Category: News

This erudite great Master of the Drukpa lineage is well-known as one of the most important scholars of Tibetan Buddhism. By sharing His experiences and knowledge through a dynamic and lively teaching style as well as His compassion and His wisdom, He helps the greatest number of beings on the path to liberation.

It is at the request of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa that Khenpo Sonam Gyatso Rinpoche comes to offer His immense knowledge to students at Drukpa centres in Europe. We must appreciate how fortunate we are to welcome the visit of such a great Master in philosophy and take advantage of this excellent occasion to study and instruct ourselves in the light of His profound teachings.

Khenpo Sonam Gyatso Rinpoche was born in 1952 in Gonjo, in Kham, Tibet. He became a monk at 15 and took the vows of bikshu from his Master, His Eminence Kyabje Thuksay Rinpoche at Druk Thubten Sangag Choëling monastery in Darjeeling, India. He received teachings from different Tibetan Buddhist lineages including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa, Je Khenpo Drukpa, Je Khenpo Yonten Ö, Thragu Rinpoche, Gyen Khentsé, and numerous other great masters. For 9 years, he continued his studies in Buddhist philosophy at the famous University of Benares and received the title of Khenpo from His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa. Khenpo Sonam Gyatso Rinpoche has taught Buddhist philosophy and logic in India for the past 35 years in the Department of Buddhist Studies at the Central Institute of Tibetan Higher Education in Benares. Khenpo Sonam Gyatso has also taken part in numerous international conferences and travels regularly throughout the world to share His knowledge with numerous Buddhist centres.

PROGRAMME:
5th August: 18.30 – 21.00 – Teachings on Bodhicitta
6th August: 10.30 – 17.30 – Teachings on Drukpa Lineage Masters and Empowerment of Milarepa
7th August: 10.30 – 17.30 – Teachings on Shunyata
Price – £10 for 5th August, £25 per day for 6th and 7th – book online here or pay at the door

VENUE:
Drukpa Kunga Peljor (Drukpa UK Centre), 1st Floor, Leeder House, 6 Erskine Road, London NW3 3AJ (red door opposite Manna restaurant)

Drukpa UK is delighted to be one of the 108 sponsors of the Vajra Wheel project which has been recently launched by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa. This is a wonderful opportunity for us all to participate in this extremely auspicious project If you would like to contribute towards the $10,000 (aproximately £6,000) required to meet our target please use this link to make an online donation (via paypal).

If you would like to send a donation by cheque please contact us at london@drukpa.org.uk.

Many thanks for your kind support

Letter from Drubpon Ngawang, March 8th 2011

Dear Friends,

In accordance with the wish of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, the Third Council of the Drupka Lineage will take place this year from August 20th to 29th at Shey (Ladakh) at Naropa Palace, very near Druk White Lotus school.

Ladakh, also called “Little Tibet” is a land that is particularly blessed by the presence of numerous Great Drukpa Masters of the past who went there from Tibet, such as the great yogi Taktsang Repa who founded Hemis Monastery, Gyalwa Gotsangpa, as well as the incarnations of the 7th and 8th Gyalwang Drukpa.

His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa wishes that on the occasion of this great assembly, the different Sanghas of the world join him and actively take part through their presence or their financial support, as was the case for the first two councils.

“Council” is a term, like pilgrimage, that makes reference to teachings, ritual offerings of tsoks, and visits to holy places.

During this council, His Holiness will very kindly offer us an audience and give us His Precious Teachings.

This event, dear to the heart of His Holiness, is also a marvelous opportunity for His students and disciples the world over, to meet and exchange with each other.

Personally, I consider the council to be a rare event because it brings together numerous Great Masters of the lineage, from Tibet, Bhutan, India, Ladakh, Kinnaur, Garsha, and Nepal, and this is truly exceptional. It offers a remarkable opportunity for us to receive profound teachings, to create a link with these different masters and to receive their blessings. It is also a great opportunity, during these very difficult times, to generate great deeds and to accumulate merit.

In order to respond to the desire for harmony so often expressed by His Holiness, it is of great importance for me to lead a unified Sangha to this 3rd Council. For this, I need your support and encourage you to enroll for the pilgrimage organized by Drukpa Plouray from August 16th to 31st during which we will also visit sacred sites in Ladakh.

Devotedly yours,
Drubpön Ngawang Tenzin

The pilgrimage will cost 2 200 € for a 2-week stay – the price includes :

* Delhi-Leh return flights
* airport taxes
* transfers from airport to hotel
* car or bus journeys
* full board accommodation at cosy hotels
* offerings at temples or monasteries: tsok, candles, etc…
* organisation fees

The price excludes:

* return flight to Delhi
* tourist visa for India
* compulsory medical insurance.

All participants must arrive in Delhi by 16th August, by midnight at the
latest, as the Delhi-Leh flight is scheduled on morning of 17th August.

The council will end on 29th August, but since departure flights from Leh depend very much
on weather conditions, it is advisable not to book your return flight from Delhi before August
31st.

Click here to download booking form and information.

Click here for more information on the Annual Drukpa Council (ADC)