Chenrezig Initiation and Teachings By Lama Lodu Rinpoche February 15th-16th, 2014 (Note: This is an update to the published KDK Newsletter dates of the next weekend) KDK ● 1892 Fell St. ● San Francisco, CA 2 Sessions on Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM – 12 PM & 2 PM – 4 PM Tuition: $50/day ($25 KDK Members) or $100 ($50 KDK Members) for the full weekend

Lama Lodu Rinpoche has spent years since giving instruction in , Dharma and puja. Born in Sikkim in 1942, he studied under many masters including His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, the yogi Drupon Tenzin Rinpoche and His Eminence . He completed a traditional Three Year Retreat under H.E. Kalu Rinpoche and then served for seven years at Kalu Rinpoche’s monastery in Sonada. In 1974, HH the 16th and Kalu Rinpoche sent Lama Lodu Rinpoche to the West; he has taught in Belgium, Germany, Holland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, and since 1976 has been in residence as Senior Spiritual Teacher at the Droden Kunchab Center in San Francisco, CA, as appointed by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa and His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche. His Holiness the 16th Karmapa has described Rinpoche as “a Lama who has highly developed his inner practice”. This authentic Vajrayana master teaches extensively at satellite centers across the country.

During these degenerate times, the practice of Chenrezig is the most important for overcoming the afflictions of anger and war. In the world today, there is both the threat of nuclear bombs as well as intense anger, leading people to make war and kill others through bombings. This leads to anger and confusion throughout all the world and causes great pain and suffering.

A Buddhist is not hopeless in such a situation. According to Santidewa, a great scholar and yogi at ’s Nalanda University and the composer of the “Way of the ”, these circumstances can be turned into the Path of Liberation leading to quick freedom suffering and confusion. Dipham Kara, composer of the Lam.Rim, “Stages of the Path” stated that all of these unfortunate conditions can be put into the path. This time of degeneration can be very effective when these teachings are applied, so therefore we have this opportunity to fuel our practice to speed ourselves to our destination. This all has to do with compassion. Compassion is the direct antidote to anger, and anger arises due to our ignorance. The antidote to ignorance is wisdom. So, when beginner practitioners train in wisdom and compassion in union, they attain the remedy to ignorance and anger. Love and compassion are the most important tools on the Buddhist Mahayana path. Although we all have within ourselves the true nature of compassion, we need a method to set conditions for it to flourish and manifest itself. The practice of Avalokitesvara (Tibetan: Chenrezig) is the important cause to illuminate this compassion and loving kindness and make it truly manifested in the mind-stream. Avalokitesvara is the essence of the past and present Buddhas and Bodhisattva’s compassion energy.

There are many different practices of this deity yoga, but Chenrezig is more effective than any other. He embodies all of the Buddhas and in all of their forms, both peaceful and wrathful, male and female deities. When we recite the mantra Ohm Mani Peme Hung we are calling to all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and when we visualize Avalokitesvara, we are visualizing all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in all of their forms, peaceful and wrathful, male and female. He is the one source of refuge and savior. It is a very important to learn how to practice, so that you can practice at home by yourself. Initially you can come to the center and practice with a group, and when you get used to it you can practice anywhere you want so that you are never away from this Dharma Sanctuary.

This is beneficial for living as well as dying. In life, this practice help heal you and extend your life span, glory and merit, and bring your life to more good fortune. When you die, this will help you at the moment of death so that you can avoid pain and confusion. Acclimating one’s mind to this practice even a little bit will greatly ease your transition in the Bardo to your next life with fortunate circumstances and have all of the conditions needed to meet the Path of Liberation.

The KDK Board of Directors and all the Sangha encourage anyone to receive this teaching and initiation, as given by a true Dharma Master, Lama Lodu Rinpoche.