When Lama Gendun, Lama Jigmela and the other Tibetans arrived in 1975, Dhagpo Kagyu Ling was no more than an decrepit farm. Today, Dhagpo has become a huge mandala enabling all to find the means that suit them for their Dharma practice.

The impetus for this development was the Gyalwa Karmapa's five wishes for five projects which would guarantee the continuation and authenticity of Dharma transmission in the west.

These were : Dharma centres to spread the Buddha's teaching.

This has been realised at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling and the KTT centres, and at Dhagpo Dargye Ling (7 kilometres from Dhagpo), a centre for developing one's practice.

Monastic hermitages to protect the authenticity of the teachings and to ensure their transmission. They are situated in Auvergne, at Le Bost for men and Laussedat for women, two kilometres from each other.

Retreat centres to preserve and transmit the profound teachings of the Karma Kagyu lineage. These retreat centres are a part of Dhagpo Kundreul Ling in Auvergne. Dhagpo Dedreul Ling, currently under construction five kilometres from Dhagpo, will be a long duration retreat centre for lay people.

A SHEDRA - A Buddhist university dedicated to translating the Buddha's teachings into western languages, and to an in-depth study of Buddhist philosophy and psychology. It will also be a place of meeting and exchanges open to other disciplines.

A Library for the preservation of sacred wisdom texts of the Kagyu lineage and for collecting different works in western languages as well as iconographic representations. These works will eventually be available for consultation on site.

These are the Gyalwa Karmapa's five wishes. They constitute the driving force behind the centres' evolution and development. The next great step in fulfilling all these wishes is the Dhagpo Kagyu Ling INSTITUTE.