If a person is not from Schengen area (for example Ukrainian, Russian, Bhutanese citizen), they all have similar visa conditions.
Estonian Pema Lingpa religious organisation can invite religious teachers, monks, and nuns for longer period.
All the persons from above-mentioned countries fall under the residence permit quota: that is to say, only certain number of long term residence permits is given out every year.
This type of residence permit can only be applied in December and January (time for appointment has to be booked earlier, in October or November, as soon as the submitting of applications opens). When the time is booked, this person has to personally present himself/herself in the migration office or foreign consulate of his/her country.
The processing of the application takes two months usually and when the positive decision is made, the person does not need to go herself/himself to collect the permit card, somebody with his/her consent can do it (it has to be mentioned in the papers when the application is given).
The residence permit can be given for five years (this is what should be applied for) but they never give it for that long for the first time. Usually they give it for one or two years. Then the permit can be prolonged online, no need to go in the office.
This means that for the persons from above-mentioned countries the only possible starting time of the retreat is around March, when the positive decision is made about the residence permit.
They can come to Estonia for a short, one-year residence permit (living and work permit, but for monks and nuns, there is no need to give a salary). This can be done online and does not fall under the quota. But the problem with this short-term permit is that when one year is done, the same type of permit cannot be prolonged immediately, the person has to stay out of the country for a certain period.
However, with this permit (if she/he came here with that) she/he can apply for a long-term residence permit (which was described above).
The letters of invitation have to be approved in the ministry of interior affairs. Invitation letters have to be done by the Estonian religious association of Pema Lingpa.
Information about the three-year retreat for the students of Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche (and those with his consent) and the update about the construction works
As of August 2020, around five people have informed us of the interest of taking part in the first three-year retreat in Europe as soon as the construction works have finished.
Because of the Covid-19 crisis and difficulties which were created by the lack of the road that leads to the future meditation center, all the works have been delayed considerably.
As of September 2020, foundation works are in its final phase. The board members of Yeshe Khorlo Estonia have taken a decision that the works cannot be continued without the road and a drainage system around the meditation center’s site.
Therefore, to continue the works, the priority is the construction of the road (around 400 meters) which leads to the site. We have got several offers and the cheapest one is 13 000 euros.
We have now around 6000 euros which can be used for the construction of the road but much more is necessary to continue the construction works of the retreat huts and the kitchen (including a hall for gatherings). As we got one generous offering from Ukraine, the foundation works for the kitchen are also in its final phase (the main problem why the work has not been finished is the lack of the road – heavy vehicles with building materials cannot approach the site).
The cost of one retreat house is around 10 000 euros, but additional costs should be added (up to four houses: 5425 euros per each house, additional extra costs for the fifth, sixth etc house: 1900 euros as sewage system is already included):
sewage system
heating system (air-air pump);
water connection;
electricity.
All the details about the costs are thoroughly described here.
Shortly: to finish the four retreat houses and the road, approximately 67 500 euros is necessary. Every next retreat house (when the four are finished) will cost around 12 000 euros including everything. The cost of the construction of the kitchen (gathering hall) will be around 30 000 euros.
Cost for participants
The cost for the entire retreat is estimated at about 21 000 euros per participant.
From the 21 000, 6000 euros is meant to go toward construction. Participants of the retreat should first make the payment of 6000 euros for construction work and the rest can be paid later.
Foundation work for four huts are in its final phase. There is also enough money for a deep drilled well which cannot be drilled before the road is done. For the road, there is 6000 euros on the account.
Request to support building works and participants’ retreat fee
It is very possible that there may be some who wish to participate in the retreat but lack the necessary funds. In addition, Yeshe Khorlo Estonia does not have the necessary funds to finish the huts and the kitchen building.
It is only with the help of the entire Sangha that we can realize this project and give serious practitioners a chance to consecrate their full time for practice. It will benefit all of us if we can support this project. Even a small amount can be of great help!
Deadlines
Because of the corona virus and the lack of funds, the beginning time of retreat is postponed and the exact time can be told only when the sufficient funds are there to quickly complete the construction works (if the funds were here right now, it is possible to finish the construction works by autumn 2021. If there are still more people interested in starting the retreat, they should immediately contact Khenpo Karma Wangyel or their country’s coordinator.
The next step will be the meeting of all participants, and possibly a trip to Umbusi in Estonia to visit the site and discuss the necessary preparations for the retreat.
Information about the ongoing building works will be available on Yeshe Khorlo Estonia’s website (yeshekhorlo.ee). There is also information about the Yeshe Khorlo Estonia’s bank account and Paypal (https://yeshekhorlo.ee/contact/).
We are looking forward to the realization of the three-year retreat site which will allow practitioners to do their practice right here in Europe with no need to travel somewhere far away – India, Bhutan or the moon as Rinpoche said – crossing cultural, culinary and other borders. We hope that there will be a sufficient number of interested candidates as well as potential sponsors so that we may realize the construction of the retreat huts as soon as possible and start the first three-year retreat in Pema Lingpa’s tradition in Europe.
Here you can see the retreat house project (a view from east, west, main plan and views from different sides). It is a small house of 20m2 of size, including kitchen corner and bathroom. It also has a terrasse in front of the house. The house is planned in a way that is suitable for a cold climate (water system enter into the house from one place in the middle – as the house has a beam foundation, water pipes have to be insulated in a special way. If there are more donations that allow to build a bigger house, it is possible to change everything (add beams for a foundation etc). The room plan is not fixed – it is possible to move inside walls (probably the meditation room has to be bigger, kitchen and bathroom can be smaller). Construction of the foundations will start next week (from the 16th of December). We are very grateful for the donations we have received up to now. We have also received one bigger donation specially for kitchen. However, lot of donations is still necessary. Please use this great chance to practice generosity!
Khenpo Karma Wangyel marking the spot of the first retreat house
In the middle of November 2019, Khenpo Karma Wangyel visited again the construction site of the future retreat center. The final decision about the construction works was made – it is faster to build individual retreat houses for practitioners with a temple hall that can be built later. If in the beginning only the retreat houses and a kitchen will be built, the first group of retreatants can start their three-year retreat in the beginning of 2021.
As of December 10th 2019, we have got two offers for the construction of the houses and we are waiting for the third offer and a sketch of the house. There is enough money now to start the foundation works and place the order of the deep drilled well. A rough price for one retreat house will be around 10,000 euros. As soon as it is clear which company we will use, we can present here a detailed list of works and the exact cost of every step.
GURU RINPOCHE EMPOWERMENT and FEAST PRACTICE (tsokkor)
Let us come together
and transform the future Yeshe Khorlo’s three-year retreat center’s land into
Zangdokpalri – Guru Rinpoche’s abode. It is said that this can be done
specifically through the practice of tsok offering (feast offering).
Gangteng Rinpoche’s program (in English and Estonian) 2019. Estonia included: July 10-12
Germany, Munich. Saksamaa, München
20.6.2019 – Rinpotše saabub Münchenisse.
Rinpoche arrives to Munich (kuukalendri 4. kuu 18. päev. 18th day of the 4th lunar
month).
21.5. –
puhkepäev. Rest day. (4. kuu 19. päev, 19th day of the 4th lunar month).
22 – 24.6 – Kurukulle pühitsus ja õpetused. Kurukulle empowerment and teachings. Kuukalendri 4. kuu 20.-22. päev; 20 -22nd day of the 4th lunar month).
Poland. Poola, erinevad paigad (Lõuna-Poolas Kudowa Zdroj lähedal)
25.06. –
Reis Poolasse. Rinpotše soovib reisida autoga. Travel to Poland,
Rinpoche wishes to go by car. Kuukalendri 4. kuu 23. päev. 23rd day of the 4th lunar month).
26.06. –
Puhkepäev. Rest day. Kuukalendri 4. kuu
24. päev. 24th day of the 4th
lunar month.
27 – 28.06. – Avalik loeng. Public teaching. Kuukalendri 4. kuu 25.-26. päev. 25th– 27th day of the 4th lunar month. Topic: Entering Great Completion: Pema Lingpa’s lineage and legacy. Suure Täiuse teele asumine: Pema Lingpa õpetusliin ja pärand.
29.06 – Kurukulle pühitsus rinpotšele kingitud
uuel maatükil Jarkowis. Kurukulle empowerment in Jarkow (new land). Kuukalendri
4. kuu 27. päev. 27th day of
the 4th lunar month.
30.06.
– Künzang Gongdü pühitsus. Künzang Gondü empowerment. Kuukalendri 4. kuu
28. päev. 28th day of the 4th lunar month.
01 -7.07. –
Bardo eralduslaager. (Gangteng rinpotše kogu õpetustsükli kõige viimane
osa, milles saab osaleda vaid siis, kui kõik eelnevad osad on tehtud). Bardo
retreat. Kuukalendri 4. kuu 29. päev kuni 5. kuu 5. päev. 29th day of the 4th lunar month –
5th day of the 5th lunar month.
Estonia. Põltsamaa county, Umbusi village. Eesti, Põltsamaa vald, Umbusi
08.07. –
Reis Eestisse. Travel to Estonia. Kuukalendri
5. kuu 6. päev. 6th day of
the 5th lunar month.
09.07. –
Puhkepäev. Rest day. Kuukalendri 5. kuu 7. päev. 7th day of the 5th lunar
month.
10 -12.07. (kolmapäev, neljapäev ja reede) – Guru Kalliskiviookeani pühitsus (Guru Rinpotše)
koos suure tsoki (pühitsetud toidu) praktikaga. Empowerment of Lama Norbu
Gyatso. Tsokkor. kuukalendri 5. kuu 8.-11. päev. 8-11th days of the 5th lunar month.
Ukraine. Ukraina
13.07. –
Reis Ukrainasse. Travel to Ukraine. Kuukalendri 5. kuu 12. päev. 12th day of the 5th lunar month.
14.07. –
Puhkepäev. Rest day. Kuukalendri 5. kuu 13. päev. 13th day of the 5th lunar month.
15 – 21.07.
– Künzang Gongdü pühitsus (täielikus mahus, lisaks dzogtšeni osad). Künzang
Gondü empowerment. Kuukalendri 14.-19. päev.
From 14th day to 19th day of the 5th lunar month.
22.07. – Rinpotše lendab Bangkokki. Rinpoche travels to Bangkok. Kuukalendri 5. kuu 20. päev. 20the day of the 5th lunar month.
In order to fulfill the objectives of Gangteng Rinpoche in Europe and in Estonia, the students of Rinpoche first created a non-profit association Yeshe Khorlo Eesti in Estonia in 2016.
However, as a non-profit association cannot organise the coming of the resident teacher in Estonia, an official Sangha (Pema Lingpa’s Sangha) had to be registered as this procedure falls within the competence of the Sangha. That was was done on the 7th January 2019. As of January 2019, the Sangha has 12 members.
Khenpo Karma Wangyel, the resident teacher for Europe of Yeshe Khorlo will give teachings about ”phags pa’i bden pa bzhi” – the four underlying realities understood by the noble ones.
Khenpo Karma Wangyel, the resident teacher for Europe of Yeshe Khorlo will give teachings about ”phags pa’i bden pa bzhi” – the four underlying realities understood by the noble ones.
Time: 23rd Nov (18PM-19.30PM); 24th-25th of November (from 10AM to 18PM)
Place: Kullo gallery in Tallinn Old Town (Kuninga 6).
Language: translation from Tibetan into Estonian (on special request other arrangements can be made).
Here, the original contents of the letter are displayed (the plan has changed, as of 2020 onwards):
The first center dedicated to retreat for the Pema Lingpa tradition in Europe (leaflet is found here)
“Even though we ourselves might not be able to go into the traditional long retreat at this time, there is great merit in helping others to do it” says Khenpo Karma Wangyel.
AN INVITATION TO MAKING HISTORY
In Europe, there are many options for Buddhist practitioners, yet centers dedicated solely to retreat are rare. With the blessings of Gangteng Tulku and Sungtrul Rinpoche, under the leadership of Khenpo Karma Wangyel, the Yeshe Khorlo European Sangha is in the process of establishing such a center in the peaceful forest lands of Estonia. The name of the retreat center is Samten Lhündrup Gatsel, which means The Delightful Grove of Spontaneous Concentration. The center will consist of a facility focused on 3-year retreat, as well as individual retreat huts for shorter retreats. Gangteng Tulku has instructed Sanghas to focus on building the first one in Estonia, followed by several others in Europe.
TIMELINE AND STATUS
Yeshe Khorlo Estonia Sangha already has 10 hectares of land in the beautiful Estonian countryside, nearby the village of Umbusi, the birth place of the first Estonian Buddhist saint brother Vahindra. The land was generously donated by Khordong Association in Estonia, and has been blessed by both Gangteng Tulku and Sungtrul Rinpoche in two separate ceremonies. On this land, a retreat facility will be built starting in autumn/2018.
The building will have 10 separate rooms for retreat participants, and a common meditation hall in the middle. The first batch of retreatants will start their retreat at the beginning of 2021 under the guidance of an English speaking retreat master.
THE 3-YEAR RETREAT PROGRAM
Out of the three trainings—learning, analysis, and meditation—the traditional long retreat program emphasizes meditation. The program provides an ideal basis for the wholehearted focus on developing meditation practice in an environment where causes for distraction and other obstacles are minimized. The long retreat program in the Pema Lingpa tradition consists of 6 months of preliminary practice, followed by deity practice, tummo, tsalung, and Dzogchen meditation such as trekchö and thögel. All the instructions will be given directly by the retreat master in English.
BENEFITS FOR SPONSORS
Together with other kinds of Buddhist centers, retreat centers are significant causes for the spreading and longevity of Dharma. Such centers become the cause for purification of karma of countless beings. The sutras explain that the merits of building Buddhist Monasteries and Institutions are inconceivable. These merits will never decrease or diminish.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The total cost for the project is €300,000 which will be raised on-going while the building of the retreat center commences. Opportunities are provided for both one-time donations, and monthly commitments. In addition to financial support, prayers and auspicious wishes are most welcome. Details for sponsor packages, together with bank account and PayPal information:
Perfection Sponsor
€50,000
(1 available in total)
Donate €50,000 or more and sponsor the Lama room and meditation hall. Includes a 50-year room rent fee waiver for one retreatant at a time and a name inscription in the Meditation hall statue, entrance, and meditation hall.
Vajra Sponsor
€10,000
(10 available in total)
Donate €10,000 or more and sponsor the building of a retreat room. Includes one 3-year retreat room rent fee waiver and name inscription in the hall.
Lotus Sponsor
€5,000
(20 available in total)
Donate €5,000 or more and sponsor building infrastructure. Includes first-year room rent fee waiver and name inscription in the entrance
Building Sponsor
€750
(100 available in total)
Donate €750 or more and sponsor the building of the retreat building exterior. Includes name inscription in the entrance.
Tree Sponsor
€100
(100 available in total)
Donate €100 or more to sponsor the growing of a beautiful lush forest around the retreat center and the surrounding area.
Supporter
Monthly Donation
Commit to a monthly donation of any amount and support resident Lama expenses and other recurring costs.
“In short, all apparitions are the forms of yidams, awakened beings. All sounds are reverberations of mantras, arising of the Speech of the awakened ones. All thoughts are indistinguishable from the mind of the awakened ones. This is how the three types of apparition appear. You should practice that either during and after your meditation session, in real life. Recognition of purity is a continuous process.”
“In short, all apparitions are the forms of yidams, awakened beings. All sounds are reverberations of mantras, arising of the Speech of the awakened ones. All thoughts are indistinguishable from the mind of the awakened ones. This is how the three types of apparition appear. You should practice that either during and after your meditation session, in real life. Recognition of purity is a continuous process.” Extract from Gangteng Rinpoche’s public talk in Estonia 2017.
In 2016, a group of Gangteng Rincoche’s students in Estonia found Yeshe Khorlo Estonia, a non-profit organisation to fulfill the goals of Gangteng Rinpoche in Estonia. Rinpoche, who is the lineage holder of Pema Lingpa’s tradition of Nyingma school, has an objective to establish here a 3-year retreat center for his students and other followers of Buddhadharma, who are interested in practices of Pema Lingpa’s tradition.
Gangteng Rinpoche, who is also the current head of Nyingma school in Bhutan, visited Estonia in summer 2017, from 28th of July to 29th July. He gave a fascinating public talk in Tallinn about the Vajrayana tradition in general, having the focus on Dzogchen tradition in particular. The video of the public talk is found here. It is in Tibetan, translated into English (oral translation) and Estonian (subtitles).
After that, Gangteng Rinpoche gave in the village of Umbusi, Umbusi Dharma center in Põltsamaa parish, an introductory lecture about the essence of Dzogchen teachings, from three aspects – ground, path and fruit.
On the last day, on the 29th of July , in the morning, Rinpoche performed the riwo sangchö ritual on the Yeshe Khorlo retreat center’s land which was offered by Khordong association in Estonia (Umbusi Buddhist center). Ths particular plot of land was personally chosen by Khenpo Karma Wangyel, the resident Khenpo of Europe in November 2016. The riwo sangchö ritual was accompanied by a short story about the merits accumulated by those who are acting as sponsors for the Buddhadharma.
In the afternoon, Rinpoche gave an initiation of Amitayus, belonging to the treasure cycle of Pema Lingpa (tshetri dorje threngwa).
