Do Ngak Kunphen Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal Peace

Do Ngak Kunphen Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal Peace (DNKL), also known by its Tibetan name མདོ་སྔགས་ཀུན་ཕན་གླིང་།, is a significant Tibetan Buddhist retreat and learning center situated in Redding, Connecticut. It serves as a hub for practitioners and students interested in the Gelug spiritual tradition, which is closely associated with the 14th Dalai Lama. The center offers a range of classes and meditation retreats, guided by Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa, and draws inspiration from the humanitarian visions of Maurice Pate.

History and Context

The land upon which DNKL is located has a notable history. It was once part of the estate of John Read, after whom the town of Redding was named. Subsequently, the grounds served as the residence for Maurice Pate, the founding director of UNICEF, and his wife Martha Lucas Pate, a respected scholar and college president. Following their passing, an organization established by Maurice Pate, the Maurice Pate Institute for Human Survival, donated the expansive 100-acre property to the Mahayana Sutra and Tantra Center of Connecticut. The center was initially established in 1997 under the name Godstow Retreat Center by Geshe Michael Roach, though it is no longer affiliated with him. In 2006, when Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa assumed the role of Spiritual Director, the name was changed to Do Ngak Kunphen Ling, signifying its role as a Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal Peace.

Activities and Significance

DNKL functions as a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and a learning center for students residing both within the United States and internationally. Resident and visiting lamas regularly conduct classes covering key Buddhist topics such as philosophy, moral discipline, meditative concentration, and wisdom. These educational programs are open to individuals of all religious backgrounds and those with no specific religious affiliation. Participants engage in both short-term and long-term group retreats, with many also undertaking their own solitary meditative practices on the center's grounds. Beyond its core religious and educational offerings, DNKL also hosts public talks, spiritual festivals, and community events, including a well-known annual animal blessing ceremony held during the summer months. The center is also actively involved in humanitarian endeavors, both locally and globally, providing assistance to Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns, contributing to disaster relief efforts, and supporting children's education and health needs. The center's prominence is such that it has warranted a visit from the 14th Dalai Lama to the surrounding area.