Public Talk on How to Work with Thoughts and Emotions: an Introduction to Meditation
with Lama Chodrak
March 10, 2012
1:00 -4:00
Lama Chodrak will give an introductory talk on Buddhism and meditation, discussing the core beliefs of Buddhism and also giving instruction on meditation techniques for calming the mind.
All are welcome. There will be opportunity for question and answer. Suggested reading: ‘Joy of Living,’ by Yongey Mingur Rinpoche.
Accommodations are available at the RiverView Dharma center. There are plenty of street parking available. For directions and travel information, please click HERE.
Suggested donation for Lama Chodak: $25 For information and registration, contact: riverview@ saraswatibhawan.org or call: 563-538-4510
About the teacher:
Lama Chodak is a fully ordained monk from Great Britain, who has studied and trained under many great Lamas in both the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. He completed the traditional three-year retreat at Samye Ling, and has served as interpreter and assistant for many Lamas. Most recently he studied and served under Mingur Rinpoche and has been authorized to teach his Joy of Living course.
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Troma retreat: Khorde Rushen
Troma's Mandala
Saraswati Bhawan Retreat Land, Lansing, IA
Sept. 25 – Oct. 5
We will be resuming our annual Troma retreat tradition with these special practice of Khorde Rushen from the Troma cycle.
This is an invitation-only retreat.
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Lake Born Vajra Empowerment
Guru Tsokyé Dorje
RiverView Dharma Center
Sat. June 30, 2011, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will bestow the empowerment of the Lake Born Guru (Tsokye Dorje) from the Dudjom New Treasures Lineage.
Guru Tsokyé Dorje or ’Lake-born Vajra’ is one of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche. One of the distinctive features is that he is represented holding a vajra at his heart, and takes Mandarava as his consort. Guru Tsokye Dorje is the main Guru among the Three Roots of the Dudjom Tersar Lineage. This particular empowerment is from the “Heart Essence of the Lake-Born Vajra,” is a mind treasure or terma of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche and its primary focus is that of guru devotion.
This empowerment is especially for those students who are practicing the path of the Dudjom Tersar and have either completed Ngondro or are currently engaged in Ngondro Practice.
No registration is required. There is limited accommodations available at the RiverView Dharma Center. For more information, contact: riverview@saraswatibhawan.org
SHADED BOX:
Suggested donation: $40
Text for the short Daily Practice will be available for sale.
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Yeshe Tsogyal Retreat
Yeshe Tsogyal
Saraswati Bhawan Retreat Land
July 6 – 13
with Lama Dawa Rinpoche and Khandro Kunzang
This special retreat is for our students who are currently engaged in the practice of the Khandro T’huk-t’hik. Students will receive further instruction from the Rimnyi Tri of the Khandro T’hug-t’hig, the long Khandro Kong-Shag, as well as important preliminary teachings to prepare for the tsa-lung practice associated with the Khandro T’huk-t’hik cycle. Rinpoche strongly encourages our Yeshe Tsogyal practitioners to attend this retreat in order to further and deepen their practice, as well as make any corrections.
Prerequisites to attend: this retreat is only open to those students who have completed the Yeshe Tsogyal training intensive, who have completed the required 7-day private retreat under Lama Dawa Rinppche and Khandro Kunzang’s supervision, and who are a good way through the nyen–pa recitations, or who have begun the drubpa as per Rinpoche’s instruction. Those who have completed the Yeshe Tsogyal practice should attend for review and preparation for the tsa-lung.
This will be a closed, boundaried retreat. Students need to bring their ritual instruments and dress. Tsog will be performed every day.
This will be a camping retreat. Participants can either bring their own camping equipment and camp on the premises, or camping equipment and platforms are available to rent.
Registration is required. Please contact Kim Schafer, the retreat coordinator at: coordinator@saraswatibhawan.org
To make arrangements for transportation to and from LaCrosse, WI, please contact Dorje: dls5@mac.com
SHADED BOX:
Cost for retreat: $550: this includes meals, tsog costs and teaching donation. A $150 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot. Cost to rent a tent platform: $25 To rent complete camping outfit (includes platform): $100. There will be opportunity to make personal offerings to Lama Dawa at the end of the retreat.
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Shamatha Practice and Teachings
RiverView Dharma Center, Lansing, IA
Sept. 1-3
Over Labor Day weekend, Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give detailed teachings and guide us on the practice of Shamatha Meditation from Dudjom Lingpa’s ‘Vajra Essence.’ Open to the Public.
More Information coming soon.
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RiverView Dharma Center Open House
RiverView Dharma Center Open House 2011
with SUTRA designs
Aug. 11
10:00 – am – 4:00 pm
Join us on Saturday, Aug. 11, for our second annual Open House any time between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the RiverView Dharma Center, 300 Center Street in Lansing, Iowa. We are holding our Open House this year during the ‘Lansing Fish Days’ celebration. Come and go at your leisure; tour the facility; sample delicious food; find out about upcoming events, programs, and teachings; reconnect with sangha members; and shop for beautiful fair-trade items from India and Nepal, which will be provided by Kim Hammer of “SUTRA global by design,” La Crosse, Wisconsin, to benefit Saraswati Bhawan.
Exhibit by SUTRA global designs
Kim Hammer and her company, “SUTRA global by design,” will generously donate 15% of any earnings from sales at the Open House above a $300 minimum to Sarasawti Bhawan. In addition to clothing, jewelry and scarves, Kim will have on hand a large selection of Buddhist and Hindu ritual items, singing bowls, and Ganesh in many forms! SUTRA purchases directly from Asian artisans and pays them a fair price for their work. “Sutra” means “thread” in Sanskrit, as in the thread of connection, and SUTRA exists to link the Global North with those in the Global South, as well as the West with the East. SUTRA also helps bring traditional Asian art forms to our contemporary world and provides travel opportunities to Americans wanting to connect with South Asian people and culture.
SUTRA global website: http://kimdhammer.
Lansing Fish Days: http://www.
For more information on the Open House, or to volunteer as a sangha host for the event, contact Sangye at riverview@saraswatibhawan.org or call 563-538-4510.
Local accommodations are available
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Vajra Armor Retreats
Nangsi Zilnon Padmasambhava
Saraswati Bhawan Retreat Land
July 19 – 23 – Vajra Armor retreat, Level 1
July 26 – 30 – Vajra Armor retreat, Level 1
Note: These are two separate retreats. Students need to complete at least five Level 1 retreats in order to enter into Level 2. Therefore we often hold these retreats back-to-back so that students can take two retreats in a row.
Aug. 2 – 6 – Vajra Armor retreat, Level 2
Aug. 9 – 13 – Vajra Armor retreat, Level 2
Note: In order to register for the Level 2, you must have completed the Level 1 course and be approved by Lama Dawa Rinpoche.
Costs: $550, includes 4 nights, 13 meals, fees for tsog materials and teaching donation. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to reserve your spot. Camping equipment is also available for rent at an additional cost. There will be opportunity to make personal offerings to Rinpoche at the end of the retreat.
The Vajra Armor Mantra, called Dorje Go-Drab in Tibetan, is among the most powerful healing practices in Tantric Buddhism. Long held as a secret practice, the Vajra Armor Mantra has been practiced for over a millennium by tantric adepts and Tibetan physicians as an effective method for treating diseases, purifying negative energies and protection from misfortune.The Vajra Armor Mantra was first introduced into Tibet in the eighth century by Padmasambhava, who had collected various teachings and practices on this mantra from the ancient Indian Buddhist tradition. After teaching his close disciples in Tibet, he hid the Vajra Armor teachings in 124 places, to be discovered by future treasure finders as prophesied in his writings. Padmasambhava predicted that a time would come when there would be a great need for this mantra and to preserve the integrity of the teachings and lineage, he hid different versions of this practice in many different places for safekeeping, until the designated treasure finder would reintroduce them to the world.
Every day, the healing water is consecration by each retreat participant. At the end of the retreat, bottles of the healing water are distributed.
Over the past one thousand years, there have been numerous major teaching cycles of the Vajra Armor Mantra that have been revealed, including those of Dorje Lingpa, Mipham, Dudjom Lingpa, and Trak-thung Namkha I Jigme. These teachings outline a deep and profound path to realization and ultimately to Buddhahood through the practice of healing and rebalancing the outer and inner elements. Read more about these precious Vajra Armor teachings.
At the end of the Level 1 Vajra Armor retreat, the 'water test' is performed to measure the student's progress with the mantra. These water tests also serve as a kind of divination, indicating how many level 1 retreats the student must complete in order to begin Level 2 training. After the retreat boundaries are taken up on the last day. Lama Dawa Rinpoche explains the results of the the test to each participant and gives advice for further training.
These retreats are ‘closed retreats’, which means they are conducted within boundaries. Once the retreat begins, participants are not allowed to leave the area within the boundary, not allowed to have email or phone communications, and must abide by the rules of boundaried retreats. Three meals will be provided each day as well as snacks and drinks.
Special Note: Space is limited to 15 people, and will be given on a first-come first-serve basis. If the retreat is full, you will be placed on a waiting list
This will be a camping retreat. Camping equipment may be rented, or participants may bring their own camping equipment.For information on equipment rentals, transportation and what to bring, click HERE.
Registration is required! To register, please email the retreat coordinator, Kim Schafer. For those registering for the retreat, please download and read this important file for further registration information.
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Vajrakilaya Empowerment
Vajrakilaya
RiverView Dharma Center
Sun. July 1, 2011, 2:00 – 5:00pm
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will bestow the empowerment of the ‘Putri Repkong’ (The Razor That Destroys at a Touch) cycle of Vajrakilaya, from the Dudjom New Treasures. Vajrakilaya is the main yidam deity of the Dudjom lineage. The wrathful heruka, Vajrakilaya, embodies the enlightened activity of all the Buddhas, and is a powerful for remover of obstacles, destroying the forces hostile to compassion and purifying the spiritual pollution so prevelant in this age.
This empowerment is especially for students who are practicing the Dudjom lineage, who have either completed Ngondro, or are working on the Ngondro.
There is no registration. Those who wish to attend must have Buddhist refuge and bodhisattva vows and are engaged serious practice. The empowerment begins promptly at 2:00. Door will be closed once empowerment begins.
There is limited accommodations available at the RiverView Dharma Center. For information, contact: riverview@saraswatibhawan.org
Suggested donation for empowerment: $40 Text of the short daily practice will be available for purchase.
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P’howa Retreat
Phowa
Saraswati Bhawan Retreat Land, Lansing, IA
June 22-28
with Acharya Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche
Cost for retreat: $550: this includes meals, tsog costs and teaching donation. A $150 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot. Cost to rent a tent platform: $25 To rent complete camping outfit (includes platform): $100 There will be opportunity to make personal offerings to Lama Dawa at the end of the retreat.
Phowa, or ‘transference of consciousness’ is a profound practice that teaches us how to prepare for the inevitability of death by transferring our consciousness at the moment of death to a Buddha pureland. By receiving the essential instructions and doing the practice, we pave the way to be able to accomplish this when we are in the process of dying. With further practice retreats, we can also develop the ability to perform Phowa for others and help them make their transition. We will be practicing the P’howa according to the Khandro T’hug-t’hig of the Dudjom Tersar lineage.
This practice is open to practitioners of any lineage, as long as they have received refuge and bodhisattva vows. Prior retreat experience is helpful, but not necessary. This will be a strict, boundaried retreat with four sessions per day. Lama Dawa will give teachings each day and students will practice according to the schedule. Strict retreat means that participants will be required to stay within the retreat boundaries and will not be allowed to leave the premises, make phone calls, text, or emails to others during this time. To participate in this retreat, you must be prepared to follow these rules.This will be a camping retreat. You can bring your own tent, sleeping bags, etc. or you can rent equipment. Platforms are also available for rent. Three meals a day will also be provided, as well as toilet and shower facilities.
There are also two work study positions available. Registration is required to attend the retreat. The retreat will begin at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 22, and end at noon on Thurday, June 28. Participants are expected to arrive by noon on the 22nd to complete the registration process and get their campsite set up. Onsite parking is available. To register for this retreat, contact retreat coordinator Kim Schafer: coordinator@saraswatibhawan.org
For transportation information and driving directions, click HERE. For work-study information, click HERE
Phowa Group
Medicine Buddha Empowerment and Teachings
Acharya Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche
Riverview Dharma Center, Lansing, IA
June 16 & 17
with Acharya Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche
Suggested donation for the empowerment: $40
Suggested donation for the teaching transmission: $20
No registration required.
Open to the public.
Sat. June 16, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will bestow the empowerment of Medicine Buddha. This empowerment is very healing and beneficial for all. It is recommended for anyone who is in need of healing as well as for health practitioners who would like to empower their healing work.
Sun. June 17: 9:30 am – noon
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will bestow the verbal transmission and instruction for a short Medicine Buddha practice and mantra. This teaching is for those who have received Medicine Buddha empowerment and wish to engage in the practice. Texts will be provided.
Medicine Buddha
Location:
RiverView Dharma Center
300 Center St.
Lansing, IA, 52151
plenty of street parking available
For more information, contact: riverview@saraswatibhawan.org
or call: 563-538-4510
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Saga Dawa – Buddha Temple Consecration
Saraswati Bhawan Retreat Land, Lansing, IA
June 2,3 & 4
Public Event
Come celebrate this sacred occasion with us as we consecrate the newly completed Buddha Temple!
The Burmese Buddha has finally found its way to his new home in Northeast Iowa. We will be dedicating the weekend of June 2&3 to beautifying the area and landscaping, as well as making preparations for the consecration pujas. Monday, June 4, is the holy day of Saga Dawa – the day that Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment. On this sacred day Lama Dawa Rinpoche will lead a consecration ceremony to bless the new Temple. Join the festivities and meet new friends!
Consecration ceremony will be from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm on Monday, June 4. Lunch and refreshments will be served.
Accommodations are available at the RiverView Dharma Center in Lansing. Or, camping sites are available on the land. A list of local accommodations are available on request.
For more information or to reserve accommodations, please contact: riverview@saraswatibhawan.org
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Karma Yoga Work Weekend
Saraswati Bhawan Retreat Land, Lansing, Iowa
May 26-28
In preparation for the upcoming Buddha Temple consecration we are hosting a fun-filled work weekend on the retreat land. Now’s your chance to come meet the newly installed Mighty the Buddha! On Memorial Day weekend, (May 25 – 28) enjoy the great mid-west on the banks of the grand Mississippi River with FREE lodging, a FREE BBQ. We will be clearing land and preparing the facilities. Come any day or for all three and join the fun. BBQ Sunday afternoon. All are welcome!
Please contact Dorje or Sangye @ riverview @saraswatibhawan.org, or call 563 538-4510 for information or to make reservations.
San Diego Teachings
Lama Dawa
San Diego, CA
May 17 – 20
Lama Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche will be offering a weekend of teachings in San Diego. Teachings include Medicine Buddha empowerment, teachings on the bardo, Sur offerings, and teachings from the Dzogchen text “Clarifying Butter.”
Location: 5449 Barclay Ave., San Diego, CA, 92120 Suggested donations for evening teachings: $25 Suggested donation for empowerment: $40 For information, contact Kim Schafer: kschafer108@yahoo.com
May 17 – 6:30 – 9:00
Teachings on Making Sur Offerings
Sur is a special burnt offering made to provide sustenance to the beings wandering in the bardo. It is often done for 49 days following someone’s death. Practitioners often include this practice of generosity as part of their daily practice routine. Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give the verbal transmission and instruction on how to perform this practice. Texts are included.
May 18 – 6:30 pm
Clarified Butter
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give teaching and transmission on this important Dzogchen text – a pith instruction that Yeshe Tsogyal received from Guru Rinpoche on how to practice.
May 19 – 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Medicine Buddha Empowerment
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will bestow medicine Buddha Empowerment. This empowerment is open to the public. Simply receiving the empowerment bestows many healing blessings. You can attend to receive the healing benefits, or to engage in the practice. A short text will be provided.
Medicine Buddha
May 20 – 9:00 am 5:00 pm
Teachings on the Bardo
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give teachings on the bardo states – the intermediate states of existence, according to the Dzogchen view.
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Chicago Teachings
Acharya Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche
Chicago, IL
April 20 -29
Lama Dawa Rinpoche returns to Chicago and will be offering teachings on How to do the Sur offering, teachings on the Heart Sutra, teachings on the Dzogchen text called ‘Clarifying Butter,’ teachings on the Bardo, and more.
Location: 3845 North Marshfield, Chicago – 2nd floor
Suggested donations for evening teachings: $25
Suggested donations for all-day teachings $40
For information contact Orgyen Rigzin: tseltz007@aol.com, or Maggie: 773-954-9056
Fri. April 20 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Clarified Butter
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give teaching and transmission on this important Dzogchen text – a pith instruction that Yeshe Tsogyal received from Guru Rinpoche on how to practice.
Sat. April 21 – 9:00am – 5:00 pm
Teachings on Sur Offering
Sur is a special burnt offering made to provide sustenance to the beings wandering in the bardo. It is often done for 49 days following someone’s death. Practitioners often include this practice of generosity as part of their daily practice routine. Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give the verbal transmission and instruction on how to perform this practice. Texts are included.
Sun. April 22 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Teachings on the Heart Sutra
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give detailed teachings on this essential Sutra, including ways to use this as a practice. Verbal transmission and oral instructions. Texts are included.
Fri. April 27 – 7:00 -9:00 pm
History of the Dudjom Lineage
Rinpoche will give a public talk on the history of the Dudjom lineage. There will be opportunities for question – answer.
Sat. April 28 – 9:00am – 5:00pm
Narak Kong shak
Dudjom Rinpoche
The Narak Kong Shak is a powerful apology practice that is performed by tantrikas in order to maintain and purify breaches in the tantric samayas. Rinpoche will give verbal transmission and oral instructions on how to perform this important practice.
Sun. April 29 – 9:00am – 5:00 pm
Teachings on the Bardo
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give teachings on the different bardo states according to the Dzogchen view.
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Yeshe Nyingpo
Ensenada, Mexico
April 4-14, 2012
Yeshe Nyingpo Mexico will be hosting a series of teachings and retreats with Lama Dawa Rinpoche and Khandro Kunzang in Ensenada. Included in the schedule is a Phowa retreat, teachings on the Six Paramitas, the Heart Sutra, and making Sur offerings for the beings in the bardo.
April 4-10
Phowa Retreat
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will lead the Phowa retreat and practice, according to the Khandro T’hug-t’hig lineage of Dudjom Rinpoche. P’howa is an essential practice which prepares us for the ultimate and final journey of the dying process. Unique among religious traditions, the tantric Buddhist practice of Phowa provides us with powerful tools to face our own death with confidence and fearlessness.
This is a strict boundaried retreat with particular rules and requirements. For more information on this pretreat and on registration, please email Padma at: padmabeamonte@gmail.com
Ensenada Sangha
April 11 – 6:00pm – 9:00 pm
Teachings on Making Sur Offerings
April 12 – 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Teachings on Death and the Dying Process according to Tibetan Buddhist View
April 13 – 9:30 am
Ngondro transmission and teachings
April 13 – 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Teachings on the Heart Sutra
April 14 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Teachings on the Six Paramitas
All teachings will be held at La Milpa
For more information, directions, costs, etc., contact Padma: padmabeamonte@gmail.com
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Duddul Namgyal Ling
Acharya Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche
Cholula, Mexico
March 16 – 30, 2012
Duddul Namgyal Ling, Lama Dawa Rinpoche’s seat in central Mexico, will be hosting a series of teachings and retreats with Lama Dawa Rinpoche and Khandro Kunzang. Included in the schedule is a Phowa retreat, a level one Vajra Armor retreat, teachings on Shower of Blessings and Riwo Sangchod.
For further information about this program, please go to: http://www.budismocholula.blogspot.com, or contact Jigme Dorje at: dudjomcholula@gmail.com.
March 16: 6:00 pm
Shower of Blessings Tsog
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will give the verbal transmission for the Shower of Blessings Tsog, and some preliminary instruction on how to peform this tsog on the 10th day of the lunar calendar. Rinpoche strongly requests that his Sangha members meet once a month, on Guru Rinpoche day, to perform this Tsog offering together. If you have already received these teachings, this will be a good review. It is especially important for new Sangha members to attend to receive the ‘lung’ or verbal transmission in order to participate in the monthly gatherings.
March 17 – 23
Phowa Retreat
Lama Dawa Rinpoche will lead the Phowa retreat and practice, according to the Khandro T’hug-t’hig lineage of Dudjom Rinpoche. P’howa is an essential practice which prepares us for the ultimate and final journey of the dying process. Unique among religious traditions, the tantric Buddhist practice of Phowa provides us with powerful tools to face our own death with confidence and fearlessness.
This is a strict boundaried retreat with particular rules and requirements. Click HERE for more information on this pretreat and on registration.
March 24 – 6:00 pm
Teachings on the Important Buddhist practice Days According to the Lunar Calendar
In this public talk, Lama Dawa Rinpoche will go over the main practice days of the month.
March 25 – 9:00 am
Teachings on Ngondro, the essential Preliminary Practice of the Dudjom Tersar Lineage
For students who are ready to embark on serious practice of the Dzogchen, the path begins with Ngondro. Rinpoche will be offering the verbal transmission of the Short Ngondro practice of the Dudjom Tersar lineage, and instruction.
March 25 – 6:00 pm
Riwo Sangchod
Riwo Sangchod is an important practice of purification. Burning special substances, the smoke is offered and used to purify the elements. Practicing ‘sang’ or incense offerings on a regular basis helps to increase one’s ‘lung-ta’ and brings auspicious circumstances for all beings.
March 26 – 30
Level One Vajra Armor Retreat
Lama Dawa Rinpoche continues the annual Vajra Armor retreats for this powerful healing mantra. This is a strict boundaried retreat. Click HERE for more information about this practice and how to register.
The Prayer Flag Tradition
by Timothy Clark
The prayer flag tradition has a long continuous history dating back to ancient Tibet, China, Persia and India. The tradition has now reached the West and is rapidly gaining popularity. The meanings behind prayer flag texts and symbols, indeed behind the whole idea of prayer flags, are based on the most profound concepts of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.
The Tibetan word for prayer flag is Dar Cho. “Dar” means to increase life, fortune, health and wealth. “Cho” means all sentient beings. Prayer flags are simple devices that, coupled with the natural energy of the wind, quietly harmonize the environment, impartially increasing happiness and good fortune among all living beings.
Raising Prayer Flags
Placing prayer flags in and around one’s home or business imparts a feeling of harmony, increases the spiritual atmosphere and brings to mind the teachings of enlightenment. By placing prayer flags outdoors their sacred mantras are imprinted on the wind, generating peace and good wishes.
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Brief Biographies of the Drikung Khandros, Chodrung Zangmo Rinpoche and Sherab Thubten Rinpoche
Chodrung Rinpoche was born into a wealthy family in Northern Tibet in the fire dog year (1886). She was related to His Holiness, Taglung Tsetrul Rinpoche, one of the three throne holders of the Taglung Kagyu lineage. Many auspicious signs accompanied her birth, and she was recognized to be an incarnation of a great dakini. Later, she ran away from an arranged marriage and hid away in the area of Seli-god Tsag (Golden Vulture’s nest) for many years, where she engaged in intensive practice and attained a very high state of realization. She was renowned as the great “Jatang” – one who abandons all worldly activities. She quickly became famous and later returned to her family to give teachings.
Chodrung Rinpoche wandered throughout the region of Northern Tibet, particularly the Nam-tso Ka area. She spent many years in retreat in Taglung Tangpa’s cave, Seligod Tsang, as well as Yeshe Tsogyal’s cave in Drikung Terdrom. She gathered many disciples in the different areas where she stayed, and became the Abbess for the nuns residing at the Drikung Kagyu nunnery in Drikung Terdrom.
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An Historic Description of Awareness Holders of the Great Secret Mantra who are Resplendent in White Clothes and Long Hair
a brief oral commentary by Kyabje Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche
Ever since the time of the meeting of the three masters, Khenpo Shatarakshita, Lopon Padmasambhava and the Dharma King, Trison Detsen in 8th century Tibet, there were two divisions of sangha, known as the sangha of monastics with shaven-heads and the saffron robes (rab byung ngur smig gi sde) and the sangha of ngakpas with white clothes and long, plaited hair (gos dkar lcang lo’I sde).
In the upper and lower regions of Kham, these ngakpas are known as ‘amnyes’ (a myes). In the district of Ngari, they are called ‘jopas’ (jo pa) and in provinces such as U and Tsang, they are called ‘ngakchangs’ (sngags ‘chang). In Bhutan, Sikkhim and other bordering kingdoms, these practitioners are known as ‘serkhyimpas.’
The sovereignty of both sanghas was equal during the reign of the Dharma King Trisong Detsen (790-858). This is clearly indicated in historical accounts. Moreover, during the reign of King Ralpachen (813-836), the monarch weaved silk into two ends of his matted hair as a sublime object of offering and requested that both sanghas sit and walk back and forth upon it. This appears in all of the reliable sources of monarchy annals.
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