Spiritual journey in Bhutan: MINDTREK with Guido Freddi

Departure from Italy on a scheduled flight to Delhi. Direct flight ITA from Rome Fiumicino.

We will arrive in Delhi shortly before 2:00 a.m. local time (9:30 p.m. Italian time). Our correspondent will be there to welcome us and assist us in boarding our Druk Air flight to Paro (to be confirmed). This The relatively short duration of the flight represents a gradual approach to the Himalayan range. As we proceed, we will see the peaks of Everest and the other 8000-meter peaks getting closer and closer, until we enter Bhutanese airspace, with snow-capped peaks over 7000 meters, endless forests, monasteries built on mountain ridges, and valleys covered with fertile rice fields, until you land in the Paro valley at 2,300 meters, in one of the most welcoming airports you will ever visit.

After checking in at our "base camp," the beautiful Olathang Hotel (the oldest in Bhutan), we will take our time visiting Ta Dzong (fortress of horses), which now houses a truly interesting and engaging museum on the history, culture, and religion of the "Land of the Dragon." Those who wish can also follow the guide along an easy trail (Zuri trail) that descends into the valley. In the evening, we will have dinner at the hotel and, for those who wish, a "śavasana" meditation session will be offered to help recover from jet lag.

After a leisurely breakfast and shower, we will set off on foot for a short Mindtrek
(1h30') to one of Bhutan's oldest temples, Kyichu Lhakhang, where we will meet Lama
Karma and his family of authentic yogis. In addition to discovering the spiritual and
artistic treasures of this truly special place, we will also visit the residence of Dilgo
Khyentse Rinpoche, one of the greatest lamas of the 20th century. Lama Karma will
introduce us to the fundamental principles of Buddhist ethics and psychology, with
some insights into the world of Vajrayana.

We will have lunch nearby and, in the afternoon, visit Ripung Dzong, an ancient
fortress that houses the local government and monks of the Drukpa Kagyu school,
crossing an ancient covered "false arch" bridge. We will then return to our hotel in
Olathang for dinner and overnight stay.

Morning: After breakfast and preparing everything we need for a stop along the way, we will set off at a leisurely pace to explore central-western Bhutan aboard our comfortable bus. The road is full of scenic viewpoints. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to admire the rich flora and the work in the rice fields, often still carried out using traditional methods. Arriving at Dochu-la, a pass at 3,140 meters, we will be able to breathe the fresh mountain air and, if the sky is clear, admire the immense snowcapped peaks of the High Himalayas as we stroll among the 108 chortens that decorate it.

After a comfortable and spectacular descent (the roads in Bhutan are paved and well maintained), we will reach a small traditional restaurant for lunch, after which we will take a walk. Through the rice fields until you reach Chim Lhakhang. This temple was founded by
Drukpa Kunley, the famous and beloved mad saint of Bhutan, a beautiful man and extraordinary tantric master who used every means to bring his disciples to very high
levels of contemplative realization. One of the most powerful symbols of this temple is the phallus, also used for ceremonies dedicated to fertility and mental and physical well-being. After visiting this particularly significant site, we will continue to one of the most extraordinary fortresses in Bhutan and probably in the entire Tibetan-Himalayan world: the Punakha Dzong, whose proportions and decorations make it difficult to imagine the effort that went into its construction.

Evening: Dinner and overnight stay at the comfortable Dhumra Farm Resort, with fantastic views of the valley and the dzong.

Reaching Dochu-la again, this time we will treat ourselves to an excursion to
Lungchutse Gompa, maintaining a peaceful and slow pace, appropriate for the
altitude, in order to facilitate acclimatization and fully enjoy the views and the
surrounding natural environment. After this two-day adventure, we will return to our
hotel Olathang in Paro. For those who wish, we can book in advance the famous "hot
stone bath," considered extremely therapeutic and relaxing.

Drupön Lama Karma and his family will dedicate this entire day to us in their hermitage, which has recently been renovated to accommodate the growing number of students. Exceptionally, they will tell us about their hermitic life and the history of their family, sharing with us the ancient Vajrayana meditation practices and singing for us and with us some poems by the great saint Milarepa and some passages from ancient texts. In their company, we will visit t h e surrounding area, including forests, ancient temples, a n d caves still used by great meditators. We will return to our hotel for a moment of relaxation before dinner.

A Yogic Family

Drupön Karma Jnana was born in 1953 in Tashi Yangtse, Bhutan. From a young age, he was trained in the Tibetan language and Buddhism by his father, and with his particularly beautiful handwriting, he became a scribe for a royal project at the age of 13. He then undertook rigorous spiritual training at Long-Nying Chöling Monastery, where he mastered the preliminaries and rituals of Longchen Nyingtik. In 1979, he met his main guru, Lama Naljorpa Sönam Druktop, a master of Mahāmudrā and Dzokchen, becoming one of his closest disciples. Over the next 17 years, he practised advanced meditation techniques, including the Six Yogas of Nāropa and śamathā. Lama Karma also completed numerous retreats, including a severe retreat in a ‘sealed cave,’ and served as a scribe for the tertön1 Pegyal Lingpa. Today, Lama Karma is a retreat master who guides advanced practitioners from around the world. He currently resides near Paro, Bhutan, with his wife, Khandro Tsering Drölkar.

This day will be dedicated to a deeper application of the Lama's teachings to our Mindtrek. We will explore two ancient monasteries very interesting sites north of Thimphu, the modern capital of Bhutan. Cheri Gompa was founded by Ngawang Namgyal, the Rinpoche who unified Bhutan as a single political and spiritual entity.

Its main function is as a retreat center for the Drukpa Kagyu school of Vajrayana Buddhism. The hike to this very scenic monastery is steep but relatively short, with several sacred sites scattered throughout a lush forest. Along the way, there is a good chance of encountering wild animals ( monkeys, deer...). Keeping a mindful pace, we will take a regenerating meditative break. After the visit, we will have lunch outdoors at the base of the valley near at an unspoiled river . Next, we will cross an ancient bridge and reach the beautiful Tango Gompa, which is an important shedr a4 of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition.

At the end of the day, we will return to our hotel. A second session of "hot stone bath" will be available for those interested (to be booked in advance).

The Dumtsek Lhakhang is a rare "hybrid" between a lhakhang 5 and a chorten 6. Built by the great Lama and architect Thangtong Gyalpo, the temple represents three worlds: the underworld, the ordinary world, and the celestial world. The visit will leave you with truly unique memories.

After lunch, we will meet Lama Karma, who will introduce us to some essential themes for understanding our Mindtrek to Bumdrak and Taktsang:

The history and manifestations of Guru Rinpoche. Lama: the path of compassion, awareness, and pure awareness. The 100,000 Dakinis. Dorje Drolö.

Day trip to a sacred place where Lama Karma and Khandro-la will invite us to participate in a ceremony of spiritual offerings (drolma tsok) and incense (sang).

Excursion and meditation in the heart of Vajrayana: a series of Taktsang temples magically nestled on a cliff in the place where Parmasambhava and his consort, transformed into a tiger, defeated a demon who was preventing the Dharma from flourishing in Bhutan.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, meet with our representative and enjoy a half-day tour of the city with an English-speaking guide. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner and transfer to the airport.