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The Newsletter of Lhokha Gongkar Choede Dorje Dhen Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Seat of the Dzongpa Branch of the Glorious Sakya Tradition
Issue 2
Dorje Dhen:
A few years ago, His Eminence Gongkar Dorje Dhenpa Rinpoche and his tutor, Venerable Tenpa Gyatso, visited Taiwan at the invitation of Lama Tashi and the students of His Holiness Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche in Taipei, and His Eminence bestowed the Vajrayogini blessing-initiation there to a packed auditorium. It was so successful, that many Sakya students in Taiwan repeatedly requested His Eminence to return. So this summer, His Eminence, accompanied by his steadfast personal attendant Ngawang Tenzin la, as well as his secretary, Gelong Ngawang Khyentse, began their travels.
Vajra Garuda
Winter 2008
Ngawang Tenzin returned to Gongkar Chde to continue with work there, and His Eminence and Gelong Khyentse set off for Taipei. Their first port of call was to see Dr. Akon and his family in Yunching, where a few pleasant days were spent before His Eminence came to Sakya Dechen Ling, in the Nei-Hu district of Taipei, the centre of His Eminences close friend, the Venerable Tashi Chphel Tulku. There, His Eminence was generously hosted by the centres director, Mrs. Lehn, and began His stay offering personal consultations and blessings to the centre members. His Eminence then granted the Vajrayogini blessing-initiation to many students in Taijong, where He also conducted a consecration of a new Guru Rinpoche statue there, a Mahakala Puja, Vajrayogini Tsok offering, and many blessings of Sakya centres and patrons in the area. Back in Taipei, His Eminence gave the initiation of the special Vajra Garuda in Sakya Dechen Ling and also Sakya Gyalten Ling, the main centre established by the late Tharig Tulku in Taiwan. Vajra Garuda (known in as Tibetan as Dorje Kyungtra) is the power, compassion and wisdom of all the Buddhas manifest as a magical bird who has power to subjugate all dark energies and spirits. The initiation and practice of Vajra Garuda is associated with magnetising the energy and blessings to attain the power, compassion and wisdom of a Buddha. He balances the energies of the elements (earth, air, water, fire and space) within ourselves and in our environment, and subdues harmful and interfering energies that affect our health, well-being and environment. The particular initiation of the multi-coloured Vajra Garuda that was conferred is an initiation of the Anuttara Yoga Tantra classification deriving from the Kalacakra Tantra and one of the special mandalas of the 1 st Dorje Dhenpa, Kunga Namgyal, the great Tantric Master and founder of the Dzongpa branch of the Sakya lineage. This was the very first time for this initiation to be given in Taiwan, and it proved to be both popular and greatly appreciated by the many practitioners who came to receive the transmission. His Eminence and Khyentse-la had just finished translating the Sadhana by Dorje Dhenpa Kunga Namgyal into English when their dear friend and webmaster, Deborah Hilton, arrived all the way from Hawaii to receive the initiation. His Eminence has now also agreed to grant the initiation for the first time in Singapore early next year, and also in England and the USA on His debut tour of the West later in 2009. Also in Taipei, His Eminence gave the White Tara initiation twice. To receive this initiation from His Eminence is considered a special blessing, as not only has he personally conduced an intensive retreat on this practice, His lineage has conducted the rituals of White Tara for centuries in the Zhol village just below the Potala Palace in Lhasa for the long life of the Dalai Lamas and the welfare of all sentient beings, making Gongkar Chde famous for their emphasis on this exalted and illustrious Mother Goddess. From the Thirteen Golden Dharmas of the Sakya tradition, the long-life and obstacle-averting initiation of Amaravajradevi deriving from the Cakrasamvara Tantra was given; the wealth deities Golden Jambhala and Vasudhara; the wisdom Goddess Sarasvati, and the Rig-sum Gnpo, which literally means The Protectors of the Three Races - Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani. His Eminence also presided over a Naga Puja at the coast, and a Fire Puja of the Shangpa Kagyu practice of White Mahakala at a Chinese Temple on the outskirts of Taipei.
Winter 2008
During the entire programme, His Eminence was ably assisted by Lama Gedhun from Khenpo Appe Rinpoches residence in Kathmandu, and also Lama Lobsang Dawa from Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery. He also managed to meet up more than once with his close friend and peer, His Eminence Thartse Khen Rinpoche, co-abbot of Ngor Evam Choeden, the seat of the Ngor branch of the Sakya tradition, who was conducting his own programme in Taipei and other countries. After one month of almost non-stop teaching and blessings, His Eminence returned to Singapore. There, he received expert consultation from a rheumatologist about the Ankylosing Spondylitis that has affected his health for over nine years now. A new course of medicines was prescribed and some excellent guidance received on dealing with the condition, and now His Eminence is enjoying much better health. Very special thanks must go to Judy Kim and Jennifer Tan for taking such heartfelt care of His Eminence and sponsoring all the treatment needed.
Winter 2008
Winter 2008
The Vajra Garuda Empowerment His Eminence is giving the Vajra Garuda initiation ( jenang) in Singapore on Sunday 4 th January 2009. This is available to anyone who has received a major two-day empowerment before. The Guru Rinpoche Puja The Dzongpa branch of the Sakya lineage conducts a special two-day puja to Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) in Gongkar Chde monastery known as The Secret Collection in Eight Chapters ( Sang-du laiu Gye-pa), which is also known simply as Tse-chu (the ceremony for the 10th day of the Tibetan lunar calendar). The Sakyapa holds a sacred link to Guru Rinpoche, as Khn Nagendrarakshita was one of Guru Rinpoches chief disciples, through which many precious teachings and initiations were imparted and are upheld to this day by the Sakyapas. Nanam Dorje Dudjom was also one of the chief disciples of Guru Rinpoche, and, as foreseen by Guru Rinpoche himself, Dorje Dhenpa Kunga Namgyal was recognised as his reincarnation. The special puja of the Dzongpa tradition ends each day with the Tsok offering, together with the offering of nectar and long-life pills (tse-ril). Dedications are also made for the deceased. This complete puja will be conducted at Sakya Tenphel Ling from 6th - 7th January 2009 by the monks of Gongkar Chde monastery, led by His Eminence.
To receive more details on the complete programme, please contact Sakya Tenphel Ling directly.
Pilgrimage
At the end of 2009, the annual Sakya Monlam will be organised by Gongkar Chde, which we hope will be another great and fruitful success. Following that, His Eminence has expressed interest to make His first proper pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya and the other holy pilgrimage sites of our Master, Shakyamuni Buddha, in India. He has also said that it would be fine for friends to join Him on this pilgrimage. If you are interested, please write to Gelong Ngawang Khyentse and he will get back to you once plans are confirmed: Gelong Ngawang Khyentse, Sakya Heritage Society, House 62, Bhatti Mine Road, Near Satsung Beas, PhaseIV, New Delhi 110074, India.
Winter 2008
Winter 2008
TA.CH TSANG.MAi GANG.RIr NE.CHI.SHING SHI.LAM DRE.BUi YU.RUL JEN.KYI.DZE NYEN.JU ZHI.DEN DAM.PAi GEt.JANG.DrOK SHE.NYEN MA.WAi SENG.GE SHAB.TEN.SHOG The purity of your view and conduct are as evident as a snow-mountain; Like the mane to a snow-lion, the Lam-Dre and its foundation is your signature adornment; You roar with laughter the four whispered lineages, the melody of instructions: Spiritual Friend who is the Lion of Expression, please live long. DrEN.SHE PAG.YD KI.SUNG TSUL.TrIM.TSANG CHING.Gt YENG.WAi CHN.TEL TING.DZIN.DRUB KHOR.DE CHE.MEt TOK.PI SHE.RAB.KYI KYE.GUi YID.MUN SAL.DZED SHAB.DEN.SHOG Mindfulness, vigilance and conscientiousness are protected by your replete virtue; Freedom from the faults of heedlessness and inattentiveness is accomplished through your samadhi; Through your wisdom, you understand that Samsara and Nirvana are birthless: You who purifies the deluded thoughts of sentient beings, please live long. LEG.CHEd LHA.YI DZING.RING YANG.PAi.NG TSOK.NYI CHUNG.NGN CHENG.GI NYER.TrANG.NYE ThrIN.LE WD.KYI LING.ZHIi MUN.SAL.WAi KHYE.PA NAM.KHAi GYEN.GYUR SHAB.TEN.SHOG The vast and beautiful celestial paradise of the two accumulations Comes ever closer to consummation, like dawn approaching, As the radiance of your transcendental activities purifies the four cosmic continents: You who is the jewel ornament of all the scholars throughout space, please live long. TEN.DANG DRO.LA CHIG.TU MEN.PA.LA TEN.PAi THUN.JEN KUN.TSANG RAB.TEN.NE TEN.PA RIN.CHEN YUN.DU PHEL.WAi.CHIR TEN.DZIN KUN.ZHI SHAB.PEt TEN.GYUR.CHIG To benefit the Buddhas Dispensation and all wandering beings, You cause the conditions for the Buddhas Dispensation to flourish in completeness and stability So that the jewel of this Dispensation long endures, grows and spreads: May you and all the Holders of the Buddhas Dispensation live long. SE.CHE GYAL.WA GYA.TShOi CHIN.THU.DANG TEN.JUNG LU.WA ME.PAi DEN.DOB.DANG DAG.GI LHAG.SAM DAG.PAi THU.TOB.KYI MUN.PAi TN.KUN DE.LAK NYUR.DRUB.SHOG Through the blessings of the ocean of Victorious Ones and their Children, Through interdependence and the undeceiving power of truth, And through the power of my pure and sincere aspiration, May all these wishes be easily fulfilled.
I dont have skill in composing beautiful verses and titles, but my greatest wish is for the few topics contained in this prayer to be established in His Eminence Gongkar Dorje Dhenpa Rinpoches life. This is my own first and foremost wish. And some time ago, Jamphel Chsang-la fervently requested me with a ceremonial white scarf to compose this prayer. I couldnt ignore his persistent wish as well as my own. So because of these two wishes, the verses herein were written as a prayer for the long life of His Eminence by me, Jamphel Chogden, the Director of Gongkar Chde, in the year 2118 of the Rabjung Cycle, which is the year of the Iron Sheep according to the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, or 17th August 1991 according to the Western Solar Calendar. Sarva mangalam! This prayer by the late Ven. Jamphel Chogden was translated into the English language at the glorious Sakya Phunstok Phodrang in the Aryan Land of India in the year of the Earth Mouse (28 th October 2008 c.e.) by two fortunate disciples of the wish-fulfilling jewel to whom this prayer is addressed; the Bhikshu from England known as Ngawang Khyentse and the Upasaka from the Minyak region of Eastern Tibet known as Kunga Tashi. Although lacking experience and skill, they were compelled to attempt a translation due to the express and constant wishes of His Eminences many English-speaking students as well as for the benefit of their own practice. May its intentions be fulfilled without hindrance! Lhokha Gongkar Chde Dorje Dhen Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, India. 7