Becky | Amitabha Foundation

100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities (Shitro) Puja for the New Year

March 3, 2017 by Becky


Mandala of 42 Peaceful Deities	Mandala of 58 Wrathful Deities

From March 6-12, 2017, Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in Bylakuppe, South India will hold the annual Shitro (100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities) Puja to welcome in Losar (Tibetan New Year, February 27) and celebrate Chötrul Düchen (March 12). Chötrul Düchen is one of the four holy Buddhist festivals commemorating significant events in the life of the Buddha. During the first fifteen days of the new year, the Buddha displayed miracles for his disciples to increase their devotion. During this time, it is believed that the effects of positive actions are multiplied ten million times.

Ayang Rinpoche said about the 100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities practice, “It is the essence of the 6,400,000 Dzogchen tantras, and merely hearing this teaching cuts through birth in the lower realms; merely understanding it causes one to travel to the ground of great bliss (mahasukha); bringing its meaning to mind causes one to accomplish the irreversible state of the spontaneously arisen awareness holder. For everyone who connects with this teaching there will be great purpose and meaning.” H.E. Ayang Rinpoche, 2009 (Trans. Tyler Dewar). Read a short excerpt of this teaching from Ayang Rinpoche’s 2009 Karma Lingpa Shitro empowerment in Garrison, New York.

“Any one who has family members, friends or loved ones who have died and would like to make donations and dedicate it to them, it [Shitro] is the best opportunity.” If you would like to make offerings to support the 100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Puja online please use the link below, or send a check made out to Amitabha Foundation to P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, California 95001. Be sure to include the names of persons or pets (living or deceased) for whom you are requesting prayers. Names must be received by March 9, 2017 to be included in the prayer list for the monastery, but offerings are welcome at any time. Donations sent through the Amitabha Foundation are tax deductible in the US.

Support the 2017 Shitro puja with butterlamps, tsok, or money offerings and tea/meals for the monks and lamas with an online donation using PayPal or your credit card:

You may also send your donation directly to the monastery’s bank account using the information below (this will not be tax-deductible).

Account Number	17082200011214
Account Name	Drikung Charitable Society
Bank Name	Syndicate Bank, Bylakuppe -571104 Branch
Bank Address	Kagyudpa Monastic InstituteP.O.Bylakuppe 571104, Mysore District Karnataka State, India

Swift Codes for:

US dollars: SYNBIN BB 118 BKTRUS 33
UK Pound: SYNBIN BB 118 BARCCB 22
Euro: SYNBIN BB 118 DUTCH BANK-953492610
Swiss Franc: SYNBINN BB 118 UBSWCH2H 80A

Click here to see a list of all the annual pujas at Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery, with the lunar calendar dates. The Western calendar dates will be posted as soon as they are announced.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements, Monastery Pujas Tagged With: Ayang Rinpoche, Monastery, Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, Prayers, puja, Shitro

Nurse or medical volunteer needed in Bylakuppe

February 19, 2017 by Becky

Young Monks at Ayang Rinpoche’s Monastery in Bylakuppe

There is an immediate need for a nurse or someone with some medical experience to care for the daily health and hygiene needs of the monks at Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in South India. There are approximately 130 monks currently in residence, with an additional 30 young monks due to arrive soon. This a very special opportunity to give the gift of your time, energy and experience.


Entrance to Ayang Monastery, Bylakuppe

The volunteer will live in the monastery guest house and receive meals and tea in exchange for their services.

Desirable traits that are beneficial: compassionate, respectful of cultural differences, flexible, patient, perseverant, humble—and sense of humor.

The duties of the medical volunteer will include:

Teaching and supervising personal health and hygiene (hand washing before meals, hair washing, showering, washing dress and bedsheets) for 100 monks ages 5-19;
Dispensing and applying medicines;
Ordering and shopping for medicines and dispensary supplies.

The minimum commitment is 6 months. For more information, download a complete job description here. To apply, send your resume to Ani Samten at the monastery.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

Pledge to support the Amitabha Foundation

February 10, 2017 by Becky

Ayang Rinpoche’s Amitabha Empowerment Text

Your monthly or annual pledge of support and other unrestricted donations help the Amitabha Foundation provide a base in the United States for Ayang Rinpoche’s many humanitarian and spiritual activities. Pledges provide a regular source of income to pay the banking, accounting, legal and other fees required to maintain our charity status. We are a 100% volunteer organization and appreciate your participation in fulfilling Ayang Rinpoche’s vision!

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ID 95-4111288. Your pledge and all other donations are tax-deductible in the US.

Download and mail in this Pledge Form, and choose one of the monthly or annual options below:

Filed Under: AF News

Guru Dragpo Puja to Remove New Year Obstacles

February 6, 2017 by Becky

The annual Guru Dragpo puja at Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in Bylakuppe, India, begins February 19, 2017 and continues for 7 days through February 25, 2017. Guru Dragpo is practiced at the end of the Tibetan lunar year to dispel obstacles and purify any remaining negativities in order to usher in happiness and prosperity for the New Year (Losar), which is February 27th this year.

You may participate at home by reciting the Guru Dragpo short mantra:

OM AH HUNG ARTSIK NIRTSIK NAMO BHAGAWATE HUNG HUNG AH HUNG HUNG PHAT//

You may also participate by reciting the Guru Rinpoche mantra (see below) or the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche. Click here for Ayang Rinpoche’s teaching on the Seven-Line Prayer, and the prayer in Tibetan and English.

OM AH HUNG BENZRA GURU PEMA SIDDHI HUNG//

Ayang Rinpoche has said that anyone sponsoring Dharma activities gains the same merit as the practitioners. If you would like to make a US tax-deductible contribution to the Guru Dragpo puja using PayPal or your credit card, please select the amount of your donation below. The full cost of the puja for 280 monks, nuns, khenpos and lamas is $21,650. Here are some suggestions, but your donation of any amount will be appreciated and will be like a drop of water mixed in an ocean of merit. You may include a dedication for your offering in the name of a loved one, including pets. All names must be submitted to the Amitabha Foundation by February 22 at 5 PM Pacific Standard Time.

You may also send a check in USD made out to Amitabha Foundation to: P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, California 95001. and send the names for dedication to info@amitabhafoundation.us.

For donors outside the United States, here is the link to make offerings directly to the monastery’s account through the Drikung Charitable Society.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements Tagged With: Ayang Rinpoche, Bylakuppe, Guru Dragpo