The Honour of Hosting His Holiness in the West

Over the years, Rigpa has had the honour of hosting and inviting His Holiness the Dalai Lama to teach and give empowerments on a number of occasions. To mark this special birthday, we look back on some of those key moments and share some memorable images.

1973

In September 1973, His Holiness the Dalai Lama makes his first ever visit to the West. Sogyal Rinpoche helps to arrange his visit, accompanying him on his travels in Rome, Switzerland and the UK.

1981

In July 1981, the Dalai Lama attends the interfaith service at Bloomsbury Central Baptists Church and teaches on The Good Heart and Training the Mind at Central Hall in Westminster.

1982

In October 1982, the Dalai Lama visits France for the first time giving teachings and interviews in several different cities. In Paris he bestows and empowerment of Padmasambhava and his Eight Manifestations at the Pagode de Vincennes.

1984

In July 1984, the Dalai Lama teaches in Scotland and England. He gives a public talk at the Royal Albert Hall as well as a Dzogchen teaching and teachings on Buddhist Philosophy at the Camden Centre.

1989

In October 1989, just days after the announcement that he has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Dalai Lama gives two days of Dzogchen teachings in San Jose, California. Five and a half thousand people, from all traditions and from all over the United States and other countries, attend what at that time may have been the largest gathering of practitioners and masters of Buddhadharma in America, and possibly in the West.

1992

In January 1992, the Dzogchen Monastery in Kollegal, India is officially inaugurated when Dzogchen Rinpoche invites His Holiness the Dalai Lama to begin the cycle of empowerments from the 'Great Fifth' Dalai Lama's pure visions. Sogyal Rinpoche and many Rigpa members attend.

2000

In September 2000, as the head of the Association Golfe du Lion, Rigpa invites the Dalai Lama to the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. The highlight of the visit is the Dalai Lama's five-day teaching, which takes place close to Lerab Ling on a site that is given the name Lerab Gar. Twelve thousand people from twenty-two different countries, including more than one hundred lamas and geshes, attend the teaching on The Path to Enlightenment. The Dalai Lama also presides over the final day of an intensive group practice-a complete drupchen and mendrup of Vajrakilaya-led by the monks from his own personal Namgyal Monastery, on the site of the future temple at Lerab Ling.

2003

In Dharamsala, India, in March 2003, at Sogyal Rinpoche's request, the Dalai Lama grants, for the first time, the empowerment of Tendrel Nyesel, one of the most important terma revelations of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa, Rinpoche's previous incarnation. Since it is famed as a practice specifically for averting inauspiciousness, many eminent masters consider the timing hugely significant. The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is present, with senior lamas and countless Sangha members.

2008

In August 2008, the Dalai Lama returns to Lerab Ling to conduct the official inauguration and consecration of the temple in the presence of 3,000 people, including a number of eminent Tibetan lamas, French politicians and representatives of the main religious traditions. His Holiness also gives a teaching to the students following the Three Year Retreat, and he offers extensive advice and guidance for Rigpa's work in the future.