Featured Projects | Amitabha Foundation

Nepal Temple Consecration and Enthronement

March 31, 2013 by Becky

Grand Opening and Consecration of Opak Kyilkhor Chöling

Amitabha Foundation Retreat Centre in Nepal

And the Enthronement of His Eminence Palchen Galo Rinpoche

20-25 May 2013

OFFICIAL INVITATION

20-21 May – Dharma Protector Prayers

23 May – Official Ceremonies

24-25 May –Buddha Amitabha Tsog Offering and Milarepa Tsog Offering Prayers

In the heartland of world peace, the spiritual pure land of Nepal, the Amitabha Foundation is a legally registered entity in Nepal and the Retreat Centre is built on a mountain range at Kopan Village in the Kathmandu Valley. Located approximately 3.5 km. north of the ancient Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, it consists of eight temples, retreat cottages, a library and a conference hall. The eight temples have been magnificently built to accumulate merit. They display carvings and paintings based on the highest traditions of Tibetan Buddhist art and culture, preserving these traditions and inspiring future generations to value and perpetuate them.

This location was selected for the Retreat Centre because Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha, surrounded by many holy pilgrimage places all over the country. It was also built to create the opportunity for both ordained and lay people in Nepal and all over the world to practise Dharma, and to offer to those who are not Dharma practitioners a short, peaceful respite from their busy worldly lives. In addition, by providing a library, the Centre will assist both scholars in their research and local people in their education. It also has a conference hall to promote East-West religious and cultural exchange, with an emphasis on altruistic programmes to promote world peace. The time has now come to inaugurate the Amitabha Foundation Retreat Centre for the benefit of the world community.

We are also privileged to announce the enthronement ceremony of one of the eight great Buddhist siddhi lineage masters of the 12th century who were well known all over Tibet as Palchen Ga Lotsawa Shon-nu Pal. Born in Mi-nyag in Eastern Tibet, he formed the wish to attain siddhi in his life time. To receive teachings, he made the difficult and dangerous journey to the noble land of India, where he attended great Buddhist masters like Tsami Sange Dragpa of Magadha region at Bodh Gaya, Abhayakara, Vageshwari, and many others.

He undertook yogic practices at the historic charnel ground Sitavana (Cool Grove), attaining both the common spiritual attainments and extra-ordinary yogic accomplishments, exemplifying extraordinary supernatural powers. In particular, he had a vision of the primordial wisdom protectors Mahakala Bernagchen in the sky and Four Armed Mahakala on earth, in person, who directly gave him the life essence and transmission teachings. He later invited the primordial wisdom protector, along with his host, to Tibet from the noble land of India and covenanted him to protect the Buddha’s teaching in Tibet.

Gradually, he bestowed extensive oral instructions, initiations, and the union of the six branches of sadhanas to the first incarnate lama of Tibet, H.H. The Gyalwang Karmapa Dusum Khenpa and also to the great Sakyapa master Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. All these details are described in many historical texts such as the religious history of Tibet and the compendium of teaching biographies of other masters of the time. It is also recorded that King Shingta of Magadha, present day Rajgir in Bihar, gave him a reception during which his path was strewn with flowers up to his knees.

H.E. Palchen Galo Rinpoche is the 4th reincarnation of Karma Kamtsang lineage of Dzod-Tse monastery, famed for its many qualified and accomplished great Masters, which was established under the great Dharma king Lhathog Choegyal of Eastern Tibet. The present incarnation is a reincarnation of the second Lhase Tulku who was the second throne holder of the monastery. He was again born as a son of the Master, universally known by the name of H.E. Ayang Rinpoche, the emanation of Terton Rigzin Choegyal Dorje, and of the mother True Lhamo, who is the descendant of the great King Ling Gesar of Tibet.

The opening of Amitabha Foundation Retreat Centre and the Enthronement Ceremony of the 4th Palchen Galo Rinpoche will be held on the auspicious day of 23rd May 2013. All our associates, dharma brothers and sisters, and Rinpoche’s students are cordially invited by the representative abbots and lamas of Dzod Tse monastery on behalf of H.E. Kyabgon Jedrung Rinpoche and Dzod Tse Monastery, and His Eminence’s followers who are currently in exile; and by all the associates and members of Amitabha Foundation Retreat Centre, Nepal.

It will be a great opportunity for His Eminence Ayang Rinpoche’s many devoted students around the world to take part together in this important occasion of celebration. It is also an opportunity to visit many great Buddhist sites and places of pilgrimage in Nepal and the surrounding area. To enable you to choose accommodation and tours according to your needs, we have posted information on available options here. We regret we are unable to make bookings, due to the number of people expected to attend this event.

Download the official announcement as a PDF.

Suggested Guest Houses near Kopan

Filed Under: AF News, Amitabha Retreat Center in Nepal, Announcements

Buddha Statues for the Amitabha Temple

May 3, 2009 by Becky

Lord Jigten Sumgon Nearly Complete

The main shrine room will contain a 12-foot high statue of Buddha Amitabha with 7-foot high statues of Guru Rinpoche and Lord Jigten Sumgon on either side. On the floors above will be a shrine to 8 tantric deities, with each of the 8 statues being 5 feet in height. Above this, the shrine to Dharma Protectors will contain 6 statues also 5 feet in height. On the top story of the main temple the 5 Buddha Families temple will contain a central 7-foot-high statue of Buddha Amitabha along with 4 other 5-foot-high Buddha statues.

The brass statues for the new Amitabha Foundation temple are being made using a traditional “lost wax” method. First, the statue is sculpted out of a hard wax.

Then the wax statue is covered in several layers of a clay and fiber mixture which is bound together and allowed to dry thoroughly, forming a rigid mold. For the largest statues the wax statue is cut into pieces before covering with the clay mold. Holes are then drilled into the bottom of the mold and it is heated up enough to melt the wax, which drains out of the holes.

The holes are then plugged and a molten mixture of copper containing 5% zinc is poured into the mold and allowed to harden. The mold is then removed and the brass pieces assembled, welded together and polished. At this point the statue is painted with gold, using a liquid mixture of gold foil rubbed together with mercury. After it is heated, the mercury boils off leaving a pure gold surface.

The 12-foot Buddha Amitabha statue will take 1 1/2 to 2 years to complete and will involve 5 craftsmen to sculpt the original wax statue, 2-3 to apply the clay mold, 5 to pour the copper mix, 3 to assemble and weld the parts together, and 10 to finish the carving, polishing and painting.

Because of the quality of the materials and the time and number of artisans involved in construction, each statue will cost around 100,000 Nepalese rupees, or US$1,250 per foot. The 12-foot Buddha Amitabha statue will cost approximately US$15,000. Rinpoche asks people to consider sponsoring one of these beautiful statues, or any of the hundreds of smaller statues to be located throughout the temple, all of which will be filled, consecrated and placed in the new Amitabha Foundation temples as objects of veneration and devotion and to facilitate dharma practice.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

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Filed Under: Amitabha Retreat Center in Nepal

Retreat Cottages in Nepal

May 2, 2009 by Becky

The Amitabha Foundation Temple plans call for the construction of 64 individual retreat cottages around the perimeter of the main temple.
Retreat Cottage in Phase 1	At present, eleven single-story cottages are under construction. Each is planned for a single retreatant, and contains its own kitchen, bathroom, sleeping and practice areas. Most will have an unobstructed view of the sky and natural landscape, with considerable privacy. The anticipated cost of sponsoring one cottage is US$15,000. Anyone sponsoring a retreat cottage would have access to the cottage for personal retreat for up to 6 months per year for a total of 40 months.
Putting on the Cottage Roof	Please see the full retreat center description here, or email NY@amitabhafoundation.us for more details. Your support is critically needed, and any donation supporting dharma retreat and practice brings much merit. It has been said that the sponsor gains the same merit as the practitioner!
Side View of Retreat Cottage
Artist’s rendition of new cottage and sample floor plan

Filed Under: Amitabha Retreat Center in Nepal

Ayang Monastery Clinic in Tibet

April 28, 2009 by Becky

At Ayang Rinpoche’s request, in 2004 two of his Western students travelled to Tibet to try to find ways to reduce maternal mortality in his monastery; Local nomads and village leaders requested that a clinic be built and doctors trained to help meet the health needs in the community.