Medicine Buddha Sangha www.medicinebuddhasangha.org

The Bodhichitta Foundation

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 7 to 9 PM Medicine Buddha Sadhana Practice

Location: Lance David and Paula Bergerson Residence 302 Sophia Court, Pikesville, MD 21208 410.653.6638 Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 7 to 9 PM Dharma Protector Mahakala Sadhana Practice

Location: Lance David and Paula Bergerson Residence 302 Sophia Court, Pikesville, MD 21208 410.653.6638 Requested $20.00 donation for each practice and session gratefully accepted for Drupon Thinley Ningpo and the Medicine Buddha Sangha. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Vajrayogini is the consort to glorious Chakrasamvara. Together they represent the inseparability of bliss and emptiness, she being the wisdom aspect and he the compassion aspect. The great yogi Naropa was visited by an emanation of Vajrayogini as an old woman, she made him aware that he needed greater realization, and thus he sought his magnificent teacher Tilopa. Vajrayogini has a perfect red body, she is in the dancing posture, in her right hand she holds a hooked knife to cut the bonds of ignorance, and she drinks from a skull-cup filled with blood to symbolize unconditional enjoyment. The ultimate purpose for a tantric practice such as Vajrayogini, is to transform limited, self-centered beings like ourselves into fully evolved and effortlessly compassionate Awakened Ones; there can be no greater or more worthwhile transformation than this.

Friday thru Sunday, April 12~14, 2013 Drikung Kagyü Lineage Refuge Ceremony Vajrayogini Empowerment with Explanations Location: Susquehanna Yoga and Meditation Center 12-A Aylesbury Road, Timonium, MD 21093 www.syoga.com

Session 1 - Friday, April 12 at 7~9 PM Drikung Kagyü Refuge Ceremony Session 2 - Saturday, April 13 at 1 PM~5 PM Vajrayogini Wang (Empowerment for practice) Session 3 - Saturday, April 13 at 7~9 PM Vajrayogini Practice Explanations Session 4 - Sunday, April 14 at 9 AM ~12 noon Vajrayogini Practice Explanations Session 5 - Sunday, April 14 at 2~5 PM Vajrayogini Practice Explanations

Venerable Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche will bestow the

Vajrayogini Empowerment with Practice Explanations

and confer the

Drikung Kagyü Refuge Ceremony with Explanations

and lead the

Medicine Buddha Sadhana Practice Dharma Protector Mahakala Sadhana Practice

April 10~14, 2013

The Venerable Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche was born in the Nag-chu District of Tibet. From his earliest years, the Venerable Thinley Ningpo was distinguished by a loving and compassionate nature and an active concern for the welfare of others. He entered school at the age of eight and diligently pursued his elementary education. As he became the outstanding student in his school, he was rewarded with an appointment as teacher for the lower grades when he turned 17 years old. At that time he held a second job as a clerk for the municipal government. In addition to his teaching and clerical work, the Venerable Thinley Ningpo pursued studies in veterinary medicine. After continuing this work for some time, his natural inclination towards

religion developed into a determination to pursue higher spiritual studies. His father supported his decision, and applied to the proper authorities. He then entered the 'Drong-ngur Monastery where he became a student of the eminent Buddhist scholar, Lama Kedrub Siddhi Rinpoche, who chose him from among all the new students to be his disciple. He engaged in the study of a wide range of Drikung Buddhist traditions, including ritual practices, mandala and stupa design and construc-tion and the art of producing bronze images of sacred beings. Subsequently, he was made director of the project to con-struct a new main stupa for the monastery. After completing this formidable project in an excellent manner, he went on a pilgrimage to Drikung Thel Monastery where he met the great yogin and scholar, Drubwang Pa-chung Rinpoche. Ven. Thinley Ningpo was inspired to ask for the essential precepts for the higher spiritual practices. Recognizing his unique abili-ties, Rinpoche agreed and asked him to return at daybreak. He thus was able to receive the profound essence instructions in the practice and mastery of the peerless Mahamudra.

In 1988 Ven. Thinley Ningpo went on a pilgrimage to the sacred places of Tibet. This brought him to the western regions where he took a fortuitous opportunity to escape to India. This was accomplished through a very perilous two-month jour-ney on foot across the Himalayas. Once safely in India, he proceeded to the Drikung Kagyu Temple and entered into the institute of higher education. After completing his course of study, he was appointed as dean of the institute. He served in this capacity for six years.

Ven. Thinley Ningpo spent 1994 in spiritual retreat, during which time he accomplished all the preliminary practices of the Five-fold Mahamudra. He then went to the Dorje Redrubde hermitage in Alora where he entered into the traditional three-year retreat, where he accomplished the practices of the Five-fold Mahamudra and the profound path of the Six Yogas of Naropa. He participated in the Drikung Kagyu Snake Year teaching retreat where he received the entire body of Drikung Kagyu empowerments, transmissions, and instructions for advanced practice. In this way he completed the process of ad-vanced training in all the profound and sacred traditions of the Drikung and earned the title of Drupon "master of spiritual attainment".

Motivated by his deep and constant desire to help others to attain liberation, Ven. Thinley Ningpo traveled to America where he served as Co-Spiritual Director and Retreat Master of the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick, MD.

Drupon-la now travels extensively with the blessing of HH Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, teaching the precious Dharma and leading Dharma students in retreat. He has traveled to South America in the last two years and keeps a busy domestic and international travel schedule for teaching and retreat. Drupon Rinpoche has recently relocated to Wesley Chapel, FL, just north of Tampa, and is establishing a Dharma center for study, practice and retreat there. We have been very blessed by Drupon-la’s kindness and practical wisdom, which shines forth like the rays of the sun. Drupon-la possesses the special quality of being able to understand deeply the needs of Western students and to provide the Dharma Teachings needed in the moment, so that they can progress on the Path.

Biography courtesy of the Drong Ngur Jangchubling Buddhist Center www.dnjus.org

Websites: medicinebuddhasangha.org lamagursam.org (Bodhicitta Foundation)

dnjus.org (Drong Ngur Jangchubling)

May all beings and activities be auspicious for the benefit of the enlightenment of all sentient beings