Background: Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Worldwide

In the isolation ofthe high Himalayan plateau of Tibet, an ancient and rich spiritual culture with subtle teachings on meditation and healing was preserved intact. This tradition was largely hidden from the West until 1959, when political upheaval forced over 100,000 Tibetans to flee their homeland and become refugees. Since then people in the West have begun to study Buddhism more deeply, have come to deeply appreciate its wisdom and have started to practice meditation. The benefits of meditation and the links between body and mind increasingly are becoming known, accepted and practiced.

However, without experienced guidance it is difficult to learn how to practice meditation. Over the years groups have invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist meditation masters to teach the West, and many monasteries and centres to explore the Tibetan tradition of training in meditation, awareness and compassionhave been established.

One such authentic master was the Tibetan meditation teacher Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. He encouraged students to establish places to study and practice the Buddhist teachings in their own countries. Inspired by him, and guided by his son Tulku Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, several retreat centres have been established throughout the world under the name Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, which can be translated as “Places of Naturally Arising Wisdom.” These organisations are independent but affiliated by common interest, and have been established in Austria, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United States. They have benefited many people through teaching meditation and helping to preserve the teachings and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. They have a membership of thousands of interested people. A web search of “Rangjung Yeshe Gomde” shows the activities and progress of the groups.

Gomde Scotland has being created to establish a small, similar organisation in the Highlands of Scotland specialising in the support of meditation retreat, in a location long appreciated for its beauty, spirituality and links with the Himalayas.

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