His Holiness visits Dhagpo Kundröl Ling (Le Bost), France

August 28th to September 11th, 2008 The Gyalwa Karmapa visits the retreat centre Dhagpo Kundröl Ling (Le Bost), France

During the three days before the arrival of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, the Lamas and Druplas of Dhagpo Kundreul Ling, along with practitioners coming from the neighbourhood, performed the Sangtik Dordje Sempa practice as a preparation for this exceptional visit.

On August the 28th, the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu Lineage arrived in Kundreul Ling and was welcomed by three hundred people. The main purpose of his visit was to confer the transmissions for the 80 practitioners entering the traditional three-years-retreat on September the 15th. He did so during the most part of his stay, bestowing them all in all six initiations: Dorje Sempa, Milarepa, Green Tara, White Tara, Gampopa and Mahakala.

The Ven. Jigme Rinpoche, representative of the Gyalwa Karmapa for Europe, was present during all the initiations and also the Ven. Mipham Rinpoche and his wife Mayum Dechen Wangmo, the Gyalwa Karmapa’s parents, attended some of the initiations.

The Gyalwa Karmapa also invited the resident Lamas and Druplas to participate in these initiations and more than thirty of them happily joined the group to receive his blessing.
On Sunday, September the 7th, the Gyalwa Karmapa also gave a public initiation that was attended by more than 800 persons.
During all of his stay, he was also available for private interviews and audiences with the Sangha, providing them with advices and guidance for the future.

The Gyalwa Karmapa left Le Bost on September the 11th for Vienna to participate in the the Symposium “Inner Peace – Outer Peace”.

Report: Dhagpo Kundreul Ling
Photos by: Jean Claude LABOURIER and Sylvie LEBLANC