His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, a teacher renowned for his tremendously compassionate activity, has created exactly the right environment for anyone to work with their hearts, truly a special opportunity for Western people who would like to enter the stream of practice in Buddhist traditions. In 1998 he established a retreat center in upstate New York, far from the distractions of modern life.

The center is located in rolling farmlands, not in the mountainous and tourist-filled Catskills, not very near any major city areas. The environment is truly rural, located in a place where the loudest noises are the mooing of cows on a distant farm. Surrounded by state forest land, deer freely ramble across center property. A peaceful pond lies far from even the center activities and other places exist for quiet reflection and peaceful inner searching.

The "Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand" retreat cycle His Holiness leads is traditional within Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness' monks have commented that never before have such teachings been offered by His Holiness in quite this way, not even in Namdroling in South India. The series spans seven years starting with the foundation practices through the second year (and now-famous) inner heat practices, through the highest level of Dzogchen. The progressive program is clear and step-by-step and gives you the tools you need for finding your true self. This summer retreat program is suitable for all levels -- newcomers, intermediate and advanced students. It is a step-by-step program as traditionally offered in Tibetan monasteries and starts with the very basics.

If you are new to Buddhism and don't yet feel ready to commit to a month-long retreat, you should plan on coming for the first week of the retreat. In that first week, you will get a taste of some of the very fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhist practice. You might also consider joining the July 1 - 4 Weekend Retreat with Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche. This year, Khen Rinpoche will lead retreatants in a series of short Compassion teachings accompanied by practices of purification, known as a Nyungné retreat. For more information, click here.

Additionally, the Palyul Center is in a cool, lake-effected climate making your stay particularly comfortable in the summer months. The retreat is set in rolling farmlands, a stress-free environment of green fields and fresh-mown hay surrounded by state forest.

For those who have completed their Ngondrö, or have a good start on it, there is an opportunity to truly advance to the next level. On a case-by-case basis, His Holiness has allowed even students who have completed Ngondrö in other traditions to participate in the Tsa Lung course.

During the retreat, His Holiness will confer empowerments ("wang"), grand ceremonial rituals which function both as practice and to enable participants to make a connection to certain practices.

If you would like to help in any way,
contact Lama Tsewang Norbu at:
Palyul Retreat Center
359 Hollow Road
McDonough, NY 13801
Telephone: (607) 656-4645 - Fax: 607-656-9912
Email: usa a t palyul d o t org

Mail inquiries and requests
to be added to mailing list to:
Palyul Ling International
101 West 23rd
Mailbox 2336
New York, NY 10011