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Unfortunately
the 2008 tour to Tibet was
unable to proceed due to safety concerns traveling through China.
It is hoped that the tours
will continue as an annual event from 2009 onwards. Below was the
proposed itinerary for the 2008 tour, which we anticipate will be
similar to the itinerary for future tours.
A most exceptional tour of Nepal & Tibet with Khentrul Rinpoche
June 2008
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| Zuka mountain |
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| 2006 tour group |
Join Khentrul Rinpoche on
a tour to Tibet where you will receive priceless experience of an
ancient Tibetan culture, blessings from many highly realised beings, a
profound opportunity to develop wisdom and an exceptional view to live
a happy and meaningful life.
Rinpoche will guide us to
remote villages, sacred sites, temples and monasteries in Tibet, most
of them have never had western visitors before. These places have
unique customs and lifestyles reflecting their remote location, both
travelers and local people will experience a fresh and vibrant exchange
of cultural differences.
We will visit several
monasteries from the Jonang tradition, a branch of Buddhism which is
almost unknown in the West yet is flourishing in Tibet today.
View the photographs from the Tibet 2006 tour here.
Photographs on this page by Jenny Templin © 2006.
About the 2008 Tour
Our tour begins in Kathmandu, and then we journey to Lhasa to visit the
Potala Palace (the traditional residence of the Dalai Lama). We
continue to Amdo to visit Rinpoche’s home town and the site of a
proposed medical centre. The next stop is Kham where we visit the
monastery of Rinpoche’s previous incarnation, and finally we
visit the Panda Park and museums in Chengdu. After this, you will have
the option to return home or travel through China & neighbouring
countries, which we can help to arrange.
The tour, planned for June 2008, will feature special welcoming
ceremonies by monks and local horse riders, rare meetings with great
masters and abbots of monasteries, a visit to a yogi in life retreat,
and a visit to the largest monastery in the world with around 6000 nuns
in residence. The tour will also include meetings with local artisans
and the nomadic people, with the rare opportunity to be thoroughly
immersed in their unique culture.
The Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute took people from five different
countries to Tibet in 2006, and in 2007 a second tour was an equally
unforgettable experience.
Help Tibetans in Need
All proceeds from the tour will be spent on a medical clinic in Denang
Village or similar humanitarian projects in this region, with the hope of improving the poor health of the Tibetan
people in this remote area.
General information
Travelers will need to take into consideration many things:
This will be the first
time westerners will be entering some of these regions. The local
people will not understand our language or customs. Rinpoche thus
requests that some simple requests be followed:
- Please have respect for the sacred places.
- Please do not point your feet or toes in the direction of altars or lamas.
- Please do not walk over Buddhist scripture texts or sacred objects.
- Try not to talk during teachings.
- Be considerate to others you are travelling with.
Rinpoche will offer any
further instructions during the journey. Also please feel free to ask
Rinpoche any questions during the journey.
Daily program
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| Khentrul Rinpoche & Khenpo Konsul |
- Each day there will be 30 minutes set aside for group meditation practice
- Rinpoche may offer spontaneous teachings.
- There will also be time set aside for group discussion, sharing and listening.
- Rinpoche and group leaders will discuss the day’s itinerary and any changes.
- You are requested to follow the agreed-upon timetable as closely as possible.
What to bring or buy before going to remote areas
- Tent, sleeping bag, warm protective
clothing, summer clothes, good walking shoes, raincoat, torch,
hat, sunscreen, water bottles, set of good clothes to wear to teachings
in monasteries, toiletries neck pillow for bus, walking pack, towel and
swimmers, packets of face wipes and an umbrella.
- Food bars, packet miso soup, coffee,
condensed milk tube, any personal food requirements you may wish to
bring. Altitude sickness medicine, your own first aid kit, your own
toilet roll.
- Women may like to bring a long skirt as
this is what the women in this region wear (also easier to squat and
look respectful in open places).
- Your sense of good humour, flexibility and curious open heart and mind.
- Film, camera, journals, songs you can share with others and a sense of fun.
- Roads are winding, so we recommend you bring motion sickness pills or acupuncture bands if you are prone to getting car sick.
Make sure you always carry at least a photocopy of your passport and visa.
Please email us or phone +61 3 9754 6212 if you have more enquiries.
Please read this carefully
If you travel to Tibet,
we ask that you will agree to the following: under no circumstances
will you hold the Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute, its members or group
leaders responsible for any loss or damage to your belongings or to
yourself.
You will agree to accept arrival times and departures as requested by the group leaders.
You are able to provide a doctors certificate if required, and you have fully covered yourself with
Travel Insurance for this journey. Ensure that you check with your doctor if you need any
Immunizations before traveling overseas.
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