TEMPLE

The meditation hall, is the heart of the Milarepa Retreat Center. Built with great sensitivity towards both the local cultural landscape as well as meditative requirements, it stands on a spot where one can see it from all buildings at the Center. It thus reminds one with its presence of the teachings of the Buddha that one wishes to realise in this place.

When one enters the temple via a brightly lit entry area, one is enfolded by a spacious, light-flooded room, completely of wood. The furnishings are simple, although decorated with the Tibetan joy in colours, expressions of a mystical transcendent symbolism.

Buddha Shakyamuni, to his right Jigten Sumgön, the founder of the Drikung Kagyu tradition and to his left Padmasambhava, the founder of Buddhism in Tibet, radiate an unshakeable presence from the shrine. Colourful thangkas (scroll paintings) are an integral part of Tibetan Buddhist gompas and they narrate the stories of enlightened Drikung Kagyu masters and saints, such as Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa und Milarepa and the Drikung protectress Achi Chökyi Drölma. Bordeaux-coloured meditation mats and cushions invite one to meditate here in tranquillity, reflect or simply to rest.

MILAREPA HOUSE

Participants in regular, personal, and flexible retreat segments, spend the night in the Milarepa Retreat House.

The 12 rooms are spacious and brightly lit, and simply furnished. Except for one room, all rooms have a bathroom. The rooms are spread over the ground floor and the upper storey.

In addition, the Milarepa House has two large, beautiful and bright attic rooms with two bathrooms. In each room, 10 persons can spend the night on mattresses and with own sleeping bag.

Meals are taken in the cafeteria. The kitchen is completely equipped and is used for both large-scale events as well as during personal retreats. If no major events are taking place, participants can prepare their meals themselves. Table and benches in the cafeteria, made of warm wood, lend the room a friendly and inviting atmosphere.

A small scullery adjoined to the kitchen enables stress- free washing-up, drying and putting away the dishes and cutlery without getting in the way of activities in the kitchen and cafeteria. Ladies’ and gentlemen’s toilets as well as a handicapped-friendly toilet are located in the passageway to the cafeteria.

AMITABHA HOUSE

The Three Year retreat participants live in the Amitabha House. The building has seven rooms with baths, i.e. room for seven persons. Each room is furnished with a bed, wardrobe, desk with a shelf and a shrine.

A small adjoining temple and kitchen, used only by retreaters to prepare their meals, adorns the building. The small temple is used for teachings and empowerments for Three Year Retreat participants. Retreaters prepare their meals in the small kitchen. During the three years, participants in the traditional Three Year retreat remain within the building and surrounding garden, which is protected by laurel bushes. Here they can stretch their legs on a meadow under old oak and beech trees.

JIGTEN SUMGÖN HOUSE

H.H. Drikung Kyabgon and H.E. Garchen Rinpoche reside in the High Lama House together with the monks who accompany them on their journeys.

The light brickstone building has two bedrooms with baths, an interview room and a living/dining room with a view onto meadows, old oak trees and laurel bushes that protectively surround the adjacent Three Year Retreat. A large eat-in kitchen provides the monks ample space to prepare meals for H.H. the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. During their breaks they sit here, as well, and, far from their homeland, converse with each other over a cup of Indian tea. 

TARA HOUSE | OFFICE

Tara House, the oldest building of the farmstead, was first inhabited following completion of the Milarepa Retreat Center. Fitting out the building was done speedily, to enable on-schedule organization and implementation of the opening. It became the focal point of all activities connected with the completion of the Center. To this day, along with all organizing and planning activities, a relaxed and communicative atmosphere towards everyone seeking information or advice here has been maintained.

On the first floor of Tara House are two attractive, quiet and well-lit flats for our resident nuns as well as for nuns coming for retreats. Each flat has sleeping accommodations for four nuns, who share a nice living room, kitchen and bathroom.

On the second floor of Tara House one can have some time in tranquillity, enjoy bibliophilic studies or simply sit down, relax and read a book in a most inspiring atmosphere. Sometimes this place is reserved for the group of translators when they are at work on a translation project and exchange thoughts and interpretations.

Milarepa Retreat Team members enjoy residing in two flats in Tara House, one of them on the ground floor and the other on the second floor, as these flats are also well-lit, spacious and quiet, with a view on the woods and the vast heathland surroundings the Center.

ACHI HOUSE

Achi House, built of light brown beech wood, offers space for those, such as couples, who wish to do joint retreats. It has two bedrooms, a pantry-kitchen and a bath.

Adjoining is the small so called Achi Temple, a small meditation room, a place for contemplation of Achi Chökyi Drölma, the protectress of the Drikung Kagyu lineage.

CHENREZIG HOUSE

Chenrezig House is the meditation master’s residence. On the ground floor is a large “hobby room” with a washing machine, dryer and all sorts of outdoor appliances for the use of retreat guests. On the first floor is the apartment of the meditation master, quite spacious, with an attractive living room, bedroom, kitchen and bath. The comfortable wooden balcony, a spot for sitting outdoors in all seasons, offers a view on the woods and the whole area.

Milarepa Retreat Team members enjoy residing in two flats in Tara House, one of them on the ground floor and the other on the second floor, as these flats are also well-lit, spacious and quiet, with a view on the woods and the vast heathland surroundings the Center.

MILAREPA RETREAT ZENTRUM
Reimerdinger Straße 18
D-29640 Schneverdingen

Phone + 49-5193-97432-000
Fax +49-5193-97432-099
E-mail