Loving-Kindness Weekend with adults and kids 2026

A weekend dedicated to cultivating loving-kindness in all its forms. The temple opens to children, families, and neighbours with activities in emotional intelligence, creativity, painting, music, and joy. Together we celebrate the precious life and tireless compassion of His Holiness. Loving kindness meditation, also known as maitrī or mettā meditation, is a beautiful and life-changing element of the Buddhist tradition. It is meditation practice designed to uncover boundless, unconditional love for ourselves and all beings. Loving-kindness meditation increases happiness in part by making people feel more connected to others—to loved ones, acquaintances, and even strangers. Research suggests that when people practice loving-kindness meditation regularly, they start automatically reacting more positively to others.

Saturday:

* 09:30 – 13:00: Morning session (as usual)
* 13:00 – 14:30: Lunch break
* 14:30 – 16:00: Tsok (Tsok Feast and other activities)

Sunday:

* 09:30 – 13:00: Morning session
* Afternoon: Optional — participants are welcome to stay in the temple for personal practice

Additionally:

* For children: participation is free of charge, but they must register as well their attendance in advance.
* Something special has been prepared for this Loving Kindness Weekend.

Weekend Attendance Options

To make all temple events accessible to everyone, we offer three ways to participate:

1) On-site Participation
Join us in person at the temple:
Phuntsok Chö Ling
Oostkousdijk 17B
3024 CL Rotterdam

2) Online Participation
For those unable to come to the temple, online participation is available.
You will receive the access link immediately after registration.

3) Recordings
If you are unable to attend during the weekend, recordings can be requested.
Please register in advance and contact: khandrola@phuntsokcholing.org to receive access.

These options are available for all temple events to support wider participation.

 

Practical information

Times: July 4 – 5. 9:30 AM – 13:00 PM (Tempel open 9:00 AM)
Lunch: Coffee, tea & snack (lunch not included).
Language: English.
Price: See options when registering.

Heilige Huisjes – Tibetan Diner

On Sunday 21 June, we open our doors for the Festival Heilige Huisjes in Delfshaven. Come and discover the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and experience a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Tibetan culture, through its food, its practice and its people. Meet our community and find out how ancient wisdom and everyday life can touch and inspire each other.

Whether you are curious about meditation, would love to taste authentic Tibetan food, or simply want to step inside and look around, you are warmly welcome. From 2pm until 8pm, there is space to explore, taste, listen and slow down.

Our program:
14:00 — Doors open. Free entry, guided tour of the temple, space for encounter and questions.
15:00 – 16:30 — Tibetan Slow Dinner. A warm, authentic Tibetan meal with a traditional food blessing by Lama Jigmé Rinpoche — and an accessible introduction to Buddhism. (max. 40 persons, suggested contribution € 10,-)
17:00 – 18:30 — Guided meditation & teaching led by Lama Jigmé Rinpoche. An invitation to pause, breathe and come back to yourself. (max. 50 persons, suggested contribution € 10,-)

In between and after the programme, there is always room for a visit to the temple, a conversation or simply a quiet moment.

Please note: To join the dinner and/or the meditation session, please register via the button below.

Date: sunday June 21
Time: 14:00 – 18:00 (walkin from 13:30)
Registration is mandatory

Do you have questions or would you like more information? Send an email to events@phuntsokcholing.org

Eight Verses for Training the Mind 2026

The Eight Verses for Training the Mind, composed by the Kadampa master Geshe Langri Tangpa (1054–1123), are a true jewel of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. For centuries, these brief yet profound verses have been treasured and transmitted because they show, in a simple and deeply transformative way, how to open the heart, deepen compassion, and turn everyday life into the path of practice. They invite us to see life’s challenges not as obstacles, but as precious opportunities to cultivate wisdom and compassion.

In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, the message of these verses may be more relevant than ever. How can we remain kind, open, and clear amid stress and uncertainty? How can we transform difficulties into fuel for inner growth? The Eight Verses offer guidance and encouragement in facing exactly these questions.

We are therefore deeply delighted that our precious teacher, Lama Jigmé Rinpoche, will dedicate the weekend of June 12-14, 2026 entirely to this classical teaching. In his characteristic clear, practical, and warm style, Rinpoche will guide us step by step through the essence of the verses and inspire us to integrate them into our own lives and actions.

This weekend is a rare opportunity to explore the timeless wisdom of the Eight Verses for Training the Mind under the guidance of an authentic master, and to practice together in an atmosphere of openness and dedication.

Practical information

Onsite: Phuntsok Chö Ling, Oostkousdijk 17B, 3024 CL Rotterdam.
Online: Online participation is also possible. You will receive the link immediately after registration.
Afterwards: To watch recordings afterwards please register first, then contact khandrola@phuntsokcholing.org.
Times: June 12, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Temple open 7:00 PM), June 13 and 14, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Temple open 9:00 AM)
Lunch: Coffee, tea & snack (lunch not included).
Language: English.
Price: See options when registering.

Phowa Retreat 2026

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, P’howa is regarded as one of the most powerful and profound practices. P’howa literally means transference: the conscious transfer of awareness at the moment of death into a state of freedom and clarity, often envisioned as rebirth in a pure land.

Yet P’howa is not only about that final moment. It is also a reminder of impermanence – a truth we witness every day: in the changing of the seasons, in relationships, in our bodies, and in the world around us. Everything shifts, nothing remains. By deeply realizing this, we learn not to live in fear, but with greater openness, freedom, and a heart that can connect with trust.

From April 24 to May 1, 2026, our precious teacher, Lama Jigmé Rinpoche, will transmit these rare and precious teachings. With his clear, warm, and practical approach, Rinpoche makes the essence of P’howa tangible – not as something distant or esoteric, but as a living insight that can inspire us to meet every moment with greater awareness and freedom.

This is a rare opportunity to receive this timeless transmission directly from an authentic master, and to practice together in an atmosphere of trust, openness, and dedication.

⸻

Practical Information

Location
Phuntsok Chö Ling
Oostkousdijk 17B
3024 CL Rotterdam

Schedule
• April 24 (Opening Evening): 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
• April 25 & 26: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (including Tsog sessions in the afternoon)
• Remaining days: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (with optional afternoon practice)

Duration
This retreat is now offered as an 8-day retreat.

Weekend Option
It is possible to attend only the weekend retreat (April 24 – 26).

Price (Weekend Option)
• Members: €125
• Guests: €225

Participants are warmly encouraged to attend the full 8-day retreat, as this allows for a deeper and more complete integration of the practice.

Online Participation
Online participation is available. A link will be sent immediately after registration.

Recordings
Those who are unable to attend fully (online or onsite) can receive access to the retreat recordings for 3 months after registration.

Lunch
Coffee, tea & snacks provided (lunch not included).

Language
English

Price (Full Retreat)
See options during registration.

The Mind is a Muscle Too 2026

We are delighted to welcome Lama Jigmé Rinpoche, founder and spiritual director of Phuntsok Chö Ling Temple, for a special public conference at the Sports Centre in Rotterdam.

Lama Jigmé Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher trained in the classical tradition of Himalayan mind training. Known for his warmth, authenticity, and clarity, he bridges ancient wisdom with modern life in a way that is direct, practical, and deeply inspiring. As a spiritual guide and founder of a growing temple community in Rotterdam, he is dedicated to making inner development accessible to everyone — beyond culture, background, or belief.

In this dynamic 1.5-hour lecture and workshop, he will explore a powerful insight:

The mind is a muscle too.

Just as the body grows stronger through repetition and discipline, the mind develops through training, patience, and perseverance. Calm, resilience, and confidence are not personality traits — they are capacities that can be strengthened.

Through clear teaching, guided reflection, and practical examples, participants will discover:

• How to build mental resilience
• How to transform pressure into inner strength
• How awareness training improves performance and daily balance
• How consistent inner practice changes outer results

This session offers practical tools rooted in authentic Tibetan wisdom, presented in a way that speaks to anyone interested in personal growth.

Open to all. No prior experience required.

Event Details:
• Date: 25 april 2026
• Time: 15:45 – 17:15
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Speaker: Lama Jigmé Rinpoche
• Language: English
• Location: Sportingclub De Uitweg, Uitweg 11, 3051 JP Rotterdam

Join us for an empowering session where ancient mind training meets modern life.

The training has already begun.
Now it is time to strengthen it — together.

Extraordinary Retreat, Empowerments & Rare Oral Transmissions 2026

ཕུན་ཚོགས་ཆོས་གླིང། Phuntsok Chö Ling Tibetan Buddhist Temple

Phuntsok Chö Ling Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Rotterdam is deeply honoured to announce an Extraordinary Intensive Retreat of Empowerments, Oral Transmissions, Commentaries, and Blessings of the profound treasures of His Holiness Khenpo Jigmé Phuntsok Rinpoche.

This rare and precious full days retreat will take place from 19 to 25 March 2026 and will be guided by Lama Jigmé Namgyal Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang (from Australia)—both close heart-disciples and spiritual heirs of His Holiness Khenpo Jigmé Phuntsok Rinpoche. The retreat offers a unique and extraordinary opportunity to receive complete transmissions, empowerments, and essential guidance within an authentic and unbroken lineage.

About the Retreat

This intensive retreat is devoted to receiving the complete empowerments, oral transmissions (lung), and essential instructions of the profound Dharma treasures of His Holiness Khenpo Jigmé Phuntsok Rinpoche. The program combines deep blessings, authentic Vajrayāna transmission, contemplative practice, and in-depth study, transmitted with care and precision by realized lineage holders.

All empowerments and transmissions will be given without prior announcement of specific timings. For this reason, participants are strongly encouraged to attend the entire retreat to ensure the continuity and completeness of the transmissions.

Certain very deep and secret empowerments will be given strictly face-to-face and require the presence of students with pure intention, restored samaya, and genuine commitment to the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, and lineage masters.

Teachers

Lama Jigmé Namgyal Rinpoche: Root master of Phuntsok Chö Ling, offering commentary, guidance, and essential instructions throughout the retreat.
Khenpo Tsewang (Australia): A direct disciple of His Holiness Khenpo Jigmé Phuntsok Rinpoche, renowned for his clarity in transmitting profound Vajrayāna teachings and empowerments.

Complete List of Transmissions & Empowerments

All of the following will be fully completed during the retreat:
1. །བྱང་སྡོམ་བླང་ཆོག་བསྡུས་པ།: A Short Ritual for Taking the Bodhisattva Vow Arranged by Khenchen Jigmé Phuntsok
2. བླ་མའི་རྣལ་འབྱོར་བྱིན་རླབས་མྱུར་སྩོལ།: The Swift Bestowal of Blessings: A Guru Yoga by Khenchen Jigmé Phuntsok
3. ཕུར་པ་མགུལ་ཁུག་མའི་ཆ་ཤས།: The Single Mind Kīla Practice, Part of the Neck-Pouch Dagger (Purba Gulkhukma) Cycle Empowerment and Oral Transmission
4. རྣམ་པར་རྒྱལ་བའི་དུས་གཏམ།: The Sound of the Divine Drum: Counsel at a Time of Victory
5. ཏི་སྒྲོའི་ཆོས་སྐོར། རིག་བྱེད་དབང་མོའི་སྒྲུབ་ཐབས།: Kurukullā Sādhana from the Tidro Dharma Cycle Empowerment and Oral Transmission
6. དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་སེམས་དཔའ།: The Cintāmaṇi (Wish-Fulfilling Jewel) Instruction Vajrasattva Sādhana for purification and accomplishment of self and others
7. སྙིང་གཏམ་སྙིང་གི་ཐིག་ལེ།: The Heart Essence: My Heart’s Advice by His Holiness Jigmé Phuntsok
8. King Gesar: Self-Generation and Recitation Practice by His Holiness Jigmé Phuntsok
9. Mañjuśrī: Empowerment by His Holiness Jigmé Phuntsok
10. Four Empowerments (Initiations) of Vajrasattva
11. Complete Oral Transmission of the Collected Works of His Holiness Jigmé Phuntsok
12. འོད་དཔག་མེད།: Amitābha Empowerment and Transmission Lineage of the Great Tertön Lerab Lingpa

Practical Information

Location: Phuntsok Chö Ling Tibetan Buddhist Temple, Oostkousdijk 17B, 3024 CL Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Dates & Times: 19 – 25 March 2026, Daily intensive sessions: 9:30 – 17:00, Temple opens: 09:00
Break: 13:00 – 14:00
Price: Members: 299 euro, Guests: 425 euro
Facilities: Coffee, tea, and light snacks are provided. Lunch is not included.
Languages: English and Tibetan

Online access and recordings
Online attendance and those who cannot come for the given dates, recordings are available. The Zoom link will be sent immediately after registration. For access to recordings, please register first and then contact: khandrola@phuntsokcholing.org

Important Notes
• Empowerments will be given without advance scheduling
• Full attendance is strongly recommended
• Some empowerments require physical presence
• Participation requires pure motivation, restored samaya, and sincere Dharma commitment

Registration

Due to the exceptional nature of this retreat and the limited number of seats, early registration is strongly advised. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive the complete blessings, transmissions, and heart-essence teachings of His Holiness Khenpo Jigmé Phuntsok Rinpoche within an authentic lineage setting.

Phuntsok Chö Ling is profoundly honoured to host this extraordinary Dharma empowerments and warmly welcomes sincere practitioners from around the world. For accommodation, please contact us and we can help you out.

Refuge Weekend 2026

In Buddhism, taking refuge forms the foundation of the spiritual path. To take refuge means to place our heart and trust in the Three Jewels: the Buddha as inspiration, the Dharma as the path, and the Sangha as a supportive community. It is the first and most essential step on the journey – a conscious choice to connect one’s life with wisdom, compassion, and inner growth.

From February 13 – 15, 2026, we will come together for a special Refuge Weekend to explore the meaning of refuge in depth: what it truly entails, how we can deepen it, and how it can guide us in daily life. Alongside study and explanation, there will be space for meditation, reflection, and personal exchange. For those who wish, there will also be the opportunity to formally take refuge under the guidance of our precious teacher, Lama Jigmé Rinpoche.

With his clear, warm, and practical approach, Rinpoche will guide us step by step into the essence of refuge – not as an abstract concept, but as a living and inspiring reality.

This weekend is a valuable opportunity to deepen the foundation of Buddhist practice and to practice together in an atmosphere of openness and dedication.

Practical information
Location: Phuntsok Chö Ling, Oostkousdijk 17B, 3024 CL Rotterdam.
Online: Online participation is also possible. You will receive the link immediately after registration.
(to watch recordings afterwards please register first, then contact khandrola@phuntsokcholing.org).
Times: February 13, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM, February 14 and 15, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch: Coffee, tea & snack (lunch not included).
Language: English.

Vajrasattva Weekend

Meditation is an important tool these days for many seeking peace and balance. Scientific research supports its benefits, such as a calmer mind and an increased sense of well-being. Many meditation techniques focus on quieting the mind by focusing on things like the breath, a sound, or a visual object. While this can have positive effects, the deeper meaning of meditation often remains elusive without a more powerful method. In the Buddhist tradition, meditation is not only intended to find peace but to explore the deeper levels of the mind and ultimately recognize our Buddhahood. The Vajrasattva practice is a powerful and unique method for achieving this.

What is Vajrasattva practice?

Vajrasattva plays a central role in almost all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. This practice offers us the opportunity to purify our consciousness of negative karma accumulated in this and previous lives. Our habitual patterns and karma determine how we shape our lives with body, speech, and mind. They influence our happiness in both the present and the future. Although we strive for happiness, we often only partially succeed because we experience reality through the distorting lens of our own mind. This distortion can be compared to ripples on water that can be weakened by mediation and the practice of Vajrasattva

 

The study weekend

During this weekend, you will be introduced to the Vajrasattva practice under the guidance of Lama Jigmé. Classes will be given, interspersed with opportunities for questions. The program can be followed in person or online. The sessions are open to everyone, regardless of prior knowledge of Buddhism or religious background. Everyone interested in this topic is welcome.

Practical Information

Location: Phuntsok Chö Ling, Oostkousdijk 17B, 3024 CL Rotterdam.
Online: Online participation is also possible. You will receive the link immediately after registration. (To watch recordings afterward, please register first, then contact khandrola@phuntsokcholing.org).
Times: December 12, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM; December 13 and 14, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM, with free practice from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
Lunch: Coffee, tea & snack; lunch not included.
Language: English.
Price: See options when registering.

 

Healing Buddha Practice

A day dedicated to Medicine Buddha practices for healing, well-being, and the alleviation of suffering. The community gathers to recite prayers, make offerings, and dedicate the healing energy to all beings in need.

Lama Jigmé will lead this session dedicated to the Healing Buddha, focusing on meditation and prayers for physical and mental well-being. This practice emphasizes the center’s commitment to holistic health and harmony. “For those who cannot attend in person due to special circumstances and have contacted Khandrola in advance, recordings will be available for a month following the event.”

Practical information

Location: Phuntsok Chö Ling, Oostkousdijk 17B, 3024 CL Rotterdam.
Online: Online participation is also possible. You will receive the link immediately after registration.
(to watch recordings afterwards please register first, then contact khandrola@phuntsokcholing.org).
Times: November 25, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Tempel open 7:00 PM)
Lunch: Coffee, tea & snack (lunch not included).
Language: English.
Price: See options when registering.

Bardo Weekend

This weekend retreat explores the in-between state of existence (Bardo) and offers guidance for understanding and navigating this state. Lama Jigmé’s compassionate approach ensures that participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical tools for life’s transitions. The truth is that everyone has a life and everyone will die one day; no distinction is made here based on religious, cultural, or social background. According to the wisdom of the Buddha, we can indeed use our lives to prepare for death. In the Buddhist approach, life and death are seen as one, with death marking the beginning of a new chapter in life. Death is a mirror in which the full meaning of life is reflected. This view is central to the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Bardo (Tib. བར་དོ་) is a Tibetan word that simply means a “transition” or a gap between the end of one situation and the beginning of another. “Bar” means “in between,” and “do” means “suspended” or “thrown.” The word bardo is often used to refer to the intermediate state between death and rebirth, but in reality, bardos occur continuously during both life and death. These are moments when the possibility of liberation, or enlightenment, is heightened.

About the weekend During this study weekend, Lama Jigme will delve deeper into the teachings on the Bardos and how we can integrate this knowledge into our daily lives. There will be time for questions between classes. The lecture can also be followed online and is suitable for anyone interested in this topic; no prior knowledge of Buddhism is necessary. Everyone is welcome, regardless of background, age, or religious affiliation. “For those who cannot attend in person due to special circumstances and have contacted Khandrola in advance, the recordings will be available for a month after the event.”

Practical Information

Location: Phuntsok Chö Ling, Oostkousdijk 17B, 3024 CL Rotterdam.
Online: Online participation is also possible. You will receive the link immediately after registration. For recordings afterwards please register first, then contact khandrola@phuntsokcholing.org.
Times: November 14, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM, November 15 and 16, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch: Coffee, tea & snack (lunch not included).
Language: English.
Price: See options when registering.