H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Thinley Lhundup will begin his Three-Year Retreat in August 2025. Therefore, His Holiness announced during his last visit in 2024 that during this time, H.E. Choeze Kuchen Rinpoche will act as Vajra Master during the future Hevajra/Nairatmya Drubchens. We are very pleased to announce that H.E. Choeze Kuchen Rinpoche has agreed to participate in this year's Hevajra Drubchen.
It is another great pleasure for us, that Drubpön Sangye, who founded the Working Group “Instruments and Tormas” in 2024, will meet with the Working Group from 19-22.08.25 shortly before the start of the Hevajra Drubchen to practice with the instruments and prepare Tormas.
Short history and iInformation
In 2017, His Holiness announced that the Milarepa Retreat Center in Germany is the place where the entire Mar-Ngok Hevajra Tantra Teachings are to be rooted and practiced as a “Special Project”. Accordingly, His Holiness has developed a Program according to which (since 2021) a Hevajra and a Nairatmya Drubchen from the Hevajra Mandala takes place alternately every year.
His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Thinley Lhundup started in 2018 Mar-Ngok based Drubchens in the West, especially the Hevajra and Nairātmyā Drubchen. These practices were close to being forgotten. By reviving them, His Holiness’ further dream to bring back the great Lord Marpa Lotsawa (1000-1081 AD) to his proper place of honor will be also fulfilled.
It is the wish of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Thinley Lhundup that this Hevajra and Nairātmyā Group Accomplishment Retreat should be performed in English.
His Holiness also wishes that we use western melodies. The whole Drubchen text was therefore versified by Drupon Rachels Dodds; whenever it was also versified in Tibetan. Most of the new melodies are composed by her for this purpose.
What is a Drubchen? (literally "Great Accomplishment")
For Drubchen, it needs to go on for at least 5 days and 24 hours a day. This is done by performing the group ritual throughout the day. During the in-between sessions and during the night, groups keep on practicing, thus keeping the ritual going 24 hours a day for the duration of the Drubchen.
From 2025 on His Holiness wishes that we also practice the Yab-Yum form of Hevajra.
The purpose of the “Group Accomplishment Retreat” is the accumulation of merit (sonam gi tsog). Practicing together, we also purify all that is connected to the Sangha, Vajra brothers and sisters. All elements of ritual (skull cup, torma, ingredients, offerings bowls, music etc.), as well as visualization, mantra recitation, completion, and the awareness in between the sessions aim at purifying our attachment to the ordinary perception of ourselves and the world around us.
The mantra recitation should be unbroken throughout the entire Drubchen so we all must take this responsibility always to always hold the mantra outside of the sessions. We should try to recite the mantra on our own, wherever we are, together with the awareness of ourselves as the deity. This unbroken continuity of the mantra is a powerful blessing and purification. We should try to make this the focus of our time in the Drubchen.
Damtsig / Samaya / Commitment
His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Thinley Lhundup said the Samaya for Hevajra and Nairatmya is to hold the 14 root Samayas, to carry the Hevajra Tantra with you (to save it on your mobile is fine as well) and to recite the short Sadhana daily.
REGISTRATION DAY:
Friday, 22.08.2025
Arrival:
Since several organizational matters must be discussed, we strongly request that all participants keep to the following schedule and arrive no later than 5:30 PM
9:00 am-5:30 pm: Registration
4:30- 6:00 pm: Volunteers meet with their team leaders
6:30-7:30 pm: Dinner (Please come on time to dinner, as the Helper-Teams also want to attend the meeting at 8:00 pm)
8:00 pm: Mandatory Meeting for all participants: Information on scheduling during the Drubchen.
Please note: After this meeting we can’t offer a driving service to your hotel; we kindly ask you to please take care of the organisation of your taxi.
PROGRAM:
Please find the program as PDF.
Please note, that if it is urgently needed the program can slightly change.
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS OUTSIDE THE CENTER:
If you are staying overnight outside, you can also participate in the Drubchen.
SILENCE:
Silence is maintained during the Drubchen. It is recommended that all participants who spend the night in external accommodations do not interrupt their silence when entering and leaving the mandala if possible.
RITUAL ITEMS:
If you wish to use instruments for the practice, please bring your personal ritual objects (vajra, bell and damaru).
TRANSLATIONS:
The Center will supply the Nairatmya Sadhana (in English only).
Of course, the teachings will be translated into German, English and Russian during the Drubchen.
Translation into English: Cécile Ducher
Translation into German: Christoph Klonk
Translation into Russian: Victoria Paukowa
CLOSED RETREAT:
Since this is a closed retreat, you must participate in the complete drubchen-week. It will not be possible to participate only on single days.
SEATING ALLOCATION:
There are enough mats and chair places. You are welcome to bring your own seat cushion. Seats can be reserved for visitors and accompanying persons with limited mobility. If you are a wheelchair user, please indicate this when registering.
REFUGE:
It will be possible to take refuge by H.E. Choeze Kuchen Rinpoche. If you wish to take refuge, please write us an E-Mail until 15.08.25 to: info@milareparetreat.de
FEE:
After receipt of your registration we will send you an invoice. Your booking will only become binding upon receipt of the fee to our account.
Complete Program (incl. lunch and dinner):
620,-€ (regular)
520,-€ (reduced)
180,- € for Ordained
Discounts are granted to pensioners, schoolchildren/students, unemployed persons, Hartz IV recipients and disabled persons.
OVERNIGHT STAYS AT THE MILAREPA RETREAT CENTER AND EXTERNAL ACCOMMODATIONS:
At the Milarepa Retreat Centre we can only offer a limited number of overnight stays including breakfast. As soon as this contingent has been exhausted, please contact the Schneverdingen Tourist Office (www.schneverdingen-touristik.de) directly. We strongly recommend that you try to find a place to stay as soon as possible, as the month of August is the peak vacation season in the Lüneburger Heath.
PARKING AT THE MILAREPA RETREAT CENTER:
The limited number of parking spaces at the Milarepa Retreat Center is reserved for guests of the Center.
TAXI-SERVICE:
We can recommend the following taxi company:
Blitz Taxi Tel: 05193-9722000
The ride from the train station in Schneverdingen to the Center costs: €20,00
SPONSERING FOR THIS EVENT:
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT US?
His Holiness The Drikung Kyabgon Thinley Lhundup, expressed his deep felt wish to continue the annually Hevajra/ Nairatmya Drubchen at the Milarepa Center.
The Center and the Sangha are most grateful to realize His Holiness’s wish and vison, and therefore we need your support. WITHOUT your help the Center won’t be able to realize the expenses alone.
We only can master this event ALTOGETHER.
FOLLOWING SPONSERING POSSIBILITIES ARE URGENTLY NEEDED:
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!