In honor of Buddha Shakyamuni's Birthday Celebration Month (Saga Dawa, celebrating Lord Buddha's birth, enlightenment and parinirvana), please join Palri Pema Öd Ling as Lama Lobtsul Rinpoche leads the practice of Dorje Dechen Lingpa's Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig), May 18 - 22, 2016. This is an excellent occasion to practice together, purify mental delusions, accumulate merit and transform ordinary experience into stainless wisdom. This particular Avalokiteshvara treasure cycle was received by Dorje Dechen Lingpa in a state of pure vision from the emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the great Indian saint, Dzetari.
About 100 years ago, when Dhomang Terchen Dorje, Dechen Lingpa was in retreat to accomplish "the approaching and accomplishing" recitations in the isolated region of Dormed in eastern Tibet at a place called Kakong Sengei Yong Dzonghka, a boy appeared to him saying he was the supreme Noble Dzetari. He was wearing a jeweled crown, upper and lower garments, holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left. He appeared lucidly in a tent of light in the space in front. He proceeded to teach the instructions for "Avalokiteshvara's Dharma Connection in One Sitting".
Venerable Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche is the immediate reincarnation of Dhomang Terchen, Dorje Dechen Lingpa, the revealer of this treasure practice. Thus this practice is a wonderful opportunity to practice from such a close, direct lineage. When asked about the Avalokiteshvara/Chenrezig practice during Spring 2013, Ven. Yangtang Rinpoche replied:
"This Chenrezig practice is called Khakhyab Rangdrol (Natural Liberation of Beings Who Pervade Space), and is a treasure of Domang Terchen (The Great Terton of Domang), Dorje Dechen Lingpa. This is an extraordinary practice. To recite the MANI mantra using this practice carries great blessings. Of course there are many Chenrezig practices, and all those Chenrezigs are not different, right? But this practice does have a special quality. It is not an old terma; it was not revealed many years ago. It is a new treasure, and one whose time has come, so it is very powerful. Right now is the time for this practice.
Therefore, if you can come together and perform this practice, accumulating the MANI mantra, there is tremendous benefit. Chenrezig is the manifestation of the enlightened speech of all the buddhas, and therefore whatever being merely hears the sound of his mantra in the best case will be born in Chenrezig's pure land. If not, they will be born as a god or human, in a land of dharma, and at the very least they will not fall to the lower realms. Therefore, since the blessings are so powerful, I hope that you will practice this tradition of Khakhyab Rangdrol and recite the MANI mantra—that is what I wish for."
Ven. Yangthang Rinpoche twice bestowed the Avalokiteshvara empowerment and transmission to Lama Lobtsul Rinpoche, along with the full teachings, with the wish that he bring the practice back to Austin and practice it at Palri Pema Öd Ling. It is Lama Lobtsul Rinpoche’s aspiration that we learn to do the Avalokiteshvara practice, and in this way maintain our connection with the lineage of Dorje Dechen Lingpa.
Likewise, it has always been Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche's heartfelt wish to establish the lineage of Dorje Dechen Lingpa here in America, since its blessings are so potent and immediate as we receive the lineage from the direct incarnation of the treasure revealer himself. To this end, Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche encourages everyone to learn and practice the Avalokiteshvara cycle.
Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity!
In preparation for the retreat, Lama Lobtsul Rinpoche would like to invite all students to attend training sessions to learn how to chöpon (shrine attendant), how to play the drum, and how to chant for this practice. There is much to learn as we engage in this practice, and Lama Lobtsul Rinpoche encourages everyone to stop by the temple to take advantage of this opportunity. There is no one chöpon, drummer, or chant master - we are all chöpons, drummers, chant masters, and we can learn from each other, with each other. In this practice, everyone can play the bell and damaru, but there are also opportunities to play cymbals, horns, conch shell and drum. Come and learn to play - no prior music experience is necessary. If you have ever been interested in learning to chöpon, this is a good time to start!
Pre-Retreat Training Opportunities:
Saturday, May 7, 2PM Saturday, May 14, 2PM
Avalokiteshvara Retreat Dates: May 18 - 22, 2016
Wednesday, May 18 7PM - 9PM: Reading Transmission & Chenrezig Practice
Thursday, May 19 7PM - 9PM: Chenrezig Practice
Friday, May 20 7PM - 9PM: Chenrezig Practice
Saturday, May 21 10AM- 12PM: Chenrezig Practice 2PM - 4PM: Chenrezig Practice with small Tsog
Sunday, May 22 10AM- 12PM: Chenrezig Practice with large Tsog 2PM - 5PM: Chenrezig Fire Puja, Long Life Blessings, Butter Lamp & Incense Offerings
While it’s best to attend the entire program, it’s also fine to attend as much as your schedule permits.
* Cost: $20 per session or $140 for entire retreat; $120 if paid in full in advance. For pre-registration, click here.
Even if you cannot attend the retreat, you can make a donation to help support the retreat via PayPal - please specify that your donation is for the Avalokiteshvara/Chenrezig Retreat.
Volunteer: To find out about tsog and the many other volunteer opportunities available, please contact Nanette Palvola (bloomingvitality@gmail.com), Melody Cooper (mcooper@herbtree.com), or Brendan Ryan (deptfife@hotmail.com).
Tsog offerings (vegetarian), Incense or candles can be dropped off at the temple the week of the retreat.
* Please Note: The suggested donations indicated are just that - suggestions. These donations are used to pay the operating expenses of our temple (supplies, electricity, water, etc.) and for maintaining this magnificent property. There is never a "charge" for the Dharma. However, it is customary to make monetary offerings to our teachers, to support their Dharma activities (from which we all benefit so enormously), and to help bring the benefit of those activities to other beings.
No one will ever be turned away for an inability to make a monetary donation. There are always many opportunities to donate your time and energy, such as helping set up for practices or events, cleaning the shrine room after events, assisting the chöpons, helping clean the grounds and facilities, bringing offerings of candles, incense, flowers, etc., to be used in the temple.
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