Secretary Thinley Wangdue attended the 17th Founding Anniversary of Dharma City on 20 April, 2024 at Florennes in Namur province, Belgium.

Every year, Dharma City celebrates its founding anniversary called an Open Door, which comprises Tibetan culture and spirituality activities in the presence of Dzogchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche, Lopön Jampa Norgyal, and Lopön Tsering Gönpo.

Lopön Tsering Gönpo highlighted the detailed accounts of the Centre’s purpose and its major activities.  Centre’s founder H.E. Dzongchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche, welcomed the guests and locals in his opening remarks. Patrul Rinpoche briefed about Dharma City’s various forms of activities, such as the spiritual development of students, preserving the Tibetan culture, supporting charity work for the Tibetan community, and so on.

Secretary Thinley Wangdue attended the function on behalf of Representative Rigzin C. Genkhang, the Office of Tibet, Brussels, as the chief guest. In his remarks, Secretary Thinley applauded Rinpoche’s commendable efforts to spread Buddha Dharma and greatly benefit the locals. He also thanked all the staff and volunteers for making the Dzogchen Gelek Palbar Ling the right place to seek love, compassion, wisdom, and happiness. He appealed to the locals gathered there to make the best use of the centre.

The Open Door program was also attended by two special guests; His Excellency Father of the City’s Church, Chanoine Philipppe Masson, and His Excellency Le Bourgmestre Stephane Lasseaux, City Mayor of the Florennes Commune. Representatives from other Buddhist centers and around 100 locals from all walks of life also attended the event.

The morning’s program consists of a welcome speech by Patrul Rinpoche, performances of songs and dances by local Tibetans, and a guided tour of the centre. In the afternoon, after the lunch break, various workshops and activities such as Tibetan dance, Tibetan cuisine, make-up for kids, Tibetan calligraphy, films, a shop, an introduction to meditation, and Chöd practice with traditional instruments were carried out.

Dharma City, also known as Dzogchen Gelek Palbar-Ling, was founded by Dzongchen Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche at the Floreance Commune in Namur’s province in 2007. The centre is situated about 89 km from Belgium’s capital city, Brussels. Patrul Rinpoche’s centre is well received by the locals. Rinpoche’s centre also hosts the summer camp for the Tibetan weekend language school’s children every year.