Thubten Phuntsog Gephel Ling
Retreat Centre
Due to covid-19, all the facilities of Guhya Mantrika are for the moment closed to the public
Welcome to our Retreat Center
Thubten Phuntsog Gephel Ling or in English "The Island where the Buddha's Teachings are Completely Present, thus Spreading Virtue", name given by His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche the Supreme Master of the Nyingmapa tradition, is an integral part of Guhya Mantrika Community. This Retreat Center is sacred and unique space in our country that provides to all who are interested teachings and retreats in the Spiritual Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
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Thubten Phuntsog Gephel Ling
Tubthen Puntsok Gephel Ling is a Retreat and Meditation Centre established in the beautiful Portuguese countryside between Alcácer do Sal and Monomer, on more than 60 hectares of unspoiled hills, rivers, woodlands and meadows.
TPGL is an integral part of the active Buddhist community of the Guhya Mantrika Community. We keep a regular programme of teachings, meditation, prayers and traditional practices, retreats and community projects, which aim to preserve and transmit the values and spiritual tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. Our tradition follows the Nyingma and Kagyü lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, as it was developed and taught by Guru Rinpoche [Padmasambhava] - an enlightened Indian master who introduced Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century CE - as well as other realised masters of these Blessed Lineages of Realisation.
The direction and spiritual guidance of the Centre is the responsibility of its founders, Lama Urgyen Chökyi Dorje and Lama Gyurme, with the collaboration of several other Lamas of the above-mentioned traditions.
Tubthen Puntsok Gephel Ling is a sacred and unique space in Portugal hich provides to any interested party several kinds of teachings, retreats, and workshops in the spiritual tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. One does not need to be a Buddhist to visit us: anyone with good will and the aspiration to lead a healthier, more peaceful, and more meaningful life is welcome to use and share what the manor has to offer.
History
The manor became Tubthen Puntsok Gephel Ling as a the manifestation of the vision and aspirations of the Lamas and Sangha (the spiritual community) of Guhya Mantrika Community. During the visit of Venerable Lama Chökyi Dorje in May 2010, he shared with the Sangha something that until then he only mentioned to our teacher in residence, Lama Gyurme: he revealed his vision and explained the importance of building in Portugal a «Temple of the Heavenly Palace of Padmasambhava», as well as a Retreat Centre, and also mentioned the impact it would have in the development of Dharma in our country, namely through the unmeasurable benefit it would bring not only in our present days, but also to future generations.
Looking at the examples in India and Tibet, where temples and monasteries, with their assemblies of practitioners, brought great benefits to beings by upholding and spreading the teachings of the Buddha, we therefore feel that we ought to do our best to imitate them in our country.
Our aspiration is to create an extremely sound foundation for the development of a Nyingma Buddhist spiritual community in Portugal, with all the opportunities of studying and practicing, just like the ones we currently still find in the East. Therefore, we will be able to provide future generations of Portuguese (as well as interested parties from other countries) a full and complete training following the three levels of precepts: externally observing the precepts of Personal Liberation; internally keeping the Bodhisattva training; and at the most intimate level, keeping the Vajrayana practice.
Gephel Ling additionally provides installations and habitation for traditional retreats done according to the Nyingma and Kagyü guidelines of Tibetan Buddhism. This retreat centre will provide the perfect environment for residents in Portugal to have the glorious opportunity, as their counterparts in the East, and the richest people in the West, to practice in reclusion, embodying the living lineages of Dzogchen and Mahamudra.