Yongdzin Rinpoche and Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung : Teachings on Namkha Trüldzö from July 22 to August 10 In our center Shenten Dargye Ling in Blou , France   Open for all and more especially for advanced students

Dear friends and practitioners of Yungdrung Bon,

I want to invite you all to come to the Summer Retreat in Shenten Dargye Ling from July 22 to August 10.

There will be three special events that I would like to inform you about:

1.) The first one is the Teaching itself.

For over a decade now Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche has been transmitting the precious and essential parts of the Bon Dzogchen Teachings to all of us members of the Sangha. We are all very aware of the preciousness of this Teaching, which comes from the most ancient spiritual tradition of Tibet.
The Bon doctrine holds many unique and profound spiritual teachings adapted to the differing mind constitution of the listeners, yet Rinpoche has always emphasized the Dzogchen teaching of the Great Perfection, the highest and most essential part of our doctrine. Rinpoche has transmitted Dzogchen Teachings stemming from different sources with the intention of revealing the true and unmistaken path to liberation to devoted followers.
Rinpoche has always transmitted the teachings directly from the ancient essential Dzogchen texts, accompanied by his clear explanations and experiential pith instructions. At the same time, he has given us the transmissions of those teachings.

In the coming Summer Retreat, Rinpoche will continue to teach from

Dzogchen Namkha Truldzod,
The Great Perfection, Miraculous Treasury of Space.

This text is a clear and deep introduction to the Nature of Mind, enabling us to establish this knowledge in a most profoundly logical and philosophical way. In a unique way it combines spiritual revelation with philosophical and logical reasoning. This text was composed by Lachen Drenpa Namkha, a great Bonpo Dzogchen and Tantric Siddha, a Master of the eighth century. Many great scholars and saints of the Bon tradition consider him to be a special representative of the Mind Teachings of the Buddha Tonpa Shenrab.

2.) The second special event is an initiation Rinpoche will be giving.

Traditionally there are three integral parts to the Teaching - initiation, transmission and instruction - as it is important for the audience to receive the blessings and to gain the real meaning of the teaching.

Traditional Bon initiation ceremonies require special rituals and the most conducive favorable circumstances. Hoping that Rinpoche can complete the Namkha Truldzod teaching this year, he has accepted our request to bestow the initiation of the Drenpa Namkha Sadhana for the first time in a Western country.

This initiation will be given for the well-being of all sentient beings, and in particular for the peace and harmony of the newly established centre Shenten Dargye Ling, but most importantly it is for the great purpose of supporting and blessing all practitioners, new and old, to develop their practice and to advance towards deeper understanding.

I would like to encourage all of you to try and make it possible to come and allow yourself to benefit from the opportunity to receive such an important initiation.

Participating in this initiation is especially advisable for those senior practitioners who have followed Yongdzin Rinpoche for many years and have received many Dzogchen teachings. Even if one does not have the time to take part in the whole retreat, it is still beneficial to come for the initiation; I sincerely invite you all to come. The initiation day is the last day of the retreat. I will give instructions and explanations on the meaning and purpose of an initiation during the afternoons of the last week of the retreat.

3.) The third special event will be a prayer flag ceremony

At the beginning of the retreat, on the first day, we will perform a special ceremony and raise a prayer flag in the centre of Shenten Dargye Ling. The complete extensive Sangchod ceremony will also be performed by the monks and all practitioners.

The prayer flag ceremony originated in the ancient Bon tradition, and nowadays it is still performed by all the Tibetan Buddhist communities, so it has become an integral part of Tibetan spiritual culture. This prayer flag ceremony is held to purify and harmonize the external and internal elements of living beings and their environment. In this way we believe we can contribute to the pacification of obstacles and to the creation of an environment conducive to prosperity, and to the improvement of all sentient beings' conditions.

Tibetans usually contribute to the joyfulness of such an event by cleaning body and mind, putting their best new clothes on, and setting their minds on thoughts of peace and happiness. So let us start this tradition in our new place and celebrate together to contribute to the creation of a peaceful and joyful atmosphere.

I am looking forward to meeting you all!

Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung

Yongdzin Rinpoche and Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung : Teachings on Gyalwa Chaktri from August 26th to 31st Gyalwa Chaktri is a collection of texts composed by Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung, a great 13th century master, and forms a complete practice guide enabling us to apply directly the teachings of Zhangzhung Nyen Gyu, Yungdrung Bön’s most important Dzogchen cycle. Receiving these instructions helps start straight down the meditative practices of this tradition. Open for all and more especially for advanced students