Orgyen Chö Dzong

5345 Route 81

Greenville, New York 12083

contact Andrea at:

Phone (518) 966-4077

Fax (518) 966-8971

OCDsangha@aol.com

Orgyen Chö Dzong was established in 1980 by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche as the international spiritual retreat center for Yeshe Nyingpo. Previously, a Catskill resort, the facilities have evolved over the years into more of the vision which His Holiness had for it. In his first letter of announcement, he wrote:

"It is with great pleasure that I am writing to you concerning the establishment of Orgyen Chö Dzong, Yeshe Nyingpo retreat center in Greenville, NY. It will be of tremendous benefit to all those who are interested in the Buddha Dharma. According to the prophesies of Guru Rinpoche and others made to my predecessor, Dudjom Lingpa, the Dharma will take root and flourish in the West. Because of this connection and wish fulfilling prayers, I have come to transmit these precious teachings.

At Orgyen Chö Dzong, the traditional shrine room will contain images of Guru Rinpoche and Buddha Shakyamuni, ritual objects and thangkas of the lineage. There will also be a comprehensive library containing rare volumes of precious instructions. In order to establish the real essence of the Doctrine, retreat cabins will be built in isolated spots, where practitioners may engage in retreats for varying lengths of time under the guidance of meditation teachers.

The Retreat Center provides the practitioner, the scholars and the researcher a rare opportunity to hear the profound teachings, preserved for centuries by Tibetan masters, and to practice extensive methods that develop the full human potential, thereby spontaneously fulfilling the prophesies of Guru Padmasambhava.

I pray that by establishing this center we may encourage and inspire the development of compassion and realization throughout the universe, and by the merit of these actions all beings will ultimately realize their buddha nature and attain enlightenment. It is with this ardent inspiration that I dedicate this center for the peace and happiness of all beings."

His Holiness Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche shares and continues the Dudjom Rinpoche's vision of Orgyen Chö Dzong as an international center and revitalizing source of Buddhism in the coming age. The pure and complete Nyingma transmission, based on the Nine Vehicles of Buddhist teaching, will be given by qualified teachers of the lineage. Masters from various schools of Buddhism will also be invited to give their interpretations of Dharma. Thus, a comprehensive scholastic foundation will be combined with intensive meditation practice to bring about the true spiritual realization that can keep Buddhdarma alive and accessible.

Orgyen Chö Dzong is located in the northern Catskill Mountains, a serene setting for the study and practice of Dharma. The more than fifty acres of rolling wooded countryside with walking paths, a stream and pond, are an inexhaustible source of natural beauty. There are recently renovated comfortable accomodations for periodic retreats and seminars, including a full schedule of teachings, usually in July, under the guidance of His Holiness Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche.

Starting in 2006 the facilities at Orgyen Cho Dzong will be available to other spiritual groups for teachings, retreats and other occasions.  Groups or individualls may inquire by sending their name and contact information to introduce themselves OCDSangha@aol.com .



MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

Basic: $25 / year

Supporting: $25 / month (payable monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually) The level of supporting membership was created spontaneously by several members of the sangha who seeing the financial hardships of maintaining the center as well as those of maintaining Rinpoche's residence did not feel that the basic contribution of $25 / year adequately expressed their desire to participate.

Sustaining: the greater amount needed to advance Orgyen Cho Dzong into the future.

Your dues contributions help to cover the running costs (electricity, heat, insurance, telephone, internet, etc. as well as taxes and operating permits) of the center.

When remitting your membership contribution please include your current address, telephones and email so that we are able to contact you with news of Rinpoche's activities and those of the center.


TEACHING FEES AND OFFERINGS

Seminar costs do not include offerings given to teachers at the end of the teachings. Traditionally, a kata or white scarf (which you can purchase at OCD) accompanies the monetary offering.


REGISTRATION

Participants must pre-register for all seminars they wish to attend. Sleeping accommodations are limited. Please include your membership fee with your registration information. Registration should be mailed, faxed or phoned to Andrea Uribe at OCD, 5345 Rt 81, Greenville NY 12083, telephone (518) 966-4077, fax (518) 966-8971, or email: OCDsangha@aol.com.


MEALS & LODGING

The daily cost for room and 3 meals a day at OCD is: $40 per person, and $25 to camp (please bring your own tent and sleeping bag).


WHAT TO BRING

Bring your own towels, toiletries, and a flashlight. While vegetarian options will be available, we won't be able to accommodate special dietary needs. Please bring any special items you require for your dietary requirements. Also, please bring your own ritual instruments for Chod practice when teachings are in progress.


LOCATION

Orgyen Chö Dzong in Greenville NY is approximately 30 miles south of Albany NY and about 15 miles west of the Coxsackie exit (#21B) on New York State Thruway 87. If driving, OCD is on the south side of Highway 81, approximately 1.1 miles west of the Greenville intersection of Highways 32 and 81. By Amtrak train, it takes about two hours from the Penn Street station in New York City to Hudson NY, followed by taxi ($30) to OCD. Flights to Albany require a taxi to OCD ( $60). Flights to New York LaGuardia or JFK can use the daily late afternoon Express Shuttle to Catskill NY for around $60 one way (call 1-800-772-2172 for reservations) or connect via the Airport Express bus to the train from Penn Station. Flights to Newark Airport can take the Airport Express bus to Penn Station for the train.


Please let OCD know your expected arrival. Sometimes transportation from Hudson, Catskill, Coxsackie or the Albany airport may be available for a small fee.


GUTOR AND LOSAR

Saturday February 2 Arrival to help with preparation
Sunday February 3 reversing practices begin
Monday February 4 reversing practices continue
Tuesday February 5  Gutor  reversing practices conclude
                                Astrological soup
Wednesday February 6 House cleaning day
Thursday February 7 Losar
Saturday February 9 Riwo Sang Cho practice at Yeshe Nying Po (NYC)


SUMMER 2008

Dear Sangha Brothers & Sisiters,
 
Rinpoche requests that people who are coming for the Ney Luk Rangjung teaching should arrive no later than June 28th to be of service with the preparation of the center for the month long seminar. Advance preparation includes raising new flags, cleaning the stupa, opening the swimming pool and other tasks on the grounds.

Tuesday July 1 - Friday July 11
Conclusion of the Ney Luk Rangjung
$575
Open only to those who have followed the teachings for the past three years.

Sunday July 6 Chokhor Duchen - tsok in the afternoon

Saturday July 12 Guru Rinpoche tsok

Sunday July 13 REST

Monday July 14 - Friday July 18
Dakini Teachings
$300
Open only to those who have followed the teachings for the past two years.

Saturday July 19 - Wednesday July 23
Troma tsok teachings including tunes
$251
Open to all.

Sunday July 20  28th anniversary of Orgyen Cho Dzong

Thursday July 24 Preparation for the wangs

Saturday July 25 - Wednesday July 30
Dudjom Tersar wangs
$35 each 
Friday July 25 Dorje Sempa
Saturday July 26 Wrathful & Peaceful Dieties of the Bardo (Shitro Ngakso)
Sunday July 27 Dakini Day - tsok
Monday July 28 Thousand Buddha
Tuesday July 29 Namchak Putri (Vajrakilaya)
Wednesday July 30 Sangye Menla
Thursday July 31 Long Life practice for H.H. Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche
Dinner out

Friday August 1 - Sunday August 3 Trip to Niagara Falls*

Charges for Room & Board will be the same as in 2007. The daily rate will be $40. For those staying the entire time the charges will be discounted $120 for a total of $1200.
*Charges for the trip will be determined once arrangements have been made.
The deposit policy will also remain the same. A $100 deposit is required for each teaching you wish to attend and a 10% deposit of your anticipated room and board charges is also required. Priority for housing will be given to those people whose deposits have been received and whose membership is current.

OCDSangha@aol.com
 

BACK TO CONTENTS