Drikung Forest Hermitage

A Drikung Kagyu Foundation USA Project

With the Blessing of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché

“A remote place full of tranquility
is an abode where practice goes easily.
Meditative experiences and realizations flourish
in such solitary mountain retreats.”

- Kyobpa Jikten Sumgön in “Wandering Alone in the
Wilderness for the Benefit of Beings”

“The Buddha was born in the forest at Lumbini, achieved awakening in the forest of Gaya, taught his first five disciples at the forest of Sarnath and passed into mahaparinirvana in the forest outside of Kushinagar. Forests therefore hold special significance for Dharma practitioners.”

- Dorjé Lopön Dr. Lye

PROJECT PHASE #1

YEAR 0-5

Stage 1: Land Purchase – Complete

A 90-acre land parcel has been identified in the wooded mountains of
Western North Carolina. Projected completion of land purchase:
December 2022.

Stage 2: Land Prep

Aside from prepping specific sites for building, we will transform two existing basic storage structures into inhabitable space for volunteers working on land and buildings. This includes connecting electricity and well water to buildings.

Stage 3: Initial Dharma Hall

An initial Dharma Hall consisting of a metal building. This is where communal teaching, practice and gathering will initially occur until funding becomes available for the building of a proper Dharma Hall.
The metal building materials have arrived and construction is imminent.

Stage 4: Cabins & Tent Platforms

Basic short-term retreat cabins (12’ X 12’) and wooden tent platforms will be built at different sites on the land. This will allow the lay community to begin residential but short-term practice and training.

Stage 5: Tiny Homes for Long-Term Residents

Tiny homes will be built as needed to grow the monastic community at this forest hermitage. Long term residents are encouraged to afford their own tiny homes supplemented by help from the hermitage as needed.

project phase #2

YEARS 6 – 10

Stage 1: Dharma Hall

A Dharma Hall that can accommodate 100 persons will be constructed to replace the yurt-style Dharma Hall we started with. This Dharma Hall will have the main floor plus a finished basement which will have an office, library, and storage. It can also be used to house overflow retreat participants.

Stage 2: Dormitory

A 3-level building with an office, commercial kitchen and dining room in the first level and dormitory-style rooms on the two levels above will be built to support short-term residential retreat programs for the laity. This dormitory will also generate income in the form of facility rentals to like-minded groups. The order of preference and priority and fee categories for use of dormitory: 1) Buddhist retreats, 2) other contemplative retreats 3) health and wellness retreats.