Activities in Europe

One important goal of the Zangdok Palri Institute is to establish a dialogue and exchange platform between the Tibetan culture and the Western world.

As a first initiative, Dzogchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche has designed a six year course to explore, study and practise the Buddhist wisdom tradition, more specifically, the very precious tradition of the Longchen Nyingthik.

It is an extremely rare and important opportunity to study and practise the authentic path of self-liberation under the compassionate gaze and wise counsel of authentic teachers.

The inaugural teaching has been organised in Brussels from the 24 to 30 of June 2004 and the first session of the Six-Year Dzogchen Practitioners’ Course  took place in Slupca (Poland) in August 2005.

Please visit the Zangdok Palri Institute web site (https://www.patrulrinpoche.net/zangdok-palri-institute/) to learn more about the programme of teachings.

Shedra in Europe – FAQ

  • What is the Zangdok Palri Institute?
  • I have heard the Zangdok Palri Institute and its courses referred to as ‘the shedra’. What is a shedra?
  • Who will teach at the shedra?
  • When will the courses begin?
  • Who can attend Zangdok Palri Institute courses?
  • What could I read to get some idea of the course material for the Dzogchen Practitioners’ Course?
  • Can I attend both the General Buddhist Studies Course and the Dzogchen Practitioners’ Course?
  • Where will the Annual ZPI Shedra take place?
  • Can I do the Dzogchen Practitioners’ Course without attending the Annual ZPI Shedra?
  • If I do not pass the annual exam, can I continue on the course?
  • What will the Annual ZPI Shedra and the courses cost?
  • Where can I stay during the Annual ZPI Shedra?
  • How can I be kept informed about courses?
  • How can I enrol in a course?
  • Can I reserve a place on the Dzogchen Practitioners’ Course provisionally and confirm later?
  • I want to attend the Dzogchen Practitioners’ Course, but I am afraid that if I enrol,
  • the arrangements you make may not suit me and I may not be able to attend. What should I do?
  • I live outside the EU. How can I arrange a visa?
  • I would like to help.
The Zangdok Palri Institute is an educational facility, which has been founded by Dzogchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche as a support for the study and practice of Buddhist philosophy. Starting with its inaugural course, The Precious Bodhi Tree, which will be held in Brussels from 24 to 30 June 2004, it will run both residential and home-study courses which will be open to all those who wish to attend.
The Zangdok Palri Institute is an educational facility, which has been founded by Dzogchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche as a support for the study and practice of Buddhist philosophy. Starting with its inaugural course, The Precious Bodhi Tree, which will be held in Brussels from 24 to 30 June 2004, it will run both residential and home-study courses which will be open to all those who wish to attend.
Dzogchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche, the ZPI’s founder and director, will be its main teacher, and Rinpoche will decide who else is invited to teach at the shedra.
The General Buddhist Studies Course will be the inaugural course at the first Annual ZPI Shedra, to be held in Brussels from 24 to 30 June 2004. The Six-Year Dzogchen Practitioners’ Course will begin during the second Annual ZPI Shedra in 2005.
The General Buddhist Studies Course is open to everyone and students do not require any qualifications.
Enrolment in the Six-Year Dzogchen Practitioners’ Course depends on students making a commitment to study and practice, and continuation on the course depends on their passing annual exams and completing set practices.
You could read The Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche, ISBN 1-57062-412-7, which is one of the shedra’s basic texts. It has also been translated from Tibetan into other languages such as French, Spanish and Polish.
Yes, you can in 2005. Just tick the relevant boxes in the enrolment form. During the inaugural Annual ZPI Shedra 2004 there will only be a General Buddhist Studies course.
The inaugural course of the shedra, a General Buddhist Studies course entitled The Precious Bodhi Tree, will be held in Brussels from 24 to 30 June 2004. The location of future Annual ZPI Shedras has not yet been decided, though arrangements are being made so that the shedra will be convenient for everyone to attend.
No, you cannot. Each academic year will start with the Annual ZPI Shedra, during which the principle subject matter for the year will be taught. Follow-up courses will be arranged in Dzogchen Centres during the year to assist with revision.
Normally, you cannot continue on the course, if you do not pass the annual exam. However, whether you pass or not depends on your motivation.
The cost of the inaugural Annual ZPI Shedra in Brussels from 24 to 30 June 2004 is 180 euros. This is an all-in price for the shedra, and includes the cost of three meals for each of the 7 days, as well as each student’s share of the costs of arranging and administering the shedra. The cost of future shedras and courses has not yet been decided, though arrangements are being made so that they will be affordable for everyone.
The inaugural course will be held in the premises of Dzogchen Centre Brussels. Unfortunately, the centre is not large enough to offer accommodation and each student will have to make his or her own arrangements. To help with this, an information sheet about accommodation in Brussels will be available, and you can obtain your copy by ticking the relevant box on the enrolment form.
You can show your interest by ticking the relevant box on the enrolment form.
You can fill out the enrolment form.
No, but you can ask to be kept informed about developments by ticking the relevant box on the enrolment form.
Please do not worry. If you really wish to attend the course, you can enrol now. The arrangements will not differ too much from what has been arranged this year. The Annual ZPI Shedra will take place somewhere in Europe during the summer months, most likely in July or August, and will last for two or three weeks. The cost of the courses will always be kept as low as possible.
You can contact your local Dzogchen Centre. They should be able to inform you about the correct procedure. Otherwise, you should contact the authorities in your own country.
You can send us an email or write to the address overleaf.