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Olomouc has a long tradition of academic, cultural, and spiritual gatherings. The presence of Džamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche at Palacký University further enriches this tradition by introducing one of Asia’s major spiritual traditions.
Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche is one of the representatives of the Karma Kagyu lineage. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, we distinguish four lineages: Sakya, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Gelug.
His visit is significant not only for the Czech Buddhist community but also as an opportunity for dialogue between traditional Tibetan teachings, the academic community and contemporary European society. Rinpoche is a high-ranking lama (teacher), a lineage holder and a highly experienced practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism. It is rare for the general public and practitioners alike to have such close contact and the opportunity for dialogue.
He will begin his first visit to the country in Olomouc city, where three events open to the general public, students and those interested in deeper study and practice of the Buddhist tradition.
A Gathering at Palacký University
We are very pleased that Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche accepted our invitation to visit Olomouc. The university setting provides a natural space for bringing together diverse perspectives on humanity, the mind, society, and the questions that unite us across cultures.
Event no.1: Path of meditation - Four Dharmas of Gampopa
Saturday 10th October, 2026 / 16:00- 18:00
The Four Dharmas are four slogans that capture the essence of the entire Buddhist path, from ignorance to awakening. Although they are common to all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, they were made particularly famous by Gampopa, who arranged them in the form of a prayer and wrote extensive instructions for each of these four slogans.
Gampopa Sonam Rinchen (1079–1153) was one of the most significant masters of Tibetan Buddhism and a key figure in the Karma Kagyu lineage. He integrated the profound meditative experience of the Mahamudra tradition with the Kadampa teachings and created a systematic path that demonstrates how Buddhist teachings gradually transform the way a person perceives themselves, others, and the world. His teachings on Gampopa’s Four Dharmas remain a fundamental framework of this tradition to this day.
Event no.2: Milarepa Empowerment
Sunday 11th October, 2026 / 14:00 - 18:00
Empowerment is an entrance door to the practice of sercet mantra (also known as vajrayana), which forms a core of Tibetan Buddhism. It is a ritual in which teacher (guru, lama) introduces students to the true nature of body, speech and mind by using various examples and ritual items. In this way a seed is sown in the mind-stream of students so that they can reach awakening by applying unique methods of path of secret mantra.
Empowerment of Milarepa. Milarepa (11th-12th cent) is a beloved spiritual hero of Tibet. He is known to have achieved complete awakening within one lifetime. Having overcome many difficulties and endured hardships, his life is an inspiring example of patience and dilligence. He is remembered for his spiritual songs of simple words, yet profound meaning. This empowerment is related to Milarepa’s guruyoga – a method for discovering our own natural state and awakened qualities through meditation on one’s lama inseparable from Milarepa. The text was composed by Rinpoche’s predecessor Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, an eminent master of all spiritual traditions of Tibet in 19th century.
Event no.3: Moderated discussion with UPOL students and the general public
Monday 12th October, 2026 / 16:00- 18:00
Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche will also explore the difference between studying Buddhist teachings and actually applying them in daily life. What does it mean not only to know Buddhist teachings but also to practice them in daily life?
The session will also touch on the relationship between the Buddhist tradition and contemporary philosophy, psychology, and the science of the mind. Where can these worlds enrich one another, and where, on the contrary, do their foundations remain fundamentally different? What might a dialogue between a millennia-old spiritual tradition and contemporary academia look like?
And what happens to traditional teachings when they cross the boundaries of their original Himalayan cultural context and enter Europe? Do they adapt to the new environment, or do they preserve their original essence?
The event will also include a look at the life of a Buddhist teacher and their daily practice, responsibilities, joys, and the challenging aspects of this role.
The lecture will provide a space not only for the transmission of Buddhist teachings but, above all, for an open dialogue about the mind, the human condition, and ways to understand one’s own experience.
Tickets
This isn’t just a Buddhist event. We want to create an open space where people who have been practicing Buddhism for a long time, students, academics, and those encountering Tibetan culture and Buddhist philosophy for the first time can come together.
Rinpoche’s upcoming schedule will take place in Prague and other EU countries as part of his European tour.