"with Jigmela, I give you my heart" – "with Lama Gendun, I give you a pure jewel"    — His Holiness the 16th Karmapa

The Dhagpo Kagyu Mandala

Situated in the Auvergne region of central France, Dhagpo Kundreul Ling is the largest group of retreat centers and monastic hermitages in the West. In nearby Dordogne is Dhagpo Kagyu Ling, a public meditation and study center that also serves as the headquarters for the Karma Kagyu lineage in Europe. Both Dhagpo centers are under the spiritual authority of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje and Shamar Rinpoche.

16th Karmapa Ranjung Rigpe Dorje

These two centers are the direct result of the wishes of the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981). The late Karmapa set out five wishes for the transmission of authentic dharma in Europe: 1) to establish a major public dharma center with the purpose of spreading the Buddha's teachings; 2) to create retreat centers to preserve and transmit the profound teachings of the Karma-Kagyu lineage and to train lamas capable of transmitting these teachings in an authentic way; 3) to create monastic communities (sangha) to protect the authenticity of the teachings and ensure their dissemination; 4) to construct a large temple representing the presence of the three jewels (the buddha, the dharma and the sangha) and to offer a place of inspiration, devotion and collective practice for all; and 5) to found an Institute for the conservation, study and translation of Dharma texts.

Dhagpo Kagyu Ling

The 16th Karmapa chose Lama Guenden Rinpoche and Jigme Rinpoche as the spiritual directors for the accomplishment of these five wishes. The first and fifth wishes, the public meditation and study center have been accomplished at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling now under Lama Jigme Rinpoche's direction. Highly accomplished Tibetan masters and Western lamas regularly give teachings there to the public and Buddhist practitioners alike. At the heart of the Center is an Institute (under development) that houses a large library and serves as a place of study, research and exchange.

Lama Guenden Rinpoche's spiritual influence fulfilled the realization of Karmapa's three other wishes at Dhagpo Kundreul Ling – the establishment of the sites Le Bost and Laussedat that include two monastic hermitages for lamas, monks and nuns; eight 3-year retreat centers and two retreat centers of longer duration (9 years+); the "Karmapa's Temple;" and a lay persons' hermitage for short retreats.

Le Bost Laussedat Monastery

In 1977, the Karmapa performed two "Black Hat" ceremonies at the home of Arnaud Desjardin (a well-known French writer on Eastern religions) at Le Bost in the Auvergne, establishing a spiritual connection that resulted in the 1983 acquisition of this property, which became Dhagpo Kundreul Ling. The first three-year retreat began in early 1984, consisting of two small groups of men and women. During the course of the second cycle of retreats, a disciple of Guenden Rinpoche donated his house and large property at Laussedat, situated three kilometers from Le Bost. Here the first retreat centers intended specifically for women were built, leaving the existing center in Le Bost for the men's retreats. Today, the retreat centers at Le Bost and Laussedat accommodate more than 120 retreatants, some who are devoted to longer-term retreats of 9-12 years. In addition, two hermitages were built to house those men and women who wish to live in a monastic community after completing retreat.

Karmapa Temple

Construction of the Karmapa Temple, a place of purity built to encourage a state of calm, devotion and respect in the practitioner began in 1993. Completion of the five-story Temple's ornate and colorful interior still requires several more years of work by Dhagpo's Sacred Art School, founded to preserve and transmit traditional Karma Kagyu Buddhist art.

Pende Ling

It is Lama Guenden Rinpoche's wish that Dhagpo Kundreul Ling's essential role be a place for meditation practice for the benefit of all sentient beings. Kundreul Ling offers a wide range of teachings for those preparing for three-year retreat as well as for local lay practitioners. Different meditation practices and rituals take place on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and public courses are offered several times a year. Pende Ling, a hermitage situated next to the Karmapa's Temple provides the opportunity for lay people to carry out short, guided retreats. Dhagpo lamas and druplas are also called upon to teach in various settings, including meditation centers affiliated with the Kagyu lineage throughout Europe, Asia and the US.