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His Eminence Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche embarked on a two-month European tour beginning in April 2026, visiting FPMT centers and Dharma communities across nine countries. We are delighted to share a digest of his visits to FPMT centers across Germany, Austria, Latvia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, and France, where His Eminence offered, initiations, teachings, and refuge and lay vows. With grateful thanks to Yongzin Lingtsang Labrang for the wonderful photos and information.
His Eminence Kyabjé Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, Nalanda Monastery 2026.
His Eminence Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche was warmly received upon his arrival in Munich, Germany, by members of the Aryatara Institut and the Tibetan Community of Munich. During the weekend of April 25-26, His Eminence bestowed two days of teachings on the Seven-Point Mind Training (Lojong), and compassionately conferred the Refuge and Lay Vows. In addition, he granted the initiation of The Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara. Hundreds of students including the local Tibetan community queued to offer a khata to His Eminence after the teachings and initiation organized by the Aryatara Institut. His Eminence also kindly met with and gave advice to the Tibetan Community of Munich and, visited the FPMT center in Munich.
His Eminence Kyabjé Yongzin Ling Rinpoche at Aryatara Institut, Munich, Germany, April 2026.
His Eminence Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche at Aryatara Institut, Munich, Germany, April 2026.
In Berlin, His Eminence bestowed Seven Medicine Buddha Brothers initiation and teachings on The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva at Dharma Mati Center (Rigpa) where he also met and gave advice to the Tibetan community. There, he also received Venerable Thubten Chodron for an audience. Ven. Chodron, a pioneer student of FPMT, originally received her ordination from the previous Ling Rinpoche, His Holiness the 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, who was the Principal Teacher for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and whom His Holiness refers to as “My Root Guru.”
H.E. Ling Rinpoche with Venerable Thubten Chodron in Berlin, April 2026.
On May 6, His Eminence arrived in Vienna, Austria, where a warm and heartfelt reception was offered by the members of Panchen Losang Chogyen Center and the Tibetan community. On May 8, His Eminence graciously bestowed the highest yoga tantra Buddha Amitayus Long Life Initiation to the Tibetan Community of Austria.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche at Panchen Losang Chogyen Centre, Vienna, 2026.
At Panchen Losang Chogyen Center on May 9-10, His Eminence graciously bestowed the Orange Manjushri initiation, teachings on The Three Principal Aspects of the Path and Refuge with Lay Vows. People from several different countries attended the two-day program with great devotion to receive these precious Dharma teachings and blessings.
Later on May 13, His Eminence briefly visited Prague, Czech Republic where he bestowed the highest yoga tantra Buddha Amitayus Long Life Initiation and taught on The Four Noble Truths at Tibetan Open House.
In Latvia, over the weekend of May 16–17, at Ganden Buddhist Meditation Center, in Riga, His Eminence bestowed a precious teaching on The Heart Sutra, and bestowed the Orange Manjushri initiation plus Refuge Vows. The two-day program brought together many devoted students and practitioners to receive Dharma guidance and blessings.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche at at Ganden Buddhist Meditation Center, in Riga, May 2026.
On May 21, His Eminence received a warm welcome reception by the local Dharma community of Yeshin Norbu Meditation Center in Stockholm, Sweden. His Eminence offered a public talk on the importance of cultivating a loving heart for inner peace and happiness. Here, His Eminence emphasized that true inner peace and happiness come from working on the mind and spoke of a paradox of our times: although peace is a universal wish, often the world tries to achieve it through systems conditioned by fear, competition, and defense – how can true peace can arise without cultivating peace within our own hearts? On May 23–24, His Eminence gave teachings on The Four Immeasurable Thoughts and bestowed the Vajrasattva with Consort Initiation with Refuge and Lay Vows.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche at Yeshin Norbu Meditation Center in Stockholm, Sweden.
One of the students from the local Dharma community asked His Eminence about his relationship with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. He recalled: “He was a wonderful human being and teacher, something that you don’t realize when he is with us physically but when the person is gone then we really realize how he was. He lived his life totally for others, and this is something very hard to find – he neglected his own welfare, his health and always lived for serving others, something very unique. He lived his life very simply, down to earth, totally simple, no luxury, almost without belongings, only his books and prayer objects. This is one of the main reasons I respect him.“
He also recalled that in the 1960s Lama Zopa Rinpoche met His Holiness the 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, his predecessor, in Ghoom Monastery in the Darjeeling area of West Bengal, India, developing a strong friendship. The current Ling Rinpoche knew Lama Zopa Rinpoche from the very beginning of his life, though not remembering the first time of their meeting. Lama Zopa later requested His Eminence to teach around in the FPMT centers. This was one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s last wishes, which His Eminence is doing his utmost to fulfill.
His Eminence Ling Rinpoche with Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
His Eminence remembers meeting Lama Zopa Rinpoche a few times in his last year, especially in his last month. He recalled receiving the sad news by phone, which he expressed as being painful and difficult, but then His Eminence realized it was a big teaching Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave and the right time to take rebirth to benefit people. “May all his wishes come true and may he come back in someone who can really benefit people, who could fill in the shoes of Lama Zopa and continue to benefit countless sentient beings, so the student must continue to pray, because the karmic relationship is very strong,” His Eminence advised. “Remember his kindness and then pray for the unmistaken child, someone who could lead the students, look after them, and fill in his shoes, this is your responsibility; I’m doing mine!”
Please watch the video to see this heartfelt reflection.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche at Kadam Choling, May 2026.
On May 29-30, the three local Dharma centers, Jewel Heart, Kadam Chöling and Maitreya Instituut, collaboratively hosted His Eminence to teach A Song Based on Experience by Je Tsongkhapa and as it was the holy day of Saka Dawa, the three centers offered His Eminence a Long Life Prayer Ceremony. Later in the auspicious day, the Tibetan Community of the Netherlands and Rigpa community of Amsterdam separately offered two Tsogs to His Eminence.
On June 3, His Eminence received a heartfelt and joyous welcome at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia in Italy. During June 5-7, His Eminence began with consecrating the Stupa of Enlightenment for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Later he offered commentary on The Songs of Experience by Je Tsongkhapa and bestowed the highest yoga tantra Buddha Amitayus Long Life Initiation conferring blessings for longevity, merit, and spiritual accomplishment for all. His Eminence was invited to bless a local Dharma center which he did later as well.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche at ILTK, June 2026.
In France, on June 11, His Eminence received a warm welcome from Nalanda Monastery and Institut Vajra Yogini in Toulouse, by the resident geshes, monastics and members of the community. On June 12, he compassionately offered the precious highest yoga tantra empowerment of Je Rigsum Chikdüp the combined practice of Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara, and Vajrapani in one at Institut Vajra Yogini.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche at Institut Vajra Yogini, France, May 2026.
On June 13-14, His Eminence graciously bestowed two-days of teachings at Nalanda Monastery on The Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Je Tsongkhapa, and kindly bestowed the initiations of Arya Sitātapatrā (White Umbrella Goddess) and the Long-Life Empowerment of Cintachakra White Tara, The Wish-Fulfilling Wheel, with great compassion and kindness. His Eminence later traveled to the Paris area to continue his teachings and initiations at Instituts Ganden Ling and then with the Tibetan Community.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche at Nalanda Monastery, France 2026.
His Eminence concluded the European tour in Basel, Switzerland where he received a grand, traditional welcome ceremony by the Tibetan Community of Basel and continued to share his blessings by bestowing initiations, teachings and meeting with the communities at large.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche at Nalanda Monastery, France 2026.
On July 5, His Eminence will kindly offer (online) the Chenrezig Sadhana: Oral Transmission & Commentary for the entire FPMT community as part of the Global Mani Retreat, in continued fulfillment of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes. Attending this teaching is also a wonderful way to celebrate the July 6 birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama!
We offer congratulations and thanks to all of the FPMT centers involved in making this tour a success and benefit to so many who received teachings along the way!
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation, and community service.