Friday, November 04, 2005

First snow at Fortress Peak


At Fortress Peak - the hermitage of Tulku Urgyen Rinppoche and his guru in Nangchen - there are still people in retreat. When the snow falls, the meditators gather the first snow and it is used for cooking and cleaning. Because of the high altitude, this place is perfect for particular types of Dzogchen practice, but it is also very cold. Still, the meditators were all smiles.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can you recall the names of those in the pic?What particular type on Dzogchen practise are you refering to please?How long ago was this pic taken?Thank you.

Erik Pema Kunsang said...

There is Lama Nyigah in the orange jacket. I don't know the others who only came out for the halfday snow-gathering. They practice mainly Kunsang Tuktig, the Heart Essence of Samantabhadra. It is a treasure teaching from Padmasambhava and concealed by his chief disciple Yeshe Tsogyal, later to be rediscovered by Chokgyur Lingpa, about 140 years ago.

Anonymous said...

Really wondeful picture! Fortress Peak reminds me of a super-Alpine Swiss peak meadow or a super-enlarged Fraenkische Schweiz mountain meadow. Off the scale actually. Then to see people practicing there enjoying /using the snow! Really nice. And finally proof that there is some snow after all in the Land of Snow!

May Fortress Peak long endure as a shining beacon of Dharma dispelling the darkness of ignorance!

sherabray said...

i had saw the collection of Nangchen photo told by Erik, it was so nice...wish had a opportunity to visit there at least once in my life time...btw, anyone have any idea for sponsorship of the monastery at there? as i know there are more harder to get sponsorship there...

Erik Pema Kunsang said...

Yes, Sherab Ray, it is possible to sponsor this retreat center. Ngaktrin Rinpoche (whose name is also Tsewang Dechen) has three seperate three-year retreat centers, but the one at Fortress peak is the most austere. Water needs to be carried up from a distance of two hours when the rain/snow collection-hole dries up. Ngaktrin Tulku has a bank account in Zining/Xiling I will try to find it and post it here.

sherabray said...

maybe we can report more current situation of the monastery, or website such as like the www.monlam.org for people sponsor the retreat center...