Collapse All | Expand All
Samten Tse Retreat Centre - Mussoorie, India
Samten Tse Retreat Centre was established by Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche in the year 1993 as a branch of Mindrolling for nuns and retreatants from all over the world. Samten Tse is situated in Mussoorie in the Shivalik hills of the Himalayas and is headed by Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche. About 50 nuns from India, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal study and practice the Dharma at Samten Tse. Nuns are taught recitation calligraphy, grammar, philosophy, rituals, playing ritual instruments and English. Nuns also undertake retreats of various lengths. Practitioners from Europe Canada and the USA also visit Samten Tse in order to study the Dharma and do intensive retreats.
The Retreat Centre is now in the third and final phase of construction which is housing for western women retreatants and a temple. Rinpoche’s efforts at Samten Tse are directed towards fulfilling her vision of providing a place of study and retreat for both nuns and lay practitioners as well as establishing a spiritual community of both monastics and lay practitioners with students from both East and West living together. Samten Tse is administered by its executive board and is registered as the Samten Tse Charitable Society.
Photo Credit: Nuns cleaning and arranging the main shrine of Samten Tse Retreat Centre
©2009 Mindrolling International
Photo Credit: Nuns tending the main shrine of Samten Tse Retreat Centre (left); Nuns in the tailoring room (right) ©2009 Mindrolling International
Photo Credit: (From left to right) Padmasambhava, Buddha Shakyamuni, and Terdag Lingpa statues in the main shrineroom of Samten Tse ©2009 Mindrolling International
Photo Credit: Nuns making torma and preparing for the 10th day Guru Rinpoche feast practice (left); Nuns arranging the shrine mandala for the next day's feast practice (right) ©2009 Mindrolling International
Photo Credit: The nuns during their daily instrument and ritual class
©2009 Mindrolling International
Photo Credit: Nuns during their daily instrument and ritual class (left); Nuns during their daily study period (right) ©2009 Mindrolling International
Photo Credit: Nuns of Samten Tse during office hours (left); Nuns working on the renovation and remodeling of the main building at Samten Tse Retreat Centre (right) ©2009 Mindrolling International
Photo Credit: Nuns working on the renovation and remodeling of the main building at Samten Tse Retreat Centre ©2009 Mindrolling International
Contact Information
Samten Tse Retreat Centre
Fairlawn Estate Palace
P.O. Jharipani 248152
Mussoorie, Uttaranchal
India
Tel: 91-135-631267
Fax: 91-135-631167
Email: samtentseretreat@gmail.com
Lotus Garden Retreat Centre
Lotus Garden (le Jardin du Lotus), ou Pema Gatsal (tib.), fondé en 2002 par Son Emminence Jetsun Khandro Rinpoché, est un centre de retraite et d'étude du bouddhisme tibétain d'environ 2 hectares situé dans la partie septentrionale de la vallée Shenandoah adjacent les Montagnes de Blue Ridge en Virginie, USA. Officiellement inauguré en 2005, Lotus Garden offre un environnement beau et inspirant pour l'étude et la pratique du bouddhisme tibétain. Dans la perspective du mouvement Rimé (non sectaire) du bouddhisme tibétain, Lotus Garden accueille le Shedra annuel pendant lequel une étude intensive des textes bouddhistes est enseignée par Rinpoché et Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoché. Lotus Garden invite également des maîtres de différentes lignées tel que Gocha Rinpoche, entre autres. Lotus Garden accueille aussi la retraite annuelle qui a débuté à Baltimore en 1997. Les membres de la Sangha se rassemblent en groupes régionaux pendant l'année pour pratiquer et étudier les enseignements de Rinpoché
Lotus Garden Retreat Center (Pema Gatsal) is the North American seat of Mindrolling International and was founded by Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche in 2003. Rinpoche's vision of Lotus Garden is as a place of study and practice of the Buddha Dharma with the aspiration in particular to assist in the flourishing of the Mindrolling lineage teachings.
Photo Credit: View of the main residence at Lotus Garden ©2009 Mindrolling International
Located in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia near the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is a beautiful 200-acre centre, providing an inspiring environment for study and practice. Currently, sangha members from around the globe come to Lotus Garden to receive teachings from Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche as well as other eminent rinpoches and to undertake retreats.
Lotus Garden offers a variety of programs through out the year including the Annual Retreat lead by Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, the Shedra program and other programs that host respected and great teachers of Tibetan Buddhism as well as smaller weekend programs lead by the Lotus Garden lopöns and drupön. In addition, Lotus Garden offers facilities for retreats including solitary, sessions and group retreats. The Dechen Gatsal Project is a particular retreat setting that provides for senior members of the sangha to participate in “life-time” retreats in individual cabins.
There are also many expansion projects currently underway at Lotus Garden including construction of a new Lhakhang, Chöying Gatsal that will comfortably seat more than 300 people and represents a tremendous step forward in making Lotus Garden a centre capable of fulfilling Rinpoche’s vast vision. We are also creating a public garden that will feature a special gift from Mindrolling Monastery in India — an exquisite 15-foot tall statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. It was the wish of His Holiness Mindrolling Trichen that this Buddha be brought to Lotus Garden to celebrate the establishment of the Mindrolling lineage in the west. There were new dorm spaces completed recently and more planned in the near future to accommodate our growing sangha and the all the pre-construction of Dechen Gatsal is complete, allowing for the first cabins to be built in the summer of 2009.
Contact Information
Lotus Garden
1991 Pine Grove Rd.
Stanley, Virginia 22851
USA
Tel: 1-540-778-2405
E-mail: admin@lotusgardens.org
Web: lotusgardens.org
Karma Thegsum Chöling, Prague
Samten Tse Czech Republic
The Karma Thegsum Chöling (Samten Tse Czech Republic) meditation centre in Prague was founded in 1998 with the blessings of H.E. Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, who also gave the centre its name. Rinpoche has been coming to the Czech Republic since 2001 to bestow teachings to the sangha of KTC as well as to many other students from both the Czech Republic and abroad. Members of the KTC sangha regularly travel each year to Samten Tse Retreat Centre in India for group and individual teachings. Currently KTC has a regular schedule of study, practice and retreats for both newer and older students, including shamatha/vipasana, ngöndro practices and Vajrayana sadhana practices.
Photo Credit: Some of the sangha members of KTC
©2009 Mindrolling International
Contact Information
KTC Prague
Samten Tse Czech Republic
Slavickova 1
Praha 6
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 777 007 543 or +420 737 177 371
E-mail: info@KarmaThegsumCholing.cz
Web: http://www.samtentse.cz/
Samten Tse Denmark
Samten Tse Denmark was established in 2009 as a branch of Samten Tse Charitable Society and Mindrolling International. Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche has been teaching in Copenhagen, Denmark for many years. Gradually a number of students who attended Rinpoche's teachings felt the need to be able to follow the teachings more systematically throughout the year and they formed a study group which continues to meet and practice on a regular basis. Samten Tse Denmark is responsible for organizing Rinpoche's teaching programs in Denmark and provides a reference point to students who wish to connect to Rinpoche and her teachings. It is also a source of information for the various activities of Rinpoche and the Mindrolling International.
Photo Credit: From left to right: Lone, Elsbeth and Anne — Sangha members of Samten Tse Denmark ©2009 Mindrolling International
Contact Information
Samten Tse Denmark
Vinkelvej 24,
3520 Farum
Denmark
Tel: +45 26 17 74 80
E-mail: info@samtentse.dk
Web: www.samtentse.dk
Samten Tsé Association - France
The Association Samten Tse - France, created in 2005 is under the leadership of Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and managed by a Board of Directors. The purpose of the Association is to support the charitable projects of Mindrolling International that aim to improve the living conditions of populations based in India, Tibet and other Himalayan regions. The Association Samten Tse - France strives to generate funds to support the elderly and also to care for the greater population’s needs in terms of education, medical care and other essential care while also promoting social values of equality and brotherhood by helping the integration of the most vulnerable members of these communities. It also supports activities and organizations that encourage cultural and religious preservation projects in the local communities.
Activities of the Association include fund raising for Mindrolling International charitable projects and communication with the different French dharma centres, which host the programs of Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche in France, as well as with individual sangha members. The Association is also responsible for recording of teachings, archiving, transcribing and distribution of tapes, CD’s, transcripts, photos, videos, etc. as well as organization of public talks, media interviews, website creation and maintenance.
Photo Credit: Some sangha members of Samten Tse Association France
©2009 Mindrolling International
Contact Information
Samten Tse Association - France
44 Rue Rabelais
Sartrouville 78500, France
Tel: (+33)1-39-57-43-85
E-mail: contact@samtentse.asso.fr
Web: www.samtentse.asso.fr
Association Samten Tsé - France (antenne de St Maur)
41 rue Jules Ferry
94100 St Maur des Fossés
E-mail : samtentse94.fr@gmail.com
Samten Tse of Athens, Greece
Her Eminence Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche visited Athens, Greece and taught for the first time in 1993, where her presence and direct approach to dharma created a particularly strong and positive impression to all. Since 2003, Her Eminence has been visiting Greece regularly. Because of the inspiration that was born in Rinpoche’s presence, in June of 2005 a centre for Tibetan Buddhist studies and practice was established under her spiritual auspice, called Samten Tse Athens. The centre has a regular program of teachings, study and practice and day-long intensive practice. Yearly visits by Rinpoche, with an on going program of teachings is also conducted at the centre. Lama Stamatis and Lama Katerina head Samten Tse Athens under the guidance of Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche.
Photo Credit: Some members of Samten Tse Athens gather in the shrine room of the centre in Athens
Rigdzin Gatsal - Greece
Photo Credit: A view of the land and buildings which will become the new retreat centre named Rigdzin Gatsal
©2009 Mindrolling International
Rigdzin Gatsal (The Joyful Garden of the Awareness Holders), a peaceful and mild land of 32,000 square meters, located on mount Parnonas on the south-eastern side of the Peloponnesus, is a wonderful new land which will become a retreat centre in the near future.
Biographies
Lama Stamatis Politis entered the 1st three years retreat in 1986 and later in 1995, he started the program of the 2nd three years retreat under the guidance of his first teacher Lama Gendun Rinpoche of the Kagyu tradition. After the retreat program, together with Lama Katerina, he stayed in a mountain retreat centre practicing and translating dharma texts into Greek and in 2005 they returned to Athens and, under the spiritual guidance of Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche formed Samten Tse of Athens, the city centre and now expanding with Rigdzin Gatsal, the retreat centre. Lama Stamatis has also received many teachings and transmissions from teachers of the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages and is also actively involved in the Dharmashri Foundation as the translator for Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche in Greece.
Lama Katerina Loukopoulou also completed the three years retreat under the guidance of Lama Gendun Rinpoche. In 1993, she met Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche in Athens and became her student and since then she has helped establish Samten Tse in Athens. Lama Katerina has received teachings and transmissions from both the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions and she is also a member of the Dharmashri Foundation.
Contact Information
Samten Tse of Athens
Polya 51
11141 Ano Patissia
Athens, Greece
Tel: 0030-210-6424965
Mobile: (00) +30-69.44.10.60.10
Contact: Lama Stamatis and Lama Katerina
E-mail: samtentse_greece@hotmail.com
Web: www.samtentse.gr
Samten Tse Germany
Samten Tse Germany, founded in 2008 as a German branch of Samten Tse Charitable Society and Mindrolling International is based in Bremen. H.E. Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche has been teaching in Bremen regularly for many years, and having been repeatedly supplicated by her German students, Rinpoche agreed to establish Samten Tse Germany. Subsequently a house was found in Bremen as a basis for the Samten Tse centre. The centre functions both as a study group as well as a basis for the sangha to practice together and organize retreats. The group is also responsible for organizing Rinpoche's teachings in Bremen, in particular the cycle of teachings of Minling Dorsem, which Rinpoche started bestowing in the spring of 2008. Furthermore, Rinpoche has appointed Anila Damtshö as the resident lama of Samten Tse Bremen and she holds regular hours of practice and study for the sangha as well as teaching numerous classes throughout the year.
Biography
Ani Damtshö is a senior practitioner and long term student of Buddhism. Besides the traditional 3 years retreat under the guidance of Ven. Lama Gendün Rinpoche in France she has completed various other shorter retreats. For 15 years Ani Damtshö was working as the translator of the late Ven. Lama Khenpo Thupten at the Institute Karmapa in France and has been a student and secretary of Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche for many years as well as being a member of the Dharmashri Foundation.
Contact Information
Samten Tse Germany
Buddhistische Gemeinschaft Samten Tse e.V.
August Bebel-Allee 160
28329 Bremen
Germany
Tel: +49 4217082406
E-mail: samtentse.germany@web.de
Web: www.samtentse.de
Samten Tse Poland
Samten Tse Poland (Samten Tse Polska) was established in 2008 by a group of students of Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche from the city of Poznan, who were following Rinpoche's teachings in various European countries for many years and were honoured to be able to establish the Polish branch of Samten Tse. Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche taught in the Benchen Karma Kamtzang Centre in Grabnik, Poland and also bestowed the Minling Dorsem empowerment in 2008. Many of the Polish sangha took part in the empowerment and are currently studying and practicing the liturgy. The group centred in Poznan keeps a regular schedule of practice and study and attends Rinpoche’s teachings throughout Europe as well as spending time in Samten Tse Retreat Centre, India.
Contact Information
Samten Tse Poland (Samten Tse Polska)
Misja Buddyjska (grupa Samten Tse)
ul. Dolna Wilda 20/14
61-552 Poznan, Poland
Contact: Joanna Grabiak
E-mail: samtentsepoland@gmail.com
Web: www.samtentse.pl
Samten Tse Spain
Samten Tse Spain at www.samtentse.es is a point of contact for all the Spanish study groups following the annual cycle Teachings bestowed in Spain by H.E. Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche since the year 2008. All the study groups and many of the students have been coming together once a year to attend Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche's teachings at the Dag Shang Kagyu buddhist centre in the Spanish Pyrenees. Throughout the year, the individual study groups review the teachings and practice together based on Rinpoche's instructions.
Contact Information
Samten Tse Spain
Web: www.samtentse.es
Mindrolling International is a foundation, created to preserve the Mindrolling Lineage and teachings as well as to establish centers which are dedicated to the preservation and flourishing of Tibetan Buddhism in general and, in particular, the Mindrolling Lineage with its wealth of precious teachings. Mindrolling International was established by 