Benchen News Letter
This year the summer course was taught by both Rinpoches at Benchen Phuntsok Ling, Almuthen, Belgium, the main seat of H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Ven. Tenga Rinpoche in Europe. Ven. Tenga Rinpoche arrived a few days before the course started. He had travelled to centers and retreats in France where he gave all requested teachings and empowerments before visiting Cologne, Germany for a full medical check-up. Thankfully, Rinpoche was found to be in good health, and after a resting for a few days, he set off for Almuthen, where he was received by the committee members and course participants. The following two days were spent in preparation for the course.
After touring Poland, Greece and Italy, H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche arrived one day before the course and was received by all the disciples with khataks and flowers. Our resident lamas had drawn beautiful auspicious symbols on the road. It was wonderful to see both Rinpoches coming together to help their disciples enhance their spiritual understanding to reach enlightenment.
In the following afternoon, as part of the summer course tradition, Tenga Rinpoche gave the Vajra Kilaya empowerment for the elimination of obstacles and success of the course. In the first morning session, Nyenpa Rinpoche summarized the beginning part of the Jewel Ornament of Liberation that he had given the year before. He then continued from the point where he left off last year. Since his dharma activities are vast and he had to visit many centers in Europe, he could only stay about one week at the center. During this period, he gave all of his time for empowerments, teachings, advice, and individual interviews, and his activities were very much appreciated by all the participants.
One day before he left to continue his tour in Europe, organizers arranged a wonderful evening party. Lights were strung and the whole center was illuminated with colourful lights. The caretakers of the Children’s Corner had put a lot of effort into arranging the children’s activities, which involved painting and sculpture, cloth dyeing, and acrobatics. The children presented everything so beautifully and both Rinpoches were pleased. At the end, flowers were offered from the Children’s Corner to the Rinpoches.
The next morning, the committee members asked Nyenpa Rinpoche to come and teach the next summer course and he agreed to do so. He thanked all of them for the hard work they had put in to provide so many facilities for the participants. He also thanked them for their great assistance during his stay. Rinpoche then left for Kagyu Benchen Ling, Todmoos, and from there he toured many other centers in France and Spain. At all of these centers, Rinpoche gave initiations, instructions and philosophical discourses.
Meanwhile, Tenga Rinpoche continued the summer course. During this time, as usual, many students had requested different empowerments and instructions for their practices between the sessions. Rinpoche asked the resident lama of BPL Lama Yonten Palsang and the resident lama of Karma Thegsum Tashiling, Italy, Lama Jampal, to give teachings in separate sessions. The lamas were responsible for two sessions each and in their teachings they pointed out the importance of having devotion to and trust in one’s teacher, without which we cannot progress along the path towards enlightenment. They illustrated the importance of having faith in the guru through dharma stories.
The summer course ended with an inspiring Milarepa tsok offering with thanksgiving offerings. The Committee chairperson thanked both Rinpoches for their kindness and help to the students and he also thanked all the people who were involved in the preparations for the summer course. Tenga Rinpoche then thanked all the sponsors of BPL as well as the sponsors of the monks of Benchen Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal. Rinpoche expressed wishes for the well-being of all the participants and for the development of their dharma practice. This was followed by a mandala offering to Rinpoche to as a thank you for all of his hard work.