Vajradhara-Ling is a center affiliated to the

Karma Kagyu Karma Kagyu (), or Kamtsang Kagyu (), is a widely practiced and probably the second-largest lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in Tibet, China, Russia, M ...

school of

Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, D ...

located in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

in the commune of

Aubry-le-Panthou Aubry-le-Panthou () is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France. Geography The commune along with another 11 communes is part of a 1,400 hectare, Natura 2000 conservation area, called the Haute Vallée de la Touques et afflue ...

History of the centre

Vajradhara-Ling is connected to Kagyu-Dzong in Paris, and both centers are linked to the 17th

Karmapa The Karmapa Tulku lineage of the Gyalwa Karmapa is the oldest among the major incarnating lineages of Tibetan Buddhism,The Karmapa, "The Karmapas Lineage", Kagyu Office established in 1110 CE by the 1st Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa. Karmapa means " ...

Orgyen Trinley Dorje Ogyen Trinley Dorje (, ; born 26 June 1985), also written as Urgyen Trinley Dorje () is a claimant to the title of 17th Karmapa. The Karmapa is head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Ogyen Trinley Do ...

. It is said that, before his passing away, the

16th Karmapa The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (; August 14, 1924 – November 5, 1981) is the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is of the oldest line of reincarnate lamas in Vajrayana Buddhi ...

preview the construction of Vajradhara-Ling. Vajradhara-Ling, meaning « The garden of Vajradhara Buddha », was inaugurated in 1982 by

Kalu Rinpoche Kalu Rinpoche (1905 – May 10, 1989) was a Tibetan Buddhist lama, meditation master, scholar and teacher. He was one of the first Tibetan masters to teach in the West. Early life and teachers Kalu Rinpoche was born in 1905 during the Fema ...

, who entrusted the responsibility of the centre to his disciple, Lama Gyurme. The congregation Dashang Kagyu Vajradhara Ling is focusing on Buddhist prayers and practices. It is structured around a Temple, a

stupa In Buddhism, a stupa (, ) is a domed hemispherical structure containing several types of sacred relics, including images, statues, metals, and '' śarīra''—the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns. It is used as a place of pilgrimage and m ...

, a

prayer wheel A prayer wheel, or mani wheel, is a cylindrical wheel (, ) for Buddhist recitation. The wheel is installed on a spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather, or coarse cotton. Prayer wheels are common in Tibet and areas where Tibetan culture ...

and a center of spiritual retreat. The prayer wheel contains 100 000 pages on which are printed mantras invocating Dorje Sempa, the Buddha of purification. In 1987, Lama Gyurme initiated the construction of a

, which site of construction was consecrated by Kalu Rinpoche and foundations were finished 2 years later. The stupa was dedicated to the memory of the

. After its construction was completed, the stupa was consecrated by Taï Situ Rinpoche July 15, 1997. In 1999, the congregation received in donation a property situated 60 km away from the center; it is now named Mahamoudra-Ling and transformed in a retreat center for individuals wishing to practice for 6 months, 1 year or more. The congregation also bears the project of constructing a

Temple for Peace The Temple for Peace (French language, French: ''Temple pour la Paix'') is a construction project of the congregation Vajradhara-Ling in Normandy to promote world peace. The cornerstone was laid in 2003 and construction started in 2010. This Temp ...

of a size of 700 m², a future place for teachings,

interfaith Interfaith (also called "interreligion") may refer to various ways of relating between beliefs, creeds, ideologies, faiths, or religions: * Interfaith conflict (disambiguation) * Interfaith dialogue, also known as interfaith cooperation * Interfai ...

dialogue, cultural and scientific events, and will be dedicated to

Peace Peace is a state of harmony in the absence of hostility and violence, and everything that discusses achieving human welfare through justice and peaceful conditions. In a societal sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (suc ...

in the world. The

cornerstone A cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry Foundation (engineering), foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entir ...

of the building was laid on September 21, 2003 by

Tenga Rinpoche Tenga Rinpoche (; 1932 – 30 March 2012) was a Tibetan teacher (lama) in the Karma Kagyu tradition.Temple for Peace The Temple for Peace (French language, French: ''Temple pour la Paix'') is a construction project of the congregation Vajradhara-Ling in Normandy to promote world peace. The cornerstone was laid in 2003 and construction started in 2010. This Temp ...

construction. In August 2008, during a visit in France, the

14th Dalai Lama The 14th Dalai Lama (born 6 July 1935; full spiritual name: Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, shortened as Tenzin Gyatso; ) is the incumbent Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism. He served a ...

came to Vajradhara-Ling in particular to consecrate the place where the Temple will be constructed.

Notes and references

External links

Web site of Vajradhara-Ling
Asian-French culture Karma Kagyu Organizations based in Normandy Buddhist temples in France Tibetan Buddhism in France Tibetan Buddhist organizations

History of the centre

See also

Notes and references

External links