Mahāsiddha Retreat Centre
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In 1998, Khenchen Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche composed the Sādhana of Mahāmudrā: The Joyous Dance of the Amŗita of Great Bliss. It begun at a special place in the province of Alberta, Canada at Sulfur Mountain. This mountain is the central mountain of three, which are like the dharmakāya, sambhogakāya, and nirmanakāya. The surrounding mountain peaks are like mahāmudrā siddhas. The Columbia Glacier and the great snow mountain are like the guru's four kāyas from which a stream of blessings flows. Nearby is Moraine Lake, which is like the mandala of the nine deities of Hevajra. It was completed at the residence of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in Vancouver, a palace of appearance-emptiness, where the sky is spacious and expansive. In front of his door lies a bay, on whose waters the big ships and small boats are like the bobbing reflection of the moon.
At the request of the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen, the one whose tantric name is Dechen Rangdrol (Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche) spontaneously uttered whatever arose in his mind.
The purpose of MRC is to pay homage to "the King of Yogīs," Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, and to provide practitioners an opportunity to meditate, retreat, and do pilgrimage near/to the inconceivably beautiful and awe inspiring sacred sites where Rinpoche composed the profound text: Sādhana of Mahāmudrā: The Joyous Dance of the Amŗita of Great Bliss.
Currently, we are located along a stretch of the Columbia Valley, on Highway 95, which runs next to the gentle Columbia River and offers glorious views of the Rockies on the east and the Purcell Mountains on the west. The famous British Columbia forest carpeting these mountains provides a serene backdrop for the ever-changing patterns of clouds and sky. This is mountain living at its best! The closest town is Golden, 34 km away; here at MRC nature reigns supreme.
With the scenic Yoho, Banff, and Kootenay, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke National Parks, as well as the Bugaboos and Radium Hot Springs located nearby, a wealth of outdoor activities are readily available year-round.
Our guests love the setting – both the great outdoors as well as the rustic design of our wood lodge and cabins. Situated in the midst of such natural beauty, our buildings were purposefully designed to complement our surroundings with a minimum of embellishment. The hardwood paneling throughout brings you close to nature, offering both a sense of tranquility and upliftedness.
If you are on site for quiet time and contemplation, we have a variety of cabins and other facilities available for private booking. The natural environment provides great inspiration for personal retreat, and the open area around the lodge, as well as the mountain paths, are ideal for walking meditation. From time to time we offer meditation programs on site or online. If your stay coincides with one of these programs, you are most welcome to join us.
MRC Lodge & Cabins is a division of the Nalandabodhi Foundation, a Canadian non-profit organization. We are a Buddhist community with the motto “Be wise, Go Kind and Live Fully”. MRC Lodge & Cabins is also known as Mahasiddha Retreat Centre to the Buddhist community. For more information about Nalandabodhi, please visit nalandabodhi.org and canada.nalandabodhi.ca.
I take with me the welcoming warmth, and sweet good humor of this most splendid place.