Kunzang Palyul Choling


Kunzang Palyul Choling is a center for Buddhist study and practice in the Nyingma tradition that is located in Poolesville, Maryland. Founded as the Center for Discovery and New Life in 1985, and then given to Penor Rinpoche and renamed by him in 1987, KPC was Penor Rinpoche's first Dharma Center in the US.

Teachers

Her Eminence Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo Rinpoche is the KPC resident Lama and is a 1998 Penor Rinpoche Enthroned Lineage Holder. Her daughter Atria Zeoli follows her path.
Other teachers include Penor Rinpoche; Gyatrul Rinpoche; Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok & Ani Mumtso; Karma Kuchen Rinpoche; Mugsang Tulku; Khentrul Gyangkhang Rinpoche; Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso; Khenchen Pema Sherab; Khenpo Namdrol; Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche ; Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche & Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche; Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche; Yangthang Tulku; Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche; Chetsang Rinpoche; Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche; Choji Rinpoche; Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche; Ngagpa Yeshe Dorje; Orgyen Kusum Lingpa; Tulku Rigdzin Pema; Bhaka Tulku; Khenpo Tenzin Norgey; and Lama Kuntuzangpo, Baasan Lama, and Lama Baasansuren.

Prayer vigil

In April 1984, the Center began a 24-hour prayer vigil in the basement of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo's home in Kensington, Maryland, dedicated to the end of suffering. A year later, the Center formed a corporation, purchased an antebellum style mansion in Poolesville, Maryland, purchased numerous large crystals weighing hundreds of pounds and reinstituted the 24-hour prayer vigil at its new location.
Participants maintain two-hour prayer shifts, and, the vigil remains largely unbroken. In 1999, Kunzang Palyul Choling began another 24 hour prayer vigil shortly after Jetsunma established another center in Sedona, Arizona.

Peace Park

The Peace park's creativity and imagination starts with entering a natural mandala laid out with red, green, blue, yellow and white gardens. Holy objects are placed in strategic positions, including a silent Buddha, crystals, Tibetan prayer wheels. Visitors can make over 21 stupa circumambulations.

Stupas

Many stupas have been built at Kunzang Palyul Choling's two locations, all containing relics pertinent to the Nyingma lineage. The first stupa, the enlightenment stupa in Maryland was built and consecrated in 1988.
In 1991, a stupa peace park in Maryland containing all eight types of stupas, representing the eight great deeds of the Buddha, was completed. The central long life stupa in the park is dedicated to the long life of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo.
In 1995, Penor Rinpoche gave Jetsunma a relic from Terton Migyur Dorje, which is now housed in the tall Migyur Dorje Stupa in Maryland. This particular stupa is dedicated to the eradication of diseases for which there is no known cure.
The most recent is the Amitabha Stupa in Sedona, Arizona, completed and consecrated in 2004.

Key Practices

, taking Refuge, and arousing Bodhicitta, are the path's foundation to this ancient school's Buddha-nature training.
Nam Cho, is the "sky / space treasure" terma of the Tibetan Buddhist Nyingma Palyul Lineage as revealed by Terton Migyur Dorje.
Known as Sadhana, KPC practices may involve a Wang and spiritual commitments.

Related Buddhist practices: