When Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche first came to the United States he started out teaching the Dharma to a small group of students in Cottage Grove, Oregon and created his first center in the West, Chagdud Dechhen Ling in the 1980’s. In the coming years, as Rinpoche and a few of his students moved on, first to California and then to South America, his Dharma activity continued to flourish and expand, touching the lives of many, throughout the world with his wisdom, skillful means and compassion.

Although Chagdud Rinpoche passed away in 2002, his aspirations and efforts to benefit beings can be seen today in the Dharma centers he established, which are being held by his students, as places for the teachings, transmissions and practices of the Dharma to flourish and increase. It is our wish that eventually, Chagdud Rinpoche’s incarnation will return and have the opportunity to visit these centers and offer the teachings of the Buddha to a new generation of practitioners.

For the past 35 years, Chagdud Dechen Ling has been a Chagdud Gonpa center, with Red Tara and Vajrakilaya practice being held here on a daily basis. Although our Cottage Grove Sangha is small in numbers, it is a dedicated group of practitioners, who each care deeply about carrying out Rinpoche’s original intention for this place. We have two resident lamas and hold a regular program of teachings, tsogs and meditation practice. We also have several members who may live elsewhere, but keep a close connection with Dechen Ling by paying regular Chagdud Gonpa Foundation dues. In this way they are able to contribute in an ongoing way to the support of the center, playing an integral part in its day-to-day operation.