View source for Lerab Ling

[[Image:Lerab Ling Temple 2.JPG|thumb|The Main Temple in Lerab Ling, 2006]]
Founded in 1991 by [[Sogyal Rinpoche]] and located near Montpellier in southern France, '''Lerab Ling''' is [[About Rigpa|Rigpa]]'s international retreat centre and home to the [[Rigpa Shedra]] West, and includes the newly constructed temple Palri Pema Ösel Dargyé Ling, also known as The Institute of Wisdom and Compassion.

==History==
===1991-1999===
*The site was chosen on the advice of [[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]].
*'''1991''' - 3rd and 4th August, [[Dodrupchen Rinpoche]] visited the site and blessed the land. He gave the name 'Ratna Ganga' to the stream.
*'''1992''' - The first three month retreat (108 days) retreat was held, led by Sogyal Rinpoche. [[Dzogchen Rinpoche]], [[Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche]], [[Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche]]  and [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] also gave teachings.
*'''1993''' - The second three month retreat led by Sogyal Rinpoche saw visits from [[Khenpo Jikmé Puntsok]] and [[Thich Nhat Hanh]].
*'''1994''' - Three retreats are held during the summer, with visits from [[Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche]], [[Dzogchen Rinpoche]] and [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]].
*'''1995''' - Three retreats are held again, led by Sogyal Rinpoche, with the Dzogchen retreat in August featuring a visit from Kyabjé [[Penor Rinpoche]] who gave the empowerments of the [[Nyingtik Yabshyi]]. [[Dzogchen Rinpoche]], [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] and [[Khenpo Namdrol]] also attended.
*'''1996''' - The summer saw visits from [[Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche]], [[Khandro Tsering Chödrön]], [[Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche]], who gave an elaborate empowerment of [[Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik]], [[Neten Chokling Rinpoche]] and [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]].
*'''1997''' - The three months of the summer began with a visit from [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]], and saw visits from [[Khenpo Petse]], who taught [[Mipham Rinpoche]]'s commentary on the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]'', [[Dzogchen Rinpoche]], who gave an empowerment of Nyenpo Lha Sum, [[Neten Chokling Rinpoche]] and [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]] who led a [[Vajrakilaya]] [[drupchö]], [[Tulku Pegyal Rinpoche]] who taught on [[phowa]] and [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] who began his [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche's Bodhicharyavatara Teachings|series of teachings]] on the [[Bodhicharyavatara]].
*'''1998''' - Once again the summer retreats were led by Sogyal Rinpoche and featured a visit from [[Neten Chokling Rinpoche]] and [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]]. In addition, [[Sherab Özer Rinpoche]] travelled from Kalzang Monastery in Tibet, and performed an enthronement ceremony for Sogyal Rinpoche, [[Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche]] gave teachings on the practice of [[Rigdzin Düpa]], and there were also teachings from [[Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche]] and [[Tsoknyi Rinpoche]]. [[Dzogchen Rinpoche]] also attended and [[Dr Trogawa Rinpoche]] paid a brief visit.
*'''1999''' - The theme of the three month summer retreat was [[ngöndro]], which Sogyal Rinpoche taught from an experiential perspective. [[Neten Chokling Rinpoche]] and [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]] led a [[Vajrakilaya]] [[drupchö]]. Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche gave teachings on [[dzogrim]]. [[Tsoknyi Rinpoche]] taught on View, Meditation and Action as part of the meditation retreat. [[Dzogchen Rinpoche]] taught on the ''Kunzang Lama'i Shalung Zindri'' by [[Khenpo Ngakchung]].
**In November, Sogyal Rinpoche led an older students’ retreat and [[Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche]] came and gave a series of empowerments, including Vajrakilaya [[Yang Nying Pudri]], to over 500 older students.
===2000-2009===
[[Image:HHDLdrupchen2000.jpg|thumb|left|[[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]] during the [[empowerment]] of [[Yang Nying Pudri]], 19th September 2000, Lerab Ling]]
*'''2000''' - The visit of [[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]], preceded by a [[Vajrakilaya]] [[drupchen]] by the monks of [[Namgyal Monastery]] and [[Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche]]. [[Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche]] was also present. ''See'' [[Lerab Gar 2000]].
*'''2001''' - The first [[Rigpa Shedra]] took place with teachings from [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] and [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]]. [[Dzogchen Rinpoche]] gave the empowerment of [[Rigdzin Düpa]], [[Namkha Drimé Rinpoche]] gave an empowerment of [[Gesar]], and [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]] taught on the practice of [[Narak Kong Shak]].
*'''2002''' - The second year of the Rigpa Shedra saw teachings by [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] on ''[[Chegom Khorloma]]'', [[Steven Goodman]] on [[Abhidharma]] and [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] on the ''[[Uttaratantra Shastra]]''. [[Mingyur Rinpoche]] visited for the first time, there was a [[Kurukulla]] [[drupchen]] led by [[Neten Chokling Rinpoche]] and [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]], who taught on [[tsok]] practice, and there was an instructor retreat led by [[Tsoknyi Rinpoche]].
*'''2003''' - In [[Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche]] came to give the empowerments of [[Döjo Bumzang]]. [[Mingyur Rinpoche]] taught during the Meditation Retreat, [[Tsoknyi Rinpoche]] continued his guidance of Rigpa instructors, [[Khenpo Namdrol]] began his teachings on [[Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima]]'s commentary on the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]''. [[Neten Chokling Rinpoche]] and [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]] led a Lama Norlha [[drupchen]], and [[Alak Zenkar Rinpoche]] visited in September.
*'''2004''' - [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]] and the monks of [[Pema Ewam Chögar Gyurme Ling Monastery|Chokling Monastery]] led a drupchen of [[Tukdrup Barché Kunsel]], Khenpo Namdrol continued his teachings on the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]''.
*'''2005''' - [[Khenpo Namdrol]] continued his teachings on the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]'', [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] came to speak as part of his book tour, and the shedra returned to Lerab Ling after two years in [[Dzogchen Beara]] and featured teachings by [[Ringu Tulku Rinpoche]] on the ''[[Madhyamakalankara]]'' and by Khenpo Jampal Dorje on the ''[[Abhisamayalankara]]''.
**In December, [[Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche]] came and gave a series of empowerments including the [[Nyingtik Yabshyi]], the first major event to be held in the newly constructed temple.
*'''2006''' - [[Khenpo Namdrol]] concluded his teachings on the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]''. The summer saw visits from [[Professor Samdhong Rinpoche]], who gave talks on the [[Dalai Lama]]'s philosophy of non-violence and the [[three levels of spiritual capacity]], [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]], [[Lodi Gyari Rinpoche]] and the [[Nechung Oracle]]. The 'All Mandala' retreat was attended by more than two thousand students.
**9 August: beginning of Rigpa's first [[three-year retreat]] led by Sogyal Rinpoche. The 'First Teaching Period' of this retreat focused on retreat advice and the preliminary practices ([[ngöndro]]) of the [[Longchen Nyingtik]]. [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] also taught on the [[Seven Points of Mind Training]].
**5 December: [[Khandro Tsering Chödrön]] arrives and takes residence at Lerab Ling.
*'''2007''' - The 'Second Teaching Period' focused on the study of the ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]'', chapters 1-8, and the practice of [[sadhana]], with extensive teachings on [[Rigdzin Düpa]] and [[Yang Nying Pudri]]. His Holiness [[Sakya Trizin]] gave the empowerment of [[Vajrakilaya]] from the [[Khön Family Lineage of Vajrakilaya|Khön family lineage]] and [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] taught on [[Jigme Lingpa]]'s ''[[Staircase to Akanishtha]]''. There were also visits from Dr [[Lodrö Puntsok]] and [[Khenpo Puntsok Namgyal]], as well as [[Alak Zenkar Rinpoche]], [[Pewar Rinpoche]] and [[Tsoknyi Rinpoche]].
[[Image:Hhdl Lerab Ling 2008.jpg|thumb|[[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]] in Lerab Ling, August 2008]]
*'''2008''' - The 'Third Teaching Period' focused on Dzogchen, with teachings from [[Sogyal Rinpoche]], [[Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche]], [[Mingyur Rinpoche]] and [[Tsoknyi Rinpoche]]. [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] taught on the ''[[Heart Treasure of the Saints]]''. The 'All Mandala' retreat with three attendance options culminated with the visit of [[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]] and also included teachings from [[Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche]], Father Laurence Freeman, [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]] and [[Pewar Rinpoche]], and an empowerment from [[Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche]].
**22 August: [[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]] formally inaugurates the Palri Pema Ösel Dargyé Ling temple of Lerab Ling in the company of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and consecrates the main Buddha statue through an elaborate [[rabné]] ceremony.
:[[Jetsün Kushok Chimey Luding]] visits in October and grants [[lung]], [[wang]] and [[tri]] for the practice of [[White Tara Wishfulfilling Wheel]].
*'''2009''' - The 'Fourth Teaching Period'
**April: Visit from [[Sera Jé]] geshes and monks. Tibetan dances and chants.
**21 November: Official end of the first [[three-year retreat]].
===2010, until today===
*'''2010''': [[Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]] leads a [[Tukdrup Barche Kunsel]] [[drupchen]]. [[Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche]] visits Lerab Ling for the first time, accompanied by [[Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche]] and Ven. [[Matthieu Ricard]]. Jetsün [[Khandro Rinpoche]], [[Khenchen Pema Sherab]], [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]] and [[Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche]] all visit during the year. Almost one thousand people attend the Third International Forum on Buddhism and Medicine, entitled Meditation and Health, which is held in the temple.
*'''2011''': At the end of May, Khandro Tsering Chödrön, who has lived at Lerab Ling since 2006, passes away. The ''dung chö'' ceremonies take place on 2 September, presided over by HH [[Sakya Trizin]]. Also present are HE [[Ratna Vajra Rinpoche]] and HE [[Gyana Vajra Rinpoche]], HH Sakya Trizin’s wife Gyalyum Chenmo-la, [[Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche]], [[Alak Zenkar Rinpoche]], [[Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche]], [[Pema Wangyal Rinpoche]], [[Rangdrol Rinpoche]], Khenchen Sherab Gyaltsen Amipa Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and other eminent lamas and monks. Dzogchen Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche also visit during the summer.
*'''2012''': Lerab Ling celebrates its twentieth anniversary. Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, Phakchok Rinpoche, Khenchen Pema Sherab, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and Chagdud Khadro are all invited to teach during the summer months.
*'''2014''' - Consecration of [[Khandro Tsering Chödrön]]'s [[stupa]]

==Temple==
[[Image:Temple North 440.jpg|thumb|North side of the temple at Lerab Ling]]
The temple at Lerab Ling, given the name Palri Pema Osal Dargye Ling by [[Trulshik Rinpoche]], was inaugurated by [[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]] on August 22nd, 2008.

Sogyal Rinpoche said this about his vision for the temple and its future:

:"In whatever way we choose to see it—as a representation of Tibetan culture, a home for [[Tibetan Buddhism]], a centre from which to offer the Buddha's teachings far and wide, or a place of pilgrimage for generations to come—we have built this temple because it is, we believe, one of the greatest contributions we can make towards bringing wisdom, compassion and peace into the world.

:"In many places today, people are recognizing that spiritual development is not a luxury, but a sheer necessity for our survival. Witness the almost desperate hunger and need everywhere for spiritual vision, and for the tools to negotiate the challenges of life, find happiness and understand and transform the mind. This is why the very existence of spiritual centres like Lerab Ling has now assumed truly vital importance, because it is on the accessibility of spiritual teachings and the building of a spiritual culture that the very future of humanity depends.

:"This temple is for Tibet, and it is for the world."

==Internal Links==
*[[Lerab Gar 2000]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.lerabling.org/index.php Lerab Ling website]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DtvJwzsGSs&eurl=http://video.google.fr/videosearch?hl=fr&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=8jc&resnumiurl=http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/1DtvJwzsGSs/hqdefault.jpg Construction of the Temple]
*[http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZrhQCbG-cA Video of the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Lerab Ling in August 2008]
*[http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=zChUnluGyI8&feature=channel_page Video of the visit of His Holiness Sakya Trizin to Lerab Ling in June 2007]
*[http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=xi5sDwdh2O4&feature=channel_page Video of the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Lerab Ling in September 2000]

[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:Rigpa Centres]]
[[Category:Monasteries]]