The Divine Feminine A Pilgrimage to Bhutan

with Willa B. Miller Liz Monson

and Jetsun Deleplanque

April 25 to May 10, 2012

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Bhutan, the last Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom in

the world, is strongly invested in the preservation of its age-old religious traditions. Home to the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the land of the Dragon has acted throughout its history as a haven for the flourishing of the Buddhadharma. Today, with the demise of the Tibetan state, the Kingdom remains the last Himalayan Buddhist enclave to officially embrace the Vajrayana or Tantric path first brought by its patron saint, Guru Rinpoche, in the 7th century. In the teachings of the Vajrayana, the feminine embodiment of enlightened energy comes to hold a place of great significance. We invite you to join us on a journey to this

Option 1: 15 Days Pilgrimage with 4 day Trek

Option 2: 15 Days Pilgrimage without Trek

Price (both options):

For 10 participants or less: US$ 4,250/- For more than 10 participants: US$ 4,000/-

(maximum capacity: 25 participants)

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sacred land blessed by countless masters to explore and uncover the many facets of the Divine Feminine.

Punakha Dzong

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Our pilgrimage will provide a means to engage with the intellectual understanding of the intricacies of Tibetan Buddhist history and philosophy as much as the non-verbal magic and awe that the sanctity of the sacred

sites visited will inspire. Our days will include morning and evenings of discussion and reflection as well as meditation practice at the sacred sites.

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Guiding presences: Willa B. Miller Willa B. Miller is an authorized Lama in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Budddhism. She currently teaches meditation and Buddhist practice in Boston, MA. Liz Monson Liz Monson has been a practitioner with the Shambhala/Buddhist Sangha of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche for 20 years. She has studied and practiced extensively with her teacher Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and taught numerous programs in that community since 1999. Currently, she is a PhD student at Harvard studying Tibetan Buddhism and ethics. Jetsun Deleplanque Currently preparing a PhD on Bhutanese history and religion and having lived in the Kingdom for over 4 years, Jetsun Deleplanque will be providing the

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historical frame of the pilgrimage each day. He is the co-founder and director of Namkha Journeys, a travel company dedicated to fostering a meaningful encounter between the peoples of the Himalayas and their visitors. All three are interested in the Sacred Feminine, wherever it manifests, and are students together at Harvard University.

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Tharpaling, Bumthang

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Itinerary at a glance: April 25: Meeting in Bangkok April 26-28: Arrival and visit of the Paro Valley April 29-May 2: Visit of the Thimphu Valley May 3-4: Visit of the Punakha Valley May 5-8: Option 1 Drukpath Trek May 5-8: Option 2 Visit of the Phobjikha and Bumthang valleys May 9: Paro Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) May 10: Morning flight – exit

Because the key to a land often lies in the hands of its people, our journey will be blessed by privileged encounters with various representatives of the living Buddhist traditions of Bhutan. From revered Rinpoches to young practitioners, our meetings and discussions, where emphasis will be made on the female presence in Bhutanese Buddhist circles, will serve to guide us in the unraveling of the place and significance of the Divine Feminine in Buddhism.

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Price includes: All accommodation in Government approved A-class hotels All Trekking equipment and arrangements All meals All transport Royalty Fee All permit/entrance fees Price excludes: Drukair flight (from Bangkok or Delhi – to be bought separately) Insurance (medical/travel) Any expenses of a personal nature Individual donations at temples

Bumthang

Phobjikha

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Pilgrimage Highlights

Paro

Considered to be one of the most beautiful of Bhutan, the picturesque valley of Paro is also most significant in its cultural and religious heritage. Lying at the center of two trade routes to Tibet, Paro has always held a place of great strategic and cultural importance. Its Dzong (fortress), towering above the valley, houses the National Museum, where very rare tangkhas are displayed.

Taktshang

Perhaps the most important temple complex of the Kingdom, Taktshang or ‘Tiger’s Nest’ is a true architectural marvel. The magnificent cliff-hanging temple is built around a cave where Guru Padmasambhava allegedly landed on the back of a Tigress in the 8th Century and meditated for three months. The monastery was built in its present form in 1684 and has recently been renovated following strict traditional methods.

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Taktshang is famous for having been visited by such illustrious yogis and yoginis as Jetsun Milarepa and Machig Labdronma.

Thimphu

The only capital in Asia with no traffic lights, Thimphu is a small and vibrant town where ancient traditions meet the modern world. Our stay in the capital will involve visiting some of the important religious and cultural landmarks of the valley as well as meetings with distinguished members of Bhutanese society.

Tango/Cheri

Considered to be the holiest sites of the Thimphu valley, the monastic university of Tango and the retreat center of Cheri are intimately associated with the first implantation of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage in Bhutan. Situated on two mountaintops, the sites offer breathtaking views of the Thimphu valley.

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Punakha

The Punakha valley is the ancient capital of the Kingdom and remains to this day the winter residence of the state monastic body (Dratshang). Placed strategically at the junction of the Pho and Mo Chu rivers, the imposing Punakha Dzong was built in 1637 by Bhutan’s unifier, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. The Dzong houses many sacred and historic priceless artifacts as well as the embalmed body of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal himself. Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest)

Thimphu Dzong

Tango Monastery

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Drukpath Trek

The Drukpath trek is one of the most popular in Bhutan because of its short length and exquisite scenery. Starting in Paro and ending in Thimphu, the trek will stretch over four days with breathtaking views of the high Himalaya. Some of the highlights of the trek will include camping next to sacred crystal-like lakes and visiting the imposing and ancient Phajoding monastery.

Phobjikha

A special place to all Bhutanese, the scenic Phobjikha valley is also known as Gangtey after its Gompa that sits on the ridge above the valley. Gangtey Gompa was founded in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinley, the grandson and incarnation of the great 15th century Nyingmapa saint and treasure-revealer Pema Lingpa. The Gompa is looked after by approximately 100 lay monks, known as Gomchens, and has recently been renovated by the current ‘mind incarnation’ (Trulku) of Pema Lingpa. Gangtey is also a habitat for the rare species of Black Necked Cranes, who flock there during the winter and fly back to Tibet during the summer.

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Bumthang

With countless ancient temples and monasteries adorning the landscape, the magical Bumthang valley is considered by all Bhutanese as the cultural heartland of the Kingdom. There, we will have the chance to visit some rare temples associated to Guru Rinpoche, Longchenpa and Pema Lingpa.

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Kurjey, Bumthang

Drukpath

A Pilgrimage operated by Namkha Journeys For more information please contact:

Jetsun Deleplanque – jetsun@namkhajourneys.com Willa Miller – willablythe@gmail.com www.namkhajourneys.com