TNG Welcome Package TNG Welcome Package
TNG Centre - “Theg-Chog Norbu-i Ga-Tsal”- 'Garden of Happiness of the Unsurpassable Jewel Path' is a Tibetan Buddhist Centre operated by the Association ‘Dra Tagpa Ritru’. This Association was legally established in year 2000 with the view to spread Buddhism in general, Tibetan Buddhism and the Karma Kamtsang Lineage in particular. Its purpose is to facilitate and promote the formal practice of Dharma.
This information is provided to help you better prepare and enjoy your retreat experience. Would you need any further clarification; please feel free to contact TNG administration by E-Mail.
Memberships: Participating to the activities of TNG Centre implies annual membership.
Available memberships: (click on link for details)
Location: Hidden in the forest, offering calm, tranquillity and solitude for your retreat, the centre is located in a cool valley at the source of the river “L’Orbieu” in the “Hautes Corbières”. The site has a residential park and parking area for the visitors accessing by road. There are full boarding facilities limited to 25 people. Mpreover there is the possibility to sejourn in camping car or under pesonal tent in the park on the river side.
Access : The centre is located near the village of Fourtou, in Aude. Count 75 minutes by road from the towns of Narbonne,Perpignan and Carcassonne.
While you might reach Narbonne by train, both other cities have an airport serving flights from major cities such as Paris, London and Brussels.
The airports of Toulouse, Montpellier and Barcelona serve international flights.
Local public transportation is not available nearby. Transportation can be arranged by TNG Centre for your convenience: see below for fares.
Transportation fees: The fees are calculated per person. Count an extra 20% per additional person (up to four). Although these figures might seem high, please note that TNG car must drive back and forth for each single journey. It will remain more convenient and cheaper than to take taxi or rent a car.
Boarding: Various boarding facilities are available to cater to your needs:
Fees cover full boarding with three meals and beverage as well as modern facilities made available for your convenience and comfort: residential park, multimedia library, mediation hall, laundry room, telephone and internet:
Meals: Following the advice given by His Holiness Karmapa, meals served at TNG Centre are exclusively vegetarian.
Individual meals are available to non-boarding members:
Laundry: Laundry is available free of charge to members boarding in individual rooms. For other members, count 5 € per load.
Phone/ Internet: All phone calls are charged at cost. Keeping to the retreat ethics, you are expected to limit calls to a strict minimum.
Internet facility is offered to individual room boarding members daily from 14h00 to 16h00. For other boarding members, please contact Office manager.
Dharma Shop: Dharma items are available for purchase. Shop is open on a regular basis. Access exclusively through the Shop Manager.
Publications: Printed material such as sadhanas and teaching texts are available at fix rates published on this website. Order through email at TNG-Library@gmail.com. Please pay directly to person in charge who will follow up your order and deliver the requested texts.
Karma Yoga: The practice of two hours of “Karma Yoga” is mandatory. Retreatants are expected to participate in the maintenance of the centre. See the chart to determine your activities.
Teachings: Group teaching is conducted every Saturday when Lama is in residence. Attendance is charged 4 € to ordinary members. It is free for members owning higher membership status.
Seminars: Four seminars are conducted annually at TNG Centre. The program of these seminars is periodically posted on the notice board in the Meditation Hall or notified through special notice to registered members. It is also announced on the website. Unless you own ‘Patron’ membership status, you are expected to participate to daily expense for temple use and maintenance. This fee is fixed at 7 € per person per day.
Retreat Ethics: While you are on retreat, it is important to practice virtuous actions of body, speech and mind. Observing the following points will greatly enhance the benefit of your time spent in retreat:
Library & books: The library has a collection of over 400 books and more than 400 hours of multimedia recorded material. Theses resources are accessible to members through request to the Resident Lama. The use of the library is free for all memberships. Contact Lama Norbu Repa or Eva GIESEN for access.
Audience with Lama: If you wish to have a private audience with a Lama (both, resident and visiting), kindly put in your request through filling for an appointment in the office, indicating the object of your request (councelling, individual teaching, personal request etc.)
Offering Ethics: Kathags are traditionally offered to present your offerings to the Lama after teaching sessions or after elaborate pujas. They are available at the Dharma shop. Price varies according to size and quality: count 2 to 5 €/piece. Contact the Shop manager.
Temple offerings: During pujas and practice sessions, making offerings to the shrine is beneficial to you and meritorious. Candles, butter lamps and incense are available in the temple and can be bought directly there from Karma LEKSHEY who will assist you in presenting your offering:
Ganachakra: Various “tsok offering pujas” are conducted throughout the year. The Ganachakra puja is a way to restore Samaya, through offering and sharing food and drink with specisifc deities. If you wish to sponsor material for the puja, kindly contact the person in charge. Ganachakra Sponsorship is 25 Euros.
Donations: TNG is a strucutre to propagate the spread of Dharma. Most of its activities can only be made possible through your sponsorships. You are welcome to visit our website to enquire on the activities that you would wish to sponsor.
