This year, the end-of-year retreat took place with an adapted program. In the particular context of the passing into parinirvana of His Eminence the 3rd Mipham Rinpoche, eminent master and father of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Lama Jigme Rinpoche traveled to India and was unable to guide the retreat.
Nevertheless, we were able to benefit from the teachings of Khenpo Wangdu, director of the Diwakar Buddhist Academy in Kalimpong, who gave a presentation on the twelve links of dependent origination. He thus offered us the opportunity to understand the essential aspects of these twelve links, particularly their relationship to the truths of suffering and the origin of suffering.
Each day, we also performed the practice of Amitabha and recited the mantra of Guru Rinpoche, as requested by Karmapa. At the same time, an introductory session on meditation and the fundamentals of Dharma was offered to more novice students.
The General Assembly of the Dhagpo Kagyu Ling Association provided an opportunity to share information about the life of the center as well as a retrospective of this year dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Dhagpo Kagyu Ling.
The retreat concluded with offerings, prayers of wishes, and the Milarepa ritual to usher in the year 2026.
Here is a look back at the retreat in pictures: