DUDJOM TERSAR YESHE NYINGPO TEMPLE
ABOUT US
Yeshe Nyingpo Temple and Orgyen Cho Dzong Retreat were founded by H.H Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche. Here, the profound teachings of the Buddha Dharma and the Dudjom Tersar Lineage in particular have been preserved and shared in its most authentic form. In general, we continue to perform the 4 main terma cycles of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche.
Outside of the East, our centers are the main places which enshrine holy relics of the Nyingmapa Lineage such as Guru Rinpoche's Dorjes, the Phurba termas of Ratna Lingpa, and so forth. These relics are displayed once per year.
Yeshe Nyingpo Temple
Yeshe Nyingpo Temple was established in 1976 as the mother center in the West for the Dudjom Tersar Lineage. Since then it has served as the heart for spreading the teachings and termas of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and of the Nyingma Tradition in general.
Under the auspices of H.H. Dungsey Shenphen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche, this was further strengthened in his time as the Spiritual Director. We continue in this regard, at the present moment, under the spiritual guidance of his son Dungse Namgyal Dawa Rinpoche, whose main objective has been to accomplish the wishes of his grandfather and father in completing the projects they envisioned.
Every month at Yeshe Nyingpo Temple we offer Guru Rinpoche, Dakini and Troma Nagmo Tshoks. During the summer teachings, empowerments and educational programs are offered by Lineage Masters and Lamas.
Orgyen Chö Dzong Retreat
Orgyen Chö Dzong Retreat was founded in 1980. It is our upstate center located in the northern Catskill Mountains, New York. The Retreat center is nestled around by 70 acres of land and is conveniently minutes away from the main Greenville center and other township areas. The center provides rooms for up to 32 people, as well as isolated caravans in the woods for individual retreats. We also have a dormitory free of charge during main events for those who could not afford the suggested contribution.
Every Summer, we have teachings, empowerments and transmissions offered by the Lineage Masters in OCDR. You can find the updates here. Daily Sang offerings are performed in the morning by our staffs and Lamp offerings are offered periodically for those who requested.
Besides the two main centers in New York, we also have sister centers domestic and international:
DOMESTIC
Southern California Region Yeshe Nyingpo
Southern California Region's Yeshe Nyingpo's Shrine Room - Photo from Lopon Ed Heckerman
Southern California Region Yeshe Nyingpo was founded in 1983 by H.H Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Rinpoche. Back then it was known as Yeshe Nyingpo Los Angeles and was led by The Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche, who was appointed by H.H as the center's Spiritual Director. In 1993, under the direction of Gyatrul Rinpoche, a corporation was formed under the name Souther California Region Yeshe Nyingpo. Since then the center has been maintained by devoted sangha members including:
+ David Johnson (1993 - 1996)
+ Suzanne Soehner (1996 - 1998)
+ Sondra Bennett
Currently the center is maintained and organized by Lopon Ed Heckerman, who is a student of H.H Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche and was appointed by him to look after the center in 1999. Besides Lopon Ed, his wife Simone Heckerman is the secretary and Jordi Ros, the treasurer. The center changed locations many times but has always remained in Santa Monica. It is now located at Lopon Ed and family's residence: 1001 Harvard Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403.
Over the years, SCRYN has hosted many visiting Lamas including:
+ Bhaka Tulku Rinpoche
+ The Venerable Yangtang Tulku
+ Sangye Khandro
+ Lama Tenzin Samphel
+ Tulku Thadral
+ Lama Jampa Thaye
Lake Born Tshoks and Khandro Thuk Thik Tshoks are performed regularly at the center. On Great Wheel Days, Shakyamuni Buddha Tshok is performed, along with freeing lives by releasing crickets in nearby mountains. Over the years, Lopon Ed also give teachings on the Five Dhyani Buddha Yoga, Shi-ne (calm-abiding), the Concise Tersar Ngöndro, and Riwo Sang Chö.
Yeshe Nyingpo Denver
Yeshe Nyingpo Denver originally incorporated in 1978 as Udiyan Maitreya Kosha. The name was authorized and given by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche to Lucille Cedercrans Schaible, the group's original teacher, who remained in the role until her passing in 1984. After having met His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche in 1976, Lucille developed a strong devotion to him as her teacher and subsequently aligned the center with His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. Following her passing, the center received teachings from various Nyingma Lamas such as His Holiness Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche, Khenchen Palden Sherab, Khen Tsewang Dongyal, Ven Gyatrul Rinpoche, and Ven Chagdud Rinpoche.
In 1993, the sangha officially aligned with His Holiness Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche who served as the spiritual director until his Mahaparinirvana in 2018. Currently, Lama Pema Chokyi (Gretchen Groth), appointed by His Holiness Dungse Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche, regularly teaches classes on meditation, Ngondro in the Dudjom Tersar tradition, the Six Perfections and the Four Immeasurables, and other topics in the fall and spring. These classes are open to both new and experienced students. In addition, the center holds monthly practices of Guru Rinpoche, Shakyamuni, and Dakini Tsoks according to the lunar calendar.
INTERNATIONAL
SPAIN
The centers in Spain including the Tersar Ling, a land near Tarragona, Dudjom Tersar Center in Barcelona, and Arya Tara Center in Lérida, are all under the umbrella of Nyingma Tersar, which is one of the precious legacies of Kyabje Dungsey Shenphen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche.
Nyingma Tersar is a nationwide religious community with full recognition of the Spanish government. Its purpose is to contribute to the flourishing Dharma and the Dudjom Tersar lineage in Spain. The community offers teachings by qualified teachers, organizes meditation and practice retreats of varying lengths, and translates sadhanas and other Dharma texts into Spanish and Catalan. In addition, the community put their efforts into improving the right of Spanish Buddhist practitioners, and participates in numerous public events which contribute to the visibility and acceptance of Buddhism and its normalization in Spanish society.
After Kyabje Dungsey Shenpen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche's Mahaparinirvana, Nyingma Tersar is under the Spiritual direction of his son and Dharma heir, Dungsey Namgay Dawa Rinpoche.
Arya Tara
Arya Tara was established in 1989 by Lame Yeshe Chodron as a meditation, yoga and Dharma center in Lérida, Spain. It is a place which provides a space of practice for the Sangha. Arya Tara's spirit is to open to all, buddhist and non-buddhist who can be benefited by the wisdom of the Dharma and the ancient traditions. From the very beginning, Kyabje Dungsey Shenpen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe Chödrön's root teacher, gave her instructions and advice on how to keep the center and contribute to the flourishing of Dudjom Tersar lineage. In his own words, “Arya Tara is a door for those who have connection with the Dharma in general, and the Dudjom Tersar lineage in particular”.
Arya Tara center has been blessed with the presence of precious masters such as Kyabje Dungse Shenphen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, Tulku Pema Wangyel Rinpoche and most recently Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche Sangye Pema Shepa, who kindly offered teachings and empowerments, as well as Lamas and teachers who have generously shared their knowledge and wisdom.
Arya Tara center offers a regular calendar of Dharma activities led by Lama Yeshe Chödrön, such as Tsokye Tuktik, Khandro Tuktik, Tröma and Kater Dorsem Tshok, meditation retreats, Dharmapalas, Riwo Sang Chö, freeing lives, etc. It has a very active sangha, who are committed to the Dharma in general and to the Dudjom Tersar lineage in particular. The Sangha also participates in inter-religious dialogue activities for fostering peace and harmony among religions, takes part in public events in order to give visibility to Buddhism and collaborates with social charity.
Tersar Ling
Tersar Ling is a blessed land of around 250 acres near Tarragona, Spain, at the beautiful Prades mountains. It has sea views on clear days and a rich biodiversity with the characteristic Mediterranean vegetation: red pine, Pyrenean oak, Salix tarraconensis, holm oaks, horse chestnuts, juniper, holly, etc.
The land was established in 1992. During the 1990s Kyabje Dungsey Shenpen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche generously led there various Tröma and Phurba retreats and gave many empowerments and teachings on Tröma cycle, Khandro Tuktik cycle, Phurba cycle, ngöndro, bardo, tsa lung, and Abhidharma, among others. In this land, Rinpoche opened the Tröma mandala for the first time in Spain. He always said that Tersar Ling has a very strong connection with Tröma.
The land was also personally visited and blessed by Dudjom Sangyum Kusho Rigzin Wangmo.
The vision and intention of Kyabje Dungsey Shenpen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche was to develop in Tersar Ling a retreat center in the future where the Dharma and specifically the Dudjom Tersar Lineage could flourish in Spain.
Dudjom Tersar Barcelona Center
Dudjom Tersar Center in Barcelona opened its doors in 2009 as the culmination of a long process that began with the first visit to Spain of Kyabje Dungsey Shenpen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche in December 1988. Before that, Rinpoche's students in Barcelona practiced alone or in small groups in private spaces. The opening of the center, managed by Lopön Pepe Aponte, was a new beginning, because the physical space, available all year round, created the many possibilities to bring the Dudjom Tersar Lineage to those who have karmic connection with it.
In addition to carrying out practices, the center is also very committed with interfaith dialogue in order to foster peace and harmony between different traditions and cooperate with them to improve Spanish society. The Sangha participates in conferences, symposia, meetings, etc. to give visibility to Buddhism, a fundamental element to continue advancing the consolidation of Buddhists rights by the Spanish government.
The center offers teachings given by qualified Lamas, programs, and regular practices are led by Lopön Pepe Aponte and Lopön Anna Puigdellívol.
FRANCE
When H.H Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche first visited Dordogne in 1972, he realized that the landscape of the Vézère valley had been revealed to him in a dream by a Dakini who prophesied that it would be a place where the Dharma would flourish. Later in 1977, the Association Cultuelle Bouddhiste Nyingmapa was founded by Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and some close disciples. Kaybje Rinpoche assumed the position of President, and his son Dungsey Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche and Pema Wangyal Rinpoche were named as joint vice-presidents.
Urgyen Samyé Chöling
In 1979, an old farm at Laugeral, Saint Léon-sur-Vézère, had been acquired, and at the request of Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, was offered to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche. At Laugeral, soon to be established as the dharma center Urgyen Samye Chöling, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche bestowed teachings and initiations during the summers of 1982 and 1984. In later years, other great Lamas also taught there, in particular Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, Trogawa Rinpoche, Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, and especially Dungsey Shenphen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche, who, from 1984 to 2001, transmitted many teachings and initiations, thus perpetuating the lineage of his father. In 1985, Dungsey Rinpoche assumed the presidency of Urgyen Samye Chöling.
In one of his teachings, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche indicated the reason for the existence of the centre: "First of all” he said, “it is important to understand the reason why Urgyen Samyé was founded. It was to enable people to follow the teachings of the Lord Buddha. This therefore is a place to practice these teachings, so that the Sutras and the Tantras may can be practiced and realized at the same time. The fundamental reason, the pure motivation, to establish centers in France and throughout the world is to bring joy and happiness through these same teachings, not only in this present life but also in the future. The precious teachings transmitted here in this centre will help to bring our own understanding of the Dharma to maturity. This is of the highest importance. (...) If you ask, ‘What do these teachings demonstrate? the answer is that they demonstrate the correct path, the correct attitude, the correct Dharma. They emphasize that if you do something negative, it will become a cause of suffering, and they show you how to rid yourself of the cause of suffering itself. This therefore is a path to the discovery of joy, not only in this life but also in the lives to come. It is a path of practice that will free you from the ocean of suffering. In fact, all Dharma practice is based on the accumulation of positive action and merit, thanks to which all beings are able to benefit from the teachings This is its ultimate goal. Therefore, since as this centre is now a seat of learning dedicated to these precious teachings, it is my strongest wish that it may can fulfil the wishes and aspirations of all. I pray that all those who go in search of the Truth, of the right path, may auspiciously encounter these teachings. It is with these pure intentions that Urgyen Samyé Chöling has been established : to contribute to the good of all beings."
Following Dungsey Shephen Dawa Rinpoche's parinirvana in 2018, Rangdröl Rinpoche became the president of the Association Cultuelle Bouddhiste Nyingmapa (of Urgyen Samye Chöling) while Pema Wangyal Rinpoche retained the position of vice-president. Rangdröl Rinpoche is the second son of Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche. He was recognised by Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as Tsawa Rinam Rinpoche, a manifestation of Tsawa Rinchen Namgyal, one of the main disciples of the first Khyentse. Rinpoche first studied with Kangyur Rinpoche and then spent many years studying and receiving rare oral transmissions and initiations from both Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He attended Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, night and day, during the last years of his life in his residence in La Péchardie.