 Kunselling
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Dzogchen Community
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Introduction
Kunselling is the retreat centre of the Dzogchen Community in the U.K. Bought in 1997, it is situated on the Eppynt Mountain in Wales and has spectacular views of the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. Kunselling is near the famous castle town of Hay-on-Wye, internationally known for its numerous bookshops and the acclaimed Hay Literary Festival, held annually. In 1998 Rinpoche stayed at Kunselling, thus consecrating it as an authentic sacred site for the practice and continuation of the Dzogchen teachings. He named it ‘Kunsel Ling’ meaning ‘The Place of Total Luminosity’.
Today the facilities at Kunselling include a four bedroom traditional 17th century farmhouse with shrine/sitting room, a practice hall or ‘gompa’ in the barn, an office, a dance mandala with a protective-dome covering in the courtyard and four modern retreat cabins, including a comfortable dark retreat cabin.
A white themed garden surrounds the mandala and a newly built terrace runs the whole length of the south-facing farmh ouse. Kunselling also owns the surrounding land of about ten acres, which directly adjoins thousands of acres of wild and deserted common land. There is a constant presence of the elements and only the surrounding sheep and the occasional mewing of red kites disturb the sense of peace and tranquillity.
There is a small shop at Kunselling where you can buy practice books, incense, Tibetan diaries and other practice materials.
Since 2005 there has been a regular programme of events at Kunselling. To book for an event, contact the event organiser.
It is also an ideal location for personal retreat. To book a personal retreat, Dzogchen Community members should contact Nick Segust
Karma yoga
"If people are interested in any kind of Karma Yoga activity related to the Dzogchen Community it means those people are interested in the Dzogchen Community. For example, if someone is a member of a family then that person is interested in everything related to that family. In the same way, if there is something to do for the Dzogchen Community, one who is interested in the Dzogchen Community is always ready to participate."
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
Karma yoga at Kunselling
Week long karma yoga work sessions take place at Kunselling in the Spring, Summer and Autumn. During these periods we collaborate to ensure that important and essential work is done to maintain and develop both our properties and surrounding land at Kunselling. These periods are also combined with collective practice in the mornings and evenings and are usually rounded out with a good communal meal in the evenings where we get to know each other in a more relaxed fashion.
Work that has been done over 2007-2008 includes:
- extensive work on the building of the terrace and its wall
- gardening
- repainting the farmhouse
- repainting the gompa
- tiling the office and entrance
- cladding the steps in the barn
- building a plinth for the Buddha
- inserting an internet cable to the office
- painting dance mandalas
- strimming grass
- cutting hedges
- clearing areas of nettles, docks and thistles
- cleaning
- cooking for the group
Karma yoga is also an essential requirement for those doing the Santi Maha Sangha training. This work goes not only go on at Kunselling but in all areas where members of the Dzogchen Community work together and collaborate to ensure the smooth running of the Community and its many projects.
 Facilities
The facilities at Kunselling are available to members of the Dzogchen Community. Those wishing to do personal or group retreat have the choice of the four bedroom farmhouse or one of the comfortable and modern four retreat cabins, including the dark retreat cabin which has its own private bathroom and shower.
The other option is camping.
Costs:
Courses: Accommodation costs for courses with a qualified instructor cost £12 per night for members and £10 per night for sustaining members. Camping is £5 per night (per head).
Personal retreat: To encourage personal retreat, accommodation costs during personal retreat are £5 per night. All members of the international Dzogchen community are warmly welcome to come and do retreat in our comfortable cabins.
Booking: For group practice booking, public and community events, contact the organiser as listed in the Events Diary.
Winter fuel surcharge: To meet fuel costs, a winter fuel surcharge of £2.00 per person, per day, will be added for group events and personal retreats during the period 1st October to 31st March.
For personal retreat booking, please contact Nick Segust.
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