dharma newsletter 2018 - vajrayana
TRANSCRIPT
DHARMA PROGRAMS 2018 in a glance
KyabjeDudjomSangyePemaZhepaRinpocheandSangha,PemaOselLing,Summer2018
Wearehappytosharethehighlightsofour2018dharmaactivity!
SummerRetreatJune1–June24
This year we had the extreme good fortune tohave Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Sangye PemaZhepa Rinpoche (now known as KyabjeDudjomRinpoche)presideoverour29thannualSummerRetreatatPemaOselLingduringhisfirstvisittotheUnitedStates.
KyabjeDudjomRinpoche’sarrivalatPemaOselLing
DudjomTersarEmpowerments
Outofhisgreatkindness,RinpochebestowedtheDudjom Tersar Empowerments (Wangs). Allwho attendedwill attest to the sublimemagicalatmosphere thatRinpoche createdatPemaÖselLing. Therewere rainbows, seed syllable cloudsandhundredsofbutterflies!Rinpoche’swisdomcompassionwaspalpableanditwasevidentthatwewereallpartofsomethingveryprofound,anhistoricmomentofgreatimportance.
KyabjeDudjomYangsiRinpocheduringWangs
BAMSyllable(right)w/rainbowcircle
afterKhandroThukthikWang
SkyoverPemaOselLingfirstdayofWangs
SkywithprayerflagduringWangs
The bestowal of these wangs from Rinpoche atPema Ösel Ling was a profound heart wish ofLama Tharchin Rinpoche and Lama SonamRinpoche, who worked tirelessly to make it areality.Wefeeloverwhelminggratitudetothem,as well as to Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, TulkuJamyang Rinpoche, Lama Gyaltsen Rinpoche,Khenpo Sonam Rinpoche, Lama Phurba, ourgeneroussponsors, translators, tirelessstaffandvolunteers,andallwhoattendedfromaroundtheworld.
PhurbamandalaandSanghainWangstent
TromaNagmowithSangyeKhandro
Before Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche arrived to give the Dudjom Tersar empowerments, we were very fortunate to have Sangye Khandro return, for the fourth summer, to continue her Troma Ngondro teachings from Master Pema Lungtog Gyatso's extensive commentary on Dudjom Lingpa's terma revelation, Heart Essence of Saraha. The teachings were as fresh and insightful as always!
Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche leading the Medium-Length Troma
feast at the conclusion of Sangye Khandro’s teachings
The day after the wonderful Troma tsok, Rinpoche began the transmission and empowerments of the Dudjom Tersar. Sangye Khandro stayed as the translator for Rinpoche with Lama Chonam, Christina Monson and Benson by her side. We are so grateful to all our Lotsawas!
VajrakilayaMedrupDrupchen
After the Wangs, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpochepresided over our29th annual Drupchen. ThisyearweperformedaVajrakilayaNamchakPutriMendrup Drupchen. With Rinpoche’s sublimepresence, thiswas a special opportunity to fullyexperiencethisVajrakilayapractice,whichhasthepower to remove outer, inner and secretobstacles.
Bringingdowntheblessings
KyabjeDudjomRinpoche
inBlackHatDuring this Mendrup Drupchen, hundreds ofrare and sacred substances which had beengathered,werepreparedandconsecratedthroughintensivegrouppracticetocreatemendrup.
GuruRinpochesaid:Thebenefitsofeating(dudtsi)areinexpressible:DudtsiisLiberationthroughTasteforallbeingsinallrealms.Externally,itwillcureyourbodilyillnessesandremoveobstacles.Internally,itwillpurifythefivepoisonsofthepassions.Itwillrepairallyourbrokenanddamagedsamaya.Youwillrealizewisdom,theall-pervasivesecret.
Rinpochepreparingmendrupdudtsi
Mendrupdudtsidrying
DrupchenJinseksFirePujas
As always, on the last day of Drupchen weperformed jinseks (fire pujas) and received theDrupchensiddhis.This year, the jinseks of the four activities -peaceful, increasing,magnetizing andwrathful -wereperformedsimultaneously,alongwithafifthcentral “Supreme” jinsek. Kyabje DudjomRinpochepresidedover this gloriousdisplayofVajrayanaritual,alivewithcolor,fireofferingsandthesynchronicityofenlightenedactivities.
KyabjeDudjomRinpochepresidingoverfirepujas
The day after Drupchen ended we celebratedGuruRinpocheday.
OfferingtsokonGuruRinpocheDay
Onthisveryspecialday,weofferedanabundanttsok,preparedbythesublime,youngstudentsofKunzang Gatshal. We also offered our annualsacred lama dances to Rinpoche and all of oursangha. It was an honor and blessing for thedancersandallofus!
SunDokTenshukLonglifeceremony
The next day, we performed Khandro ThukthikpujaandofferedaSunDokTenshuk(long-life)ceremonyforKyabjeDudjomRinpoche.
TenshukCeremony
LonglifeofferingsforKyabjeDudjomRinpoche
MandalaofferingatTenshukCeremony
Dechö5thAnniversaryofLamaTharchin
Rinpoche’sParinirvana
KyabjeDudjomRinpocheandLamasat
LamaTharchinRinpoche’sKu-DungStupa
During the month of July, Rinpoche travelledaroundNorthAmerica.UponhisreturntoPemaÖsel Ling, he presided over ourDorsem LamaChöpa puja on the fifth anniversary of ourmostkindteacher,LamaTharchinRinpoche’sparinirvana—an occasion of extraordinaryblessings.
KyabjeDudjomRinpoche
withLamaTharchinRinpoche
We began this 2018 yearbook with our Summer Retreat, the highlight of our year. Following are our other retreats in chronological order, as well as news on additional dharma activities. Annual Trekchod Retreat /January
Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche
The Annual Trekchod Retreat began in 2001 with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. In 2014, after Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s parinirvana, Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche began leading the retreat, following Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s wishes.
We were extremely fortunate again in 2018, to have Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche with us for incredible trekchod and rushen teachings. Even though his health was challenged, he selflessly taught for nine days, putting all his energy into the pith instructions and always having time for questions. His wisdom and compassion were truly astounding. On July 5, 2018, our most kind and precious teacher, Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche, passed into parinirvana. Our sorrow was profound.
Remembering Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche 1945 – 2018
Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche
Following are excerpts from a beautiful letter that Lama Sonam Rinpoche wrote upon hearing about the parinirvana of our kind teacher. “LamaPemaDorjeRinpochewasoneofthekindestandmostauthentichiddenyogipractitionersinourgeneration.Fromaveryyoungagetotheendofhislife, he was completely authentic, humble anddevoted one hundred percent to dharma and hisrootguru.Rinpoche inspiredandtouchedeveryonewhomethim! He held the Dudjom lineage impeccably, aswellasthecompleteexpansiveanuyogalineage.AllofusatVajrayanaFoundation/PemaOselLingowe LamaPemaDorje Rinpoche a deep heartfeltdebt of gratitude. He was one of Lama TharchinRinpoche's best friends. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche
trustedLamaPemaDorjeRinpochecompletely toteach Pema Osel Ling's students all stages ofpractice, including the most advanced tsa-lungpractices.AfterLamaTharchinRinpoche'sparinirvana,LamaPema Dorje Rinpoche, out of his great kindness,becameourthree-yearretreatlamaandguidedtheretreatantswithprofoundcaringandwisdom.Healso taught our annual Trekchod retreat andRushenpractice.Inmyownidiotideaofsublimeactivity,Ican'thelpbut believe that Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche'sparinirvanawasmore evidence of his completelypuresamaya.HislifestartedwithDudjomRinpocheandthedissolutionofthislifebeganwithDudjomYangsi Rinpoche, (during the Dudjom Tersarempowerments), including the auspicious timingthat allowed Dudjom Rinpoche to be with LamaPemaDorjeRinpocherightafterhisparinirvana.Therewasnoplanandyet this incredibleactivityhappened, showing us that all wisdomminds areconnected inonetaste! Inhis lastcompassionateaction,LamaPemaDorjeRinpocheagaintaughtustohavefaithinthedharmaandtheinfallibletruthofenlightenment.”Allofus,andsomanyaroundtheworld,willtrulymissthiscompassionateandwiseteacher.
LamaTharchinRinpoche,LamaPemaDorje
RinpocheandLamaSonamRinpoche
NangJangTeachingsFebruary
We were once again honored to have ChakungJigmeWangdrakRinpochecontinuehisseriesofteachings on Dudjom Lingpa’s profoundDzogchen text Nang Jang (BuddhahoodWithoutMeditation)atPemaOselLing."NangJangissopowerfulthatevenhearingitreadaloud ensures that the listener will eventuallyescapethesufferingsofsamsara.”DudjomLingpa
Chakung Jigmed Wangdrak Rinpoche is afourth-generationdescendantofthe19thcenturymaster Dudjom Lingpa. He was requestedbyKhenchenJigmePhuntsokRinpocheandDakiniKunzang Wangmo (a greatly revered femaleteacher in Tibet) to teach and preserve theDudjomlineage.Ashehaddone for the last twoyears,RinpochebestowedtheNangJangEmpowermentandOralTransmission(Lung-Wang).Thisissokind,asitmeans that new students may join thiswonderfulserieseachyear!
VajrakilayaGutor/LosarFebruary
This was the 29th year that the VajrayanaFoundation has done profound VajrakilayaGutor practice to remove obstacles andnegativityfortheNewYear.Forthesecondyearina row,wealsoaccumulated100,000Shenpaprotector prayers. Kyabje Dudjom Rinpochespokeaboutthesepracticesinaletterhesenttooursanghain2017.
Letter from Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche
Itwasaverypowerfulexperiencetoaccumulatethe Shenpa Protector prayers. Many sanghamembers helped sponsor the accumulations atPema Osel Ling and also recited the mantra intheirownhomes.
TulkuThadralRinpochewastheDorjeLoponforourGutor/LosarretreatandbestowedthePutriRepkong Empowerment. We were alsoextremelyfortunatetohavehadtheopportunityto practice with Chakung Jigme WangdrakRinpoche,TulkuJamyangRinpoche,LamaSonamRinpocheandotherspecialguests.
TulkuThadralRinpoche
TulkuJamyangRinpoche
GutorCeremonyAswedo each year,weperformed a traditionalGutorceremonytoclearthenegativityofthepastyear, with the ritual burning of the large ZortormaandthesacredBlackHatdance.
ZorTorma
This was followed by Tibetan Fortune soup,duringwhichthelamasreadourfortunesfortheyear. As always, there is a feeling of lightnesswhentheceremonyiscompletedandweeatthedeliciousTibetansoupandshareourfortunesfortheNewYear!
VajrakilayaRitualSubstances
OnLosarDayweperformedLakeBornVajraandKhandroNorlapujas,afterbringingintheNewYearwithofferingstotheThreeJewels,auspiciousrice,homemadechang,andtea.
RiwoSangChoRaisingofPrayerFlags
Intheafternoon,wereplacedandraisedourlarge,handmadeDudjom prayer flagswith Riwo SangChosmokeoffering.
ItwasasplendidentryintotheNewYear!
CascadingWaterfallNgondroRetreat
March
Acharya Sam Bercholz once again visited PemaOsel and engaged students with his arrestingcommentaryonDungseThinleyNorbuRinpoche’sseminalwork,ACascadingWaterfallofNectar,aswellassharingstoriesandwisdomfromhisbookAGuidedTourofHell.Asarticulateasalways,Sambeguiledallattendingwithanecdotesofhisownexperiences and exchanges with Thinley NorbuRinpoche.
Thefollowingweek-longNgondroretreatwasledbyLamaSonamRinpocheandAmyGreen,aseniorstudentofDungseThinleyNorbuRinpoche.Thisretreat offered teachings, instructions, time foraccumulationsandpersonalinterviews.Many in attendance were part of our Ngondroprogramand therewere older sanghamemberswhomadefreshresolvetofinishtheirNgondrointhis lifetime! A noble goal that is definitelyattainablewiththerightsupport!"Ifthereareanywisepersonswhodesiretobecompletelyfreed,Fromthehottormentsofthefirepitofsamsara,theyshouldRelyonthissupremepath,Ngondro,which,likethekingoftrees,Willreviveoneinitscool,denseshade,enlightenment."-H.H.DudjomRinpoche
AnnualTeachingswith
OrgyenChowangRinpocheNovember
This year Rinpoche gave an explanation ofthegreatmasterLongchenpa’sfour-parttreatisecontainingthecompletepathtoenlightenment.Rinpoche explained the four parts with pristineclarity.
• Howtoturnone'smindtowardthepathofdharma;
• Howtoensurethatone'sspiritualpracticefollowstherightpath;
• Howthepathofdharmacan liberateonefrom one's own distortions and negativeemotions;
• Howallexperiencesanddistortedstatesofmindcanariseasenlightenedawareness.
Rinpoche's unique teaching style and deepunderstanding of this ancient wisdom makesit accessible, meaningful and especiallyrelevant to modern Western students. We aredeeply grateful that he continues to share hisskillfulwisdomandkindnessatPemaOselLing.
ThanksgivingRetreat/VajraArmorNovember
LamaSonamRinpoche
Every year on Thanksgiving we perform anAmitabha tsok and host a Thanksgiving dinner,followedbythreedaysofretreat.Thisyear,LamaSonamRinpoche,taughtontheprofoundpracticeofAmitabhaPhowa.“Phowa, or transference of consciousness at thetimeofdeath,isoneofthemostpreciousamongallthepithinstructionsandtantrasoftheGreatSecretVajrayana.” LamaSonamRinpoche VajraArmorPrivateHealingRetreat
This week-long retreat is becoming one of ourmostpopular.Itoffersstudentsprivaterooms,thetransmission, extensive time for practice,individual guidanceand several group teachingsfromLamaSonamRinpoche,whosededicationtodharma,and inparticulartheDudjomlineage, isimpeccable.Heisaconstantreminderofwhatitmeanstodedicateone’swholelifetoservingthe Three Jewels. He selflessly oversees thedharmaactivityandongoingoperationsofPemaOselLingandweareforevergrateful!
TheOutreachProgramWisdomCenterSantaCruz
"The Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz provides an inviting space for wisdom-seeking individuals to explore the root of human goodness, and unveil the essential nature in Wisdom traditions.”
Lama Sonam Rinpoche, Pema Osel Ling guest lamas, our resident translator Cy Kassoff and senior students of the Vajrayana Foundation are bringing the Dudjom Tersar to downtown Santa Cruz with teachings, practice and empowerments. January – February: Medicine Buddha Empowerment and teaching March: Great Mother Transcendent Wisdom April: Khandro Norlha Empowerment May: Dharma Talk July: Wisdom & Skillful Means - Video of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche August: Introduction to Vajrayana Buddhism September: Patrul Rinpoche's The Practice of View, Meditation and Action I October: Introduction to Ngondro November ~ November: Healing with Tibetan Medicine December: Patrul Rinpoche's The Practice of View, Meditation and Action
NgondroProgram
Ongoing
MandalaOffering
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche and Lama SonamRinpoche started the Vajrayana FoundationNgondro Program in February 2013. Theprogram is designed for dharma students whowant to seriouslyundertake theVajrayanapath.The program provides guidance from seniorstudent mentors, interviews with Lama SonamRinpoche, special texts and teachings, and amonthlywebcast.Participation in the program requires acommitment to practice and study. The totalnumberofhoursforeachaccumulationdependsonanindividual’sphysicalcapacity.Studentsdevelopapersonal schedulewith theiradvisorsinordertobeabletofinishin1to6years.Enrollment isopenandstudents can joinat [email protected].
NgondroProgramWebcastsinProgressw/
TulkuThadralRinpoche,LamaSonamRinpoche,ReginaDeCosse,FreddieTrancoso,StefanGraves
PersonalRetreatatPemaOselLing
ViewfromKunzangCholingRetreat
This year we were able to provide anothersecluded cabin forpersonal retreats. Weare sohappytobeabletoofferincreasedopportunitiesforretreattoourmembersandsangha.LamaTharchinRinpochesaid:“Pema Osel Ling is one of the best places to dopractice. We have incredible holy supportingobjects like the body aspect of Guru Rinpoche’sstatue,madebyourLordofRefugeDungseThinleyNorbu Rinpoche, and the mind aspect of ourstupas.”v KunsangCholingRetreatCabins
Two secluded cabins with great viewsavailableforprivateretreats:
Ø One-bedroomwitha fullkitchen,bathlivingroomanddeck.
Ø One-room studio with a kitchenette,bathanddeck.
v Shrine Cabin – Our comfortable shrinecabinisoneroomwithasharedrustickitchenandbathhouse. The cabin is in proximity totheshrineroomandstupas.
LamaSonamRinpochesaid:“Now is the time to practice.Don’t think youwillhavemoretimelater.Asthegreatmasterstoldus,weshouldpracticewiththesameurgencywewouldfeelifourhairwereonfire–wewouldn’twaituntila better time to put it out! Rememberimpermanence.”
Kunzang Choling Retreat Cabin
KunsangCholingRetreatCabin
ShrineCabin
DiscountedfeesandreservationpriorityforVFMembers
Drubdra-Three-YearRetreatProgram
DrubNyiyDöjöGatsal
LamaTharchinRinpocheinDrubNyiyDojoGatsal
Drub Nyiy Döjö Gatsal (The Joyful Grove thatProvides Both Kinds of Accomplishments) aNyingma School of Vajrayana Buddhism Three-year Retreat Center in the Dudjom TersarLineage.ThisdrubdrawasestablishedbyLamaTharchin Rinpoche in 1992 and retreats havecontinuedsincethenuninterruptedly.ThecurrentretreatundertheguidanceofKyabjeDudjomRinpochewillbecompletedinOctober2019. The next retreatwill begin in November2019. Contact [email protected] for moreinformation.
RainbowsoverDrubNyiyDojoGatsalonThinleyNorbuRinpoche’sParinirvanaAnniversary
TheVajrayanaFoundation/PemaOselLing
GuruRinpocheStatueinPemaOselLingShrineRoom
ABriefHistory
LamaTharchinRinpocheestablished theVajrayanaFoundation in1987,upon theadviceofKyabjeDudjomJigdralYesheDorjeRinpocheandDungseThinleyNorbuRinpochetotransmittheDudjomTersarlineageintheWest.TheFoundationboughtPemaOselLingin1991andayearlycycleofteachingsandpracticebeganontheland. In1998DungseThinleyNorbuRinpocheagreedtoguidetheVajrayanaFoundationandasked Lama Sonam Rinpoche to administer Pema Osel Ling with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche.In2011,afterDungseRinpoche’sparinirvana,LamaTharchinRinpocheandLamaSonamRinpocheofferedPemaOselLingtoKyabjeDudjom(Yangsi)Rinpoche,whoacceptedPemaOselLingashiscenter.Wemake aspirations thatwith Rinpoche’s guidance and our sangha’s support,wewill be able topreservePemaOselLingasablessedplacetoactualizeprofoundBuddhistteachings.
Wewanttoacknowledgeandexpressourdeepappreciationtoyou,thepreciousjewelofthesangha!
Theopportunitytoworktogethertohelprealizeoursublimeteachers’aspirationsisveryprecious.Yoursupportwillhelpuscarryoutayearfullofdharmaactivityin2019!
WishingYouPeaceandHappinessintheNewYear!