The Shangpa Kagyu Lineage was founded by the Great Adept Khyungpo Naljor and carries the extremely powerful blessings of the Enlightened Dakinis, Niguma and Sukhasiddhi. Kabje Kalu Rinpoche bestowed the entire Shangpa Wang for the first time at his Monastic Seat, to the 20 monks who are about to enter the Traditional Shangpa Kagyu three year Retreat, Rinpoche told us, that He was going to try his best to fulfill the wishes of his Root Guru, Tai Situ Rinpoche, who asked Him, to give the Shangpa Kagyu Wang 108 time in this life. This historic event was attended by Sonada Monastery Lamas and Monks and a group of Western Disciples, from Brazil, the US, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong and Taiwan, who are preparing to enter the Shangpa Kagyu three year retreat in the future. Rinpoche gave teachings in both Tibetan and English about the history of the Shangpa lineage; Khyungpo Naljor, Niguma, and Sukhasiddhi, Rinpoche bestowed the Complete Cycle of Empowerments of the Shangpa Lineage and spoke about his personal dedication to build the Shangpa Lineage for the future.

On October 6, 2009 H.E. Kabje Kalu Rinpoche installed 20 Monks in the Traditional Shangpa Kagyu three Year Retreat at Sonada Monastery, Kunzang Dechen Retreat Center. For the next three years and three months the Retreatants will remain totally secluded in the retreat facility separate from main grounds of Sonada Monastery. Inside the retreat complex, secure from outside view by privacy walls, each monk has a small room that houses a personal shrine and a meditation box, the room being just large enough to make a full prostration where they will spend most of the day in seclusion except for daily group practice and teachings in the common Retreat Shrine Room. Before entering Retreat every one must leave their duties and responsibilities to family, friends and community, and at no time during the retreat, is anyone permitted to enter the retreat except for designated Teachers. Kagyu Tenjay Cholings asks that all of you Kindly Pray for the successful completion of this Retreat, from which the next generation of Teachings Lama will come and be able to assist our World Wide Dharma Centers in their future development