{"id":313786,"date":"2025-02-25T22:38:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T21:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dhagpo.org\/?p=313786"},"modified":"2025-03-11T19:44:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T18:44:53","slug":"march-17-1984-first-three-year-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dhagpo.org\/en\/march-17-1984-first-three-year-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"March 17, 1984 – A Historical Step: The First Three-Year Retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ specialty_columns=”3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/dhagpo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/010_Le-Bost-entree-en-retraite_822x669.jpg” alt=”17 mars 1984 Une \u00e9tape historique: la premi\u00e8re retraite de trois ans ” title_text=”\u00c9criture de Rangjung Rikp\u00e9 Dorj\u00e9, Sa Saintet\u00e9 le XVI\u1d49 ” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-b7d546b1-e8dd-4bef-9120-39ab5cda29e6″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-b7d546b1-e8dd-4bef-9120-39ab5cda29e6%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Close to 6:30 in the evening, after a day of rituals, a convivial buffet, the receiving of their sacred  texts, and a procession<\/strong> around their future place of practice, fifteen men and five women<\/strong> crossed the threshold of the retreat center or <\/span>drupkang<\/span><\/i> located in Dhagpo Kundreul Ling, which they would not leave for the traditional period of three years, three months, and three days.<\/span><\/p>\n

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His Holiness the 16th Karmapa had advised<\/strong> that at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling \u201ca temple, a monastery, and a retreat center to welcome those who wish to practice the profound means of Naropa\u2019s Six Yogas within the guidelines and those who wish to follow the profound path of the Great Seal, <\/span>Mahamudra<\/span><\/i>, must be built.\u201d (Dhagpo Kagyu Ling Informational Letter, 1980).<\/span><\/p>\n

As early as 1980<\/strong>, a letter from Dhagpo Kagyu Ling to supporters emphasizes the necessity of building a place for retreat. Gendun Rinpoche, who had himself spent some thirty years in retreat, insisted on <\/span><\/p>\n

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the importance of longterm retreats, which allow for the states of meditative absorption without which realization is not possible.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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In this pioneering period<\/strong> of the Buddha Dharma\u2019s arrival in the West, setting up traditional three-year retreats allowed for planting the seeds<\/strong> for intensive practice of the methods that liberate. Gendun Rinpoche also emphasized<\/span><\/p>\n

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the motivation of those who participate in building retreat centers. They must do so for the benefit of beings. Otherwise, construction will not be able to be completed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Practitioners living at Dhagpo expressed their interest in accomplishing such a retreat to Gendun Rinpoche and in helping to build a dedicated center. Having been moved by the coming out of retreat in Plaige at Kalu Rinpoche\u2019s center, Fran\u00e7ois Theaux, who was twenty-seven at the time, was the first to request participating, though he admits with humor that he had some doubts leading up to the day itself. <\/span><\/p>\n

Though the retreat center did not yet exist, spiritual preparation<\/strong> began immediately. In September 1981, Shamar Rinpoche gave<\/strong> Dorje Pamo, Korlo Demchok, and Mahakala empowerments<\/strong> to the retreat applicants along with several public teachings. He notably transmitted <\/span>Mahamudra, Pointing Out the Dharmakaya<\/span><\/i> (<\/span>chakchen ch\u00f6ku dzuptsup<\/span><\/i> \u0f55\u0fb1\u0f42\u0f0b\u0f46\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0b\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f66\u0f0b\u0f66\u0f90\u0f74\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f5b\u0f74\u0f56\u0f0b\u0f5a\u0f74\u0f42\u0f66\u0f0d), by the 9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje, which is one of the essential texts on Mahamudra<\/strong>. He also explained the fundamental texts by the 3rd Karmapa Rangjung Dorje, which are a prerequisite for approaching the view that underlies the practice of the Buddhist tantras:<\/span><\/p>\n