Photo by Maike Stellbrink
A couple of days before the retreat, it was 38 degrees in Merigar, the first Dzogchen Gar established in the West by the Dzogchen Community, and the participants of the retreat were starting to trickle in. Everybody was busy preparing for Rinpoche’s arrival and the retreat. A practitioner was assembling some new furniture to transform the inner dining room into a comfortable sitting room, for people to be able to do their email with the new wifi connection, aptly named ‘Mensa’. Movements were slow, and there was some concern about the heat.
A day of stormy weather during the retreat. Photo by Ans Swart
As Rinpoche arrived, the temperature dropped to a very pleasant, balmy 25 degrees, a summer thunderstorm had cooled the land off and the atmosphere was one of friendly excitement. The retreat on the ‘Bardo Instructions Sealed with the Hum’ was about to begin.
More than 900 people attended the retreat, many having to sit outside the Gonpa. Photo Liz Granger
The next few days were full of sunlight and perfect weather, as Rinpoche unfolded the teachings. People greeted each other after longer and shorter absences since the retreat before, and the wonderful summer put everyone in a good mood. The Meriger Gakyil and the Geko of Merigar had prepared everything perfectly, from the registration to the parking helpers to the new yellow canopies protecting the chairs set up outside for people to sit. The hosts and hostesses of the Gonpa greeted all comers with a smile, and helped anyone with any questions.
The essence of the Bardo teachings that Rinpoche had received in five separate dreams were perfectly laid out for us to marvel at, like a string of pearls. This was part of Rinpoche’s personal Terma, which is his legacy to this world. This was part of the Longsal teachings. We are actually experiencing the living Terma tradition in 2015, as has been practiced in Tibet for centuries. We are in the presence of a modern Terton. Amazing!
Smoke from the Sang at one of the entrances to the cinerarium during the opening. Photo Liz Granger
In the days leading up to the retreat a group of dedicated practitioners specialized in art, under the guidance of Migmar Tsering, had finished the painting of the new cinerarium that had been built next to the Gonpa. The cinerarium is lined on the inside with small cubicles designed to hold the urns of the ashes of practitioners after they have passed. My family and I had the honor of being the first ‘outsiders’ to see the beautiful new paintings installed in the ceiling. These are a series of panels showing various aspects of the teaching, and have been painted with a very high level of precision and detail, making them a particular treasure. The cinerarium was inaugurated by Rinpoche during the retreat, accompanied by a large group of practitioners, some of whom squeezed inside during the inauguration. Altogether we sang the Song of the Vajra to potentiate the building with the Dzogchen transmission. The drone camera was buzzing overhead, and there is surely a very nice video of the event posted somewhere on the Internet.
The Gonpa was packed with Khaita dancers during the retreat. Photo Liz Granger
Every evening for two hours there was Khaita with Rinpoche. Khaita means ‘Joyful Dances’, and that it surely was. A great number of practitioners packed into the Gonpa every session to first learn to sing, and then dance Khaita. The Gonpa was full of joyful faces jumping and spinning to the music produced by the modern musicians of Tibet, and choreographed by members of the Dzogchen Community, based on traditional Tibetan dance steps. It was a truly wonderful end to every day, and we all went home smiling and relaxed. The Khaita project, Rinpoche’s latest, is being actively documented on YouTube under the heading of ‘Khaita Joyful Dances’.
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu is presented with gifts at the end of the retreat. Photo Liz Granger
Evolution Creations on display in front of the Gonpa. Photo Carla Gnecchi
After the retreat is over, it’s always a sad moment when it’s time to go back home. Once back home, the whole thing seems like it was a wonderful dream. Even being home seems like some kind of dream. Refreshed and healed, one can once again try to integrate daily life into the teaching, hopefully with at least a little ordinary presence from time to time, and hopefully without trying too hard.
David Ruiz Loridan
