Inauguration of the Milarepa Retreat Center, Germany

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phantom59
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Inauguration of the Milarepa Retreat Center, Germany

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Event : Inauguration of the Milarepa Retreat Cente
Date : October 27 - November 4
Venue : Milarepa Retreat Zentrum
Address : Reimerdinger Strabe 18 Schneverdingen-Langeloh
D-29640
Website : http://www.drikung.org/index.php/compon ... rticle/330" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Directions : http://www.milareparetreat.de/index.php ... 29&lang=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Programme :
October 27 1000-1300
Opening Ceremony with His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and S.E. Garchen Rinpoche with subsequent lunch for the Sangha and all invited guests

October 27 pm
Drikung Great Bodhicitta-Transmission by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang

October 28 am / pm
Drikung Great Bodhicitta-Transmission by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang

October 29 1000-1300
Fivefold Mahamudra Empowerment by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang - subsequently: Farewell to His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang

October 30
Great Chakrasamvara Empowerment by His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche Part 1

October 31
Great Chakrasamvara Empowerment by His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche Part 2

November 1 - 3
Chakrasamvara Drubchö conducted by His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche

November 4 7:00-10:00
Conclusion with Tsog - subsequently: Farewell to His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche

The newly constructed Milarepa Retreat Center in the heart of the Lunenburg Heath in northern Germany is the main Drikung Kagyu retreat center in Europe. In the former farm comprising several old timber-framed houses surrounded by over 20 acres of pastures and woodland, retreats and Drubchen of various length and types are being offered, including the traditional Three Year Retreat.The ceremonial inauguration of the Milarepa Retreat Center will be performed by H. H. the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang together with His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche on 27 October 2012.

Following the opening ceremonies, from October 27 to November 4 a precious Dharma program will be offered with rare and important empowerments and transmissions unique to the Drikung Kagyu Lineage.

His Holiness will confer the Drikung Great Bodhicitta Transmission, a two-day transmission of bodhicitta (“mind of enlightenment”) unique to Drikung Kagyu tradition. To practice and realize the awakened mind it is necessary that an authentic teacher will arouse within the disciples this enlightened attitude through the ritual of conferring the Bodhicitta Vow. While most other traditions of receiving this vow only involves the generation of “conventional Bodhicitta” (i.e. the altruistic mind that seeks to liberate all beings from samsara), the Great Drikung Bodhicitta Transmission is unique in that it has a ritual aimed at awakening “ultimate Bodhicitta” in the mind-streams of the disciples. This part of the transmission is a rare public occasion of Mahamudra-style “introduction to the nature of mind.”

In addition His Holiness will confer the Fivefold Mahamudra Empowerment.His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche will offer the two-day precious Great Chakrasamvara Empowerment, followed by a three-day Chakrasamvara Drubchen.
It is a very rare and auspicious occasion that these empowerments, transmissions, and practices will be conferred by the supreme head of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage, the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, together with Garchen Rinpoche in the presence of many lamas, monks and nuns.



The Importance of 3 Year Retreat

Regarding this human body which is suitable to attain liberation it has to be emphasized that having attained a human body is an extraordinary precious opportunity. However, not only does it not remain for a long period of time, but one could also die every single moment, as the life-span isn't definite. After death, without becoming non-existent, the consciousness goes after its karma and is going to depend on a body with or without a form, whatever is appropriate. As within the samsaric realm undesired [conditions] are extremely long-lasting, [beings] are exclusively facing suffering. When it comes to liberating methods, the sole wish not to face suffering does not benefit - it is the authentic practice of the sublime Dharma through which stable unchanging happiness is being achieved. Therefore make sure to carry out the retreat practice without wasting the precious opportunity by worldly affairs of large talking but petty meaning. Carrying out this is of great importance.

Now, what is being practiced there? It is the innermost essence of all the sutra, tantras and commentaries, the oral instructions based on experiences and realisations in an unbroken continuum from Vajradhara up to the present day, the heart essence of the teachings of the former Kagyü masters, in particular those of the glorious Phagmodrupa, Jigten Sumgön and their spiritual heirs.

If the opportunity to carry out the practice of the short path through which buddhahood can be obtained within one life-time, the five-fold Mahamudra path along with the profound path of the six Dharmas of Naropa which include all key points of the path arises for fortunate disciples, these are rare circumstances.

As it does not benefit to practice these only now and then for a few sessions during a short period of time, in Tibet there is the tradition called "three years and three months", and as in other Eastern and Western countries the opportunities [for long-term-retreats] are created to whatever extent possible, it is a great auspicious sign if one can enter into retreat.

Gar Konchog Gyaltsen

http://www.milareparetreat.de/index.php ... 18&lang=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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