Renewed Gathering of Rigpé Yeshé in Amsterdam

Rigpé Yeshe Gathering at Amsterdam Rigpa Centre

In November, the Amsterdam Rigpa Centre hosted a joyful and successful gathering of Rigpé Yeshe—the first in several years. From 11 o’clock, children and parents began to arrive, bringing with them toys, games, and plenty of enthusiasm. In total, we were 28 people, including 16 children aged between 18 months and 17 years, with most between 3 and 10.

The day was filled with dancing, meditating, playing games, crafting, and singing. It was a super fun and relaxing get-together for everyone involved.

Rinpoche shared his famous mengak: when you leave the mind alone, it—just like water—automatically becomes clear. We demonstrated this with a large glass jar of clear water and two small bags of brown and white sand, representing negative and positive thoughts. The children eagerly stirred the water with a wooden spoon, turning it into a dark brown soup. We then let it rest until the end of the meeting, observing how clarity returned when left undisturbed.

A wooden slide brought from home was a huge hit! Surrounded by mats and cushions, the little ones could release their energy without leaving the shrine room.

Lunch was a feast of love: homemade pizza, pasta salad, banana bread, delicious sandwiches, apple flaps, and cottage cheese cake. The abundance of food was as heartwarming as the company.

After the break, we sang together with guitar accompaniment—from sing-along songs to the Tara mantra. We even spontaneously turned the text from the kids’ version of the Four Immeasurables prayer into a song. The first Rigpa hit was born! Around three o’clock, we officially closed, but the craft table remained busy until the very end.

In short, it was a wonderful start to a new Rigpé Yeshe year! We plan to gather 3 or 4 times a year. If you have children, or know someone who does, spread the word—this is what you can offer them!

The next Rigpé Yeshe day at the Amsterdam Rigpa Centre will be on 8 March 2026.

With love,
Wessel & Petra