Pharping

Home to the Rigpa Shedra: the Palyul Retreat Centre

Pharping, a town south of Kathmandu in Nepal, is identified with the sacred site of Yangleshö (Wyl. yang le shod), where Guru Padmasambhava attained the level of a Mahamudra vidyadhara. Yangleshö is thus considered to be the second Bodhgaya because it is where Guru Padmasambhava attained the state of enlightenment.

There are two major practice caves in Pharping blessed by Guru Rinpoche: the Asura cave and the Yangleshö cave. Pharping also has several monasteries, temples and retreat centres, including an important Vajrayogini temple, Chatral Rinpoche's monastery, and the Palyul Retreat Centre, which is the residence of Khenpo Namdrol Rinpoche and home to the Rigpa Shedra.

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Berkeley, 15 September 1996 (Rinpoche briefly discusses the exact location of Guru Rinpoche's attainment of the mahamudra vidyadhara stage)

External Links

• Praise of Yangleshö by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
• Buddhist Holy Sites of Nepal - Pharping by Stefan Mang

OpenStreetMap

The map of Pharping shows the location of the Rigpa Shedra.

Google Earth

Use Google Earth for a view on the retreat centre: Shedra East at Palyul Retreat Centre.