2026 European Dzogchen Buddha Path Spring Retreat
The Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation Europe is very pleased to announce the 2026 European Dzogchen Buddha Path Spring Retreat, taught by our Holy Vajra Master Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, as well as our precious Dharma teachers Excellent Bodhi Lama Rita and Bodhisattva Leader Heini Ilmarinen. This retreat will be held at our very own beautiful Dzogchen Retreat Center Europe (Mariensee, Austria). It presents an ideal opportunity to deepen your understanding and experience the teachings of the Dzogchen Lineage and the practice of the Buddha Path.
The teaching topic is: ✨ “The Heart of Connection: Building Relationships Through Wisdom and Compassion” ✨
This year's program focuses on cultivating meaningful, harmonious relationships and deeply integrating this understanding into your daily life. During the program, we will focus on opening our hearts, clearing obstacles, and building connections through insightful teachings, sadhana practice, and the supportive environment of our Sangha.
The teachings will be in English.
Registration Deadline: Please register by Wednesday morning, May 6th, 2026.
Arrival: Please plan to arrive by Friday evening, May 8th, 2026.
Start: The retreat will officially begin around noon on Saturday, May 9th.
End: The retreat will conclude on Sunday, May 17th, 2026, at 15:00.
Benefits of Retreat
- Celebrate this precious life, heal your heart and release stress,
- Cultivate a sound body and mind, and connect with kind-hearted people.
- Experience amazing Buddhist meditation, and understand the meaning of True Happiness.
- Bring Dharma into your everyday life.
Great Perfection of Wisdom lineage holder Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche is the thirty-third holder of the Dzogchen lineage, lama of Dzogchen Monastery, a Professor of the Dzogchen Shri Singha University. Khenpo Rinpoche is a scholar, whose main activity is not just translating and teaching sacred texts. With the team of dedicated practitioners Rinpoche translates the preserved buddhist culture into Western culture, for western people to be able to practise it at home, at work, in romantic relationships and in family. Translating the whole system is the only chance to preserve the teachings of egoless wisdom that have long ago been destroyed in other parts of the world. He currently teaches Dharma and gives practice training to thousands of students, in more than forty countries around the world.
About the Dharma teacher Bodhi Lama Rita
Our highly appreciated Dharma Teacher Excellent Bodhi Lama Rita grew up in Austria and studied languages and cultures of South Asia and Tibet at the University of Vienna. She has also graduated as a mediator from studying Mediation and Conflict Management at the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna.
Bodhi Lama Rita is an amazing Dharma teacher, radiating great love and compassion to all beings. She has dedicated her life to ensure the preservation, practice, and transmission of the Dzogchen Buddha Path Lineage in this world for the peace and happiness of all beings.
About the Dharma teacher Heini Ilmarinen
Our highly appreciated Dharma Teacher Heini Ilmarinen has studied Dharma since November 2011 when she attended her first month retreat in Russia. Heini has been in the Dzogchen Buddha Path Lineage since and has attended many month-long internships and shorter retreats. Heini lives in Finland, and is one of the main pillars of the European Sangha. She is Treasurer of the European Sangha Board, as well as leads and teaches the Finnish Sangha. Heini has a background in the sciences and enjoys uniting the Buddhist views with scientific knowledge.
The cost of the retreat:
- Adult (-64): €685
- Senior (65 and up), students, unemployed and persons in need: €475
- Estonians: €355
If you need a scholarship or support, reach out to the retreat director.
Retreat fee covers:
- Dining (vegetarian) 3 times a day,
- Lodging
- Printed material
Retreat fee does not cover:
- Transfer to/from airport
- flight costs, visa fees, personal insurance or travel insurance; personal vitamins, supplements, and medications, etc.
For the benefit of participating students, the Dharma teachers of future generations, fees for the Dzogchen Buddha Path Retreat reflect a built-in scholarship and subsidy because there is no profit motive. Fees have been minimized to cover only the projected operating expenses, including food, lodging, utilities, and maintenance. Dharma teachings, sadhana practice, and Buddhist ceremonies led by our Holy Vajra Master and Dharma teachers are always provided free of cost. Donations to the teacher are optional, but encouraged.
Students must support themselves financially during the retreat and are expected to cover the costs of their health care and any personal necessities. Students are requested to prepare Dharma books and personal holy objects in advance.
Due to the consecutive nature of the instruction, students who leave the retreat for any reason will not be allowed to return. No refunds will be made for any reason after the retreat has commenced. Expenses everywhere are increasing, but since 2020, we have only minimally increased the fees for retreat and have made great efforts to minimize our operating costs through conservation, technological upgrades, and volunteer support.
We are very grateful to all those who have sponsored and supported the Dzogchen Retreat Center Europe and our dharma programs and activities over the years as your support makes it possible for us to provide exceptional training for Dharma students and teachers in Europe.
Often, program fees are not sufficient to cover the cost of operating the retreat center and Dharma programs. Thus, we are looking for generous sponsors to support our programs and retreat center. If you are interested in sponsoring or support, please contact us here:
Thank you for your wisdom and compassion
