Here is a slide show with photos taken by Ani Samten at Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in November 2013.
Zambhala Puja in South India
November 10, 2013 by
Zambhala statue at Amitabha Foundation Retreat Center, Nepal
Tomorrow, November 10, is the last day of the annual Zambhala Puja at Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in Bylakuppe. Zambhala is an emanation of Ratnasambhava, one of the five buddha families, whose enlightened activity is increasing and whose essence is generosity. Some people practice Zambhala to achieve spiritual prosperity, although this deity is also associated with wealth and prosperity in the material world. Zambhala practice is said to bring wealth, prosperity, success, good fortune and luck, long life and wisdom. He is depicted holding a mongoose spouting jewels.
Ayang Rinpoche has said that anyone sponsoring Dharma activities gains the same merit as the practitioners. The full cost of the puja for 280 monks, nuns, khenpos and lamas is $21,650. You will make a connection with Zambhala even if your donation is sent after the puja is complete. Here are some suggestions, but your donation of any amount will be appreciated and be like a drop of water mixed with an ocean of merit.
Butterlamps $21
Offerings for monks and nuns $50
Tsok $108
Tea and meals for participants $200
You may also send a check made out to Amitabha Foundation to:
11 South Goodman Street
Rochester, New York 14607
For those who want to chant the Zambhala (Dzambhala) mantra: OM DZAMBHALA DJARDIN DJAYA SOHA.
May all beings benefit!
San Francisco Bay Area Empowerments and Teachings
September 15, 2013 by
- Buddha Amitabha’s Pure Land
Rubin Museum Thangka
Buddha Amitabha Empowerment and Teachings in San Jose, CA
All sessions in San Jose are free (by donation only), but please register so we can accommodate everyone.
For information email Amitabha Foundation or call 408-389-4424
Download the flyer in English or Vietnamese
To register for the San Jose Event
Please download and mail the Registration Form or email us with the following information:
Name, email address, sessions you will attend, whether you prefer chair seating or will bring your own cushion.
Vajrayogini Empowerment and
Introduction to Phowa and Bardo Teachings in Alameda, CA
There will be a charge for these events. For information email Orgyen Dorje Den or call 510-337-1163
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA SCHEDULE
|
Date and Place |
Time |
Topic |
| October 10 ThursdayYerba Buena H.S.1855 Lucretia Av
San Jose |
7-9 PM | Public Talk: Mind at the Time of Death and in the Intermediate State (English with Vietnamese translation) |
| October 11 FridayYerba Buena H.S.1855 Lucretia Av
San Jose
|
7-10 PM | Buddha Amitabha Empowerment (English with Vietnamese translation) |
| October 12 SaturdayYerba Buena H.S.1855 Lucretia Av
San Jose |
9-12 AM | Buddha Amitabha Meditation Teachings and Practice (English with Vietnamese translation) |
| 2-6 PM | Buddha Amitabha Tsok Offering Celebration (English with Vietnamese translation) | |
| October 13 SundayOrgyen Dorje Den2244 Santa Clara Av
Alameda |
4-7 PM | Vajrayogini Empowerment (Tibetan with English translation) |
| October 14 MondayOrgyen Dorje Den
2244 Santa Clara Av Alameda |
7-9:30 PM | Introduction to Phowa and the Bardo Teachings (English) |
Condolences for family and students of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche
July 30, 2013 by
Please see this letter from Ayang Rinpoche giving his condolences to the family and students of his friend, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, who passed into parinirvana Monday, July 22, 2013.
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche was a tenth generation descendent of Palchen Namkha Jigme (1757-1821) of Repkong, Tibet who founded a large non-monastic community of Shitro and Vajrakilaya practitioners that continues to the present day. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche was born in Kongpo, southern Tibet, and was educated at Lamaling by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. In addition to His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s main teachers were his uncle, Lama Sherab Dorje, Chadral Rinpoche, and Dudjom Rinpoche’s son, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche.
He left his homeland in 1960 and went to live in His Holiness’ community in Orissa, India, which is where he met Ayang Rinpoche. After living briefly in Nepal and Taiwan, he came to the USA in 1984 to improve his health. He soon established the Vajrayana Foundation and Pema Osel Ling, a retreat center in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. To read more about his life, please visit the Vajrayana Foundation website.
The Amitabha Foundation has a special connection with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. He was the first teacher Ayang Rinpoche sent to encourage and develop our practice in our earliest days. He gave precious teachings on the Great Perfection, Guru Yoga, and preliminary practices, and gave practical instructions on bringing the Dharma into one’s daily life. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche came annually over many years, teaching at our Dharma Center and at our Canandaigua retreat land. For many of us connected with the Amitabha Foundation, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche continued to be a cherished teacher and spiritual friend, even after his health prevented his travel to Rochester.
During the cremation ceremony for Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s ku-dung (sacred body), Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche shared these comments that are relevant for all of us:
“For those who are Lama Tharchin’s students, if you have a spiritual connection to him as a student and him as a teacher, this is a time to do your guru yoga. The guru doesn’t ever pass. The guru is always in the present. So please do whatever form of guru yoga you can. Also this is the time to do Vajrasattva mantra to purify all [your] misdeeds. Also light butter lamps…”
Also, during the puja held at Pema Osel Ling the day after Lama Tharchin Rinpoche passed, his nephew Loppon Jigme Rinpoche said the following words:
His legacy was that he created this wonderful Guru Rinpoche’s mandala here for us to enter into and connect with … He worked tirelessly with every effort, mental, vocal, physical, for the teachings and well being of all beings and he slowly accomplished this wondrous mandala here and his aspiration and message for us to enter this mandala to practice with devotion and trust in the guru. And that when we trust and have devotion and faith in the guru, only then we can relate our own inner absolute guru within us that has never been separated from us.
We are sharing this short remembrance with our Amitabha Foundation sangha, and invite everyone to post their own memories of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s visits to Rochester on our Facebook page.