A place according to the Path

Summary

The grace and blessings of Chenrezig, The One Whose Eyes- Embrace the World, in the form called Thoukdje Chenpo (in Tibetan) or Great Compassion (in English) are the origin of the creation of this place, which was named Thouktchenling or Garden of Great Compassion.

Chenrezig, The One Whose Eyes- Embrace the World, is appears notably as the Gyalwa Karmapa (Victorious Holder of Awakened Activity), living Buddha and the Garden of Great Compassion is placed directly under his protection and blessings.

This place enables you to develop the understanding of the Teachings of the Buddha and to improve through listening, reflection and meditation, in order to recognize the nature of mind, according to the transmission line Kamtsang Karma.

The highest purpose of this life consists in the liberation of all suffering through the realization of enlightenment and this path of practice has an immeasurable value.

To achieve this, it is essential to develop the six transcendent virtues (Sanskrit: Paramita) such as generosity (Dāna), ethics (Śīla), patience (Kṣanti), perseverance (Vīrya), stable attention (Dhyāna) and wisdom (Prajñā). Four other complementary virtues are developed, such as the means (Upāya), aspiration (Pranidhāna), power (Bala) and knowledge (Jñāna).

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This place of retreat and meditation practice was realized by the grace, the blessings and inspiration given by Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit), and more specifically Maha Karounika (Sanskrit), in his appearance of eleven faces and one thousand arms, named Thoukdje Tchenpo (Tibetan) or Great Compassion (in English). He is the manifestation of love and compassion of all Buddhas.

Thus Thoukchenling or The Garden of Great Compassion it is the symbol of the union of Emptiness and Compassion or in other words the Great Seal.

Avalokiteshvara, which can be translated by the One whose Eyes Embrace the World, appeared especially in the person of Gyalwa Karmapa, a living Buddha who came to birth in the human world through successive incarnations. The Garden of Great Compassion is placed directly under his protection and his blessing.

This place is related in particular to the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa Rangdjoung Rigpai Dorje and to the Venerable Guendun Rinpoche who made wishes for the creation of such a place. The Venerable Lama Teunsang also encouraged its creation. They wished that the authentic teaching would be provided and practiced here for the benefit of all beings.

With great perseverance, a lot of patience and also with prodigious joy, we have tried to build this place of retreat as to be peaceful, favourable to meditation, and the most welcoming and comfortable. This was possible thanks to the generosity, the confidence and the enthusiasm of many people.

The Transmission

Thus, we offer a place of retreat in a quiet, peaceful, and exceptional mountain area, favourable to meditation to develop, and deepen the Buddha’s Teaching through listening, reflection and meditation. The aim of these Teachings is to recognize the true nature of mind by different methods that are taught according to one of the many continuous transmission lines, the Kamtsang Karma Lineage.

This lineage has its origins in India with the Shakyamuni Buddha.

The Great Enlightened Indian Tilopa received directly the transmission from the Buddha in his extraordinary appearance, Vadjradhara. He also received transmissions from several Greatly Achieved human beings like Nagarjuna, Tengipa, Indrabhodi, Aryadeva, Kanhapa and Lavapa.

Tilopa then transmitted his teaching to the Great Saint and Scholar Naropa.

Then these instructions and spiritual influences spread in Tibet thanks to the Grand Tibetan translator Marpa, through the Karma Kagyu lineage to which belongs Milarepa, The Great Saint and renowned Tibetan Poet.

Gampopa, an oustanding person whose coming was predicted by the very Buddha Shakyamouni him-self, then became the holder the transmission.

Then these grace and blessings currents were forwarded by the successive lineage of Karmapas appearance that have persisted since then until today through the person of the Gyalwa Karmapa, a true manifestation of the living Buddha and the current holder of the Karma Kagyu lineage.

Therefore, we have the unique opportunity to receive these instructions and to put them into practice. In fact, today the Dharma is spreading throughout the world thanks to the activity of many Achieved Masters as Gyalwa Karmapa.

Thus, what is taught in this place is authentic and corresponds to this transmission. You can receive the means which lead to dissipate gradually the veils of the mind and enable to mature awakened qualities which are in each of us.

Behaving according to the Path

The highest purpose of this life consists in the liberation from all suffering through the realization of Enlightenment. That is why we go into this way of practice, as it has an immeasurable value.

Nothing can be received if we are not willing to give without greed ; it is impossible to behave fairly if we do not preserve a pure ethic ; anger and aversion cannot be transformed if we don’t increase true patience ; we cannot reach completion without cultivating perseverance ; without steady attention we cannot develop an adequate consciousness of every moment. If ignorance and veils of consciousness are not transformed and clarified, wisdom cannot flourish.

Without the ability to identify the appropriate method for each being, the welfare of others cannot be accomplished. Without the desire and aspiration to save people, practices are just words. Without the ability and spiritual power, nothing can be accomplished. Without knowledge or definitive wisdom, true liberation cannot be achieved.