Visa information for people willing to take part in retreat outside of Europe
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).
More information about the residence permit procedures is found at https://www.politsei.ee/en/instructions/residence-permit-card-for-an-adult
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.
News about the retreat center project (September 2020)
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/).
Yeshe Khorlo co-ordinators:
Estonia: Jako (jakojaagu@gmail.com),
Germany: Ines (ih@yeshekhorlo.de),
France: Bernard (bbodineau@9online.fr ),
Switzerland: Marion (mpgerig@bluewin.ch ),
Austria: Florian (flow.immer@gmx.at ),
Poland: Andrzej (rybszlegerr@gmail.com ),
Ukraine: Natascha (gavrylenko.natali@gmail.com).
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.
Retreat house project
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 in Estonia 2019
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.
Gangteng Rinpoche in Estonia – registration
REGISTER HERE
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 2019. Estonia included: July 10-12, 2019
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.