Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling Trust
菩提精舍
Newsletter November 2009
Dear Friends
ZaChoeje Rinpoche has just confirmed His flight to New Zealand and He is due to arrive on Thursday morning at 7am at Auckland International Airport, flight NZ1. Please check the flight schedules on the day in case there is a delay. There will be a traditional reception with katah and Mandala Offering, sweet rice and tea at Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling. You are all very welcome to attend the reception of Rinpoche. The dates of His teaching program will be published as soon as possible.
For his November/December visit to New Zealand ZaChoeje Rinpoche has chosen to teach The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva. The root text, written by renowned Gyalsay Togma Sangpo (1295-1369), contains practical advice on developing love and compassion necessary to sustain lasting happiness. The 37 Practices lays the foundation for both stabilizing and analytical meditation techniques and includes an in-depth discussion of the nature of emptiness. These are essential tools that allow us to transform our negative attitudes: the text is as relevant today as the day it was written.
Rinpoche will teach once a week several verses of The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva, and assign the participant every day with each practice. He will give us instructions on how to use the practices in our daily lives. In addition, the homework assignments will help to reinforce the teachings and foster progressive insight into our existence. Optimally, we will learn to blend advanced mind-training with the stages of the gradual path to enlightenment as described by Lama Tsongkhapa in his Lam Rim teachings.
Rinpoche’s humor, kindness, wisdom and vast ability make the study of Buddhism come alive. He takes the profound and complex Buddhist philosophies and brings them into our everyday experience, a gift of unimaginable value.
All are welcome to this series. The prerequisite for the class is commitment to practice. Then “hopefully in 37 days we will have a bunch of bodhisattvas in New Zealand” was Rinpoche’s joyful comment.
Rinpoche will also give the Chenrezig, Manjushri and Vajrapani empowerments/jenangs on three Sundays.
*****
The centre’s on going activities, including Rinpoche's airfare and visit, require some financial aid. Therefore, if you are able to help out with a financial donation, either big or small, it will be much appreciated.
Donations (tax-deductible) can be made
to:
Bank Account: ASB 12-3136-0049333-00
Name: Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling Trust
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Newsletter April 2009
Dear Friends
We’ve had a most enjoyable March month with ZaChoeje Rinpoche visiting
Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling. Besides beautiful and inspiring teachings
there were lots of
laughter (most important) as well.
Rinpoche has given
clear guidelines on how to continue with the centre programme and the
group practices upon His absence. Besides the regular Tsog offerings and
other pujas, there will be several CD-guided meditations by Rinpoche. We
will also explore together
the 5 Tibetan Yogas that He has taught during His visit to a big group
of our students.
From now on Trashi
Ganden Choepel Ling will follow the moon calendar of New Zealand for
doing our practices; therefore the dates can be slightly different than
the Tibetan calendar due to our place and time in the world.
Our website and programme will be updated regularly. In the next coming
days we will also publish pictures of Rinpoche’s visit in our photo
gallery.
Rinpoche had clarified His wish for the centre, and that is to convert the current double garage into a bigger Gompa (temple & meditation hall) than what we currently have.
- To fit at least 50 people comfortably
- To benefit as many people as possible with a bigger space
- More people can attend Rinpoche’s teachings and the centre’s activities
- Estimated cost is about $30,000
- A small shed has to be build at the current carport for the storage of centre material and garden tools.
Why we want to do it so quickly?
- Rinpoche indicated that it would be great if we can realize this before His return in November.
- His Holiness Dalai Lama is coming to Auckland on 5th – 6th of December, by which Rinpoche may invite His root guru, the Dalai Lama, to bless the new Gompa and create for us a connection with His Holiness directly.
At this moment we are investigating all the possibilities. If you can or
know anyone that can help with the legal procedures with the City
Council, ideas, architectural or building experience or financial help,
please contact Ming 021 1092281 or Jojo 021 0317386. Rinpoche stated
that when people make some donations, the financial burden won’t be so
heavy and we will
all create a stronger connection with the Dharma, and
Rinpoche, not just the centre.
The merit created of sponsoring a Gompa will be great and everybody will benefit from it, not just this lifetime, but many lifetimes to come until we attain the ultimate realization, Enlightenment.
Donations
(tax-deductible) can be made to: Bank Account: ASB 12-3136-0049333-00
Name:
Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling Trust
***
Other dharma-news: During the month of
April Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel will be teaching at the ‘Land of
Compassion Buddha New Zealand’ in Epsom, Auckland.
For more information:
http://www.compassionbuddha.org.nz/schedule-english.html
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Newsletter February 2009
Dear Friends
Happy
New Year to everyone!!
It’s a new year and we have confirmation of Gen Sonam Rinchen’s visit to our centre from 17th to 21st
February.
Gen-la takes a teaching-break from the 17th to 19th
February.
The programme starts on the 19th February with Tsog at 7.30pm and Gen-la
will give a small talk afterwards. The
teaching of the 1st chapter of the ‘Precious Garland” of
Nagarjuna will start on Friday
20th February.
The
house of Gen-la and Nyima in Dharamsala has burned down while they were
here in New Zealand. Nyima’s thangka painting teacher,
Ven. Sangay Yeshi,
has died in the fire as well. Gen Sonam and Nyima have lost all their
possessions.
Ven. Sangay Yeshi was a thangka
painting teacher from Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling in Tibet and after he
had left Tibet he became HHDL special thangka painter
in Dharamsala. He has offered more than 200 thangkas to HH the Dalai
Lama.
Ven. Sangay Yeshi and
Geshe Pal Tsering were the main search party for
the 6th
incarnation of ZaChoeje Rinpoche. When ZaChoeje Rinpoche was found and
recognised by HH the Dalai Lama ZaChoeje Rinpoche entered Drepung
Monastery for his studies and training. At Drepung Monastery Ven. Sangay Yeshi was ZaChoeje
Rinpoche’s senior attendant.
Now that Gen Sonam Rinchen and Nyima have
lost everything, financial donations - while they are here - towards their
necessities and Dharma materials would be very much appreciated.
More
information about this tragic news on internet:
http://www.tibetpost.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=955&Itemid=1
***
At
request of the Tibetan Government in Exile this year Losar won’t be celebrated
with the usual festivities.
Instead all the Tibetan Centres are asked to
do prayers for the Tibetans who have died since the Chinese invasion
and
for those who are still imprisoned and surpressed.
On the evening of Losar 25th
March a Cittamani Tara Puja will be held
at 7.30pm at Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling.
***
There
will be a Long Life Puja at the Tibetan Buddhist Institute in
Adelaide, Australia, for Khensur Kangur Lobsang Thubten Rinpoche,
the guru of Geshe Pal Tsering, who is the resident teacher in Adelaide. This
event will take place on the 15th of March.
Our centre here
will be making offering to Rinpoche’s Long Life and if you would like to
contribute in the offering, your contribution has to be collected by
Jojo or Shelčne before 8th
March.
For
many centuries, Tibetan Buddhists have offered long life pujas to
their teachers. The long life puja purifies the relationship
between teacher and disciple, and creates the merit for the teacher to
remain among us. Since all realization depends on the blessing and
guidance of the teacher, this ritual offering practice is
extraordinarily precious.
The essential practice for creating the cause
for the Guru's long life is harmony between students. These pujas
include chanting, requesting prayers, meditations, beautiful traditional
offerings, gifts, and monetary offerings.
***
In
regard with Za Rinpoche’s visit, Rinpoche arrives in NZ on Sunday March
1st at 6am and he will stay with us for 4 weeks. The attached
programme is not completely confirmed yet and it may change a little.
Please, check our website
www.trashiganden.com regularly for the latest updates.
Besides a public talk and general teachings, Rinpoche has agreed to confer Solitary Yamantaka Initiation with commentary. Yamantaka is the wrathful aspect of Manjushri as a conqueror of the Lord of Death, Yama, and its main purpose is to help us to dispel all obstacles towards our spiritual and worldly attainments. This aspect of Manjushri belongs to the Highest Yoga Tantra practice, and those who wish to participate in this initiation, a “Life Long Commitment” of reciting the Sadhana and the Six Sessions Yoga every day is required. The length of the Sadhana will be determined by Rinpoche, but one must have the commitment to practice every day. Therefore, one must be really sure to be ready for this practice and please check with one’s teacher (Geshe-la) or with Rinpoche beforehand. These teachings are only open for registrants and will probably held during the 3rd and 4th week of March. As soon as Rinpoche has confirmed the dates we will publish them and inform the registrants.
One
is required to register in advance at Trashi Ganden Choepel
Ling, in order to gather the right amount of materials for the practice,
such as the commitment text. Unfortunately, there are costs involved
with getting these materials; hence it will be $25 per person, as the
centre doesn’t have the capacity to provide these materials freely at
the moment.
Please don't let the costs stop you from
coming. If you can't afford it, please let us know in advance so that we
can find other ways to solve the matter.
Registrations need to be in quickly, hence email the centre
tgcl@xtra.co.nz with the subject title “Yamantaka”, with your name
and contact details in the content or, if you prefer to do it in person,
please come to the centre and register your name with us.
Registration Is Now Open!!~
The centre’s on going activities, including the visiting teachers and airfares, require some financial aid. Therefore, if you are able to help out with a financial donation, either big or small, it will be much appreciated.
Donations (tax-deductible) can be made
to:
Bank Account: ASB 12-3136-0049333-00
Name: Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling Trust
******************************************************
Newsletter January 2009
Dear Friends
We wish you all a very Happy New Year.
This coming year will be
rather busy with Dharma activities as there are quite a few L
amas
visiting New Zealand. It is a very small country but the amount of
blessings we get from all these Lamas is far more than this Universe, I
think.
Our next coming big event will be the visit of Geshe Sonam Rinchen from the 17th to the 21st of February. Geshe-la is yet to confirm the topic of teaching but we have the date confirmed and also Geshe-la will be staying at the centre during this time.
During the January month there are few special days and various Pujas and Practices will be performed during this month. The practices will be a CD guidance by Za Rinpoche.
Za Rinpoche will be making another
trip to NZ in March so there are a few things that we plan to do during
the visit of Rinpoche. Bear in mind that these are yet to be confirm
with Rinpoche, as these only a suggestive plan:
Public Talk - Teachings/Empowerments -
Fundraising
Rinpoche is available for
private audience but it is required to make an appointment first with
the centre in person, by email, or by post in advance so that we are
able to accommodate Rinpoche’s time with yours. We will confirm the date
of Rinpoche’s arrival in NZ as soon as we know about it.
What we know so far
is that Rinpoche will be celebrating Losar in India and will return to
America around the first week of March. Rinpoche will be resting for at
least a week in America before travelling to NZ.
These announcements are to let you know about the up and coming programme
of the centre but as you can see, they are merely plans at the moment,
apart from our regular programme and Geshe Sonam Rinchen’s visit. We
hope that you can at least make some times to attend the wonderful
teaching by Geshe-la, and we will keep you informed about Za Rinpoche’s
visit.
******************************************************
Newsletter November 2008
Za
Rinpoche returns to New Zealand in 2009
Za Rinpoche is one
of Geshe Pal Tsering’s reincarnated teachers and founder of his original
monastery in Kham. Za Rinpoche was recognized by His Holiness the
14th Dalai Lama as the 6th reincarnation of the great
ZaChoeje Rinpoche. His predecessor, the 5th ZaChoeje Rinpoche, had died
in a Chinese prison after the Communist takeover of Tibet. Like him,
Za Rinpoche furthered his studied at Drepung Loseling Monastery and
received the Geshe Lharampa degree, equal to a doctorate in Tibetan
Buddhism.
After the passing of Geshe-la, we
decided to invite Za Rinpoche for a visit to New Zealand to give
teachings on
Buddhist texts and advice for the future of our centre.
During His recent visit at Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling in August,
Za
Rinpoche has accepted to become the Spiritual Director of our
centre. He will guide the centre in its spiritual program and will come
to New Zealand at least twice per year to give teachings, meditations,
initiations and spiritual advice. Rinpoche teaches in English.
The August 2008 teachings of Za
Rinpoche are now on CD and available at the Centre.
* Za Rinpoche’s next visits are scheduled
for March 2009 and December 2009 to coincide with the visit of His
Holiness
the 14th Dalai Lama (His root Guru) to New Zealand.
Other visiting Teachers
We will also invite other
teachers of Geshe Pal Tsering, like Kangyurwa Rinpoche who
resides at Adelaide in Australia
www.tibetanbuddhistinstitute.org .
Kangyurwa Rinpoche is a root Guru of Geshe Pal Tsering; in fact,
Rinpoche was the one who examined Geshe Pal Tsering and conferred the
title ‘Geshe’.
We hope to confirm the
visit of Kangyurwa Rinpoche soon.
Rinpoche will be travelling with his attendant.
