THE
MANDALA :
the fruit of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa's 5 wishes.
When
Lama Gendun, Lama Jigme Rinpoche 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.
