Saying Goodbye to a Magnificent Year

During the auspicious Tibetan Year of the Fire Monkey, the mandala of Mindrolling spun and shimmered ever more intensely. All its locations, including Lotus Garden, settled joyously into a web of glittering golden strands, while geographical distances seemed to dissolve in a rain of blessings. Throughout the mandala, the sacred took form as pilgrimage, empowerments, drubchoes, teachings, retreats, the building of temples, shrines and statues, kitchen and office renovations, administrative tasks, gardening, cooking and cleaning — all unfolding in a harmonious dance of activity.

The Bhutan Pilgrimage

In March, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Jetsun la, with inimitable kindness, led the Bhutan Pilgrimage which was undertaken by 180 members of the worldwide Mindrolling sangha.

Sangha members gathered with Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Minling Sangyum Kushog, monks and nuns of Mindrolling at Pelela Pass in Bhutan, March 2016.

Preparing to hang prayer flags at Pelela Pass. Bhutan, March 2016

Ascending to Drak Karpo. Bhutan, March 2016.

Longchenpa statue in the Tarpaling Shrine Room. Bhutan, March 2016.

Sangha during sadhana practice at Paro. Bhutan, March 2016.

Guru Rinpoche statue. Bhutan, March 2016.

Ascending to Taktsang. Bhutan, March 2016,

The Mindrolling family, the monks and nuns of Mindrolling along with sangha members pose at the foot of Taktsang after their descent from the sacred site. Bhutan, April 2016.

Sangha members pay respects at the throne of Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Bhutan, March 2016.

Practicing at Paro Chim Phug, the Vajrayogini Temple. Bhutan, March 2016.

At the site of the great Shakyamuni Buddha statue at Thimpu. Bhutan, 2016.

Buildings and Land

Upon returning from pilgrimage, the sangha plunged into a spring and summer season of preparing buildings and land for upcoming programs. Minling Jetsün Dechen Paldron was in residence, providing continuous inspiration and guidance, along with the delightful young Dungse Rinpoche and Jetsün Rinpoche who brought so much joy to everyone.

View of the newly renovated main kitchen at Lotus Garden.

Lama Roar working inside the new walk-in cooler which was installed in the rebuilt kitchen annex.

Lotus Garden purchased an adjoining property with a house. Here the European residents pose in front of their new residence, called the Blue House.

Gay and Jud Williams at their newly completed retreat cabin.

New Programs Unveiled

Rinpoche and Jetsunla, with vast vision and compassionate activity, had been reshaping the training methods and curricula for Lotus Garden, and now introduced two new annual programs. The first annual Mindrol Lekshey which was held from July 21 to August 21 and the first annual Vajrayana Retreat which ran from September 9-25, were eagerly embraced by practitioners who attended in record numbers.

Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche during a teaching at the Mindrol Lekshey Program in July 2016.

His Eminence Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche is greeted by Dungse Rinpoche, Jetsün Rinpoche, Her Eminence Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, monks, nuns and sangha members.

His Eminence Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche teaching on the Uttaratantra-Shastra during the Mindrol Lekshey, July 2016.

Dungse Rinpoche celebrates his birthday with the sangha.

Members of the sangha pose with staff of the Page County Animal Shelter, one of the charities to whom Lotus Garden makes an annual donation in honor of Dungse Rinpoche's birthday.

Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Mindrolling Jetsün Dechen Paldron meet with a panel of sangha health professionals during the Ease and Elegance program. July 2016.

A celebration in honor of the elders of the sangha.

Calligraphy of the Heart Sutra by Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche.

Acarya Ven. Namdrol Gyatso la and students during Tibetan Language Class, a course of instruction entitled Learning Tibetan Language and Ritual. Mindrol Lekshey, 2016.

Acarya Ven. Namdrol Gyatso la leading pranayama yoga class.

Ven. Thrinley Gyatso la and students during instrument instruction.

Students practicing instruments. Mindrol Lekshey 2016.

Evening Prayers at Lotus Garden. Mindrol Lekshey 2016

View of the retreat Gar during the Vajrayana Retreat, 2016.

View of the full moon from the retreat area. Vajrayana Retreat 2016.

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Jetsün Rinpoche during the Vajrayana Retreat 2016.

The Mindrolling Mahasangha

Soon after retreat ended, the first annual Mahasangha took place in Germany and a group of Lotus Garden sangha members set off to join European sangha members in a five-day drubchoe of the Minling Dorsem.

Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, Tulku Drakpa Rinpoche, Mindrolling Sangyum Kushog arriving at Oberlethe, Germany for the Mahasangha. October 2016.

Vajrasattva Shrine at the Mahasangha. October 2016

Musicians during the sadhana. October 2016.

View of the shrine room at Oberlethe, Germany. Mahasangha 2016.

Offering khatags to the Mindrolling Family during the Mahasangha at Oberlethe, Germany. October 2016.

A Temple Arises

As the trees grew bare and November winds swept the land, the new temple, the main seat of Mindrolling in the West, rose above ground with the installation of the first phase of customized steel beams. Construction will continue through the winter months as workers work ready the main floor of the temple for summer programs.

Once the concrete has dried sufficiently, workers check and touch up the surface of the new concrete floor.

NOVEMBER 15-Late afternoon view of basement progress.

Installing beams at the new temple. November 2016.

Positioning a vertical beam. November 2016

December 22--Floor joist installation completed.

Welcoming the New Year with Practice and Prayer

As 2016 draws to a close and the winter holidays are upon us, a group of practitioners will be gathering at Lotus Garden for the winter holiday retreat, to review and practice teachings Rinpoche bestowed during the Vajrayana Retreat—a quiet conclusion to a magnificent year.