Annual Vajrayogini Drupchoe

Vajra Yogini and Mandala

The annual Vajrayogini (Dorje Phagmo) Drupchö (extensive prayer ceremony) concluded September 2, 2023 at Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in Bylakuppe.

 

Ayang Rinpoche said about Vajrayogini: “Among all the wisdom dakinis, Vajrayogini is the highest. She represents the True Nature of Mind, Prajnaparamita, the mother of all the Buddhas of the three times and ten directions.” (Sydney, March 2018)

 

You may still send offerings to support the cost of the Vajrayogini Drupchö and make dedications in the name of a loved one. You are welcome to send donations to the Drikung Charitable Society account. For a tax deductible donation in the U.S., please send your check to the Amitabha Foundation, P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, California 95001, or donate online below. Dedications submitted by September 12th at 5 pm Pacific time will be posted in the temple for the conclusion of the Yarney Summer Retreat.


Puja sponsor
Names for prayers:



Summer Retreat at Thupten Shedrup Jangchupling Monastery

Yarney, or the annual summer retreat, has begun at Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in Bylakuppe, India. This is a tradition that goes back to the time of Buddha. Its purpose was to allow monks to gather and shelter from the monsoon rains and to take time to reflect, pray, meditate, and listen to the dharma. During Buddha’s time, the summer retreat was three months long: by staying in a single location for the duration of the rainy season, the monks avoided the increased likelihood of walking on and harming many insects and other small beings that reproduce during the rainy season.

 

At Thubten Shedrup Jangchupling, Yarney starts on the full moon of the sixth month of the lunar calendar and is held for 45 days, concluding on the new moon of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, August 1 to September 14.

 

The first day of the Yarney begins with the Sojong vows. Sojong is a practice for purifying and repairing broken vows to replenish positive virtues. “So” means “to restore” and “Jong” means “to purify”; in other words, to clear away negative karma and harmful deeds. Apart from Sojong, monks also observe other special monastic vows and restrictions. Khenpos take turns giving short teachings on the importance of the three ground practices of the summer retreat.

 

To restore broken Pratimoksha vows, the ordained sangha members traditionally practice Sojong bi-monthly. Some lay Buddhists regularly observe this purification practice too. The “Yar-khelen” vows are taken with special vase used for purification called “chab-lug”. The wooden monastic bell called Gendi  (used only for Yarney and Sojong since the time of Buddha) is rung to call for lunch and morning prayers.

 

The monks take breakfast and lunch in the temple with the traditional monks’ begging bowl called Lhungdze. All the monks, excluding those with health issues, take a vow not to eat at night in accordance with the Vinaya tradition. Every evening, Aspiration prayers (monlam) are recited.

Every Saturdays, there are philosophy discussions and debate on Sundays.  Khenpos and Lopons hold question-answer sessions on particular subject, the monks choose.

 

It is during Yarney that the monks also sit for their half-yearly examination. Hence, apart from the fixed Yarney programs, they are quite busy with their debate, commentary and essay writing tests that will count in their final scores.

 

In the evening, there are prayers, followed by the traditional ceremonial rice made with butter and dry fruits. Selected monks give dharma talks on specific subjects and display their philosophical debate skills. During the debate, one group establishes a philosophical view while the other tries to defeat them with sharp logic and quick verbal attacks. Since there are strong emotions displayed, watching them leads to lots of laughter and fun for the rest of the monks.

On the morning of the last day of Yarney called Gaye, the monks conclude the summer retreat by wearing their best robes and circumambulating the Amitabha and Achi Temples. Then, for the next three days, the monks have a party at the specially designated summer retreat picnic spot that is adjacent to the monastery. They get busy in all sorts of games and entertainment, appropriate for their age groups.

 

Another benefit of the retreat is that it gives faithful patrons an opportunity to accumulate merit. It is considered very important for lay people to participate in these virtuous activities through actions such as making offerings for shrine expenses and sponsoring tea and special meals for the sangha.

 

Shrine offering Items : Flowers, Incense, Rice, Serkyem (Dharmapala offerings), Barley flour for Tormas, Butter lamps, etc  $ 500 for whole Yarney period.

Tea offering for monks: $ 36 for one day

Meals for monks: $ 420 all meals for one day (Breakfast $ 108, Lunch $ 228, Dinner $108)

Evening milk: $24; Evening coffee: $28

Sangha Offering:  No fixed amount.  Traditionally, Rinpoches, Khenpos, Lopons, chanting masters, ritual masters and disciplinarians are offered extra in addition to the offerings made to the regular monks.

You may dedicate your offering to loved ones, living or deceased. Please send by September 12th to be included on the prayer list.

Make US-tax-deductible donations through the Amitabha Foundation USA by check (payable to Amitabha Foundation, mailed to P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, CA 95076), or online. Donations may also be made directly to Drikung Charitable Society or through the Amitabha Foundation branch in your own country.

 

Amitabha Tsok and Liberation Prayer Offerings

  H.E. Chöje Ayang Rinpoche Teaching at Opak Kyilkhor Ling

 

Ayang Rinpoche is currently giving  his Phowa Course at the Opak Kyilkhor Ling Amitabha Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, to hundreds of Himilayans and people from all over the world. On the concluding day, March 22, they will hold an Amitabha Tsok Offering puja together with a Liberation Ceremony for the deceased.

 

Rinpoche says the Ceremony to Liberate Dead Beings is the best time to dedicate prayers for the departed beings. Anyone who would like to make offerings and dedicate prayers to family members, friends, loved ones or pets who have passed, please make your offering and send in names of the deceased by Tuesday, March 21st at 5 pm (Pacific time) to be included in the prayer list for the Liberation Ceremony. Offerings are appreciated at any time.

 

To make offerings, please use the link below or send a check made out to Amitabha Foundation to P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, California 95001. If you send a check, please email the names of the deceased for whom you are sponsoring to info@amitabhafoundation.us. Donations sent through the Amitabha Foundation US are tax deductible in the US.

 

Those interested can offer online at one of the suggested levels below. You are welcome to make offerings for tsok without adding names for liberation prayers.


Amitabha Tsok and Liberation Puja sponsor
Names of deceased for prayers:



Rinpoche Teaching Phowa in Nepal

H.E. Palchen Galo Rinpoche’s Bell and Dorje

Mandala Offering

Opak Kyilkhor Choling Shrine

Young Monks Living at Opak Kyilkhor Ling

 

Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Puja and Liberation Ceremony

100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Mandala 2021

100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities (Shitro) Puja 2021

100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Shrine 2021

 

Ayang Rinpoche’s monastery in Bylakuppe, South India is now holding the annual Shitro (100 Peaceful and Wrathful Deities) Puja to celebrate the beginning of the lunar new year. The puja began on March 1 and will conclude on the Great Wheel Full Moon day of Chotrul Duchen, March 7th. March 6th is the Anniversary of Milarepa and March 7th is the Anniversary of Marpa. There will be special offering prayers the both day and lightening of the temple to celebrate these two important commemorations in the Kagyu lineage.

 

The hundred deities are the attributes and activities of the five families of male and female Buddhas, and are manifestations of the true nature of our minds. By relying on the practice of the hundred deities, or even just by hearing the mantra and seeing the mandala and pictures of the hundred deities, one may either instantly or gradually realize that the nature of one’s mind is inseparable from the perfect wisdom of the hundred deities.

 

The monastery dedicates the One Hundred Deities prayers during this week especially for the deceased, as well as for all the sponsors who have supported the monastery. This is the perfect time for people who had lost loved ones, friends and family members to sponsor shrine expenses, special meals, tea and offering to sangha and dedicate the merit to their loved ones.

 

Ayang Rinpoche will perform a Liberation Ceremony for the deceased on the 7th day. Rinpoche says the Ceremony to Liberate Dead Beings is the best time to dedicate prayers for the departed beings. Anyone who would like to make offerings and dedicate prayers to family members, friends, loved ones or pets who have passed, please make your offering and send in names of the deceased by Sunday, March 5th at 10 pm (Pacific time) to be included in the prayer list for the Liberation Ceremony.

 

To make offerings, use the link below or send a check made out to Amitabha Foundation to P.O. Box 2572, Aptos, California 95001. If you send a check, please email the names of the deceased for whom you are sponsoring to info@amitabhafoundation.us, or to your local Amitabha Foundation. Donations sent through the Amitabha Foundation US are tax deductible in the US.

 

Those interested, can offer at one of the suggested levels below.


Puja sponsor
Names of deceased for prayers:



You may also send your donation directly to the monastery’s bank account (this will not be tax-deductible).

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.

 

Shitro Puja 2021

Shitro Mandala 2021

Shitro Main Deity Tormas 2021

Shitro Shrine 2021

Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Tormas 2021

Shitro Mandala 2021