Activities at Namdroling Dratsang
Losar
The year 2560 of the Buddha Era, 17th Rabjung, Tibetan Royal Year 2143, Fire Male Monkey Year—also Guru Padmasambhava’s birth year—started on February 9, 2016. On this auspicious day, all the sangha of Namdroling, with His Eminence Gyangkhang Khentrul Rinpoche presiding, gathered inside the main temple to mark the start of the year by making prayers to the Sixteen Elders for all sentient beings’ good fortune, prosperity, happiness and peaceful life. The prayers were also dedicated to the longevity of the buddhadharma and its holders like Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, Yangsi Migyur Dechen Garwang Zilnon Dorje Pal Zangpo, and other great masters who are shouldering the enormous responsibility of upholding the doctrine of the Buddha. Unlike other years, Namdroling did not have an elaborate New Year’s celebration due to the mahaparinirvana of His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche and His Holiness Jadral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche.
Drubchen (The Great Accomplishment)
His Holiness Padma Norbu Rinpoche initiated the Great Accomplishment Practice in exile in 1960 during his one-month stay in Balingpur, Assam, northeast India. Rinpoche presided over the ritual of Attainment of the Mandala-clusters of Avalokiteshvara Dukhat Svamukta, and the assembly successfully completed the recitation of the six syllables one billion times. Hundreds of practitioners and devotees attended the ritual, and Rinpoche granted and bestowed blessings upon the audience. Then Rinpoche moved to Bylakuppe, in the Mysore District of South India, and temporarily settled at the first camp, a few kilometres from where Namdroling Monastery is now, and conducted the accumulation of one billion recitation of the Vajra Guru mantra for a week. Since then, this practice has been continuing annually, during the week starting from the eighth day of the first Tibetan month. Each year, in a rotating sequence, Tsedrub Sangwa Düpa (Ratna Lingpa’s Secret Gathering of Long Life Accomplishment), Rigzin Palchen Düpa (Mind Practice of the Vidyadharas as the Gathering of the Great Glorious One), Thugdrub Yang-nying Düpa (Mind Sadhana of the Condensed Heart Essence), and Konchog Chidü (Essence of the Supreme Jewels, a terma discovered by Jatson Nyingpo) are performed.
Accordingly, this year the great accomplishment practice of Thugdrub Yang-nying Düpa started on February 15. On its third day, Guru Padmasambhava’s giant thangka was displayed in the morning and the masked dance of his eight manifestations revealed by Guru Chökyi Wangchuk was performed in the afternoon. A fire puja took place on February 21 and the drubchen ended with several meritorious activities such as conferring the empowerment to monks and nuns in the early morning, and to lay devotees in the afternoon; displaying the great thangka of Amitayus in the morning; performing masked dances; and the offering of the butter lamp prayer in the evening to make auspicious dedication prayers for the benefit of all sentient beings. During this ceremony, many khenpos and lopons gave public talks to the lay devotees on various Buddhist topics, such as an introduction to Buddhism based on the Buddha’s life stories; an introduction to the ‘three perfect principles’—preparation, main part and conclusion—the foundation of Buddhism; an introduction to Buddhism based on the Four Noble Truths; the benefits of tsechu (the ritual observance of the tenth lunar day) and Guru Padmasambhava’s life story; the essence of Buddhism and the difference between Buddhism and Buddhist culture; karma; guru yoga and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche’s life story; the significance of Buddhism in accordance with modern times; the four thoughts that turn your mind away from samsara; taking refuge and generating bodhichitta; an introduction to cham dance and its benefits; and dedication and aspiration.
Ngondro, Tsalung & Dzogchen Practice
The Ngondro, Tsalung and Dzogchen practices of the Namchö tradition were practiced according to the teaching of Namchö terma cycle revealed by Terton Migyur Dorje, as taught directly to him by Avalokiteshvara. This practice has been prevalent in the Palyul tradition from the time of Rigzin Kunzang Sherab (1636–1699)—the main disciple of Terton Migyur Dorje and the first throneholder of Palyul Monastery—who was personally instructed by Terton Migyur Dorje himself. Since then, all Palyul practitioners have endeavoured in this teaching in the Palyul mother monastery till the present. In order to continue this very sacred teaching that can produce buddhahood in a single lifetime, His Holiness Drubwang Padma Norbu Rinpoche re-established the practice of these teachings at Namdroling Monastery in late 80’s and then at the Palyul Ling Retreat Centre in McDonough, New York, in 1998. Since then these practices have been continuing every year for a month. The 30-day retreat is held at Namdroling Monastery from the 18th day of the first Tibetan month to the 17th of the second Tibetan month, and from July 10 to August 10 in New York.
Accordingly, in order to preserve and continue the Namchö tradition, this year these practices started on February 25 at Namdroling. Tulku Chödar gave main teaching of Ngondro and Khenpo Yama Chime re-taught the teaching in the afternoon. Ngondro practitioners practiced prostrations together with reciting refuge vows and generating bodhichitta, followed by accumulating mandala offerings, Vajrasattva visualization and recitation, guru yoga, and ending with phowa—the transference of consciousness at the time of death. Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso took responsibility for conferring the instructions of tsalung and Dzogchen. These teachings were again re-taught by Lopon Rapjee Wangchuk and Khenpo Chime Lhundrub respectively.
The Mahaparinirvana of Their Holinesses Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche and Jadral Rinpoche
His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Shedrub Nyinje Pal Zangpo Rinpoche and His Holiness Jadral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche’s entering into mahaparinirvana, and dissolving the display of nirmanakaya into the sphere of ultimate reality, respectively on December 23 and 31, 2015, shocked everyone. It was indeed a great loss to the whole buddhadharma in general and to the tradition of Ngagyur Nyingma in particular. Both Rinpoches served most sincerely for the sake of the buddhadharma and sentient beings, and especially put forth great effort to restore the Nyingma lineage and tradition, which had degenerated, and develop what had not deteriorated by establishing Buddhist institutions and meditation centres, and enacting other activities of the buddhadharma. They unswervingly turned the Wheel of Dharma till their entering into mahaparinirvana and taught the most important teaching—impermanence—to the deluded beings of samsara like us who fortuitously got an opportunity to meet them.
With grief and a melody of longing, poignant as an infant calling to its parents, the Namdroling sangha conducted the rituals of Lama Chöpa (ritual of making offerings to the Guru), the brief confession of the peaceful and wrathful deities, prayers for their swift reincarnation, and made a vast array of actual and visualized offerings till the 49th day after the passing of both Rinpoches. Their Eminences Khentrul Gyangkhang Rinpoche and Chogtrul Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche, Khenchen Pema Sherab, Khenchen Namdrol Tsering, Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso and many other khenpos, lamas, tulkus, monks and nuns of Namdroling paid their homage in front of Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche and Jadral Rinpoche’s kudung [holy body] at Bodh Gaya, India, and Pharping, Nepal, respectively.
Spring Empowerments from H.E Yangthang Rinpoche
As requested by the faculty members of Namdroling Monastery, His Eminence Domang Yang-thang Rinpoche kindly accepted to confer the empowerments of the Three Roots (Guru, Deva, Dakini) to the sangha of Namdroling and other lay devotees. Rinpoche and his entourage were warmly welcomed in a ceremonial procession and H.E. Gyangkhang Khentrul Rinpoche offered the mandala on that day.
From March 25th, Rinpoche began his conferral of the empowerments for more than 5000 disciples. The instructions for the empowerments were translated into English and Chinese for non-Tibetan speakers. After the completion of the empowerments, Rinpoche consecrated the reliquary stupa of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche at Tsogyal Shedrub Dargyeling Nunnery that had been constructed in 2015. Rinpoche also presided over the shifting of the Mahakala Temple from the top of the main temple to the second floor. Later, on April 2, coinciding with Dakini Day, the Namdroling family organised a thanksgiving programme for Rinpoche and made a sincere request that he live long in order to continue his Dharma activities.
List of Empowerments
March 25—Preparatory and actual empowerments of the peaceful deities from the Magical Net tantra
March 26—Preparatory and actual empowerments of the wrathful deities from the Magical Net tantra
March 27—Preparatory and actual empowerments of the peaceful and wrathful deities from Karma Lingpa’s terma, and the Vajrasattva empowerment according to the Minling tradition
March 28—Preparatory and actual empowerments of Guru Padmasambhava as the Gathering of Vidyadharas and the Queen Mother of Great Bliss
March 29—Preparatory and actual empowerments of the Wrathful Guru, the Gathering of Great Glory, and the Life-Force empowerment of the great Gesar
March 30—The main empowerment of Amitayus as the Gathering of All Secrets from Ratna Lingpa’s treasure teaching
Preliminary Practice
On April 16, the annual five-hundred-thousand preliminary practice accumulations started. More than 63 monks and 44 lay practitioners undertook the practice with five sessions a day, from 7 A.M. to 9 P.M., till November 20. In an expanded version of the winter retreat, they mainly practiced accumulating prostrations while taking refuge and generating bodhichitta, mandala accumulation, the visualization and mantra accumulation of Vajrasattva, and Guru Yoga, ending with one week of phowa. The practices were overseen by Tulku Chödar, who instructed the retreatants every month.
Kama Drubchod
The 45th annual Kama Drubchod, the Great Accomplishment Ceremony of the Kama teaching, began on May 15. The Tsa Cham (Root Ritual Dance) was performed as an initiation prior to the Drubchod and the actual accomplishment ceremony took place from May 15 until the 21st. This Drubchod was conducted on the basis of seven different mandalas. The completion of the Drubchod involved a fire ritual of the four activities—pacifying, increasing, magnetizing and subjugating—to pacify diseases, evil spirits and fears; increase lifespans, merit and wealth; magnetize the three realms (desire, form and formless) and the three existential worlds (the nether world of nagas, the surface world of humans and the upper world of gods); and to subjugate harmful enemies and obstacles. The blessing of the accomplishment practice was granted to all devotees in the afternoon, and butter lamp and dedication prayers were chanted with abundant offerings of butter lamps, incense, flowers, spiritual songs and the music of ritual instruments. Meanwhile, other lamas, tulkus, and monks performed the Mahakala sadhana, which was successfully completed on May 22.
Yarney and the Year-end Activities
During the auspicious period of Yarney (Summer Retreat), monks from Dratsang and the senior students from Junior High School performed the pujas of Nyingthik Solkha, Namchö Solkha, Karling Zhithro, Kagyed, Ratling Phurpa, Thugchen Sangdü and Ratling Tsechog from August 18. These rituals are performed each week respectively inside the main temple. The ritual was successfully completed on September 1, with feast offerings.
As usual, monks of the Dratsang and senior monks from the Junior High School are conducting the Vajra Kilaya sadhana every week as well as performing the regular ritual offering to the Guru, Deva, Dakini and Dharmapalas on the tenth days of the waxing and waning periods of the moon every lunar month for the peace and prosperity in the world in general, and particularly for the spread of buddhadharma and the longevity of living Dharma masters. They are also sent to nearby places to perform rituals as per the request of sponsors.
They will travel to Bodhgaya to attend the 28th Nyingma Monlam Chenmo in Bodhgaya, Bihar, that is starting from January 28, 2017. After the ceremony, most of them will come back to monastery to perform the ritual of Karling Zhithro and Yangsang Ladrub along with extensive offerings to commemorate the 658th mahaparinirvana anniversary of the Omniscient Longchen Rabjam on February 11. Some monks from the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute will give religious discourses and engage in debate in the evening.
The five-day Gutor ritual will commence on February 21. This include the rites of Kagyed, Sengdong, Ratling Phurpa and Gurdrang. Different masked dances of the Gutor along with the ritual of throwing ritual cakes will be carried out on February 25. Ratna Lingpa’s ritual of procuring long life called ‘Tsechog Sangwa Düpa’ will be conducted on February 26 thereby ending the activity of the Fire Male Monkey year, the 2143rd Tibetan Royal year.
Activities at Samten Wodsal Ling Retreat Centre
Samten Wodsal Ling Retreat Centre was established by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in 1985, in order for qualified monks to accomplish the traditional three-year, three-month, three-day meditation retreat. There are certain criteria to satisfy before they enter these retreats. Generally they have to receive ordination vows, as well as all the empowerments and oral transmissions that are associated with their accumulations, and follow the precepts accordingly. Particularly they have to take an oath not to break the samaya among spiritual friends. More than two hundred monks have completed this meditation retreat so far. Upon completion of a retreat, each participant has to render service under the supervision of the standing committee of the dratsang for four years. After that, they will be enthroned as a vajra master or ‘lama’. This year, due to the expanded number of monks planning to enter a newly-started retreat, the standing committee constructed a new building consisting of ten retreat cells and one additional congregation hall. The main statue in the hall is Shakyamuni Buddha, with statues of Vajradhara and Avalokiteshvara to his right, and to his left Guru Nangsi Zilnon (Prevailing over Appearances and Existence, a form of Guru Padmasambhava), and H.H. Penor Rinpoche.
On April 22, 2016, Chogtrul Gyangkhang Rinpoche and khenpos and lopons of Namdroling inaugurated the new building and hall. Likewise, on April 27, Khenchen Pema Sherab presided over the consecration ceremony of the newly built meditation centre and performed the ceremony and fire puja for permission to use the land, and delivered spiritual advice to the retreatants.
The fresh retreatants performed an accomplishment ceremony inside the centre for seven days starting from June 12. They also carried out a long-life ritual and fire puja in the morning and sealed the door on the evening of June 13. This year forty-seven monks entered the meditation centre; among them are two khenpos, two tulkus, twenty-two lopons and twenty-one other monks.
Celebration of Guru Padmasambhava’s Birth
Celebration of Guru Padmasambhava’s Birth
The tenth day of the monkey month of the monkey year is significant for Tibetans, especially for the followers of Guru Padmasambhava known as Nyingmapas. On this day, in this particular month and year of the zodiac, which only comes around every twelve years, Guru Padmasambhava miraculously took birth from a lotus in Danakosha Lake without mother or father. He is said to have taken birth intentionally to propagate the Secret Vajrayana teachings in this world in response to the exhortation of the buddhas of the three times. He performed various peaceful and wrathful activities in different manifestations to lead beings towards enlightenment. He played a vital role in bringing Buddhism into Tibet which is popularly known as ‘Tibetan Buddhism’ these days. Tibetan Buddhists, especially the Nyingmapas, revere him as a second Buddha (affectionately calling him Guru Rinpoche, or ‘Precious Guru’) and are forever indebted for all that Guru Padmasambhava did for them. It is also said that he now resides in the land of the cannibals, teaching them and protecting us from the fear of those cannibals, as well as blessing those who worship him.
Followers of Padmasambhava always like being abundant in offering whatever possible substances they can. In order to honour such an extraordinary being as Guru Padmasambhava on this unique occasion, the faculty members of Namdroling Monastery organised a celebration on his birthday, marked by elaborate actual and visualised offerings. All the khenpos, lopons, tulkus, lamas, monks and nuns of Namdroling performed a day-long puja of Rigzin Düpa (‘Gathering of the Vidyadharas’), the inner lama practice from the Longchen Nyingthik, the terma revelation of omniscient Jigme Lingpa.
Activities at the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute
The students of the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute (NNI) reassembled on March 11, 2016, after their winter vacation. The newcomers took written and oral entrance examinations on valid cognition, valid reasoning and Buddhist history, as well as calligraphy and orthography on March 11 and 12. On March 16, the results of the previous year’s annual examination held at NNI and the Nunnery Institute, as well as the names of the newcomers to their respective institutes, were announced by NNI’s examination controller in the presence of Chogtrul Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche, the three seniormost khenchens, and other khenpos, lopons and faculty members of their respective standing committees.
From May 13 to 21 Khenchen Namdrol Tsering continued the remaining teaching of Khenchen Ngawang Palzang’s commentary to The Great Expanse of Space—Dual Letters from the Great Perfection—(from the Lama Yangtig) the Guru’s Unexcelled Innermost Essence, entitled ‘Sunshine’.
On March 18 and 19, Khenpo Jamyang Tsering bestowed upon the monks and nuns the oral transmission of The Nectar of Manjushri’s Speech, a detailed commentary on Shantideva’s Way of the Bodhisattva by Khenpo Kunzang Palden. Khenchen Pema Sherab conferred the pratimoksha precepts of the novice monastic vows upon 205 new monks and nuns—144 monks from NNI, 25 nuns from NNNI, and 36 monks from Dzogchen monastery and Orissa—and full ordination vows upon 72 monks from NNI. From April 4 to 6, the NNI family recited the entire Kangyur and performed Zhithro on the first day, Phurpa and Tsechog on the second day, and Solkha on the third day, all for the welfare of their academic year as well as for the benefit of all motherly sentient beings, physical and non-physical.
Under the farsighted supervision of Khenchen Pema Sherab, NNI organized its third teacher training for 4 days starting from April 1. Ven. Tsering Samdrup trained the lopons and senior monks and nuns on the definition and importance of knowledge, a teacher’s responsibility, ways of examination, lesson planning, and teaching through demonstrating various examples through experiments.
On April 10, the annual exchange of NNI staff took place. The staff of the previous year were discharged and the new ones were appointed to serve in various sections of NNI for the upcoming year. That evening, the outgoing president Khenpo Yeshe Dorje and the former faculty members shared their experience of working at NNI the previous year. On the following day, Khenpo Pasang Tsering, this year’s president of NNI and the Nunnery Institute, and the new faculty members gave spiritual advice to the students. As usual, during the academic session various rituals were performed once a month as the spiritual cause for the welfare of sentient beings. Also, every Friday evening, various prayers were carried out according to Dharma patrons’ requests. Regular debate competitions were also held between classes every month.
