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Ani Lochu and Karma Damcho on arrival at Bodhnath stupa in Kathmandu, with Umzi Menlha from Thrangu Monastery |
To cut a long story short...on Saturday 13th July, after a day of sometimes fairly emotional farewells at the Centre Karma Damcho and Ani Lochu set off on their journey to Nepal where they have now commenced a six-year retreat.
At what seemed like the last minute, both had the opportunity and good fortune to be able to go to the Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Center which is situated in the hills forming the eastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley. During their retreat, not only will they be able to receive empowerments from Ven Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, they will also be taught by Drupon Khen Rinpoche Karma Lhabu, who resides there for 9 months of the year.
This six-year retreat programme has been devised by Drupon Rinpoche especially for international students and consists of a year concentrated on each of the following practices: the mahamudra preliminaries, mind training, vajrasattva, calm-abiding meditation, insight meditation concerned with thoughts, and insight meditation concerned with appearances.
It is with mixed feelings that we've seen them leave. On the one hand we rejoice that they have the chance to undertake a retreat such as this and, on the other hand, their presence will be very much missed.
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