Completed – EMPOWERMENT OF VAJRAKILAYA

The 41st throne holder of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Sakya Trizin, will kindly bestow the Empowerment of Vajrakilaya.  In Tibetan, Dorje Phurba, rdo rje phur pa, Vajrakilaya is a major empowerment which extends over two days. The first day is the preparation and the second day is the main empowerment.  The first day is Friday, April 24th.  Attendees arrive no later than 3:00 pm.  The second day is Saturday, April 25th. Attendees arrive no later than 1:00 pm.  Without exception, you must attend both days.   The location will be in the area of Ewam Choden.  Pre-registration is advised since the number of attendees will be limited according to the size of the venue.  The cost to register is $150.00 for each person.  There is no prerequisite.  ALL INFORMATION WILL BE IN A PACKET TO BE SENT TO ATTENDEES WITH THEIR TICKETS.

This is a profound practice with a long and powerful Sakya lineage.
In the words of His Holiness Sakya Trizin:

“Of the profound and inexhaustible ocean of teachings that Guru Padmasambhava possessed, Vajrakilaya is one of the most important. Its empowerment, teachings and pith instructions were given to one of his most important spiritual disciples, Khön Nagendra Rakshita (Lü’i Wangpo Sungwa), who then practised it until he achieved both ordinary and supreme siddhis. As a sign of his great attainment, he managed to display the great miracle of keeping his vajra and bell suspended in space. Guru Padmasambhava himself declared that Nagendrarakshita had attained the eighth stage of the great bodhisattva path. 

The Vajrakilaya empowerment, teachings and pith instructions then passed down from Nagendrarakshita to his own nephews, as they were appointed as the holders of the Khön lineage; and ever since then they have been passed down through this lineage, which includes the five Sakya patriarchs.
So this is a very rare teaching that has not only continued through an unbroken lineage from the primordial Buddha, but has also been passed down through the hereditary lineage. Each of these masters, from Guru Padmasambhava to those of the present, has achieved great realization, and as a result has performed great miracles. I myself received this from my own father, as well as from one of my most important root gurus, both of whom attained great realization through the Vajrakilaya practice, and showed many significant miracles.”

Read more about Vajrakilaya on the main website of H.H. Sakya Trizin at this address:  http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/teach_vajrakilaya.html

Completed–VEN. LAMA KUNGA RINPOCHE GIVES EMPOWERMENT OF SINGHANATA on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2014

Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche has kindly agreed to bestow the Empowerment of  SINGHANATA, LION’S ROAR AVALOKITESHVARA (Senggedra Chenrezi).    He is seated with the Naga King and many great nagas. His practice cures secret naga diseases and purifies non-virtuous karma, as it takes you on the path to enlightenment.

The empowerment begins at 1:00 pm and has a requested donation of $30. (Offering to the Lama is separate.)
A practice sadhana will be given, but the empowerment can be taken as a blessing.
There is no requirement or pre-registration.  Please arrive early to register at the door.

 

Completed–VEN. LAMA KUNGA RINPOCHE GIVES EMPOWERMENT OF SIMHAMUKHA on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014

Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche has kindly agreed to bestow the Empowerment of  SIMHAMUKHA (Senghe Dongma) Blue Lion-Headed Dakini.
In a wrathful form, she is the manifestation of the enlightened awareness of the Buddha. With compassion and wisdom, she destroys hindrances, negativities, and evil forces.
The empowerment begins at 1:00 pm and has a requested donation of $30. (Offering to the Lama is separate.)
A practice sadhana will be given, but the empowerment can be taken as a blessing.

MEDITATION with Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche will be held on Sunday, as usual

Chenrezi compassion mediation beginning at 10:00 am is held at Ewam Choden every Sunday.

Recently, Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche has begun to give teachings after the usual Chenrezi compassion meditation on Sunday mornings.  The teaching is an in depth explanation of the Tibetan words of the sadhana.   Rinpoche’s explanations can be both colorful and profound.  Seize this opportunity by coming to the Sunday morning meditation, starting at 10:00 am and lasting until about 11:30 am.

Check the calendar (on the right side of this page) for Lama Kunga Rinpoche’s general schedule.

Completed—UPCOMING EMPOWERMENTS TO BE GIVEN BY VEN. LAMA KUNGA RINPOCHE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2014

Ven. Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche has kindly agreed to give two more monthly empowerments this year.  On Sunday, November 23, Rinpoche will give the empowerment of Simhamukha (Senge Drongma), the Lion-Faced Dakini.  On Sunday, December 28, Rinpoche will give the empowerment of  Singhanata  (Lion’s Roar Avalokiteshvara).  MARK YOUR CALENDAR !  See INFO above.

Monthly Group HEVAJRA Sadhana Practice at Ewam Choden

There is a continuous group practice of the middle-length sadhana of Hevajra on the first Sunday of (almost) every month.  It begins at about 1:00 pm.  Participants must have received the Hevajra Cause and Path Empowerments from a Sakya Lama in order to participate.  For more information, please contact Mike at (510) 526-6867.

COMPLETED–Ven. LAMA JAMPA THAYE TEACHES AT EWAM CHODEN ON NOVEMBER 1-2, 2014 CLICK HERE for all information.

SCHEDULE for the Teachings 

SATURDAY, NOV 1—10:30 am  to 12:30 pm   *Lunch Break*    2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

SUNDAY, NOV 2——1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

REQUESTED DONATION AMOUNT —  $40 per day or $60 for both days.      Pre-registration isn’t necessary, but please arrive prior to the starting time.

ABOUT THE TEACHING    
Lama Jampa has kindly offered to teach on the first two points of the Seven Point Mind Training, which includes the preliminaries and the actual practice of Tong-Len (གཏོང་ལེན་) (giving and taking ).

He will teach from the untranslated commentary of Tokmé Zangpo, (ཐོགས་མེད་བཟང་པོ), who lived from 1297 to 1371.

Training the Mind in Seven Points  is the famous Lo-jong (mind-training) (བློ་སྦྱོང་)  text that Atisha, (982–1054 CE), the Indian meditation master,  brought to Tibet. An explanation of Buddha’s instructions on training the mind, it outlines in basic steps, the attitudes and practices to be used in daily life. It shows the way to combine ordinary behavior with the highest view.

ABOUT LAMA JAMPA THAYE
Lama Jampa Thaye is a scholar and meditation master trained in the Sakya and Kagyu traditions by his two principal teachers,  His Holiness Sakya Trizin and Karma Thinley Rinpoche.  Born in England in 1952, he became a student of Rinpoche at the age of 20 and met His Holiness a year later.

Lama Jampa obtained his PhD in Tibetan Buddhist history and served as Lecturer of Buddhist Studies and the History of Ideas for over twenty years at the University of Manchester. He was appointed by Karma Thinley Rinpoche as his dharma-regent in 1977 and given the authority to bestow Vajrayana initiations in 1988.  Since then he has traveled extensively giving teachings and initiations and is the author of numerous books and dharma treatises. His many dharma activities include a YouTube channel where his teachings can be heard.
The main website for his centers is www.dechen.org.

When Lama Jampa visited Ewam Choden last year, he taught on the history of the Rime movement and on comparing the views of emptiness in Rangton and Shangton.

COMPLETED–Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche will give Black Dzambhala and Hayagriva Empowerments in the Los Angeles area on September 6 & 7

This event is sponsored by Tsechen Chokhor Ling, a Sakya center located in Arcadia, California.
  Black Dzambhala Empowerment on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014  at 1:30 pm
  Hayagriva Empowerment on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 at  1:30 pm

Suggested donation is $25 for each empowerment.    The location is Tsechen Chokhor Ling, 12037 Clark Street, Arcadia, CA 91006

PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.  www.sakyacenterla.org

 

Completed—Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche will give a GREEN TARA empowerment in Ukiah, California on September 20, 2014

Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche will kindly offer the empowerment of GREEN TARA in the Atisha tradition.  This event is sponsored by the sangha members of Tharpa Cho Ling, the retreat center of Ewam Choden in Upper Lake, CA.   Everyone is welcome.  The empowerment may be received with the intention of practice or only as a blessing. A sadhana for practice will be available.  Also, Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche will give a  Buddhist refuge ceremony to newcomers.

The day and time—-Saturday, Sept. 20 at 12 noon

The location—-HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH,  640  South Orchard Avenue, Ukiah, CA 

Requested Donation is $25.00.  Dana (offering) to the Lama is separate.

For further information, please contact Max at 707-275-9435.

Green Tara ((Drolma སྒྲོལ་མ, in Tibetan) is a Bodhisattva of enlightened activity and purified energy.

 

 

Completed–KHENPO MIGMAR TSETEN TEACHES AT EWAM CHODEN The Heart Sutra and The Four Noble Truths on AUGUST 16 & 17

Khenpo Migmar Tseten will kindly explain the profound meanings of two essential Buddhist texts—the Heart Sutra, which underlies the Mahayana path, and the Four Noble Truths, the basis for all Buddhism.  These events are suitable for everyone and open to the public.   They are an excellent introduction to Buddhist philosophy and views for beginners, and an opportunity for practitioners to reinforce and deepen their understanding.

 

THE HEART SUTRA (Prajnaparamita) or Perfection of Wisdom
The Heart Sutra is the most important Mahayana  wisdom training of the Buddha. The Sutra explicitly explains the ultimate truth of emptiness and implicitly shows the graduated path of meditation to go beyond samsara and nirvana. Learning the Heart Sutra also helps to perfect the Mahayana and Vajrayana sadhana practice. Khenpo Migmar will explain the essence of The Heart Sutra based on his forthcoming book, The Wisdom Gone Beyond.

———DETAILS———-
Saturday, August 16th–from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
There will be a break for lunch with some snacks provided by the Center and potluck from people attending.
Requested donation of $50. for the day.  Dana (offering) to the Lama is separate.

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
The Four Noble Truths are regarded as the central teaching of the Buddhist tradition and provide the framework upon which all other Buddhist philosophy and meditation are based. These Noble Truths are the truth of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path leading to nirvāṇa. Although we may already be familiar with this core doctrine, by repeatedly studying the Four Noble Truths and their sixteen corresponding aspects, our realizations on the spiritual path can become more transformative and profound. To further study about the Four Noble Truths, please read Lama Migmar’s newest book Awakening to the Noble Truth, which can be purchased on Amazon.

———DETAILS———–
Sunday, August 17th—from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Requested donation of $30. for the afternoon.  Dana (offering) to the Lama is separate.

FOR BOTH DAYS
Everyone is welcome.
Please arrive early and be considerate of neighbors when parking in our residential neighborhood.

 

 ABOUT KHENPO MIGMAR TSETEN

Lama Migmar has been serving Harvard-wide student, faculties, and staff as a Buddhist Chaplain since 1997. He received both a traditional and a contemporary education in India. He graduated with an Acharya degree in 1979 from Tibetan Institute of Sanskrit University, Varanasi, India, and with first position every nine years among four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He was awarded a medal for academic excellence by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. He was also recognized as Khenpo for his scholarship and service to the Dharma by His Holiness Sakya Trizin.
Lama Migmar served as the head of Sakya Center in Rajpur, India, and the Sakya Monastery in Puruwalla, India, from 1981 to 1989, taking care of the well being of several hundred monastic residents. During this time he reintroduced the original form of the geshe educational system of Tibet, with degrees from kazhipa up to the rabjampa degree, with a curriculum that included all of the eighteen major texts, which are known as the Dragchen Chogyed.
Additionally, Lama Migmar supervised the editing and publication of over 50 rare volumes of Sakya literature including the 31 volumes of Sakya Lamdre and the rare Golden Manuscripts of the Five Founding Masters of Sakya. He founded Sakya Institute for Buddhist Studies in Cambridge, MA in 1990. He leads retreats at Buddhist centers throughout North America and Europe.

He is the author, editor and translator in a series of four  Vision books and of the Treasures of the Sakya Lineage.  His newest book,  just published last month, is called Awakening to the Noble Truth.  It’s a teaching on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Visit his website at www.LamaMigmar.net

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