Introduction

A short introduction to Dzogchen Urgyen Ling

Dzogchen Urgyen Ling has first and foremost been a platform for arranging different kind of Buddhist arrangements in Denmark, with different teachers whom mostly belong to the oldest of the tibetan schools – the Nyingmapa. Beside this it’s been a place where people could make personal retreat, and for longer or shorter periods focus on their own practice.
Below you’ll find a more detailed review of the teachers who have visited Dzogchen Urgyen Ling since 1992.

About Dzogchen Urgyen Ling

In 1992 the first arrangement was with the Bonpo Lama Tenzing Wangyal Rinpoche, this was before the place was named Urgyen Ling, at this time the place got the name Kyung Dzong (Eagles Castle). Tenzing Wangyal Rinpoche visited Gjerrild two more times in 1993 and 1995.

The year after we where a small group of people who invited Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche to
Copenhagen, here Rinpoche gave many empowerments and transmissions during the fortnight the
visit lasted. During the end of this event one (Benny Friis Gunnø) from the group asked about a
name for a Dharma group, where we could train in some of the things Rinpoche learned us. At the
last day another one from the group (Jens Rasmussen) was asked to coordinate the activities of
that group which was named Urgyen Ling.

In 1994 Rinpoche returned, this time to Danish countryside, Djursland, and this year Rinpoche was giving his permission to name the place in Gjerrild Urgyen Ling. Chhimed continued to come back both to Copenhagen and Gjerrild up
through the nineties. Rinpoche visited Gjerrild the last time in the early summer 2000.

In February 1999 Dzogchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche visited Denmark the first time on the invitation of Urgyen Ling. The same year he visited Gjerrild the first time, where he stayed for 14 days teaching on the first Patrul Rinpoche’s ‘The heart treasure of the enlightened ones’. He was also bestowing several empowerments from The Longchen Nyingthig Cycle, ‘The assembly of the Vidyadharas’ (Rigdzin Düpa) and to ‘The queen of great bliss’ (Dechen Gyalmo). Dzogchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche have continued to come back to both Copenhagen, Aarhus and Gjerrild where he have taught and been giving transmissions and empowerments. Since the death of Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche in 2002, he and Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche has been our main advisors regarding our activities.

In the year 2000 the former abbot of the Dzogchen Monastery in Tibet, Kyabdje Pema Kalzang
Rinpoche came to Europe, and in connection with this he came to Denmark and was giving teachings, transmissions and empowerments in both Copenhagen and Gjerrild. In Copenhagen quite a lot of people came, but because Rinpoche was relatively unknown in Denmark we were only a few privileged people in Gjerrild, who had the opportunity to spend time with on of the greatest tibetan masters of our time. It was on this occasion that Dzogchen was added to the already existing name Urgyen Ling.

First time we meet Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche was in 2000 during Kyabdje Pema Kalzang Rinpoches teachings in Belgium. Rinpoche was invited to Denmark the first time in 2002. At that time he hadn’t finished his studies at the Mindroling Monastery in India, but came from India to Europe every year. Since then he have visited Denmark regularly, both Gjerrild and Copenhagen, and have often been teaching several times each year. After Rinpoche finished his studies he was asked to reside in Finland, where he is now staying on a more permanent basis.

Several other Lamas has visited Dzogchen Urgyen Ling over the years among them are Khenpo Thubten Lodru Nyima, Lakha Rinpoche and the Danish lamas Lama Ani Palmo and Lama Tendar.
Dzogchen Urgyen Ling is not as such a traditional western Buddhist Center, but have at the same time had a function as a Yoga center and course site. This was originally started up by Kristine Krogstrup with the intention to create a place where it was possible to participate in residential courses for a affordable price.