Poem of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Thinley Lhundup

A brilliant red sun blazes in the sky at dawn,
While sparkling dewdrops glisten on tips of grass,
And crystal clear sounds of animals fill the earth.
Oh what joy! May this world of peace remain forever!

This captivating forest landscape, lush and green,
Is like a metropolis of countless creatures.
May all beings under the power of desire
Find peace in the cool breezes of love and kindness.

Like sea creatures in the depths of the ocean’s deep,
Beings in samsara’s six realms defy counting.
Waves on the ocean of anger surge without relent.
May the Victors quell this surge with their compassion.

In Jambudvīpa, the realm of night and darkness,
Ignorance overpowers all sentient beings.
Like light from the radiant white moon in the sky,
May the light of the Victor’s wisdom show us the way.

Water depends on earth while wind depends on space;
Everything in this world depends on something else.
Let’s keep the earth healthy and protect the environment.
May the dependent origination of the Victors reign supreme.


Based on the repeated requests of Vajra Master Dr. Hun Lye,
I, Koonchok Tenzin Kunzang Trinlé Lhundup, the one blessed with the title of “Gyalwa Drikungpa,”
composed this while flying on a plane over the United States
on the 16th of March, 2022, the Year of the Tiger.

May it bring about virtue and goodness!

Translated into English by Lowell Cook (Drikung Dharmakirti Translation Team)

Environmenal Activities of Milarepa Retreat Center

 

  • Ecological reed sewage treatment plant. The waste water is treated in a biological treatment plant. Microorganisms process the faecal matter, what remains is clean water that is available to the cows on the pasture as drinking water.
    To keep the facility healthy, only biodegradable cleaning, rinsing, washing and cosmetic products may be used.
  • A composting plant that is maintained all year round. All garden waste is collected here. The result is a heap that takes three years to develop before it can be used for the plants and gets turned over every year which will add oxygen to help the compost to rot and become crumbly. This compost is the only fertilizer used for the flower beds.
  • The forest, as a sensitive ecosystem, needs dead wood so that fungi can grow to keep it healthy. Insects find food and shelter in this old wood. The birds also benefit from this and thank us with their wonderful songs in spring.
  • There are also 20 nesting boxes for the birds, which are all inhabited during springtime.
  • The meadows are left unmown until the dandelions have finished blooming (bee pasture) and will be mown only afterwards. A herd of cows grazes on the two pastures of the center.
  • The rain gutters have been largely opened, so that the rainwater is returned to nature on the spot. The rest flows into a pond, which deer and birds happily enjoy.
  • Meadow orchards with old fruit varieties were created.
  • As a compensation measure for our parking lot, a forest strip was planted according to biodiversity rules. In other words, in the front area there are hawthorns, dogwoods, wild roses with their rose hips, followed by wild pears, cornel cherries, wild apples; then beeches, maples, and in the last row oaks.
  • A photovoltaic system is installed on the barn.
  • Rain barrels are being set up at the barn to water the meadow orchard.
  • 70% of the food used in the kitchen comes from organic farming. Here we order from an organic shop that also supports local farmers.
  • Food leftovers are collected and go into the biogas plant.
  • The outdoor lighting is all LED lights that do not shine in the distance, so no insects are attracted from afar and die.
  • The flower beds are laid out in such a way that priority is given to native plants. With flowers and flowering shrubs, care was taken to ensure that bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects find food there.

⇒ A message from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche to the world regarding the rise of environmental challenges in the world

Video "We welcome you to a short tour, introducing some of the environmental activities"

Environmenal Activities of Milarepa Retreat Center - Ideas from the Sangha

 

Planned: Litter Clean-Up Campaign

Doing little things can make a big difference!

Why?

  • This activity is simple to do, easily workable and can be done at any time
  • Each and every one of us can help
  • For the benefit of all sentient beings (protecting animals, water and nature)
  • Every bending down is an act of devotion to the earth (We live on sacred ground)
  • When we cleanse the earth, we cleanse ourselves (All things are interconnected)
  • This activity raises awareness about both the waste we ourselves produce every day and that we encounter around us
    (There's no such thing as my rubbish or your rubbish. Rubbish concerns us all)
  • Only together (Sangha), through community spirit and teamwork can we pull this off

When:
On a weekend with regular rotation (spring, summer and autumn) - date to be announced.

Where:
MRC- from there, we're off to the area to be covered
We will distribute: Gloves, rubbish bags, high-visibility vests and possibly a map with a section of road marked.
Time: 9:00 AM
Duration: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Conclusion: Lunch together

Important:
Bring a high-visibility vest (from your car, if you have one), sturdy shoes, rain gear.

Are you interested? Please sign up here: info@milareparetreat.de