Dharma Programs at Pema Osel Ling 2020 in Review
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Dharma Programs at Pema Osel Ling 2020 in Review Sunrise at Our Offering Pond 2020 - A Challenging Year None of us knew when 2020 began that a pandemic would change everyone’s life! At the start of the year, Pema Osel Ling was fully booked with on-site Dharma retreats, groups and weddings, including a second visit from H.H. Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa Rinpoche for Summer Retreat! However, due to Covid-19, after March 13 all weddings and groups were cancelled or postponed and Dharma retreats went online only. Most disappointingly, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche’s visit was postponed to a yet-to-be chosen date. Fortunately, under the guidance of Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche and Lama Sonam Rinpoche, we were able H.H. Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa Rinpoche’s to offer a full online Dharma schedule! Hundreds of Throne at Pema Osel Ling students from around the world have participated under the new paradigm. Lama Sonam Rinpoche Lama Sonam Rinpoche sent a letter to the sangha in April with prayers and practices specifically for this challenging time, saying: “these times are an extraordinary opportunity to cultivate bodhicitta”. Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche ( You may see this letter with prayers and practices on our website.) 1 DHARMA PROGRAMS Decho - Ceremonies for the Parinirvanas of H.H. Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche & Longchenpa Annual Trekchod Retreat January 13 & 15, February 11 Mountain Retreat (Ri Chod) December 28, 2019 - January 5, 2020 We honored the passing of our sublime Lineage masters with tsok offerings and beautiful Vajrasattva ( Dorsem Lama Chopa) practices. Vajrakilaya Gutor/Losar Retreat Tibetan New Year with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche and Lama Sonam Rinpoche February 5-24 This was Vajrayana Foundation’s 31st Vajrakilaya Gutor practice to remove obstacles and negativity for the New Year! "For those who ... wish to go through the practice to its ultimate end - for all these fortunate beings - here is an entrance door....." H.H. Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche Trekchod, the epitome of Dzogchen teachings, “ cuts through” all of our deluded perceptions. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche started the tradition of winter Trekchod teachings 19 years ago. This year, Lama Sonam Rinpoche taught on H.H. Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche's Mountain Retreat. Vajra Armor Healing Retreat January 5 to February 4 Tulku Thadral Rinpoche was once again the Dorje Lopon and bestowed the Empowerment for Putri A few fortunate sangha members were able to do Rekphung (The Razor that Destroys at a Touch). personal Vajra Armor healing retreat in our 3-Year Gutor Accumulations of Shenpa Marnak Retreat Center ( Drub Nyiy Dojo Gatsal ) during the break between three-year cycles. 2 H.H. Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche practiced the Dudjom Tersar protector Shenpa and We performed our traditional Gutor ceremony with asked his students to do the same. the ritual burning of the large Zor torma and the sacred Black Hat ceremony and dance. Every year we accumulate 100,000 Shenpa protector prayers during Gutor - a tradition started by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. Sangha sponsor the accumulations at Pema Osel Ling and also accumulate in their own homes. Lamas and Sangha in Black Hat Ceremony Extensive offerings to Shenpa were made during pujas " It is very important for all of you to practice The Zor torma representing Vajrakilaya, crafted Vajrakilaya with protectors … especially to accumulate prayers of offering, praise, fulfillment each year from a mold designed by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, sat in the front of our shrine room during and invocation to Shenpa Marnak." Excerpt from Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche’s 2017 letter to Pema retreat before it was burned in the bonfire - a compassionate, wrathful weapon incinerating all Osel Ling. (see website for full letter) obstacles. Gutor Day - Incinerating Negativity The Gutor ceremony was followed by delicious of the Past Year - February 22 Tibetan Fortune soup in the shrine room. There is 3 always a feeling of lightness as the lamas read our fortunes and we enjoy delicious soup, while the Zor outside burns away negativity! Losar - New Year’s Day February 24 Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche, Lama Sonam Rinpoche & Kumar Lama joyfully performing Riwo Sang Chod while flags are raised! The prayer flags are sponsored by sangha and have theirs and their loved ones’ names written on them. They flutter in the wind all year, generating Losar Offerings blessings. On Losar Day, we performed Lake Born Vajra and Khandro Norlha pujas , after offering katas to the Three Jewels and sharing auspicious rice, Tibetan pastry ( kapse ), Tibetan rice wine ( chang) and tea. Raising Prayer Flags Following tradition, after lunch, during a Riwo Sang Chod smoke offering, we raised new Dudjom prayer flags, hand-crafted for Pema Osel Ling each year. 4 Honoring Amala Nang Jang Teachings February 26 Chakung Jigme Wangdrak Rinpoche March 6-9 Beloved mother Amala (Pema Chhuing) passed last year at age 97. On this first anniversary, we did a special Red Chenrezig puja, The Innermost Heart That Synthesizes the Essence of All Secrets , compiled by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche. Lama Sonam Rinpoche says that Amala accumulated great virtue from circumambulating stupas in Boudha and Orissa while chanting Chenrezig mantra - OM MANI PADME HUNG. Chakung Jigme Wangdrak Rinpoche We were again honored to have Chakung Jigme Wangdrak Rinpoche, a descendant of the 19th century master Dudjom Lingpa, continue his teaching series on Dudjom Lingpa’s Nang Jang (Buddhahood Without Meditation) . For the 5th year, Rinpoche bestowed the Nang Jang Empowerment & Oral Transmission ( Lung-Wang), kindly allowing new students to join. Teachings were enhanced by Vanessa Kubota’s joyful Amala at Pema Osel Ling’s Red Dorje Drolo stupa translation. Many sangha lovingly made offerings to our stupa Rinpoche gave an oral transmission for the Vajra mandala project in Amala’s name. Thank you all so Armor practice from his teacher, Jigme Phuntsok much! Rinpoche’s lineage and we performed the smoke offering practice of Riwo Sang Chod . 5 Ngondro Retreat April 6 - 12 Ngondro is the foundation for all Buddhist practices, and a path to enlightenment itself. The retreat was led by Lama Sonam Rinpoche, who offered oral transmissions (lungs) for the Concise Dudjom Tersar and Sa-Ter Ngondros, teachings, time for accumulations and personal interviews. Lama Sonam Rinpoche with translator Cy Kassoff Riwo Sang Chod at Shrine Offering Fountain As always we were all so grateful to Chakung Vajra Armor for the Time of Jigme Wangdrak Rinpoche for an incredible retreat! Coronavirus March 28-29 and April 14 This was our last in-person event of 2020, due to Covid restrictions, and we moved forward with Lama Sonam Rinpoche conferred lungs and online teachings and pujas. teachings on this profound healing practice. Cascading Waterfall He said: “Guru Rinpoche predicted that during April 4-5 these degenerate times the elements would become more imbalanced… New diseases are appearing Sam Bercholz and Amy Green, heart students of that doctors have never seen and cannot treat Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, once again kindly easily… Vajra Armor is one of the most powerful gave engaging commentary on Rinpoche’s seminal practices for health and to remove obstacles.” work, A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar, a Ngondro commentary that actually presents the complete Guru Rinpoche: Powerful Protection Buddhist teachings from Ngondro to Dzogchen. for This Time April 30 Sam and Amy kindly streamed the teachings from home for hundreds of participants from all over the world. Rinpoche taught on Guru Rinpoche's prophecies about this challenging time and his various remedies to mitigate current hardships. 6 Mountain Smoke Offering - 31st Annual Summer Retreat Riwo Sang Chod Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche and May 15-21 Lama Sonam Rinpoche Lama Sonam Rinpoche taught on the meaning of May 29 -June 30 smoke offerings, which accumulate merit, purify the environment and negative karma, and cure diseases. Lama Sonam Rinpoche Dorje Loppon - Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche Rinpoche also gave lungs for several prayers and smoke offering practices. " I want to welcome you to our 2020 Annual Summer Retreat, starting on Saga Dawa seventh day, Buddha's Birthday. Our precious Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, established our one month Summer Retreat in 1989, calling it our "sangha dharma party" - and we have continued it without interruption to this day! "Every year we do practices of the Three Roots deities and conclude with Drubchen. "These practices counteract personal negative circumstances, as well as negative circumstances that cause hardship for the whole world.” Lama Sonam Rinpoche - Letter to the sangha 2020 Orgyen Khandro Norlha Retreat May 29 – June 7 We practiced the Dudjom lineage wealth emanation Juniper, incense and sacred substances are blessed of Guru Rinpoche - Orgyen Khandro Norlha - with in the shrine and taken outside for smoke offering. the longevity practice of Tsokye Tuktik. Lama Sonam Rinpoche gave the lungs for both practices. We have performed Riwo Sang Chod every day since March 9th as part of our daily practice. 7 Troma Nakmo Retreat June 9-14 Troma Practice Items Lama Sonam Rinpoche gave the lungs and led the Concise Sadhana practice and the Troma Ngondro Tsokye Tuktik / Khandro Norlha Shrine (Preliminary Practices) from Dudjom Lingpa’s Chod revelation, about which he said: “Through During retreat, Lama Sonam Rinpoche consecrated this practice we can accomplish the Great more of our Dudjom Treasure Vases and gave Transference Rainbow Body in this very lifetime, teachings on their vast benefits. just as thirteen of Dudjom Lingpa’s disciples did…” A powerful remedy from Guru Rinpoche, Treasure Shitro Ngakso and Neydren Vases have dynamic energy to balance elements June 16 - 19 and create abundance and health.” These special vases contain many sacred substances, including mantra scrolls, yantras, relics, gems, shells, medicine balls and mother essence pills.