“What do you look for first: peace or happiness?” “What has meditation brought to your life?” “Do you manage not to be carried away by your thoughts?”
These were some of the questions asked by the teenagers participating in the four-day summer course at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling during their meeting with Lama Jigme Rinpoche on August 22, 2026. Rinpoche replied:
Peace first, because happiness is included in it,
Observing your mind without distraction brings peace. When you meditate, you see things more clearly; there’s less confusion, and that solves many problems. Meditation brings all of this—you’re less caught up in emotion. It takes some training. At the same time, if you try to have a kind heart, then your positive qualities will reveal themselves.
In turn, Rinpoche—who had himself initiated and guided the first teen course in 1992—asked the young group if they faced difficulties with their parents. This was an opportunity to share valuable advice on the state of mind that could turn matters around. Rinpoche said:
If you think about how to support your parents and be helpful to them in a difficult situation, your mind will be less influenced by emotions and more peaceful.
Reflecting on how to respond, intending to be helpful, and keeping one’s mind in check so it does not act in harmful ways are some of the suggestions Rinpoche offered for approaching situations with awareness and kindness.
The group of eleven teenagers also put on a martial arts demonstration for Rinpoche—one of the activities on the program of this second “Warrior Heart” course led by Michèle and Christian Ribert, both certified martial arts instructors and directors of the Calam Center, accompanied by Mathieu Le Moal, a state-certified sports instructor, Nicolas Pastore, a Chinese martial arts instructor, and Lama Trinle Dordje, one of the facilitators of the meditation group at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling and Dhagpo Kundreul Ling.
In addition to defensive martial arts, the program included meditation sessions, creating graffiti on cellophane film stretched between two trees, an introduction to forestry featuring the exploration of different tree species, and, in the evenings, a time for discussion and games before the 11:00 p.m. curfew. The entire program centered on activities designed to build confidence, foster creativity, promote relaxation, and help participants reconnect with nature, themselves, and others—all while leaving their cellphones aside for the four days!
See you at the next teen course coming up during the mid-term break, from October 20 to 23 at Dhagpo !