Becky | Amitabha Foundation

Oregon and California Teaching Schedules Revised

June 13, 2013 by Becky

Because of Kalsang Rinpoche’s passing, Ayang Rinpoche has rescheduled part of his North American teaching tour in order to officiate at the July 19 cremation. There are no other senior Rinpoches in the Drikung Kagyu, Karma Kagyu, Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma monasteries in South India to lead the cremation puja. Hence, his family requested Rinpoche to be there at this special time. Rinpoche and Truelha and all the organizers extend their sincere regrets for the personal and financial inconvenience to those who had made plans to attend his teachings in Oregon and California in July. We hope everyone will be able to accommodate this unavoidable change of plans and attend the teachings as they have been rescheduled in September and October. Daily schedules and contact information

Dates	Place	Activities
July 24-August 2, 2013	Mexico City, Mexico	Buddha Amitabha 10 Levels Meditation Teaching and Introduction to True Nature of Mind
August 6-11, 2013	Kittery, Maine, USA	Buddha Amitabha 10 Levels Meditation Teaching
August 15-20, 2013	Rochester, NY, USA	Outer, Inner, Secret and Innermost Secret Vajrasattva Empowerment, Teachings and Practice Retreat
August 24-September 2, 2013	Toronto, ON, Canada	Phowa Course
September 6-11, 2013	Edmonton, AB, Canada	Introduction to True Nature of Mind
September 14-23, 2013	Vancouver, BC, Canada	Phowa Course
September 27-October 6, 2013	Eugene, OR, USA	Phowa Course
October 10-12, 2013	San Jose, CA, USA	Public Talk: Introduction to Phowa and Bardo; Amitabha Empowerment and Short Teachings
October 13, 2013	Alameda, CA, USA	Vajrayogini Empowerment

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

Venerable Kalzang Rinpoche passes into parinirvana

June 12, 2013 by Becky

Venerable Kalsang Rinpoche

Photo courtesy of Konchog Oesel

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing into parinirvana of the Venerable K. C. Lama Kalsang Rinpoche, May 31, 2013. He was a direct descendant of the great King Ling Gesar of Tibet’s Mhukpo Dung, and father of Ayang Rinpoche’s sangyum, True Lhamo.

Kalsang Rinpoche was born 97 years ago in Domchengar, in the region of Kham, in eastern Tibet. His father Chadral Pema Gyurme was a highly accomplished yogi Vajrayana Chod Master. His father’s title “Chadral” is a title of respect given to a person who lives a meditative life of renunciation high in the holy mountains and dangerous cemeteries of Tibet. Chadral Pema Gyurme spent his life practicing in such holy places. He accomplished a thirteen-year retreat at Mt. Kailash and was renowned for his realization.

From early childhood, Kalsang Rinpoche had been trained in the Dharma under his father’s guidance. While traveling with his father to many of the sacred places in Tibet, Rinpoche received tantric ritual teachings from him with a special emphasis on Chadral Pema Gyurme’s Healing Chod lineage.

Rinpoche’s life study and practice of the Dharma was deepened by the numerous blessings, empowerments and teachings that he received from many of the great Kagyu and Nyingma masters. Rinpoche was a “favored son” of his root guru His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. In addition to the great masters’ teachings, Rinpoche was given the complete oral transmission teachings and empowerments of the Karma Kagyu Nyen Do Monastery.

For twenty-five years, Rinpoche studied and practiced the Dharma at the Nyen Do Monastery in Eastern Tibet. He completed a continuous five-year Tara retreat at the Monastery, and at the conclusion of the retreat, Rinpoche was appointed the Chief Representative of the Nyen Do Monastery Regent. For the remainder of his residency at the Nyen Do Monastery, Rinpoche served in the capacities of ritual master, financial administrator and community ambassador.

Following the Chinese expansion into Tibet, Rinpoche relocated to India. In Bylakuppe, South India, he founded the Karma Kagyu monastery, Kagyu Nalanda Institute, the related charitable organization, Bodhisattva Trust, and the Gesar Divination and Healing Center.

Rinpoche was often referred to as “Yogi Rinpoche.” He was a renowned master of the practice of the Chod healing ritual and Gesar of Ling (also referred to as Juthig) Mo divination, one of the oldest divination systems in the Tibetan culture. He learned both practices from his father, and attained his insight and wisdom as a recognized Tibetan healer through devotion to meditation, years of practice, retreat, and experience with these unique methods. Rinpoche’s healing rituals were known to be beneficial to those suffering from physical, mental or spiritual ailments and their associated obstacles.

For over forty years, Rinpoche selflessly served the southern region of India from his residence in Bylakuppe. He first visited the West in 1996, and traveled internationally until recently, offering insightful teachings and compassionate guidance. Over the years, Rinpoche’s powerful spiritual healings have successfully helped people where other methods have failed. His tireless Dharma efforts, healing activities and selfless dedication to all sentient beings earned him the respect of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities in South India, as well as the Buddhist community worldwide.

Venerable Kalsang Rinpoche’s ku-dung will be cremated July 19, 2013.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

His Eminence the Fourth Palchen Galo Rinpoche

May 25, 2013 by Becky

His Eminence the Fourth Palchen Galo Rinpoche

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

Schedule and Program Update for Nepal Ceremonies

April 23, 2013 by Becky

There have been slight changes in the schedule and program for the Consecration and Enthronement Ceremonies in Nepal. Click NEPAL RETREAT CENTER VISITOR INFORMATION if you are planning to attend. Click here to download the Official Invitation English, Chinese or Tibetan.

Grand Opening and Consecration: Opak Kyilkhor Chöling

Amitabha Foundation Retreat Centre in Nepal

and Enthronement of His Eminence Palchen Galo Rinpoche

20-25 May 2013

OFFICIAL INVITATION

20-21 May – Dharma Protector Prayers

23 May – Official Ceremonies

24 May –Buddha Amitabha Tsog Offering and

25 May –Buddha Shakyamuni with Sixteen Arhats Offering Prayer (Morning)

Milarepa Tsog Offering Prayers (Afternoon)

In the heartland of world peace, the spiritual pure land of Nepal, the Amitabha Foundation is a legally registered entity in Nepal and the Retreat Centre is built on a mountain range at Kopan Village in the Kathmandu Valley. Located approximately 3.5 km north of the ancient Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, it consists of eight temples, retreat cottages, a library and a conference hall. The temples have been magnificently built to accumulate merit. They display carvings and paintings based on the highest traditions of Tibetan Buddhist art and culture, preserving these traditions and inspiring future generations to value and perpetuate them.

This location was selected for the Retreat Centre because Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha, and there are many holy pilgrimage places all over the country. It was also built to create the opportunity for both ordained and lay people in Nepal and all over the world to practise Dharma, and to offer to those who are not Dharma practitioners a short, peaceful respite from their busy lives. In addition, by providing a library, the Centre will assist both scholars in their research and local people in their education. It also has a conference hall to promote east-west religious and cultural exchange, with an emphasis on altruistic programmes to promote world peace. The time has now come to inaugurate the Amitabha Foundation Retreat Centre for the benefit of the world community.

We are also privileged to announce the enthronement ceremony of one of the eight great Buddhist siddhi lineage masters of the 12th century who were well known all over Tibet as Palchen Ga Lotsawa Shon-nu Pal. Born in Mi-nyag in Eastern Tibet, he formed the wish to attain siddhi in his life time. To receive teachings, he made the difficult and dangerous journey to the noble land of India, where he attended great Buddhist masters like Tsami Sange Dragpa of Magadha region at Bodh Gaya, Abhayakara, Vageshwari, and many others. He undertook yogic practices at the historic charnel ground Sitavana (Cool Grove),attaining both the common spiritual attainments and extra-ordinary yogic accomplishments, exemplifying extraordinary supernatural powers. In particular, he had a vision of the primordial wisdom protectors Mahakala Bernagchen in the sky and Four Armed Mahakala on earth, in person, who directly gave him the life essence and transmission teachings. He later invited the primordial wisdom protector, along with his host, to Tibet from the noble land of India and covenanted him to protect the Buddha’s teaching in Tibet.

Gradually, he bestowed extensive oral instructions, initiations, and the union of the six branches of sadhanas to the first incarnate lama of Tibet, H.H The Gyalwang Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa and also to the renowned and great Sakyapa master Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. All these details are described in many historical texts such as the religious history of Tibet and the compendium of teaching biographies of other masters of the time. It is also recorded that King Shingta of Magadha, present day Rajgir in Bihar, gave him a reception during which his path was strewn with flowers up to his knees.

H.E. Palchen Galo Rinpoche is the 4th reincarnation of Karma Kamtsang lineage of Dzod-Tse monastery, famed for its many qualified and accomplished great Masters, which was established under the great Dharma king Lhathog Choegyal of Eastern Tibet. The present incarnation is a reincarnation of the second Lhase (son of Dharma King Lhathog Choegyal) tulku who was the second throne holder of the monastery. He was again born as a son of the Master, universally known by the name of H.E. Ayang Rinpoche, the emanation of Terton Rigzin Choegyal Dorje, and of the mother True Lhamo, who is directly a descendant from the great King Ling Gesar of Tibet’s Mhukpo Dung.

The opening of Amitabha Foundation Retreat Centre and the Enthronement Ceremony of the 4th Palchen Galo Rinpoche will be held on the auspicious day of 23rd May 2013. All our associates, dharma brothers and sisters, and Rinpoche’s students are cordially invited by the representative abbots and lama of Dzod Tse monastery on behalf of H.E. Kyabgon Jedrung Rinpoche and Dzo Tse Monastery, and His Eminence’s followers who are currently in exile; and by all the associates and members of Amitabha Foundation Retreat Centre, Nepal.

It will be a great opportunity for His Eminence Ayang Rinpoche’s many devoted students around the world to take part together in this important occasion of celebration. It is also an opportunity to visit many great Buddhist sites and places of pilgrimage in Nepal and the surrounding area. To enable you to choose accommodation and tours according to your needs, we will post information on available options on www.amitabhafoundation.us and www.ayangrinpoche.org. We regret we are unable to make room bookings, due to the number of people expected to attend this event.

Filed Under: AF News, Amitabha Retreat Center in Nepal, Announcements