Completed–WHITE MAHAKALA EMPOWERMENT at EWAM CHODEN on SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd at 1:00 pm
July 12, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Empowerments
Ven. Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche will kindly bestow the Empowerment of White Mahakala (Gonpo Yi-Shin Norbu or Wish-fulfilling Tatagata Gem). The White Mahakala is a “wish-granting gem” (that’s a translation of the Tibetan name). He gives all kinds of wealth and prosperity, both material and the highest spiritual. This empowerment is open to everyone. Practice sadhanas will be available. There is a requested donation of $30. Dana (offering to the Lama is separate). The starting time is 1 pm. Please arrive earlier to register at the door. Parking is on the street in a residential neighborhood, so please be considerate of the neighbors. We look forward to seeing you here.
***** HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY to VEN. LAMA KUNGA THARTSE RINPOCHE ***** Wishes for continuing long-life and good health
July 6, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Special Events, Special Events, Uncategorized
Ven. Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche, originally from Ngor Monastery in Tibet, has kindly and generously shared his dharma wisdom with us in many ways for over forty years. We are infinitely grateful for Rinpoche’s display of patience and compassion, his profound teachings, his heartfelt empowerments, and his enduring patience. Over the years, Rinpoche has kindly instructed students in Tibetan cooking as readily as in spoken and literary Tibetan language. We learn from him how to make tormas and treasure vases. He performs marriage ceremonies and conducts tsoks. He translates and interprets sadhanas and texts, guiding us in our understanding of them. And especially, he imparts how and why to practice the Bodhisattva path of Vajrayana, measuring the teaching for each individual student. How fortunate we are to have such a wonderful Lama in our midst, and that we could meet him !
Rinpoche’s 80th birthday is on July 25, 2015. Let’s honor his continuing presence and show our appreciation.
SAY LONG LIFE PRAYERS—You may find the long and short versions of Ven. LAMA KUNGA RINPOCHE’S Long Life Prayer on this website, as follows: On the front page, go to the yellow horizontal bar–Sakya School. From the pull-down menu there, stop at Prayers and move to the right for the prayer.
MAKE A DONATION TO EWAM CHODEN—Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche founded this Center and continues to lead it. The Center is sustained by donations. Use the PayPal link on the right side of the front page or send a check to make your special Birthday gift donation. (All donations are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged.) This is the best birthday gift to Rinpoche (other than dharma practice).
Completed SAKYA DECHEN LING presents A SPECIAL TEACHING ON NGONDRO — BEGINNING YOUR PRACTICE–June 27 & 28, 2015
June 8, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Special Events
NGONDRO TEACHINGS at Sakya Dechen Ling–A Weekend of teachings with practice on Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, 2015
The Tibetan term Ngondro refers to the preliminary or foundational practices common to all fours schools of Tibetan Buddhism. These preliminary practices establish the foundation for the more advanced Vajrayana teachings.
This event is an excellent opportunity for people who are new to Tibetan Buddhism to gain information about and familiarity with the essential foundations. Learn what it is, what it means, how to visualize, and what to do. Have an opportunity to ask all of your questions, and to get some answers.
The two-day teachings include:
6/27
Sat. morning–Discussion of the common foundation teachings, and vipassana mediation.
Sat. afternoon–Teaching on refuge and bodhicitta with meditation sessions on both
Sat. evening–Teaching on Vajrasattva with meditation session
6/28
Sun. morning–Teaching on Guru Yoga with meditation session
Sun. afternoon—Teaching on Mandala Offering along with practice and meditation session
Suggested Donation–$30 per session, $125 for all sessions
LOCATION—Sakya Dechen Ling Center, 801 Pierce St., Albany, CA 94706
THE TEACHER
Jay Goldberg, also known as Ngawang Samten Chophel, has been a disciple of His Holiness Sakya Trizin since 1970, when he first went to India and stayed there. Eventually, he became an attendant and translator for His Holiness, and he took ordination as a monk. Later, Jay was asked to travel with His Holiness, and then to give teachings and instructions on meditations in Malaysia, Singapore, and elsewhere. His name (either English or Tibetan) can be found as the translator or co-translator on many Sakya sadhanas and in a number of books.
He translated The Beautiful Ornament of the Three Visions and he is also a translator of Mo Tibetan Divination System. Always dedicated to practicing and teaching the Dharma, Jay returned to secular life in 1988, and moved to California.
Now his experiential knowledge and wealth of information is being shared with Dharma students here.
TO REGISTER click HERE OR GO TO sakyadechenling.com
EMAIL FOR INFO contact@sakyadechenling.com CALL FOR INFO 510-466-5660
The Sakya Dechen Ling Center is the northern California seat of Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding.
COMPLETED—THE UNCOMMON WHITE TARA EMPOWERMENT FROM H.E. JETSUN KUSHOK CHIMEY LUDING July 12, 2015
June 1, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Special Events
Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok will kindly bestow the Empowerment of the Uncommon White Tara, Chinta Chakra Tara, Tara of the Wish-Fulfilling Wheel. The date is Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 10:30 am. The location is the Ewam Choden center. The cost is $65. Dana (offering) to the Lama is separate.
The empowerment will be followed by a teaching on the short sadhana. The Uncommon White Tara gives profound purification and blessings.
PREREQUISITE: In order to receive this empowerment, you must have already received a high empowerment (2-day), such as, Cakrasamvara, Hevajra, or the recent Vajrakilaya, from a Sakya Lama. There are no exceptions.
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
H.E. Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding Rinpoche, the highest and most thoroughly trained female Buddhist teacher in the West, was born into the Drolma Podrang, or Tara Palace of the Sakya Khon family in 1938, the year of the earth tiger. She began her dharma studies at the age of five. His Holiness Sakya Trizin was born when she was six years old. According to the tradition in her family, she took novice ordination when she was “old enough to scare crows away” at the age of seven.
The third woman in the history of Tibet to have transmitted the Lam Dre (the Path and Fruit) teachings, a fully accomplished guru and lineage holder, she is known for her teachings on Vajrayogini and is considered an emanation of that yidam of enlightened feminine energy.
Her full biography is available at SAKYA DECHEN LING BIO
2015 HIMALAYAN FAIR at Live Oak Park in Berkeley, May 16 & 17–Ewam Choden will be there
April 25, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Special Events
Founded in 1983 by Lama Kunga Rinpoche and Arlene Blum, the annual Himalayan Fair continues to provide entertainment, food, crafts and other wares, education, altruistic support, and all-around fun. Ewam Choden will have a booth there, as we often do. For more information, go to www.himalayanfair.net
Completed–HIS HOLINESS SAKYA TRIZIN GIVES EMPOWERMENT OF GURU DRAGPO on Sunday, April 26 in Berkeley, CA–SEE INFO BELOW
April 17, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Empowerments
His Holiness Sakya Trizin will kindly offer the Empowerment of GURU DRAGPO (Wrathful Guru). This event is open to everyone. The admission donation is $25. Children under age 13 are free, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. The time is 9:00 am to about 12 noon. The location is the Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA.
This event is sponsored and organized by Bay Area Tsechenling. Please call (925) 247-4196 / (510) 717-5897 / (510) 499-6053 / (510) 333-3747 or email bayareatsechenling@yahoo.com for tickets and other information about the event. Tickets are also available at Nomad Tibetan Restaurant, 1593 Solano Avenue, Berkeley, CA.
Completed – EMPOWERMENT OF BLUE JACKET VAJRAPANI, Sunday May 24, 2015 at Ewam Choden
January 19, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Empowerments
Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche will kindly bestow the empowerment of the Blue Jacket Vajrapani. Vajrapani (Tibetan: chag na dor je. English: the Vajra Holder) is the wrathful yidam, representing the power of all Buddhas. The Blue-jacketed Vajrapani is an uncommon practice in the Sakya tradition said to reverse negative forces and obstacles that are beyond the control of the practitioner, such as bad spells, curses, and ill wishes. This practice also helps to stop naga diseases, such as infectious blood diseases.
The empowerment begins at 1:00 pm and has a requested donation of $30. (Offering to the Lama is separate.)
A practice sadhana will be given, but the empowerment can be taken as a blessing.
There is no requirement or pre-registration. Please arrive early to register at the door.
Completed EMPOWERMENT OF YELLOW TARA on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at Ewam Choden
January 18, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Empowerments
Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche will kindly bestow the Empowerment of the Yellow Tara (Vasudhārā in Sanskrit). The practice of the Bodhisattva Yellow Tara brings wealth and prosperity, both materially and spiritually.
The date is Sunday, March 29th. The empowerment begins at 1:00 pm and has a requested donation of $30. (Offering to the Lama is separate.)
A practice sadhana will be given, but the empowerment can be taken as a blessing.
There is no requirement or pre-registration. Please arrive early to register at the door.
Completed EMPOWERMENT OF KURUKULLE on Sunday, February 15, 2015 at Ewam Choden
January 14, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Empowerments
Ven. Lama Kunga Rinpoche will kindly bestow the Empowerment of Kurukulle on Sunday, February 15th. Kurukulle (Tibetan: rig che ma. English: The One of the Action Family) is magnetizing power. Her practice is one of the 13 Golden Dharmas of the Sakyapa. She may be called upon for her powers of enchantment to subdue those evil spirits, demon and humans working against the welfare of humanity and spiritual evolution. Also, her practice may be helpful for improving health, wealth, and spiritual energy. She brings a power of peacefulness, joy, and wisdom.
The empowerment begins at 1:00 pm and has a requested donation of $30. (Offering to the Lama is separate.)
A practice sadhana will be given, but the empowerment can be taken as a blessing.
There is no requirement or pre-registration. Please arrive early to register at the door.
Completed-TIBETAN NEW YEAR -LOSAR- PARTY ON FRIDAY EVENING and PRAYERS will accompany MEDITATION on Sunday, February 22, 2015
January 10, 2015 by bhockman
Filed under Completed Special Events
Ven. Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche will lead the usual Chenrezig compassion meditation and, following our tradition, he will add on special recitations and prayers for Losar, the Tibetan New Year of the Wood Sheep. The year is 2142. Come to meditation at 10:00 a.m. as usual, receive Rinpoche’s blessing, greet everyone for New Year, and enjoy sweet rice, Tibetan tea, and some special Losar snacks. The Oracle Soup Potluck Party for Ewam Choden members and friends will be on Friday, Feb. 20, at 7:00 pm.
