Benchen Phuntsok Ling Europe

surrounding area

Benchen Phuntsok Ling is a Buddhist Dharma center of His Eminence Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Very Venerable Tenga Rinpoche in Europe. It was Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche who chose the name "Benchen Phuntsok Ling" for this place to indicate the close connection to the Benchen Phuntsok Dargyeling monastery in Kathmandu.

In a letter to his disciples from 1998 Tenga Rinpoche describes his vision of Benchen Phuntsok Ling:
"… this shall be a place for all of you where you can practice the Dharma, for some weeks, some months or any length of time. It has the goal of creating a permanent location for summer courses …"

The Chöd practice originates from the second turning of the Dharma wheel by Buddha Shakyamuni. It was spread in India by Padampa Sangye and in Tibet by Matchig Labdrön. It is a powerful meditation practice to "cut through" or overcome the grasping for material things, the mental poisons (Kléshas), and above all the grasping for a self (Chöd).
Lama Ngawang Tsultrim will give background information about this ritual of "cutting through" as well as guide the practice step by step with visualization, melody and instruments (bell and Chöd drum). The short Chöd text "Milam Lungten" by Karma Chagme will be used as a basis.

Prerequisite for participation in this course is an empowerment of the Chöd practice.

Begin:  
Saturday,  
May 30 
  
at 10:00 CEST
End: 
Sunday, 
May 31  
(Pentecost/Pfingsten)  
at noon
 
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.

Sangye Menla

The Medicine Buddha (Sangye Menla) in Sanskrit is called "Bhaishajyaguru Vaiduryaprabha" which can be translated as "The King of the Lapislazuli Light".
The "healing Buddha" is one of the most revered deities in the Mahayana. His body colour is dark blue like the lapis lazuli stone and symbolizes everything rare and pure. In Tibet the Medicine Buddha is worshipped as the source of all healing knowledge.
Additionally, according to the tradition the four medicine Tantras go back to him. They contain detailed explanations about the causes and treatment possibilities of the most diverse mental and physical illnesses, whereby the basic cause of the illnesses is seen in the mental poisons (Kleshas).

The practice of Medicine Buddha, which we learn and practice in this course, originates in India from the time of Buddha Shakyamuni and belongs to the highest Tantra class (Annuttara Yoga Tantra). One can practice it for oneself as well as for other beings. The prerequisite for participation in this course is an initiation into the practice of the Medicine Buddha.

Lama Ngawang Tsultrim will give explanations of the practice of Sangye Menla and will guide the meditation.

Begin:  Thursday,   June 11  (Corpus Christi)  at 14:30 CEST 
End:  Sunday,  June 14    at noon (no lunch included) 

 

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.

November 14, 2016, Edward Henning died, 67 years old.
 
Our precious translator who opened the doors to Tenga Rinpoche's teachings has left us behind with grateful minds. Vivid memories appear effortlessly.
 
  • Pictures of him as a young man meeting the 16th Karmapa in Rumtek, published in the "DHARMA KING" , a mighty volume dedicated to the memory of HH the 16th Karmapa, early witnesses of Edward's decisiveness to cross the cultural borders of his British education. By his decision to learn Tibetan and act as an interpreter he became one of these early  translators almost miraculously appearing when they are needed most.

On the 31. October 2015 in Allmuthen, a wonderful day, Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche's nicely built relic stupa that had been constructed at Benchen Phuntsok Ling was consecrated by Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche. Many people have gathered on this beautiful occasion. On the following Sunday morning Rinpoche continued the weekend course by giving teachings and in the afternoon concluded it by bestowing the Thousand-Armed Chenresig empowerment. The weekend course has been wonderful and all the participants enjoyed it very much.

Stupa AllmuthenAfter a longer period of waiting the building permission for the Stupa in Allmuthen was finally given. The actual construction work started just prior to the summer course 2014. However, due to the construction company's annual holiday break there was a four week building break until mid August 2014. 
Simultaneously all the necessary rituals were performed by our resident lamas recently with the support of Khenpo Gawe Nyima and Drubpön Döndrub Tashi when the two mandalas etc. were placed in the Stupa.

During the summer course 2014 some Sangha members carved the so called "Sogshing", the approx. 5 m long center pole,  which will be core of the Stupa and will be placed in the center of it. The wood was obtained from the Thuja tree which grew next to the Stupa building site in our garden. It was beautifully ornamented and prepared according to the traditional procedures by our resident lamas.

  1. Building a Stupa
  2. The Buddhist Stupa
  3. Consecration of the Place
  4. Tsa Tsa Workshops in Allmuthen
  5. Accumulation of 10 Million Medicine Buddha Mantras
  6. Request for Long Life Mantras to offer His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje - completed