SPECIAL EVENT
Tse Chen Ling is Honored to Host Chöden Rinpoche |
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Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
May 15-18
Je Tsongkhapa, Three Families Jenang
(ceremony granting permission to practice)
Friday, May 23
Namtoese / Vaishravana Wealth Deity Jenang
(ceremony granting permission to practice)
Saturday, May 24
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In order to take the jenang as an empowerment, participants need to have previously received a Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment, and must currently be doing Six Session Guru Yoga daily.
If you would like to take the jenang as a blessing, you can participate as an observer; you not need to take any vows; however, you MAY NOT visualize yourself as the deity.
See pricing schedule below. Register by contacting us at office@tsechenling.org or 415-621-4215.
Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
John Muir Elementary School
Thursday and Friday, May 15-16, 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, 3 pm
Lord Atisha, the 11th-century Indian Buddhist scholar and saint, came to Tibet at the invitation of the king of Western Tibetand his nephew. His coming initiated the period of the "second transmission" of Buddhism to Tibet, formative for the Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Lord Atisha's most celebrated text, entitled Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, sets forth the entire Buddhist path within the framework of three levels of motivation on the part of the practitioner. Atisha's text thus became the source of the Lam Rim tradition, or graduated stages of the path to enlightenment, an approach to spiritual practice incorporated within all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. We are honored to have Ven. Choden Rinpoche teach on this classic and very accessible text over 4 days: May 15-18.
Je Tsongkhapa, Three Families Jenang
(ceremony granting permission to practice)
John Muir Elementary School
Friday, May 23, 7 pm
Lama Je Tsongkhapa is the founder of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and arguably one of the greatest masters of all time. He was an amazing scholar and yogi and is the author of the Lam Rim Chen Mo (the great treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) along with more than 10,000 pages of commentary. This Jenang, or ceremony to grant permission to practice, allows us to enter into the practices of the three families that united in him: Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara (Chenresig) and Vajrapani.
Namtoese / Vaishravana Jenang
(ceremony granting permission to practice)
Wealth Deity
John Muir Elementary School
Saturday, May 24, 3 pm
Namtoese (Vaishravana), the Protector of the North, also doubles as the god of wealth and can be seen riding a snow lion and holding a banner of victory and a jewel-spitting mongoose. He is one of the The Four Guardian Kings normally seen at the entrance hallway to monasteries. His home is in the northern quadrant of the topmost tier of the lower half of Mount Sumeru. He is the leader of all the yakshas who dwell on the Sumeru's slopes. He is often portrayed with a yellow face. He carries an umbrella or parasol (chatra) as a symbol of his sovereignty. He is also displayed with a mongoose, often shown ejecting jewels from its mouth. The mongoose is the enemy of the snake, a symbol of greed or hatred; the ejection of jewels represents generosity. Tibetan Buddhists consider his sentiment regarding wealth to be providing freedom by way of bestowing prosperity, so that one may focus on the path or spirituality rather than on the materiality and temporality of that wealth. As with any wealth deity, one must have a proper motivation to engage in these practices - such as wanting to have enough to support the Dharma or to practice. Otherwise, as Geshe-la says, this just creates the cause of greed!
Chöden Rinpoche was born in 1932 in eastern Tibet. At the age of 3, he was recognized as the reincarnation of one of the high Lamas of Rongbo Rabten Monastery. At the age of 8, Rinpoche entered Sera Je Monastery. He completed his studies by the age of 29, with a focus on the Vinaya. When the Chinese invaded Tibet, Rinpoche started retreat in Lhasa. Lasting for the 19 years, Rinpoche was in strict retreat without moving from the room until he came out in 1980. Rinpoche received requests from the reincarnation of Shantideva and from Sera Monastery to give teachings and to pass on what he had learned. In 1985, Rinpoche was able to leave Tibet. He settled at Sera Je Monastery in the south India where he is considered to be one of the greatest masters.
Pricing Schedule:
Sponsorships $250, $500, $750, $1000
Full Series Ticket $125 - for all teachings and jenangs
Pre-Registration each Empowerment $25
Door Registration each Empowerment $35
Lam Rim series $75 - just for the teachings
Pre-Registration Lam Rim single night $20
Door Registration Lam Rim single night $25
Additional donations with ticket sales always welcome
Register by contacting us at office@tsechenling.org
or 415-621-4215. No one is turned away for lack of funds. Contact us to make arrangements.
Other Bay Area Dates
Land of Medicine Buddha
A series of 12 Palden Lhamo Jenangs
April 24-27
Lam Rim Chen Mo
How to Develop Bodhicitta
May 1-4, May 8-11
Vajrapani Institute
Heruka Body Mandala Empowerment
May 30- June 1 |
