AF News | Amitabha Foundation

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

February 15, 2016 by Becky

Chotrul Duchen, the Festival of Miracles (Image from Rigpawiki)

From February 17-23, Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in Bylakuppe, South India will hold the Shitro (100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities) puja to welcome in Losar and celebrate Chötrul Düchen, one of the four holy Buddhist festivals commemorating significant events in the life of the Buddha. During the first fifteen days of the year, the Buddha displayed miracles for his disciples to increase their devotion. During this time, it is believed that the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times.

“It [Shitro] 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 teaching on the 100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities from Ayang Rinpoche’s 2009 Karma Lingpa Shitro empowerment in Garrison, NY.

True Lhamo said, “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 is the best opportunity.”

If you would like to donate 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 for whom you are requesting prayers. Donations sent through the Amitabha Foundation are tax deductible in the US.

To support Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery, the Shitro puja, butterlamps, or tsok offerings:

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

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

New Year’s Greeting from Rinpoche

February 10, 2016 by Becky

Tashi Delek!

Wishing you success, good health and long life in the new year.

–H.E. Chöje Ayang Rinpoche

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements

Schedule Change: Phowa and Introducing True Nature of Mind Teachings in Bodhgaya

October 31, 2015 by Becky

Shakyamuni statue at the Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya

We are sorry for the inconvenience to those who have already traveled to Bodhgaya to take Ayang Rinpoche’s 10-Levels Amitabha Teachings, but Rinpoche has changed his schedule for Bodhgaya this year. As there are many people from Nepal who wanted to practice Phowa for their loved ones who were lost during the April 2015 earthquake, Rinpoche could not disappoint them and had to change the schedule. He will now be giving his Phowa Course as well as Introducing True Nature of Mind Teachings.

December 24, 2015 – January 1, 2016 XXII Annual Phowa Course in Bodhgaya, the holy place of Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment.

January 2-4, 2016 – Interviews for those wanting to take his Introducing True Nature of Mind teachings. Everyone is required to have an interview before being allowed to attend these teachings.

January 5, 2016 – Introducing True Nature of Mind teachings

January 6, 2016 – Milarepa Tsog Offering Prayer

Download the Flyer and Phowa Course Daily Schedule

This is what Rinpoche wrote regarding taking the Introducing True Nature of Mind course in Bodhgaya.

“For those people who have not received Introducing True Nature of Mind Teaching from me before, a private interview will be scheduled from 29 December 2015 to 4 January 2016. If you have not received True Nature of Mind from me before, you are not allowed to receive the teaching without an interview. For those people who have received Introducing True Nature of Mind from me before, you can join the teaching if you want, but there is no need for an interview before the teaching.

People who need an Introducing True Nature of Mind interview must register for a particular day and time. When you reach Bodhgaya please register at the Amitabha Temple new construction site to the right of the Kalachakra ground. Please call Truelha at 09939994993 for more information.

When you register for your interview, you will receive a receipt. You must bring your receipt to your Introducing True Nature of Mind interview, and also to the teaching. Without that receipt you cannot attend the teaching.”

Please make your hotel and travel arrangements as soon as possible, as Bodhgaya is always full of pilgrims in December and January.

Bodhgaya Logistics and Travel Information and Bodhgaya teachings site map

Rinpoche invites everyone, whether or not they can make a pilgrimage to Bodhgaya this year, to make an auspicious connection by sponsoring the teachings. Rinpoche gives the teachings in Bodhgaya every year free of charge, and your tax-deductible (in the US only) donation will help ensure that these teachings continue for years to come.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements, Rinpoche's Schedule

Safe Childbirth in Rural Tibet – 2015 Clinic update

October 23, 2015 by Becky

Prayer flags raised to welcome guests to Ayang Gompa, Eastern Tibet

A small team of doctors and students visited the Ayang Gompa clinic in Rima, Eastern Tibet again in July 2015. We held review and training sessions for the two clinic doctors, the midwife, and 22 Community Health Educators. Dr. Zhao, who had also been part of the team in 2009, reviewed measuring blood pressure and monitoring fetal growth with ultrasound in pregnant women, and discussed best practices for prenatal and postnatal exams and for vaccinating infants and children.

Your donation today will help repair the clinic roof and keep salaries paid and medicines and clean birthing kits purchased for 2016. Please, can you help us now with a year-end, tax-deductible donation?

Ayang Gompa and Clinic across the Lake of Compassion, Eastern Tibet

Ayang Gompa (center) and Clinic (left) across the Lake of Compassion, Eastern Tibet, with new housing for nomads along the shores of the lake (right)

Midwife measures fetal size and position using clinic’s ultrasound

Community Health Educators practice taking blood pressure measurements to monitor for preeclampsia in pregnancy.

Dr. Ngagay checks newborn

Midwife vaccinates newborn in the clinic

Midwife vaccinates a newborn in the clinic

Clean birthing kits have been a part of our program to reduce infection and promote safe home childbirth since 2005. Kits contain prenatal vitamins, soap, towels, clean plastic sheet to lie on, clean blade and string to cut and tie the cord, hat, booties and baby blanket.

Dr. Ngawang Phuntso dispenses Tibetan and Western medicines from the clinic pharmacy.

Monks as well as nomads receive treatment in the clinic.

The clinic roof leaking has gotten progressively worse and now several rooms are completely unusable. Repairing the roof will cost $15,000, and is our highest priority this year.

Filed Under: AF News, Announcements, Tibet Clinic & Safe Childbirth