Yeshe Khorlo Estonia was founded in November 2016 as an independent, public-benefit nonprofit association. Its mission is to organize and support cultural and social activities that promote mental well-being, including the Buddha’s teachings in general and Pema Lingpa’s lineage in particular.
More specifically, its primary goal is to realize the vision of Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche, the lineage holder of Pema Lingpa’s tradition. Rinpoche has repeatedly emphasized that a three-year retreat center is essential for a deeper understanding of buddha nature because a thorough practice is the only way to the realization of one’s mind. To fulfill this vision, a three-year retreat center, in its preliminary stage, was built in the small village of Umbusi, Põltsamaa Parish. The first retreat began on September 20, 2024, welcoming practitioners from Europe and beyond.
Beginnings and the construction phase of Yeshe Khorlo three-year retreat center
Ten hectares of land for the construction of the three-year retreat center was generously donated by Umbusi Buddhist center (non-profit Khordong association in Estonia (https://umbusikeskus.wordpress.com/) It is situated in the beautiful and remote Estonian countryside, nearby the village of Umbusi, the birth place of the first and only Estonian Buddhist saint brother Vahindra. The land was blessed by both Gangteng Tulku and Sungtrul Rinpoche in two separate ceremonies (2017 and 2018). At the same time, construction works slowly started.
In the early years, progress was very slow due to a lack of donations. The first essential steps were establishing electricity connections, digging a well, and most importantly—constructing a 400-meter road and a parking lot, which finally made it possible to transport construction materials to the site.
Despite many challenges, construction work continued, carried out entirely on a voluntary basis by a small group of dedicated Yeshe Khorlo Estonia students.
The main phase of construction took place in 2023–2024. In November 2023, a biocleaner was installed, and pipes and electricity cables were laid. At that time, two house frames and the kitchen house foundation had already been built, while the remaining structures were completed in spring and summer 2024. Several people worked nonstop for three months without rest days, with more volunteers joining in the summer.
Some essential tasks, such as bathroom installations, the main electrical panel, and pump connections, had to be completed by professional construction companies. In total, the overall construction costs have exceeded 200,000 euros. However, thanks to the immense contribution of voluntary work, the costs were significantly reduced—without it, the total expenses would have been almost twice as high.
By the end of August 2024, everything was ready for the arrival of Gangteng Rinpoche, who conducted a blessing ceremony for the houses and gave a Vajrakilaya empowerment for those entering retreat and other practitioners.
Preparations continued into late September 2024, and on September 20, Khenpo Karma Wangyel led the retreat opening ceremony. As the drupbön (retreat master), he will oversee the retreat while his own residence is still under construction near the retreat land.
Details of the houses and practical aspects
We have constructed five cozy 25-square-meter retreat huts and a 20-square-meter multipurpose building that serves as both a storage room and a temple house. Each hut provides simple but comfortable living quarters, complete with a kitchenette, bathroom, and a practice room with an altar. Retreatants are well-cared for by retreat helpers who regularly bring food and assist with any needs that may arise.
Retreat practices
The usual practices in retreat are as listed below but the schedule may be adjusted based on the teacher’s instructions and individual circumstances.
Ngöndro (Preliminary Practices) with Lama Norbu Gyamtso – 5–6 months
Lejang (Physical Exercises & Yogic Movements) with Lama Norbu Gyamtso – 6 months
Tsa Lung (Energy Channel Practices) – 3 months
Vajrakilaya Practice – 6 months
Künzang Gongdü Ngöndro – 10,000 recitations
Khorde Rushen (Separation of Samsara & Nirvana) – (time not specified)
Trekchö (Cutting Through Concepts) – 3 months
Münsel Drönme (Dispeller of Darkness) – 3 months
Thögel (Direct Leap) – 100 days
The nature of the retreat
The three-year retreat in the Pema Lingpa lineage is a profound and structured path that integrates Deity Yoga and Dzogchen, revealing their inseparable connection in the Vajrayana tradition. This retreat is designed for seasoned practitioners who have the foundation and dedication to engage in intensive practice under the guidance of qualified masters.
Deity Yoga is a crucial step in this process, as it transforms ordinary perception and cultivates pure vision by dissolving dualistic concepts. Through visualization, mantra recitation, and merging with the deity’s enlightened qualities, practitioners recognize that the deity, the practitioner, and all appearances are inherently empty and luminous. This directly prepares the mind for Dzogchen practice by weakening habitual clinging to a solid, separate self.
Dzogchen, particularly Trekchö (cutting through concepts) and Thögel (direct leap into spontaneous presence), builds upon this foundation by revealing the natural state of mind (rigpa) without effort or conceptual elaboration. Through Khorde Rushen (separating samsara from nirvana), practitioners refine their ability to distinguish fabricated mind from pure awareness, ensuring that their realization is not just intellectual but directly experienced.
This retreat follows the traditional progression of Vajrayana practice, where Deity Yoga stabilizes meditative clarity, and Dzogchen takes practitioners beyond effort into direct realization. The structured environment, continuous practice, and blessings of the lineage create the ideal conditions for recognizing and stabilizing the true nature of mind, leading to liberation within this very lifetime.
If you feel inspired to support this project, you can make a contribution to the following accounts:
Bank account:
Account: EE212200221065708346
SWIFT: HABAEE2XXXX
PayPal account:
