Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche besøger Gomde

På Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, Jylland underviste Hans Eminence i Mahayana Hjerte Sutra'en.

[Please include more info if you were present that day.]

Ven. Tenga Rinpoche consecrates the land of Gomde DK

Early group of Gomde Sangha

Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Teaching Schedule ‘97

Three Yanas Retreat: July 21-27. Open for everyone. Co-teacher: Tsok-Nyi Rinpoche.

Vajrayana Retreat: July 28th - August 3rd. For serious Vajrayana students.

Who has the story behind this picture?

Ven. Tenga Rinpoche comes to Gomde Denmark

Kathmandu

May 20, 1997

Dear Venerable Tenga Rinpoche,

Again this year we hereby extend our cordial invitation for you to visit Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé in Denmark. We remember your last visit with fondness and wish that during your next journey through Europe you will be able to set aside a couple of day more on you busy schedule.

We would like to request you to give detailed teachings on Sangtik Purpa and Sangtik Dorsem.

It goes without saying that we, on behalf of Rangjung Yeshe Foundation, will cover the transport costs for you and your entourage and all necessary expenses incurred during your visit.

Any and all of your students will also be cordially welcome, and we shall do our best to provide the best possible hospitality.

Mads Julius Nielsen Erik Hein Schmidt

Rangjung Yeshe Fonden

Board members

Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé

Tornbjerggaard

Smedehalden 3, Esby

DK-8420 Knebel

Denmark

Message from Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, 1997

“Dear David, Tom, Lisbeth, Rene, Michael, Klaus, Morten, Mads, Birthe and everyone else who worked on Gomde lately. I am very happy with the new building. It is amazing what you could do in such a short time!

I think you realize the importance of this. Gomde is our first place in the West and helping in providing places for retreat/practice has a long-lasting impact. For yourself it lays the seed or foundation that you will always, in this and in future lives, have the circumstances for being able to practice. That is how karma works -- it is the continuation of one’s deeds. One doesn’t have to look somewhere else for what karma is. But the benefit doesn’t stop there; it is also a place where others will practice.

So, I would like to thank all of you from the buttom of my heart.”

Cloudless Summer Camp ‘96

Buddhist Meditation Seminar with Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, a meditation master from the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism, is well known for his pithy, direct instructions. During this course, you will be given practical instructions in the traditional Buddhist meditation practices of stillness and insight. Emphasis is on personal experience combined with theoretical understanding.

The seminar provides an introduction to the key points of the three vehicles in Buddhism: Hinayana — simplicity, discipline, and mindfulness; Mahayana — compassion and knowledge of the true nature of things; and Vajrayana — key points of the tantric teachings with instructions in thoughtfree wakefulness.

The third Cloudless Summer Seminar will take place on Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche’s newly purchased seat in Europe on the peninsula of Helgenæs, an hour by car from Århus. To ensure a comprehensive understanding, it is not possible to participate part-time in the Three Yanas Course.

Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé — the Retreat Land of Self-Existing Wakefulness — consists of almost 45 acres of a beautiful, varied landscape with many fruit trees, ponds and rolling hills. To the east is a panoramic view over the sea, just a half mile away. The best way to take advantage of the picturisque surroundings is to bring your own tent.

The teachings will be given in the new assembly hall, which can accomodate 150 people. Some meditation sessions will take place under the open, blue sky.

At the end of the course, Rinpoche will provide the participants with the opportunity to formally become Buddhists through the Refuge Ceremony. For those who are interested he will, as well, conduct the ceremony for taking the vow of a bodhisattva, the pledge to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all other sentient beings.

During the Three Yanas Course, there will be optional classes in the preliminary practices for Vajrayana, the ngöndro, and in the Tibetan language. There will also be discussion groups during which you can clear up doubts.

Here is what you need to bring: tent, sleeping bag, insulation pad, all-weather clothing, something to sit on during meditation and teaching both inside and outside, swim-suit, hat to give shade from the sun, torch, practical footwear. What not to bring: pets and drugs.

You can get the obligatory biologically degradable soap and shampoo in our shop/café.

Parents who bring children understand that they are responsible for there supervision, behaviour and safety. Again this year we encourage the parents to alternate looking after each other’s children.

In Danish:

Buddhist Meditation Seminar med Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, en meditation mester fra den tibetanske tradition for buddhismen, der er kendt for sine kortfattded, direkte anvisninger. I løbet af dette kursus, vil du blive givet praktiske anvisninger i den traditionelle buddhistiske meditation praksis i stilheden og indsigt. Der lægges vægt på personlig erfaring kombineret med teoretisk forståelse.

Seminaret giver en introduktion til de centrale punkter i de tre fartøjer i buddhismen: Hinayana - enkelhed, disciplin, og mindfulness; Mahayana - medfølelse og viden om den sande karakter af ting, og Vajrayana - centrale punkter i Tantrisk lære med instruktionerne i tankefri vågenhed.

Den tredje Cloudless Summer Seminar vil finde sted på Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche's nyligt købte sted i Europa på halvøen Helgenæs, en time i bil fra Århus. For at sikre en omfattende forståelse, er det ikke muligt at deltage på deltid i de Tre Yana Kurser.

Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé - Retreat Steder for Self-Eksisterende Vågenhed - består af næsten 45 tønder land af en smuk, varieret landskab med mange frugttræer, damme og rullende bakker. Mod øst er en panoramaudsigt over havet, kun en halv mil væk. Den bedste måde at udnytte de picturisque omgivelser er at medbringe dit eget telt.

Undervisningen vil blive givet i den nye forsamling hal, som kan indeholde 150 mennesker. Nogle meditation møder vil finde sted under det åbne, blå himmel.

I slutningen af kurset, Rinpoche vil give deltagerne lejlighed til formelt at blive buddhister gennem en tilflugts-ceremoni. For dem der er interesseret vil han, ligeledes afholde en ceremoni hvor man kan tage bodhisattva løftet om at nå oplysningen til gavn for alle andre følende væsener.

I de Tre Yanas Kursus bliver der valgfri klasser i det forberedende træning for Vajrayana, ngöndro, samt i det tibetanske sprog. Der vil også være diskussionsgrupper hvor man kan rydde op i tvivl.

Her er hvad du skal medbringe: telt, sovepose, isolering pad, al slags vejr tøj, noget at sidde på under meditation og undervisning både inde og udenfor, badetøj, hat til at give skygge fra solen, lommelygte, praktisk fodtøj . Hvilke ikke at bringe: kæledyr og narkotika.

Du kan få den obligatoriske biologisk nedbrydelig sæbe og shampoo i vores butik / café.

Forældre, der medbringer børn forstår, at de er ansvarlige for deres tilsyn, adfærd og sikkerhed. Igen i år vil vi opfordre forældrene til at se efter hinandens børn på skift.

Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé - Program ‘96

At present we are preparing for the third Cloudless Summer Seminar to take place on our own land from the middle of July ‘96. The dates for next years program look like this:
July 5 - 18 — Meditation & Work Retreat, to catch up with the meditation practice before the teachings, and to help with the preparations for Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche’s arrival and basis for Dharma activities.
July 19 - 25 — Three Yanas Course as an introduction to the key points of the three vehicles in Buddhism. Open for everyone.
July 26 - August 1 — Vajrayana Retreat, for practicing Vajrayana students who have attended two seminars, taken the refuge and bodhisattva precepts, and completed or begun the preliminary practices, the ngöndro, with the determination to finish them.
August 2 - 8 — Meditation & Work Retreat, to assimilate the meditation instructions given during the courses. The length can be extended further.
September 1 - October 10 — Apple picking and individual practice.
Everyone willing to give a hand at finishing the new assembly hall are welcome to come earlier.

For details, contact:
Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé,
Smedehalden 3, Esby
DK-8420 Knebel, Denmark
Tel: +45 86 35 68 35 Fax: +45 86 35 68 40

Three Yanas Course

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche provides an introduction to the key points of the three vehicles in Buddhism — Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana — in both theory and practice.
During this course, which is open for everyone who is sincerely interested, you will be given practical instructions in the traditional Buddhist meditation practices of shamatha and vipashyana, also known as stillness and insight meditation. In particular, Rinpoche will introduce us to vipashyana meditation from the Vajrayana perspective.
At the end of the course, Rinpoche will provide the participants with the opportunity to formally become Buddhists through the Refuge Ceremony. For those who are interested he will, as well, conduct the ceremony for taking the vow of a bodhisattva, the pledge to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all other sentient beings.
During the Three Yanas Course, there will be optional classes in the preliminary practices for Vajrayana, the ngöndro, and in the Tibetan language. There will also be discussion groups during which you can clear up doubts.
If circumstances are auspicious, Rinpoche may also give a Vajrayana empowerment.

Vajrayana Assembly

This seminar is designed by Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche for students who are already practicing Vajrayana. His emphasis during this time is “more practice, less talking.” Rinpoche will provide the opportunity for answering individual questions on essential meditation practice.
The requirement to participate is to have attended two Rangjung Yeshe seminars, taken the refuge and bodhisattva precepts, and completed or begun the preliminary practices, the ngöndro, with the determination to finish them.
During Vajrayana Assembly, we will practice the Trinley Nyingpo sadhana, and it will be taught in daily classes.

Inauguration of Gomde DK in 1995

Her er indbydelsen til inauguration day i 1995:

Inauguration Ceremony of Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé 12th of July

Dear friends,

We are happy to invite you to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé, with Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche.

The festivities will begin on the retreat land at 9:30, so arrive in good time. Everyone young and old are welcome; you can bring family and friends.

10 Cleansing smoke ceremony to create auspicious circumstances for spiritual activities.

11 Inauguration talk by Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and others.

12:30 Lunch banquet.

2 pm Blessings, handshakes or hugs from Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche to all participants individually

4 pm Entertainment

Available on location: Soft drinks, coffee, and tea. Beer on sale after 3 pm

What you need to bring: One tray of edibles to be added to the banquet table for everybody to share. Bring along at least what one person can eat.

What else you can bring: Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé is starting from scratch. Every useful thing you can donate will be highly appreciated — Tools, building materials, shelves, mattreses, curtains, table cloth, furniture, kitchenware, utensils, etc, etc.

How to get there:

By car: From Århus — Drive to Rønde then Helgenæs, then Esby.
From Grenå — take road to Æbeltoft then to Helgenæs.

Bus from Århus — Bus at busstation 8:20 to Rønde. Change to bus 1710 dep. 9:10 to Helgenæs. Get off at first stop after Esby. A country road on the left hand side will be marked with ribbons.

Bus back to Rønde/Århus — leaves from the main road at 17:57.

Tom Nygaard, Inge-Lisbeth Sørensen, Erik Hein Schmidt, Andreas Doctor.

Tornbjerggård, Smedehallen 3, Esby, 8420 Knebel.

Gomde has been bought

Ground

Lineage

Since the time of Buddha Shakyamuni and Padmasambhava, accomplished masters in an unbroken lineage of have handed down instructions on how to transform human life into the path of enlightenment. The style of instruction focusing on pithy, practical advice is known as the Practice Lineage.

One branch of this Practice Lineage passes through the great master Chokgyur Lingpa, an emissary of Padmasambhava, to dispel the darkness of this age with well-timed revelations known as terma. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and his sons are among the chief holders of this lineage. His oldest son, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche is the seventh incarnation of Gar Drubchen, and among his other principal teachers are His Holiness Karmapa and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

It was with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s blessings and through his expressed wish that in 1994 the search began for a place in the West for the practice of this tradition. Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche’s vision is of a place where many teachers will come to instruct and where people from Europe and America can apply the teachings in retreat.

Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé

We now joyfully announce the acquisition of the newly purchased retreat land.

Through Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche’s vast aspiration and many people’s support, financial and otherwise, a suitable place for retreat was acquired. Right in the heart of Denmark, it is located on the peninsula of Helgenæs, Headland of Saints, one of the most picturesque areas of the country, an hour by car from Århus.

The land consists of almost 45 acres of a beautiful, varied landscape with many fruit trees, ponds and rolling hills. The fields have not been cultivated for years and appear wild and uncontrived. To the east is a panoramic view over the sea, just a half mile away. In all directions the sky appears as a natural companion to the landscape.

Due to the numerous apple trees Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche chose to call the place the Fruit Land. Its local name is Tornbjerggaard, Thorn Mountain Farm. According to tradition, a spiritual site is named in an auspicious way. Rinpoche chose Rangjung Yeshe Gomdé, the Retreat Land of Self-Existing Wakefulness.

The land was formally acquired on the anniversary day of Buddha Shakyamuni’s enlightenment, June 13, 1995.

A treasure vase, containing special blessings from Padmasambhava, was kindly consecrated by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche to be placed on the retreat land for the purpose of increasing prosperity and positive conditions for the spiritual community.

Rangjung Yeshe Foundation

Out of respect for the generous contributions from devoted students and combined with Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche’s sense of responsibility for the future, it was decided to establish the Rangjung Yeshe Foundation as the formal owner of the estate. A foundation in Denmark is governed by special rules to ensure accountability and appropriate use of funds.

The foundation is managed by a board of directors consisting of five members chosen by Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche: Erik Hein Schmidt, Thomas Doctor, Mads Julius Nielsen, Andreas Doctor, and a lawyer appointed by the advocate council. The managing director of the retreat place will be Inge-Lisbeth Sørensen.

FRUITION

The fulfillment of Rinpoche’s vision would be a spiritual environment including the following:

Rooms and huts for individual retreats.

Accommodations for a resident teacher, qualified to guide people through the course of practices corresponding to the traditional three-year retreat.

Facilities for larger seminars, group retreats and teachings.

A shrine hall housing the representations of the buddhas’ body, speech and mind: statues, sacred texts, and relics.

A study program of classic Buddhist texts under the direction of an qualified teacher.

A translation committee to translate and publish books.

In the future, a Danish style high-school for adult education offering courses in Buddhist philosophy and culture, Tibetan studies, cross-cultural programs, and the like.

An elder care facility and hospice for the dying according to Buddhist principles.

PATH

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche once said, “helping to built a hut for someone to practice gives more merit than offering the entire billionfold universe filled with gold and precious stones to all the buddhas. The reason is that buddhahood is attained through meditation practice, not by merit alone.”

Since the time of the Buddha, it is the tradition that temples, statues and so forth have been erected through the good-will and pure aspirations of benefactors. Accordingly, as funds come in, Rinpoche’s vision can unfold further.

Den oprindelige Rangjung Yeshe Forening i Danmark

Det begyndte med en lille forening hos Kirsten Doctor i Risskov. Her er et uddrag fra vedtægterne:

6. juli 1993

V E D T Æ G T E R

-----------------------------

for

Rangdjung Jeshe

§ 1. Navn og hjemsted

Stk. 1. Foreningens navn er “Rangdjung Jeshe”.

Stk. 2. Foreningens hjemsted er Århus Kommune.

§ 2. Formål

Foreningens formål er:

1. at formidle og fremme forståelsen af buddhismen, i såvel dens klassiske som nutidige form, som formuleret af Rangjung Yeshe Institute, Ka-Nying Shedrup Ling Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2. at bevare, beskytte og fremme buddhistisk literaturforståelse, filosofi-udlægning, sindsvidenskab, kunst, kunsthåndværk, rituel dans og musik.

3. at fremme oversættelse og udgivelse af vægtige klassiske skrifter samt deres udlægninger.

4. at invitere faglige kapaciteter som er indehavere af en levende tradition og som er istand til at give en nutidig fortolkning.

5. at arrangere og deltage i foredrag og seminarer.

6. at deltage i den generelle højnelse af livskvalitet og miljøbevidsthed.

7. at støtte af humanitert arbejde for svagelige, syge og døende ioverenstemmelse med buddhistiske principper.

8. at yde støtte til uddannelsesinstitutioner som opfylder foreningens formål.

In English:

Aims and Bilaws

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for

Rangdjung Jeshe

Section 1. Name and head office

Paragraph. 1. The name is "Rangdjung Jeshe".

Paragraph. 2. The Association's headquarters is Aarhus municipality.

Section 2. Purpose

The purpose is:

1. to disseminate and promote the understanding of Buddhism, both in its classic and in a contemporary form, as formulated by Rangjung Yeshe Institute, Ka-Nying Shedrup Ling Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2. to preserve, protect and promote understanding of Buddhist literature, philosophy, science of mind, arts, crafts, ritual dance and music.

3. to promote the translation and publication of important classical writings and their interpretations.

4. to invite professional capabilities who are holders of a living tradition and are able to give a contemporary interpretation.

5. to organise and participate in lectures and seminars.

6. to participate in the general raising of quality of life and environmental awareness.

7. to support the humanitert work for the frail, sick and dying in accordance with Buddhist principles.

8. providing support to educational institutions which meet the association's purpose.