Trinlay Khachöd Ling
Big Indian, New York
Bodhivastu’s Big Indian Meditation Retreat and Healing Sanctuary is a place where teachings are transmitted concerning the various physical and spiritual practices used within the context of awakening.
The center serves as a gathering space for a broad range of community activities including group meditation, prayer, mind training, retreats, volunteer initiatives, and body movement instruction.
As a community, we are continuously developing TKL as an artwork of life, devotion, and purification.
The center serves as a gathering space for a broad range of community activities including group meditation, prayer, mind training, retreats, volunteer initiatives, and body movement instruction.
As a community, we are continuously developing TKL as an artwork of life, devotion, and purification.
History
From the 1970s to the 1990s, TKL was previously known as the Swami Rudrananda Ashram (RUDI’s Big Indian for short). Rudra is an epithet for the fierce and primordial aspect of the deity Shiva, also known as Mahadeva. Ananda means bliss, so in essence it was the ‘Ashram of Shiva’s Primordial Bliss’. Upon Rudi’s passing, the ashram was managed by Rudi’s close disciple Dr. John Mann, who continued running it as a spiritual learning center for several decades.
In 2014, the first portion of the land was generously donated by Dr. Mann to the Bodhivastu Foundation so that the ashram could continue to serve its main purpose as a meditation and retreat sanctuary. In 2018, Bodhivastu officially took over the stewardship of the remaining portion of the land as well, enabling it to be sustained as an accessible sanctuary in perpetuity.
H.H. Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa Rinpoche arrived at our center on July 5th, 2019 and offered its profoundly blessed name: “Trinlay Khachöd Ling.”
A basic translation reads: Land of the Sky Dancers’ Awakening Activity.
Another layer of interpretation could render it: The Sacred Space where Luminous Awareness is Activated. With sincere aspirations towards manifesting the highest potentials given with this name, we are committed to propagating the precious Dudjom treasure tradition purely, and as a primary form of our yogic application.
History
From the 1970s to the 1990s, TKL was previously known as the Swami Rudrananda Ashram (RUDI’s Big Indian for short). Rudra is an epithet for the fierce primordial aspect of the deity Shiva, also known as Mahadeva. Ananda means bliss, so in short it was the ashram of Shiva’s primordial bliss. Upon Rudi’s passing, the ashram was managed by Rudi’s close disciple Dr. John Mann, who continued running it as a spiritual learning center for several decades.
In 2014, the first portion of the land was donated to the Bodhivastu Foundation so that it could continue to serve its main purpose as a meditation and retreat sanctuary. In 2018, Bodhivastu officially took over the stewardship of the remaining portion of the land as well, enabling it to be sustained as an accessible sanctuary in perpetuity.
H.H. Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa Rinpoche arrived at our center on July 5th, 2019 and offered its profoundly blessed name: “Trinlay Khachöd Ling.”
A basic translation reads: Land of the Sky Dancers’ Awakening Activity.
Another layer of interpretation could render it: The Sacred Space where Luminous Awareness is Activated. With sincere aspirations towards manifesting the highest potentials given with this name, we are committed to propagating the precious Dudjom treasure tradition purely, and as a primary form of our yogic application.
Visit Us
The center is open dawn to dusk for visitors, with the exception of periods reserved for intensive meditation retreats. Please email us in advance to ensure the appropriate timing for a visit and to ensure access to the main Meditation Hall .
Car
Bus
Adirondack Trailways offers a service to Pine Hill, NY from the 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal. Please prompt the driver to drop you at the intersection of Route 28 and Oliveria Rd.
TKL is about a 2.5 hour drive from NYC— just off the main Route 28, about 30 minutes past the Woodstock exit.
No Wi-Fi or Cell Phone connectivity at TKL.
One may think that not having these things is a nuisance when in fact, it is one of the many natural positive and healing characteristic of the center. The deep feeling of peace everyone experiences at TKL is one of its most palpable features.
If you need to make a call or connect to the internet while at our center, we have a landline and easy access to places such as Peekamoose Restaurant, formerly Rudi’s Country Kitchen, (1 mile from our center) who have Wi-Fi.