AF News | Amitabha Foundation

Annual Bodhgaya Phowa Course–Revised Daily Schedule

December 25, 2017 by Becky

Rinpoche and Phowa participants circumambulating the Mahabodhi stupa

Chöje Ayang Rinpoche offers his 10-day Annual Phowa Course in Bodhgaya, India, January 5-14, 2018. For those of you who are attending and don’t understand Tibetan, please bring an AM/FM radio with ear buds or head phones to listen to simultaneous translation of English and other languages.

Download the Revised Daily Schedule, or click here for more information about logistics related to Bodhgaya and the Phowa course.

Rinpoche gives the teachings in Bodhgaya every year free of charge. Make a year-end US tax-deductible donation to help ensure that these teachings continue for years to come.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

Annual Wealth Deity Puja in Bylakuppe

December 3, 2017 by Becky

Namsey, also known as Vaishravana, a form of the wealth deity Dzambhala

In this tenth lunar month, as 2017 and the year of the Fire Rooster is drawing to a close, Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in India will hold its annual Wealth Deity Puja December 3-9, 2017.

A wealth deity puja, or Yangdrup, is an extensive ritual to generate “Yang”, the powerful magnetizing properties associated with fortune and luck. This in turn creates all opportunities to ensure accomplishment in spiritual practice, as well as an abundance of wealth, prosperity, success, good fortune, luck, long life and wisdom in a person’s personal, business and family life.

This year the annual Yangdrup will focus on Namsey, also known in Sanskrit as Vaishravana, a powerful god of wealth and fortune similar to the well-known Dzambhala. Lamas, monks and nuns at the monastery will also do Guru Rinpoche offering prayers during the Yangdrup.

The total cost of the Yangdrup is approximately $22,000. People who wish to dedicate prayers for their loved ones, including pets, living or dead, and would like to sponsor or donate towards tormas, butter lamps, tsog, tea, meals, offerings for monks and nuns, or management and travel expenses, may send in their contributions through Amitabha Foundation in their own country or directly to the monastery’s account (see the information below). For a US-tax-deductible donation you may also send a check in USD to Amitabha Foundation USA, P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, California 95001, or use the PayPal button below. Dedications must be received by December 7 at 5 PM Pacific Time to be sent to the monastery in time.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements, Monastery Pujas

800th Commemoration of Lord Jigten Sumgon’s Maha Parinirvana

October 15, 2017 by Becky

The 800th Commemoration of Lord Jigten Sumgon’s Maha Parinirvana will take place in Dehradun, India October 19-25, 2017. The main teachings and programs will be live streamed from 19th – 25th October 2017 between 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM India Standard Time. All devotees in every corner of the earth are invited to live steam the teachings and other programs.

This link will be updated automatically to reflect the current live stream over the course of the 7 days program.

For further information, please go to jigtensumgon800th.com, or contact the organizers at: info@jigtensumgon800th.com

International Drikung Kagyu Council
PO 48 Kulhan, Sahastradhara Road, Dehra Dun 248001, India

Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery will be sending lamas, khenpos and monks to Dehradun to participate in the ceremony. You are welcome to help sponsor their travel and offering expenses with a tax-deductible donation. Send your check to Amitabha Foundation, P. O. Box 2572, Aptos, CA 95001 or donate online:

You may also wire your offering directly to Drikung Charitable Society, although this will not be tax deductible in the US.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

Ogyen Lhamo passes

August 15, 2017 by Becky

Ayang Rinpoche Carries Out Phowa Ceremony for Ogyen Lhamo

Ogyen Lhamo, the mother of Ayang Rinpoche’s wife True Lhamo, passed away on August 11, Friday at 8:15 am in Bylakuppe, South India. She was 86.

(Left) Ogyen Lhamo and (Right) Ogyen Lhamo with Lama Kalsang Rinpoche, Truelha’s father and founder of Kagyu Nalanda Monastery, India

A Jinsek (fire offering) cremation ceremony for Ogyen Lhamo was performed yesterday in Bylakuppe, South India, by five different monasteries: Namdroling, presided by Lama Sonam Gyamtso; Drukpa Kagyu, presided by Khenpo Nyedon; Karma Kagyu, presided by Terton Samten Lingpa; Sakya, presided by Lama Kunga Lobsang; and Drikung Kagyu, presided by Ayang Rinpoche.

If you would like to make an offering to Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in memory of Ogyen Lhamo, please do so below, or send a check made out to Amitabha Foundation to Post Office Box 2572, Aptos, California 95001. Donations made through the Amitabha Foundation US are tax deductible in the US. Rinpoche has indicated that all donations made in her name will be used for the 49 days prayer rituals and to build a memorial stupa for her.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements Tagged With: cremation, Phowa