The history of the Drukpa Plouray Buddhist Centre

His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa came to France in 1986 to bless the Drukpa Plouray Buddhist centre and establish it as the European seat of the Drukpa Lineage, giving the Tibetan name of "Druk Toupten Tcheukor Ling", « The Garden of the Dragon where turns the wheel of the Buddha's teaching ».

Creation of the Drukpa Plouray centre

Panoramic view of the Drukpa Plouray centre

In 1984 His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa requested Khenpo Yeshe Cheudar Rinpoche to go to France, near Monaco, in order to found a Dharma centre. Under his impulse, one year later, the Drukpa Plouray Centre in Morbihan was founded.
In 1986, His Holiness came to France for the first time and blessed the Plouray Centre which he instituted as the European Centre of the Drukpa Lineage, giving it the name of « Druk Tupten Tcheukor Ling », « The Dragon’s Garden where turns the Wheel of the Buddha’s Teachings ».
Ever since, His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa has regularly visited the Plouray Centre and the other European Drukpa Centres, conducting retreats and giving teachings. After Khenpo Yeshe Cheudar returned to India, His Holiness appointed Drubpön Ngawang as the representative of the Drukpa Lineage in Europe.In 1994, was held in Plouray, in the presence of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa and of his parents, Bairo Rinpoche and Mayoumla, the first great empowerment of Chakrasamvara which gathered more than 500 participants.

The stupa

Under the impulse of Drubpön Ngawang, the "Stupa of Auspicious Doors" was erected It was inaugurated in 1997, in the presence of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa and his parents, on the occasion of a grand Vajrakilaya Drupchen, following the Drukpa tradition of Kunkyen Padma Karpo.

In Decembre 1999, The Lord of Refuge, Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, came and blessed the Plouray Centre, bestowing his precious Teaching and Yangtik empowerment. In 2001, the Vidyadhara Namkhar Drime Rabjam Rinpoche bestowed the Guru Dewa empowerment.

The temple

In 2003, the large teaching hall was inaugurated by His Holiness, in presence of his parents and the second Thuksay Rinpoche. On that occasion, a second Vajrakilaya Drupchen took place. Around six hundred students and disciples of His Holiness attended this great spiritual event.

The congregation

In May 2004, the Plouray Drukpa Centre was officially recognised as a religious congregation by the French government. On that occasion His Holiness named the new Congregation "Pel Drukpay Tcheutsok".

His Holiness the Dalaï Lama at Drukpa Plouray

HH Dalaï Lama at Drukpa Plouray giving a public conference

His Holiness the Dalaï Lama at Drukpa Plouray giving a public conference

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His Holiness the Dalaï Lama with Kyabje Choegon Rinpoche and Drubpon Ngawang

His Holiness the Dalaï Lama with Kyabje Choegon Rinpoche and Drubpön Ngawang

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In 2008, His Holiness the Dalaï Lama came to Drukpa Plouray during his visit to France. He gave a teaching and a public conference which gathered over 5,000 people.

Since 1999, many Masters have come to the Drukpa Plouray Centre to give teachings, among whom : His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Eminence Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, H.E. Bairo Rinpoche, H.E. Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche, H.E. Kyabje Gyalwa Dokhampa Rinpoche, H.E Kyabje Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche, H.E. Gyeltshen Trulku Rinpoche, H.E. Kyabje Khenpo Tringa Rinpoche, Trogawa Rinpoche, Lopeun Dralop Rinpoche, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo.
It is immensely fortunate for the students and disciples to have received over a period of more than 20 years such a wealth of Teachings from His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa and so many other great Masters of the Drukpa Lineage.