Dzogchen Beara
Dzogchen Beara - Set on cliffs of the Beara peninsula in the west of Ireland, looking out over the Atlantic ocean, Dzogchen Beara is the setting for Rigpa’s long-term or secluded retreats, including closed one-year intensive retreats that lead to the traditional three-year retreat.
As well as holding public courses and seminars, Dzogchen Beara also serves as a centre of activity for Rigpa’s Spiritual Care education and training programme. Many of the Tibetan lamas who have visited Dzogchen Beara have remarked on its extraordinary purity and natural healing qualities, a place that naturally inspires meditation and inner reflection.
“Dzogchen Beara is like a conch-shell made of crystal. It will sing out the sound of the teachings to beings of all the ten directions.” —His Holiness Sakya Trizin
History
- 1973: Peter and Harriet Cornish buy 150 acres of rugged farmland with a wish to create a place that would offer a spiritual home to people of all traditions.
- 1992: Peter and Harriet made a gift of the land and buildings to a charitable trust under the spiritual guidance of Sogyal Rinpoche, founder of Rigpa.
- June 1993: Harriet dies of cancer at the age of 44. Harriet’s peaceful death and the care she received inspired the development of the Spiritual Care Education Programme and the building of the Spiritual Care Centre at Dzogchen Beara.
- 1994: One-year retreats begin
- 1999, December: Tulku Pegyal Rinpoche grants the empowerments of Yumka Dechen Gyalmo and Dukngal Rangdrol
- 2000: Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche visits and teaches Yang Nying Pudri
- 2003: Rigpa Shedra takes place. Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche taught on Maitreya’s Abhisamayalankara and Alan Wallace presented the views of the four main philosophical schools of Indian Buddhism. Students also reviewed Ringu Tulku Rinpoche’s teachings on the whole of the Bodhicharyavatara.
- 2004: The Rigpa Shedra is held in Dzogchen Beara for the second time. Dzogchen Rinpoche taught on the Abhisamayalankara, and Ringu Tulku Rinpoche began his teachings on Shantarakshita’s Madhyamakalankara.
- 2008, 3 August: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on Light Comes Through
- 2009, February: Chagdud Khadro leads a phowa retreat
- 2011, 14-16 October: Garchen Rinpoche teaching on the bardos and phowa practice; empowerments of Amitabha & Vajrayogini; several lungs
Further Reading
- Peter Cornish, In Memory of Harriet
- Peter Cornish, Dazzled by Daylight (Garranes Publications, 2014)