AF News | Amitabha Foundation

Vajrasattva and Achi in Toronto

March 5, 2018 by Becky

Vajrasattva Mandala Mural, Amitabha Temple, Nepal

Ayang Rinpoche will bestow the Vajrasattva Empowerment and give the precious Outer, Inner, Secret and Innermost Secret Vajrasattva Teachings in Toronto July 17-21, 2018. Pre-requisites: You must have taken refuge ordination before and you should be able to recite Vajrasattva 100 syllable long mantra.

Rinpoche will also give the Achi Chokyi Drolma Empowerment and Teachings, July 22-23, 2018. The teaching event location will be announced shortly.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements, Teaching schedule

100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Puja

February 23, 2018 by Becky


Mandala of 42 Peaceful Deities	Mandala of 58 Wrathful Deities

From February 23-March 1, 2018, 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 16) and celebrate Chötrul Düchen (March 2). 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 deceased persons or pets for whom you are requesting prayers. Names must be received by February 27, 2018 at 5 PM Pacific 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 2018 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

Losar Tashi Delek from Ayang Rinpoche

February 15, 2018 by Becky

Hello to all my friends,

At this start of the Earth Dog Year,

I wish you Good Luck and Happy New Year.

That your life will be successful and meaningful,

And that you will bring benefit for all beings,

I will pray for you.

-H.E. Choje Ayang Rinpoche

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

Liberation Prayers (Nedren) in Bodhgaya

December 30, 2017 by Becky

Ayang Rinpoche performs the Nedren Ceremony of Liberating Dead Beings

At the conclusion of this year’s Phowa Course in Bodhgaya, Ayang Rinpoche will carry out a Liberation for Dead Beings prayer ceremony (Nedren).

This is a ceremony to help sentient beings who have died and are wandering in the bardo. Through symbols, seed syllables and traditional rituals, the dead being’s consciousness is drawn in and transferred to Buddha Amitabha’s Pure Land. This ceremony is not only effective for beings who have recently died but can even be done many years after one’s passing.

You may make an offering on behalf of loved ones or pets, or any other beings, no matter how long ago they have passed. All names must be submitted by Wednesday, January 10 at 5 PM Pacific Standard Time. Donations for the Liberation Prayers are tax-deductible in the USA, and support Ayang Rinpoche’s Annual Phowa Course in Bodhgaya.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements