Through the generosity of one of his students, Chagdud Rinpoche has been offered a large piece of land in the beautiful Napa Valley,just north of San Francisco. Rinpoche is delighted with the opportunity to open this retreat area, and has renamed the center Ati Ling.
"Ati" is the highest level of Vajrayana yoga, and"Ling" is an island or isolated locale. The name Ati Ling can be loosely translated as "Highest Place."
Rinpoche considers this an extremely auspicious development,and a tremendous benefit for dharma in the West. He hopes that practitioners will make best use of the place to gain realization of Dzogchhen, or Great Perfection, through teachings and retreats. He plans to make Ati Ling the seat of his lineage teaching in the Bay Area, and is pleased that his sangha members there will now have such a convenient place for retreats.
The donor of the land feels a strong kinship with it, and with the delicate ecological balance that allows its creatures to flourish and live safely there. It is her heartfelt wish that the area's plants and animals be able to continue their lives unharassed by the disruptive influences common in modern life, and this is one of her reasons for having made the gift to Chagdud Tulku and his sangha. The powerful commitment to the welfare of all sentient beings which is central to Buddhism is very much in accord with her own affinities, and this commitment has reassured her that we will be good stewards of her gift.
The generosity of the original offering has kindled similar inspiration in others. Many are now donating their time, energy, and financial resources toward the fullest development of Rinpoche's vision.
In early December, Rinpoche held a weekend retreat at theland. At that time it was decided that although the facilities were minimal,with a pioneering spirit the annual summer retreat could be held at Ati Ling.
The summer retreat will be the continuation of five years of one month summer retreats which have so far been held in Oregon. In the first two years, students developed their understanding of Dzogchhen through teaching, individual and group meditation, and extremely hard work. In those years, a 22-foot-high concrete statue of Guru Rinpoche was built on the Oregon retreat land.
There is deep commitment and quiet excitement among Chagdud Tulku's sangha at this development. Rinpoche is moved by the generosity of everyone involved, and is planning to spend the months of May and June in California, during which his primary focus will be on the retreat land. He wishes to express his gratitude to everyone who has made this possible, and hopesthat Ati Ling will serve as an inspiration to practice for generations to come.
C.G.
Through the generosity of one of his students, Chagdud Rinpoche has been offered a large piece of land in the beautiful Napa Valley,just north of San Francisco. Rinpoche is delighted with the opportunity to open this retreat area, and has renamed the center Ati Ling.
"Ati" is the highest level of Vajrayana yoga, and"Ling" is an island or isolated locale. The name Ati Ling can be loosely translated as "Highest Place."
Rinpoche considers this an extremely auspicious development,and a tremendous benefit for dharma in the West. He hopes that practitioners will make best use of the place to gain realization of Dzogchhen, or Great Perfection, through teachings and retreats. He plans to make Ati Ling the seat of his lineage teaching in the Bay Area, and is pleased that his sangha members there will now have such a convenient place for retreats.
The donor of the land feels a strong kinship with it, and with the delicate ecological balance that allows its creatures to flourish and live safely there. It is her heartfelt wish that the area's plants and animals be able to continue their lives unharassed by the disruptive influences common in modern life, and this is one of her reasons for having made the gift to Chagdud Tulku and his sangha. The powerful commitment to the welfare of all sentient beings which is central to Buddhism is very much in accord with her own affinities, and this commitment has reassured her that we will be good stewards of her gift.
The generosity of the original offering has kindled similar inspiration in others. Many are now donating their time, energy, and financial resources toward the fullest development of Rinpoche's vision.
In early December, Rinpoche held a weekend retreat at theland. At that time it was decided that although the facilities were minimal,with a pioneering spirit the annual summer retreat could be held at Ati Ling.
The summer retreat will be the continuation of five years of one month summer retreats which have so far been held in Oregon. In the first two years, students developed their understanding of Dzogchhen through teaching, individual and group meditation, and extremely hard work. In those years, a 22-foot-high concrete statue of Guru Rinpoche was built on the Oregon retreat land.
There is deep commitment and quiet excitement among Chagdud Tulku's sangha at this development. Rinpoche is moved by the generosity of everyone involved, and is planning to spend the months of May and June in California, during which his primary focus will be on the retreat land. He wishes to express his gratitude to everyone who has made this possible, and hopesthat Ati Ling will serve as an inspiration to practice for generations to come.
C.G.
Through the generosity of one of his students, Chagdud Rinpoche has been offered a large piece of land in the beautiful Napa Valley,just north of San Francisco. Rinpoche is delighted with the opportunity to open this retreat area, and has renamed the center Ati Ling.
"Ati" is the highest level of Vajrayana yoga, and"Ling" is an island or isolated locale. The name Ati Ling can be loosely translated as "Highest Place."
Rinpoche considers this an extremely auspicious development,and a tremendous benefit for dharma in the West. He hopes that practitioners will make best use of the place to gain realization of Dzogchhen, or Great Perfection, through teachings and retreats. He plans to make Ati Ling the seat of his lineage teaching in the Bay Area, and is pleased that his sangha members there will now have such a convenient place for retreats.
The donor of the land feels a strong kinship with it, and with the delicate ecological balance that allows its creatures to flourish and live safely there. It is her heartfelt wish that the area's plants and animals be able to continue their lives unharassed by the disruptive influences common in modern life, and this is one of her reasons for having made the gift to Chagdud Tulku and his sangha. The powerful commitment to the welfare of all sentient beings which is central to Buddhism is very much in accord with her own affinities, and this commitment has reassured her that we will be good stewards of her gift.
The generosity of the original offering has kindled similar inspiration in others. Many are now donating their time, energy, and financial resources toward the fullest development of Rinpoche's vision.
In early December, Rinpoche held a weekend retreat at theland. At that time it was decided that although the facilities were minimal,with a pioneering spirit the annual summer retreat could be held at Ati Ling.
The summer retreat will be the continuation of five years of one month summer retreats which have so far been held in Oregon. In the first two years, students developed their understanding of Dzogchhen through teaching, individual and group meditation, and extremely hard work. In those years, a 22-foot-high concrete statue of Guru Rinpoche was built on the Oregon retreat land.
There is deep commitment and quiet excitement among Chagdud Tulku's sangha at this development. Rinpoche is moved by the generosity of everyone involved, and is planning to spend the months of May and June in California, during which his primary focus will be on the retreat land. He wishes to express his gratitude to everyone who has made this possible, and hopesthat Ati Ling will serve as an inspiration to practice for generations to come.
C.G.
Through the generosity of one of his students, Chagdud Rinpoche has been offered a large piece of land in the beautiful Napa Valley,just north of San Francisco. Rinpoche is delighted with the opportunity to open this retreat area, and has renamed the center Ati Ling.
"Ati" is the highest level of Vajrayana yoga, and"Ling" is an island or isolated locale. The name Ati Ling can be loosely translated as "Highest Place."
Rinpoche considers this an extremely auspicious development,and a tremendous benefit for dharma in the West. He hopes that practitioners will make best use of the place to gain realization of Dzogchhen, or Great Perfection, through teachings and retreats. He plans to make Ati Ling the seat of his lineage teaching in the Bay Area, and is pleased that his sangha members there will now have such a convenient place for retreats.
The donor of the land feels a strong kinship with it, and with the delicate ecological balance that allows its creatures to flourish and live safely there. It is her heartfelt wish that the area's plants and animals be able to continue their lives unharassed by the disruptive influences common in modern life, and this is one of her reasons for having made the gift to Chagdud Tulku and his sangha. The powerful commitment to the welfare of all sentient beings which is central to Buddhism is very much in accord with her own affinities, and this commitment has reassured her that we will be good stewards of her gift.
The generosity of the original offering has kindled similar inspiration in others. Many are now donating their time, energy, and financial resources toward the fullest development of Rinpoche's vision.
In early December, Rinpoche held a weekend retreat at theland. At that time it was decided that although the facilities were minimal,with a pioneering spirit the annual summer retreat could be held at Ati Ling.
The summer retreat will be the continuation of five years of one month summer retreats which have so far been held in Oregon. In the first two years, students developed their understanding of Dzogchhen through teaching, individual and group meditation, and extremely hard work. In those years, a 22-foot-high concrete statue of Guru Rinpoche was built on the Oregon retreat land.
There is deep commitment and quiet excitement among Chagdud Tulku's sangha at this development. Rinpoche is moved by the generosity of everyone involved, and is planning to spend the months of May and June in California, during which his primary focus will be on the retreat land. He wishes to express his gratitude to everyone who has made this possible, and hopesthat Ati Ling will serve as an inspiration to practice for generations to come.
C.G.
Through the generosity of one of his students, Chagdud Rinpoche has been offered a large piece of land in the beautiful Napa Valley,just north of San Francisco. Rinpoche is delighted with the opportunity to open this retreat area, and has renamed the center Ati Ling.
"Ati" is the highest level of Vajrayana yoga, and"Ling" is an island or isolated locale. The name Ati Ling can be loosely translated as "Highest Place."
Rinpoche considers this an extremely auspicious development,and a tremendous benefit for dharma in the West. He hopes that practitioners will make best use of the place to gain realization of Dzogchhen, or Great Perfection, through teachings and retreats. He plans to make Ati Ling the seat of his lineage teaching in the Bay Area, and is pleased that his sangha members there will now have such a convenient place for retreats.
The donor of the land feels a strong kinship with it, and with the delicate ecological balance that allows its creatures to flourish and live safely there. It is her heartfelt wish that the area's plants and animals be able to continue their lives unharassed by the disruptive influences common in modern life, and this is one of her reasons for having made the gift to Chagdud Tulku and his sangha. The powerful commitment to the welfare of all sentient beings which is central to Buddhism is very much in accord with her own affinities, and this commitment has reassured her that we will be good stewards of her gift.
The generosity of the original offering has kindled similar inspiration in others. Many are now donating their time, energy, and financial resources toward the fullest development of Rinpoche's vision.
In early December, Rinpoche held a weekend retreat at theland. At that time it was decided that although the facilities were minimal,with a pioneering spirit the annual summer retreat could be held at Ati Ling.
The summer retreat will be the continuation of five years of one month summer retreats which have so far been held in Oregon. In the first two years, students developed their understanding of Dzogchhen through teaching, individual and group meditation, and extremely hard work. In those years, a 22-foot-high concrete statue of Guru Rinpoche was built on the Oregon retreat land.
There is deep commitment and quiet excitement among Chagdud Tulku's sangha at this development. Rinpoche is moved by the generosity of everyone involved, and is planning to spend the months of May and June in California, during which his primary focus will be on the retreat land. He wishes to express his gratitude to everyone who has made this possible, and hopesthat Ati Ling will serve as an inspiration to practice for generations to come.
C.G.
