Origins
Kangyur Rinpoche
The origins of Chanteloube go back to the early 1960s, when a small group of Westerners met with Kangyur Rinpoche. Most of these students, who were mainly from France and England, had heard of this great master through a book based on the documentary made by Arnaud Desjardins for French television, called ‘Message of the Tibetans’ (Message des Tibetains). And so they journeyed to Darjeeling, India to meet this highly acclaimed and respected master, and wishing to study with him.
During this time, however, many Western students had difficulty traveling to India and staying in Darjeeling, particularly as it was a restricted area requiring special permits, which were valid for only very short periods. They therefore requested for Kangyur Rinpoche to come to the West to teach and to establish the Dharma there. After repeated requests, Kangyur Rinpoche agreed to do so. In 1972, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, who was living nearby in Kalimpong, India, was planning his first visit to the West. As Kangyur Rinpoche trusted Dudjom Rinpoche as a highly accomplished master and particularly as they both had a same root teacher, Thrinley Jampei Jungne, Jedrung Rinpoche of Riwoche, Kangyur Rinpoche sent his eldest son, Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, to request Dudjom Rinpoche to include France in his journey to the West and to give teachings to the group of students living there. Soon after, Dudjom Rinpoche first visited the grounds of Chanteloube.
Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, and Trulshik Rinpoche
In addition to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was another contemporary master that was very close with Kangyur Rinpoche. Along with Kalu Rinpoche and Bokar Rinpoche, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche received the Nyingma gyüdbüm, the entire taksham collection, and other rare transmissions from Kangyur Rinpoche. Kangyur Rinpoche also received transmissions from Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, such as the Nyingthik Yashi. In 1975, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was invited to France to teach Kangyur Rinpoche’s students. On December 16th 1975, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche arrived in the West for the first time. During his visit, Kyabje Khyentse Rinpoche traveled to France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, the USA, and Canada. It was at this time, during Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s visit to France that Pema Wangyal Rinpoche accepted the request of Kangyur Rinpoche’s students to establish a study center to further the activities of Kangyur Rinpoche, and to facilitate receiving teachings from Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Khyentse Rinpoche. The study center was established in an old French house called Chanteloube, located in the countryside of Dordogne (where houses are given names, rather than numbers). And with the simple, low-key approach still preserved after more than 30 years, the center gradually became known as 'Chanteloube'.
Although Kangyur Rinpoche passed away before he could visit the West, his wife, Champa Chökyi Khandro, otherwise known as Amala, settled in Dordogne (see Songtsen: location) with the rest of the family in 1980, where she continued to spend most of her time in retreat and inspired everyone with her gentleness, humility and profound presence. The ground of the retreat centre was blessed by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, Kalu Rinpoche, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and H.H. the 16th Karmapa, who had also been requested by Kangyur Rinpoche to include Dordogne in his visit to the West in order teach his students in France.
Dudjom Rinpoche first came to France in 1972 and between 1976 and 1985 regularly taught in Dordogne. Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche taught at Chanteloube until 1990 and for 15 years, visited 17 times. Through the extraordinary aspirations and compassionate activity of these teachers, we still continue to receive their blessings through masters such as Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, one of the most senior teachers of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, who holds most the lineages, including those of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche. Thanks to their inspiration and guidance, this place has become a centre of learning and meditation where people from many countries have completed the traditional three-year retreat and where many of our teachers continue to provide precious teachings.
The center draws its inspiration from Tibet’s nonsectarian (ri-mé) movement and is open to all Buddhist traditions. A strong emphasis is placed on the fact that true wisdom can only develop hand in hand with love and compassion. Particularly in the summers, Tibetan masters of various Tibetan Buddhist traditions are invited to give teachings (please see visits by teachers for a list of lamas who have taught or who regularly teach at Chanteloube).
Helpful links: More about Chanteloube