In France
THE EARLY DAYS
I met the Dharma in 1974 in Kopan, and from 1974 to 1977 I spent three years mainly taking teachings and learning how to meditate. Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche were just starting to tour the West, invited by students. I was living in the Sangha community and many of my Dharma friends were sent to the West as directors or spiritual programme coordinators. I was the only French student at that time, and Lama Yeshe told me that it was my turn to check the possibilities of starting Dharma activities in France. I met Denis Huet in ’75 in Kopan and again in ’77 in Paris; speaking about the project, he gave me the financial help to invite the Lamas to France, where they came for the first time in July 1978 with H.H. Song Rinpoche.
We organized the first visit by renting a Christian centre in the Southeast of France. Three-hundred people showed up, and Lama Yeshe suggested we start a centre in France. He gave the name Institut Vajra Yogini. During the first 18 months the institute was situated in a flat in Paris and run with the help of six dedicated people. During this period I went around France visiting existing Buddhist centres, learning about the legal aspects and the conditions in France in relation to Buddhism.
The constitution was drawn up, and during the summer of 1979 we organized the second course in another Christian centre. When Institut Vajra Yogini was just a mere label, I had the chance to visit the FPMT centres already established, to participate in FPMT meeting and to receive precious instructions from Lama Yeshe. The vision of what IVY had to be was becoming clearer to me. I visited about 100 places which were for sale, and in November 1979 the Chateau d’En Clausade, 35 km from Toulouse in the Southwest of France, was bought with Denis Huet’s generous financial help. Eight people moved in, and a pioneer community life started.
At that time Lama Yeshe was very worried about the sangha community that was scattered between Nepal and India due to visa difficulties, and he asked me to find a place for them. Then a miracle happened in the form of a big cheque due to the accidental burning of the chateau’s western wing. With this money Nalanda monastery was born in April 1980 and right after that Gelong Adrian Feldmann moved there as director.
Now 10 years later, returning to the Institute and Nalanda, I see the renovated buildings, the flower gardens, single people, families with children, monks and nuns, practicing strongly under the guidance of two renowned geshes. Through my limited understanding I can perceive the deep message of the guru’s kindness, which enables us to pursue and transmit a precious Eastern tradition to our own environment. Some of the people living here have never met Lama Yeshe but actually they are living and practicing, keeping his vision alive.
When Lama Osel is old enough, my pioneer generation of Dharma students will have white hair or no hair (like Dr. Nick), wrinkles and rheumatism and my deepest wish is that his Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, born from his past life’s vision, will give him the perfect means to turn the Wheel of Dharma again.
