful Buddha statue in the lhakhang which was consecrated during summer course 2009 was given by Tenga Rinpoche.
A new shrine was ordered from Nepal. It is planned to mount it before the visit of H.H. Karmapa. In the lhakhang there were heating elements installed and a temporary internal partitioning was built. This enables heating in the new part of the lhakhang and to use it during the cold periods of the year for courses. The new enlarged dining hall is heated too, thus there can take place courses during all seasons.
As scheduled the completion of the construction shell of the Sangha House, a project initiated by Tenga Rinpoche during the summercourse 2007, was accomplished successfully. Gradually the individual rooms will be completed. Up to now four partition walls have been integrated.
At the end of the year 2008, on advice of Tenga Rinpoche additional land could be bought which includes neighbouring plots and an older house which Rinpoche chose the name Shenpen Ling for. It is a great gain for the Dharma center. It now serves as accommodation during Dharma courses and as retreat facility.
The summers are short approximately from June to September; there are lakes for swimming in the surrounding area. However, even on hot summer days it can get quite chilly in the evenings after sunset. Therefore it is always advisable to bring warm clothes and rainproof gear. Since the Ardennes are the first raised landscape from the English Channel on mainland in Belgium, the lush green of the hills and forests are richly nourished by frequent fresh rain spells.
http://www.buellingen.be/
http://www.eifeltour.de/
http://www.st.vith.be/
http://www.pruem.de/
http://www.butgenbach.be/
Benchen Phuntsok Ling is situated in the beautiful quiet hills of the German-speaking border region of the Belgium Ardennes and is part of a little settlement called Allmuthen, which consists of just a few farms.
How to reach Benchen Phuntsok Ling, Allmuthen 33, 4760 Büllingen, Belgium?
Download a drawing that explains the exact location.
By Car:
From Cologne take the A1 autobahn till exit ”Blankenheim”. Turn right onto the secondary road B51 till exit ”Kronenburg”. Turn on to B421 and continue through Kronenburg and Hallschlag.
Direction ”St. Vith” Follow through until you can take the right fork onto B265, direction ”Losheim” (post code 53940 Losheim/Eifel). At Hotel ”Balter” turn left, direction and then immediately turn sharp left, direction ”Allmuthen” and you will notice a sign ”Benchen Phuntsok Ling”. After approx. 1000meters you are in Benchen Phuntsok Ling.
Coming from the South there are several possibilities on the autobahn and secondary roads. The easiest is to take the autobahn A60 until exit ”Prüm”. Continue through Prüm onto B265 until you notice shortly before Losheim on your left hand side the hotel ”Balter”. Then see above.
If you come by car from Brussels go on the A3/E40, Direction Liege, pass Liege. At the Motorway-Intersection Battice go on the A 2/E42, Direction Tréves/Spa/Verviers/Battice.
At Exit11/Malmedy leave the Motorway on to N 68, Direction Marche/Stavelot/Waimes/Malmedy. After 800 Meter go on the N62, Direction Gohimont, then after 5 km, turn left onto N632, Direction Waimes. You follow the N632 through Waimes, Büttgenbach and Büllingen (Bullange), Direction Prüm. At Losheimergraben you will pass the german border and go straight on B265 through Losheim. A few 100 Meters after Losheim, go right direction Manderfeld and after only 80 Meters, go left to Allmuthen, Benchen Phunstok Ling.
By Train:
From Cologne take the train to Jünkerath and then a taxi to Allmuthen (about 17km, approx. 20.- Euro). Taxi phone +49 (0)6557 12 00. You can find a timetable for trains at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/
By Plane:
The nearest airports are Cologne and Düsseldorf.