For several years, Lama Jigme Rinpoche has extended an invitation to His Eminence Trungram Gyatrul Rinpoche to teach at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling. As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Karmapa’s activity in France this year, the conditions and merit were gathered to receive Gyatrul Rinpoche at Dhagpo and benefit from his presence and teachings.
Before his arrival at Dhagpo, Gyatrul Rinpoche spent two days at Dhagpo Kundreul Ling, where he participated in the preliminary consecration ceremonies of the stupa currently under construction and shared a Dharma teaching with the community. He travelled to Dhagpo on August 5. Before his official program, he spent time with Jigme Rinpoche and granted his request to meet with study groups engaged in learning specific texts.
Thus, in the afternoon of Friday, August 8, a meeting was held in Dhagpo’s historic temple. Students were able to ask questions on the aspects of learning, reflection and meditation that constitute the triptych of Buddhist practice as well as about the process of learning Dharma in general, particularly in the western context. Combining a traditional Tibetan education (philosophical studies and meditative practice) and an American university doctorate, Gyatrul Rinpoche generously shared his personal experience with the group, emphasizing the importance of engaging in “active learning” that allows the meaning to be assimilated. For meaning to be integrated, he also underlined the importance of understanding the purpose of the texts being taught in order not to lose sight of the reason for studying them.
Gyatrul Rinpoche then devoted three days, from August 9 to 11, to a teaching on Gampopa, one of the main figures of the lineage. Navigating Gampopa’s life story and spiritual path, he shed light on essential and often overlooked points of his teaching. This precise and comprehensive overview revealed the need to know better and more deeply what constitutes the heart of our lineage and our meditative practice. He also offered a thangka of Gampopa crowned by Milarepa to Lama Jigme Rinpoche. The representation was on display in the Institute during the course. In accordance with Lama Jigme Rinpoche’s wish, it will be subsequently installed in the Institute’s study room.
Gyatrul Rinpoche conferred the empowerment of the practice of Milarepa on August 10 to some 400 people gathered for the occasion. Being himself considered as an emanation of this realized yogi, practitioners were fortunate to be introduced in such a way to the practice of his guru yoga.
On the last day, offerings of the mandala of the universe and enlightened body, speech, mind, qualities and activities were presented to him at the end of the teaching.
