Dearest Friends,

We are delighted to invite you to  the Summer Course in Spain, taking place from May 30th to June 8th, 2025.

The course will be held at Karma Guen and the Stupa in Benalmádena. We are joyful to share that Lama Ole has given his blessing for Shangpa Rinpoche to join us and give teachings and initiations during the event.

Please register here – https://registration.karmaguen.org/ 
Kindly note, Benalmadena program is not included in total price, you can get ticket onsite.

If you need shuttle, please request 3 days in advance –https://registration.karmaguen.org/booking/shuttle

Program

Friday, 30 May
10:00-13:00 – Lecture  with Traveling Teachers
15:00 – 18:00 – Meditation session
20:00 – 22:00 Q&A panel with Traveling Teachers and 16th Karmapa Meditation

Saturday, 31 May
10:00-13:00 – Lecture  with Traveling Teachers
15:00 – 18:00 – Meditation session
20:00 – 22:00 Q&A panel with Traveling Teachers  and 16th Karmapa Meditation

Sunday, 1 June
10:00-13:00 – Lecture  with Traveling Teachers
15:00 – 18:00 – Meditation session
20:00 – 22:00 Q&A panel with Traveling Teachers and 16th Karmapa Meditation

Monday, 2 June
10:00-13:00 – Lecture  with Traveling Teachers
15:00 – 18:00 – Meditation session
20:00 – 22:00 Q&A panel with Traveling Teachers and 16th Karmapa Meditation

Tuesday, 3 June
10:00 Empowerment of Karma Pakshi, the Second Karmapa with Shangpa Rinpoche
20:00 – 22:00 Q&A panel with Traveling Teachers and 16th Karmapa Meditation

Wednesday, 4 June
10:00-13:00  Teachings with Shangpa Rinpoche
15:00 – 18:00 – Meditation session
20:00 – 22:00 Q&A panel with Traveling Teachers and 16th Karmapa Meditation

Thursday, 5 June
10:00-13:00  Teachings with Shangpa Rinpoche
15:00 – 18:00 – Meditation session
20:00 – 22:00 Q&A panel with Traveling Teachers and 16th Karmapa Meditation

Friday, 6 June
time (TBC ) Empowerment of Mahakala with Shangpa Rinpoche
20:00  – 16th Karmapa Meditation

Saturday, 7 June
Teachings in Benalmádena with Shangpa Rinpoche
20:00  – 16th Karmapa Meditation  ( Karma Guen)

Sunday, 8 June
Empowerment in Benalmádena with Shangpa Rinpoche
20:00  – 16th Karmapa Meditation  ( Karma Guen)

Useful information:

Karma Guen
Karma Guen is our home, where you meet many new and old  friends and get dharma teachings.
We are thankful to everyone, who treat the place with respect and offer help if needed, so we can all enjoy this special week together.

Accommodation
Karma Guen is a camping site, so please be prepared for the full camping conditions: outdoor showers and toilets without the guarantee of warm water; staying in tents with beautiful views. Please bring your own tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, towel and any equipment and personal things you might need.
As you will be camping in nature, please bring spray from mosquitos and sun cream.
There will be a limited possibility to rent tents and sleeping bags .
If you need bed in dormitory or a tent, mat, sleeping bag, please book in advance here karmaguen@diamondway-center.org

Big tent cost 35€ + deposit 20€
Small tent cost 25€ + deposit 20€
Matt cost 10€ + deposit 5€
Sleeping bag cost 10€ + deposit 5€
Duve cover cost 5€+ deposit 5€

Catering
Our amazing kitchen team will provide three meals a day for everybody registered for staying in Karma Guen. Food is not included in the price for those not registered as staying in Karma Guen, however, there will be the possibility to buy meals additionally. Because of the extreme fire risk it is absolutely prohibited to cook on your own.
You do not need to bring your own dishes. Karma Guen will supply disposable dishes, cups and cutlery. We will not have a dish washing area this course. We will have cafeteria and several places where you will be able to buy bottled water apart from the full service by our two cafeterias on site.

Laundry
There will be no laundry service during the course.

Medical support
Our team of trained doctors will be available on site for any minor urgent medical assistance. Please do not forget your prescribed medications. The nearest emergency clinic is in Torre del Mar
Hospital Comarcal de la Axarquia
Av. del Sol, 43, 29700 Vélez-Málaga, Málaga
Phone number 951067000
Open 24 hours

Childcare
There will be a kid-friendly area, but we do not offer professional childcare. Each parent is responsible for their own children.

Translation
As usual you will have an opportunity to listen to the teachings in German, Polish, Hungarian, Spanish, Russian, Bulgarian, Czech and others perhaps. Thanks to translation team. Do not forget your radio to tune in. Limited amount of radios will be available for rent at the gompa.

Karma Guen shop
We will have 1 shop with variety of Dharma related goods, accepting cash and cards.

Andalusian summer conditions
Summer in Andalusia in southern Spain is full of sun. Be prepared for hot weather and strong sunshine. Make sure to bring hats, caps or any other protection for your head and skin, sunglasses, sunscreen. Sprays against mosquitos and other insects will be useful, too. Please check the weather forecast for Vélez-Málaga a few days before you start your trip to Karma Guen and check your equipment carefully.
No fire will be allowed in Karma Guen (candles, mini gas bottle, etc.) as we are in the dry season and under high fire risk. Smoking is restricted to the marked smoking areas (follow the signs).

Getting to Karma Guen
We are expecting a lot of friends joining this course. Therefore we fully recommend you to use our shuttle service directly from Malaga airport to Karma Guen and back. This is the easiest door to door service and you can avoid the crowded parking at Karma Guen. If you decide to come by your own or rented car, there will be different parking options around Karma Guen. If you come by car, use this google map route:
https://goo.gl/maps/QtDddsuAhbT2

What to bring with you – tips and tricks
If you are an European citizen, bring with you your European Health Insurance Card.
If you want to bring any precious items with you, be prepared to take good care of them all the time. We will have charging stations available for your phones, tablets and laptops, but no lockers or protected areas. All your belongings are your own responsibility – look after them!

Internet
There is a wifi network in Karma Guen, however, we cannot guarantee high quality wi-fi connection during the course. Be prepared that the more people are on site, the harder it can be to connect to the internet with your phones, tablets or laptops. Make sure to arrange your important matters online before you come to Karma Guen, or be prepared to use your mobile data from your private provider.

When you arrive
When you arrive at Karma Guen we recommend that you first register and get your wrist band for the course. This way you can easily go to the Gompa.

Pets
No pets are allowed at Karma Guen.