The Special Gomdra Program at Shenten Dargye Ling monastery in France.

Our beloved master and living Buddha, Yongdzin Rinpoche established the traditional four-year meditation school, Gomdra, at Shenten Dargye Ling in 2009 to give western practitioners the opportunity to deepen their practice and learn meditation and philosophy in the same systematic way the monks do at the main Bön monasteries. The 70-day Gomdra retreat focuses each year solely on teaching and intensive practice.

The full duration of the Gomdra Program will last for four years and each year the participants will do 70-days of intensive practice at Shenten Dargye Ling. The daily program consists of four practice sessions, one hour teaching and the practice of the four generosities: Sangchö, Chutor, Surchö and Chö.

The first four-year Gomdra program started in September 2009 and the teaching and practice was based on the Atri Dzogchen Cycle. The second Gomdra started in September 2014 and the teaching and practice was based on the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud and its commentary called Gyalwa Chagrti. The third Gomdra started in September 2019 and the teaching and practice was based on Drakpa Korsum and its extensive commentary called Yangtse Longchen.

The Fourth Gomdra Program

The main four dzogchen cycles of Yungdrung Bön will be completed by this fourth Gomdra, which is based on the teaching and practice of the Yetri Thasel Dzogchen Cycle and its commentary called Namkha Truldzo (the Treasure of Space) and the preliminary teaching, Ngöndro, called Drangdon Munsel Dronma (the Lamp Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance).

The first year started on September 4, 2025, and focuses on the preliminary practice with nine accumulations according to the text Drangdon Munsel Dronma (the Lamp Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance). The practice includes the experience of the realization of the Natural State instructed in a traditional way by searching of mind, Semtsol, and fixation of mind, Semdzin.

The second year of the Gomdra will start on September 3, 2026, and the focus of our practice is on Trekchö. First, we will do the Six Loka Purification Practice, second, the Phowa Practice, and then we will concentrate on the main practice Trekchö. I am really looking forward to seeing you all at Shenten in September and continuing our practice together.

The Congregation Shenten Dargye Ling