DOCSLIB.ORG

Melody 4.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Melody of Dharma Emptiness as Expressed in the Heart Sutra Buddha Nature A Teaching by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin A Teaching by H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche His Holiness the Sakya Trizin in Kathmandu A Publication of the Office of Sakya Dolma Phodrang Dedicated to the Dharma Activities of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin 2010 • No.4 CONTENTS 2 From the Editors 3 H.H. the Sakya Trizin’s 2011 North and South American Teaching Schedule 4 H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche’s 2011 European Teaching Schedule 7 The Sakya Centre 12 Remembering Great Masters: ATISHA 16 Atisha’s “Jewel Rosary of the Bodhisattvas” 20 Emptiness as Expressed in the Heart Sutra –– A Teaching by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin 24 Buddha Nature(Part 2) –– A Teaching by His Eminence Ratna Vajra Rinpoche 27 Dharma Activities 27 • His Holiness the Sakya Trizin in Kathmandu 33 • Consecration of His Holiness’ Retreat Centre 35 • Long-Life Ceremony for His Holiness’ 65th Birthday 36 • Celebration of H.E. Luding Khenchen’s 80th Birthday 40 • His Eminence Ratna Vajra Rinpoche in Bir 41 • Long-Life Ceremony for H.E. Ratna Vajra’s Birthday 43 • H.E. Luding Khen Rinpoche in Frankfurt 45 Interview with H.E. Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding 47 Yogi Stories –– as told by Chiwang Tulku Rinpoche 49 A Letter to His Holiness 51 Lhabab Düchen Publisher: The Office of Sakya Dolma Phodrang Editing Team: Executive Editor: Ani Jamyang Wangmo Mrs. Yang Dol Tsatultsang (Dagmo Kalden’s mother); Managing Editor: Patricia Donohue Terri Lee; Bettina Escudero; Isabelle Fehler; Art Director/Designer: Chang Ming-Chuan Rosemarie Heimscheidt; Ngawang Gatso Photos: Cristina Vanza; P.Chaudhuri; Lama Rinchen Cover Photo: Sakya Centre, Dehradun Three Generations From The Editors Dear Readers, We hope that this issue finds you well, and that 2010 has been a good and fruitful year for all. This is our fourth issue of Melody of Dharma, the final one for this year, and so we have come full circle. It has been a huge joy and privilege for us to dedicate our pages to the teachings and activities of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, as well as to those of other revered masters, past and present. We would like to express our deepest thanks to Their Eminences Dagmo Kalden Kushok and Dagmo Sonam Kushok for their precious guidance. In addition, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all our sponsors who generously made this endeavour possible, as well as to those of our readers who have shown their interest and support by subscribing to the magazine. We are also extremely grateful to contributors who confided their thoughts and experiences to its pages, and we firmly hope that, with time, more and more Dharma friends will be inspired to do so. And we are very appreciative of all encouragement, corrections and suggestions that were offered us throughout the year. These have been of great worth to us. And finally, heartfelt thanks to all our readers for accompanying us in this journey. We hope that each and everyone will continue to find something in our pages that will capture their interest and make their life richer. Yours in the Dharma, The Editing Team 2 Melody of Dharma • 2010 • NO. 4 H.H. the Sakya Trizin’s 2011 North and South American Teaching Schedule HOST DATE EVENT SILVER SPRING, MD May 21 Long-Life Initiation and Dharma Talk Sakya Phuntsok Ling May 22 Manjushri Namasamgiti Empowerment – Day 1 May 23 Manjushri Namasamgiti Empowerment – Day 2 354 Prelude Drive Silver Spring, MD 20901-5041 +1 301 592-9286 www.sakyatemple.org/spl BOSTON, MA May 26 Dharma Talk Boston Sakya Center May 27 Chakrasamvara in the Vajra Gantipa Tradition – Day 1 May 28 Chakrasamvara in the Vajra Gantipa Tradition – Day 2 May 29 Long-Life Initiation Holiday Inn Convention Center 242 Adams Place, Boxborough MA01719 +1 978 263 8701 www.sakya.net BERNE, NY May 31 Visit to the Centre Tenzin Gyatso Institute 165 Game Farm Rd Berne, NY 12023 +1 518 872 1250 [email protected] www.tenzingyatsoinstitute.org WALDEN, NY June1-30 LAMDRE Tsechen Kunchab Ling June 1 Soft Opening of the Centre Ushinisha Vijaya Initiation Lamdre begins June 11 Consecration of the Temple June 19 Grand Inauguration of the Temple Long-Life Initiation for the Public 12 Edmunds Lane Walden, New York 12586 +1 301 9063378 www.sakyatemple.org NEW YORK, NY June 25 Amitabha Initiation Sakya Chokor Ling Jambala Initiation Queens, New York CALL: +1 917 386 5572 NEW YORK, NY June 26 Program to be confirmed Tsechen Tsopa CALL: +1 646 724 0551 NEW YORK, NY July 2 White Tara Initiation Palden Sakya Center July 3 White Tara Teaching July 4 White Tara Teaching [email protected] www.vikramasila.org 2010 • NO. 4 • Melody of Dharma 3 HOST DATE EVENT MINNEAPOLIS, MN July 8 Public Talk: Advice on World Peace from a Buddhist Perspective Sakya Thupten Dhargye Ling July 9 Avalokiteshvara Initiation in the Gyalpo Lug Tradition July 10 Long-Life Initiation July 11 Vajrakilaya Torma Empowerment 619 8th St. SE, No 112 Minneapolis [email protected] www.mnsakyacenter.org LOS ANGELES, CA July 13 Dharma Talk Tsechen Chokhor Ling July 14 Manjushri Initiation 12037 Clark St Arcadia, CA 91006 [email protected] www.sakyacenterla.org MEXICO CITY, MEXICO July 16 Parting from the Four Attachments (to be confirmed) Sakya Dolma Ling Manjushri Initiation (to be confirmed) July 17 Vajrakilaya Initiation (to be confirmed) +52 55 55 23 82 67 [email protected] SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA July 19 Consecration of the Dharma Centre Bodhisattva Vows Teaching on ‘Parting from the Four Attachments’ Mantra Blessings of Sakyamuni Buddha & Guru Rinpoche [email protected] SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL July 22 Manjushri Empowerment and Teachings of Sakya Pandita Espaço Hakka (To be confirmed) CABREÚVA, BRAZIL July 23 Chenrezig Empowerment Sakya Tsarpa Thupten Teaching on ‘Practice of Compassion’ Dekyid Öedbar Ling July 24 Afternoon: Mahavairocana Initiation and Teaching on Practice of Sadhana H.E. Gyana Vajra Rinpoche will give an Empowerment and Teaching relating to Ngondro (Time to be confirmed) RECIFE, BRAZIL July 25 Lecture Universidade de Pernambuco H.E. Gyana Vajra Rinpoche will give an Empowerment and Teaching(Time, place and teaching to be confirmed) RECIFE, BRAZIL July 26 Consecration of the Land for New Sakya Gonpa Centro de Estudos Budistas Guru Rinpoche Initiation Bodisatva Rodovia Vereador José de Moraes, Km 6 - Sítio São Roque - Centro - Cabreúva - SP +55 11 4528 1737 www.sakyabrasil.org SANTA CRUZ, CA July 29 Visit to Centre Vajrapani Institute SAN FRANCISCO July 30 Hevajra Cause Empowerment – Day 1 Ewam Choden July 31 Hevajra Cause Empowerment – Day 2 Aug 1 Guru Rinpoche Long-Life Initiation Public Talk (in Tibetan) Aug 2 Public Talk (in English) 4 Melody of Dharma • 2010 • NO. 4 HOST DATE EVENT PALO ALTO, CA Aug 3 Public Talk Sakya SfBay Chenrezig Initiation in the Kadampa Tradition 254 Cambridge Avenue Kensington, CA 94708 +1 510 527-7363 info@ewamchodenorg www.ewamchoden.org CAZADERO, CA Aug 4-7 Empowerments and Transmission of the Treasure Cycles of Orgyen Padmasambhava Peace Institute Trinley Lingpa, Apong Terchen +1 707 632 5629 [email protected] www.padmapeace.org PORTLAND, OR Aug 9 Teaching: ‘Parting from the Four Attachments’ Portland Sakya Center Teaching: ‘The Nature of Mind’ Aug 10 Medicine Buddha Initiation Guru Rinpoche Initiation www.sakyausa.org OLYMPIA, WA Aug 12 Avalokiteshvara Initiation Olympia Sakya Centre Teaching: ‘The Nature of Mind’ www.nalandaolywa.org SEATTLE, WA Aug 14 Chenrezig Empowerment in the Gyalpo Lug Empowerment Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Aug 15 Two-Armed Mahakala Initiation Buddhism 108 NW 83rd Street Seattle, WA 98117 +1 206 789 2573 [email protected] www.sakya.org VICTORIA, BC Aug 17 Trikulanatha Initiation Sakya Thubten Kunga Choling www.island.net/~sakya VANCOUVER, BC Aug 18 Dharma Talk Aug 19 Vajrakilaya Empowerment Aug 20 Vajrakilaya Empowerment Aug 21 Vajrakilaya Teaching Sakya Tsechen Thubten Ling 5231 Maple Road Richmond, B.C. V7E 1G2 [email protected] www.sakyasechenthubtenling.org CALGARY, ALBERTA Aug 25 Long-Life Initiation CALL: +1 403 217 1667 TORONTO, ONTARIO Aug 27 Dharma Talk Aug 28 Long-Life Initiation Aug 29 Trikulanatha Initiation CALL: + 1 647 233 5159 WALDEN, NY Sept 1 Welcome Ceremony for His Holiness Tsechen Kunchab Ling Sept 2 Tenzhug Celebration Sept 3 Tenzhug Celebration – Main Event www.sakyatemple.org 2010 • NO. 4 • Melody of Dharma 5 H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche’s 2011 European Teaching Schedule DATE VENUE CONTACT May 11-16 Sakya Kalden Ling Linkstr.66 [email protected] Frankfurt, Germany 65933 Frankfurt www.sakya-foundation.de Tel: +49 (0) 69 9563 7237 May 18-19 Sakya Dechen Ling Alexanderstr, 141A [email protected] Stuttgart, Germany 70180 Stuttgart www.dechen-sakya.de Tel:+49 (0) 711 780 3763 May 21-22 Ngakpa Rangshar Ling Schillerstrasse 3 [email protected] Lahr, Germany 77933 Lahr – Schwarzwald www.tibet-lahr.de May 25-26 Dzogsar Ngari Dharma Mati Institute Rustenhof 5 [email protected] Near Detmold, Germany 33034 Brakel [email protected] Tel: +49 (0) 172 214 3180 Tel: +49 (0) 172 691 6576 May 28-29 Sakya Kalden Ling Linkstr.66 [email protected] Frankfurt, Germany 65933 Frankfurt www.sakya-foundation.de Tel: +49 (0) 69 9563 7237 June 15-30 Sakya Kalden Ling Linkstr.66 [email protected] Frankfurt, Germany 65933 Frankfurt www.sakya-foundation.de (Pujas performed by monks- His Tel: +49 (0) 69 9563 7237 Eminence will be at Lamdre in New York) July 2-3 Rigpa-Zentrum Soorstraße 85 [email protected] Berlin, Germany 14050 Berlin www.rigpa-zentrum-berlin.de Tel: + 49 (0)30
Recommended publications
  • JACEK TRZEBUNIAK* Analysis of Development of the Tibetan Tulku

    JACEK TRZEBUNIAK* Analysis of Development of the Tibetan Tulku

    The Polish Journal of the Arts and Culture Nr 10 (2/2014) / ARTICLE JACEK TRZEBUNIAK* (Uniwersytet Jagielloński) Analysis of Development of the Tibetan Tulku System in Western Culture ABSTRACT With the development of Tibetan Buddhism in Europe and America, from the second half of the twentieth century, the phenomenon of recognising a person as a reincarnation of Bud- dhist teachers appeared in this part of the world. Tibetan masters expected that the identified person will serve important social and religious functions for Buddhist communities. How- ever, after several decades since the first recognitions, the Western tulkus do not play the same important role in the development of Buddhism, as tulkus in China, and the Tibetan communities in exile. The article analyses the cultural and social causes of the different functioning of tulku institution in Western societies. The article shows that a different un- derstanding of identity, power and hierarchy mean that tulkus do not play significant roles in the development of Buddhism in this part of the world. KEY WORDS religious studies, Tibetan Buddhism, tulku, West INTRODUCTION Tulku (Tib. sprul sku) is a person in Tibetan Buddhism tradition who is recog- nised as a reincarnation of a famous Buddhist master. The tradition originated in the 13th century in the Kagyu (Tib. bka’ brgyud) sect when students of the Dusum Khyenpa (Tib. dus gsum mkhyen pa), after his death, found a boy and * Wydział Filozoficzny, Katedra Porównawczych Studiów Cywilizacji Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, Polska e-mail: [email protected] 116 Jacek Trzebuniak recognised him as a reincarnation of their master1.
  • Interview #29U – Alak Rita Rinpoche April 7, 2017

    Interview #29U – Alak Rita Rinpoche April 7, 2017

    Tibet Oral History Project Interview #29U – Alak Rita Rinpoche April 7, 2017 The Tibet Oral History Project serves as a repository for the memories, testimonies and opinions of elderly Tibetan refugees. The oral history process records the words spoken by interviewees in response to questions from an interviewer. The interviewees’ statements should not be considered verified or complete accounts of events and the Tibet Oral History Project expressly disclaims any liability for the inaccuracy of any information provided by the interviewees. The interviewees’ statements do not necessarily represent the views of the Tibet Oral History Project or any of its officers, contractors or volunteers. This translation and transcript is provided for individual research purposes only. For all other uses, including publication, reproduction and quotation beyond fair use, permission must be obtained in writing from: Tibet Oral History Project, P.O. Box 6464, Moraga, CA 94570-6464, United States. Copyright © 2018 Tibet Oral History Project. TIBET ORAL HISTORY PROJECT www.TibetOralHistory.org INTERVIEW SUMMARY SHEET 1. Interview Number: #29U 2. Interviewee: Alak Rita Rinpoche 3. Age: 92 4. Date of Birth: 1925 5. Sex: Male 6. Birthplace: Khotse 7. Province: Dhomay (Amdo) 8. Year of leaving Tibet: 1956 9. Date of Interview: April 7, 2017 10. Place of Interview: Tashi Khyil Monastery, Clement Town, Uttarakhand, India 11. Length of Interview: 1 hr 50 min 12. Interviewer: Marcella Adamski 13. Interpreter: Tenzin Yangchen 14. Videographer: Tenzin Choenyi 15. Translator: Tenzin Yangchen Biographical Information: Alak Rita Rinpoche was born to a poor nomadic family in Khotse, Amdo Province in 1925. His family was completely dependent on their animals for survival.
  • Chenrezig Practice

    Chenrezig Practice

    1 Chenrezig Practice Collected Notes Bodhi Path Natural Bridge, VA February 2013 These notes are meant for private use only. They cannot be reproduced, distributed or posted on electronic support without prior explicit authorization. Version 1.00 ©Tsony 2013/02 2 About Chenrezig © Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in Heart Treasure of the Enlightened One. ISBN-10: 0877734933 ISBN-13: 978-0877734932 In the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon of enlightened beings, Chenrezig is renowned as the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Avalokiteshvara is the earthly manifestation of the self born, eternal Buddha, Amitabha. He guards this world in the interval between the historical Sakyamuni Buddha, and the next Buddha of the Future Maitreya. Chenrezig made a a vow that he would not rest until he had liberated all the beings in all the realms of suffering. After working diligently at this task for a very long time, he looked out and realized the immense number of miserable beings yet to be saved. Seeing this, he became despondent and his head split into thousands of pieces. Amitabha Buddha put the pieces back together as a body with very many arms and many heads, so that Chenrezig could work with myriad beings all at the same time. Sometimes Chenrezig is visualized with eleven heads, and a thousand arms fanned out around him. Chenrezig may be the most popular of all Buddhist deities, except for Buddha himself -- he is beloved throughout the Buddhist world. He is known by different names in different lands: as Avalokiteshvara in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, as Kuan-yin in China, as Kannon in Japan.
  • VT Module6 Lineage Text Major Schools of Tibetan Buddhism

    VT Module6 Lineage Text Major Schools of Tibetan Buddhism

    THE MAJOR SCHOOLS OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM By Pema Khandro A BIRD’S EYE VIEW 1. NYINGMA LINEAGE a. Pema Khandro’s lineage. Literally means: ancient school or old school. Nyingmapas rely on the old tantras or the original interpretation of Tantra as it was given from Padmasambhava. b. Founded in 8th century by Padmasambhava, an Indian Yogi who synthesized the teachings of the Indian MahaSiddhas, the Buddhist Tantras, and Dzogchen. He gave this teaching (known as Vajrayana) in Tibet. c. Systemizes Buddhist philosophy and practice into 9 Yanas. The Inner Tantras (what Pema Khandro Rinpoche teaches primarily) are the last three. d. It is not a centralized hierarchy like the Sarma (new translation schools), which have a figure head similar to the Pope. Instead, the Nyingma tradition is de-centralized, with every Lama is the head of their own sangha. There are many different lineages within the Nyingma. e. A major characteristic of the Nyingma tradition is the emphasis in the Tibetan Yogi tradition – the Ngakpa tradition. However, once the Sarma translations set the tone for monasticism in Tibet, the Nyingmas also developed a monastic and institutionalized segment of the tradition. But many Nyingmas are Ngakpas or non-monastic practitioners. f. A major characteristic of the Nyingma tradition is that it is characterized by treasure revelations (gterma). These are visionary revelations of updated communications of the Vajrayana teachings. Ultimately treasure revelations are the same dharma principles but spoken in new ways, at new times and new places to new people. Because of these each treasure tradition is unique, this is the major reason behind the diversity within the Nyingma.
  • The Lhasa Jokhang – Is the World's Oldest Timber Frame Building in Tibet? André Alexander*

    The Lhasa Jokhang – Is the World's Oldest Timber Frame Building in Tibet? André Alexander*

    The Lhasa Jokhang – is the world's oldest timber frame building in Tibet? * André Alexander Abstract In questo articolo sono presentati i risultati di un’indagine condotta sul più antico tempio buddista del Tibet, il Lhasa Jokhang, fondato nel 639 (circa). L’edificio, nonostante l’iscrizione nella World Heritage List dell’UNESCO, ha subito diversi abusi a causa dei rifacimenti urbanistici degli ultimi anni. The Buddhist temple known to the Tibetans today as Lhasa Tsuklakhang, to the Chinese as Dajiao-si and to the English-speaking world as the Lhasa Jokhang, represents a key element in Tibetan history. Its foundation falls in the dynamic period of the first half of the seventh century AD that saw the consolidation of the Tibetan empire and the earliest documented formation of Tibetan culture and society, as expressed through the introduction of Buddhism, the creation of written script based on Indian scripts and the establishment of a law code. In the Tibetan cultural and religious tradition, the Jokhang temple's importance has been continuously celebrated soon after its foundation. The temple also gave name and raison d'etre to the city of Lhasa (“place of the Gods") The paper attempts to show that the seventh century core of the Lhasa Jokhang has survived virtually unaltered for 13 centuries. Furthermore, this core building assumes highly significant importance for the fact that it represents authentic pan-Indian temple construction technologies that have survived in Indian cultural regions only as archaeological remains or rock-carved copies. 1. Introduction – context of the archaeological research The research presented in this paper has been made possible under a cooperation between the Lhasa City Cultural Relics Bureau and the German NGO, Tibet Heritage Fund (THF).
  • 5 Pema Mandala Fall 06 11/21/06 12:02 PM Page 1

    5 Pema Mandala Fall 06 11/21/06 12:02 PM Page 1

    5 Pema Mandala Fall 06 11/21/06 12:02 PM Page 1 Fall/Winter 2006 5 Pema Mandala Fall 06 11/21/06 12:03 PM Page 2 Volume 5, Fall/Winter 2006 features A Publication of 3 Letter from the Venerable Khenpos Padmasambhava Buddhist Center Nyingma Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism 4 New Home for Ancient Treasures A long-awaited reliquary stupa is now at home at Founding Directors Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche Padma Samye Ling, with precious relics inside. Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche 8 Starting to Practice Dream Yoga Rita Frizzell, Editor/Art Director Ani Lorraine, Contributing Editor More than merely resting, we can use the time we Beth Gongde, Copy Editor spend sleeping to truly benefit ourselves and others. Ann Helm, Teachings Editor Michael Nott, Advertising Director 13 Found in Translation Debra Jean Lambert, Administrative Assistant A student relates how she first met the Khenpos and Pema Mandala Office her experience translating Khenchen’s teachings on For subscriptions, change of address or Mipham Rinpoche. editorial submissions, please contact: Pema Mandala Magazine 1716A Linden Avenue 15 Ten Aspirations of a Bodhisattva Nashville, TN 37212 Translated for the 2006 Dzogchen Intensive. (615) 463-2374 • [email protected] 16 PBC Schedule for Fall 2006 / Winter 2007 Pema Mandala welcomes all contributions submitted for consideration. All accepted submissions will be edited appropriately 18 Namo Buddhaya, Namo Dharmaya, for publication in a magazine represent- Nama Sanghaya ing the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center. Please send submissions to the above A student reflects on a photograph and finds that it address. The deadline for the next issue is evokes more symbols than meet the eye.
  • Buddhist Archeology in Mongolia: Zanabazar and the Géluk Diaspora Beyond Tibet

    Buddhist Archeology in Mongolia: Zanabazar and the Géluk Diaspora Beyond Tibet

    Buddhist Archeology in Mongolia: Zanabazar and the Géluk Diaspora beyond Tibet Uranchimeg Tsultemin, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Uranchimeg, Tsultemin. 2019. “Buddhist Archeology in Mongolia: Zanabazar and the Géluk Dias- pora beyond Tibet.” Cross-Currents: East Asian History and Culture Review (e-journal) 31: 7–32. https://cross-currents.berkeley.edu/e-journal/issue-31/uranchimeg. Abstract This article discusses a Khalkha reincarnate ruler, the First Jebtsundampa Zanabazar, who is commonly believed to be a Géluk protagonist whose alliance with the Dalai and Panchen Lamas was crucial to the dissemination of Buddhism in Khalkha Mongolia. Za- nabazar’s Géluk affiliation, however, is a later Qing-Géluk construct to divert the initial Khalkha vision of him as a reincarnation of the Jonang historian Tāranātha (1575–1634). Whereas several scholars have discussed the political significance of Zanabazar’s rein- carnation based only on textual sources, this article takes an interdisciplinary approach to discuss, in addition to textual sources, visual records that include Zanabazar’s por- traits and current findings from an ongoing excavation of Zanabazar’s Saridag Monas- tery. Clay sculptures and Zanabazar’s own writings, heretofore little studied, suggest that Zanabazar’s open approach to sectarian affiliations and his vision, akin to Tsongkhapa’s, were inclusive of several traditions rather than being limited to a single one. Keywords: Zanabazar, Géluk school, Fifth Dalai Lama, Jebtsundampa, Khalkha, Mongo- lia, Dzungar Galdan Boshogtu, Saridag Monastery, archeology, excavation The First Jebtsundampa Zanabazar (1635–1723) was the most important protagonist in the later dissemination of Buddhism in Mongolia. Unlike the Mongol imperial period, when the sectarian alliance with the Sakya (Tib.
  • 2019 International Religious Freedom Report

    2019 International Religious Freedom Report

    CHINA (INCLUDES TIBET, XINJIANG, HONG KONG, AND MACAU) 2019 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT Executive Summary Reports on Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang are appended at the end of this report. The constitution, which cites the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, states that citizens have freedom of religious belief but limits protections for religious practice to “normal religious activities” and does not define “normal.” Despite Chairman Xi Jinping’s decree that all members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must be “unyielding Marxist atheists,” the government continued to exercise control over religion and restrict the activities and personal freedom of religious adherents that it perceived as threatening state or CCP interests, according to religious groups, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and international media reports. The government recognizes five official religions – Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism. Only religious groups belonging to the five state- sanctioned “patriotic religious associations” representing these religions are permitted to register with the government and officially permitted to hold worship services. There continued to be reports of deaths in custody and that the government tortured, physically abused, arrested, detained, sentenced to prison, subjected to forced indoctrination in CCP ideology, or harassed adherents of both registered and unregistered religious groups for activities related to their religious beliefs and practices. There were several reports of individuals committing suicide in detention, or, according to sources, as a result of being threatened and surveilled. In December Pastor Wang Yi was tried in secret and sentenced to nine years in prison by a court in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in connection to his peaceful advocacy for religious freedom.
  • Pilgrimage to Drakar Dreldzong

    Pilgrimage to Drakar Dreldzong

    Pilgrimage to Drakar Dreldzong The Written Tradition and Contemporary Practices among Amdo Tibetans ,#-7--a};-1 Zhuoma ( |) Thesis Submitted for the Degree of M. Phil in Tibetan Studies Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages University of Oslo Spring 2008 1 Summary This thesis focuses on pilgrimage (gnas skor) to Drakar Dreldzong, a Buddhist holy mountain (gnas ri) in a remote area of Amdo, Tibet, in the present day Qinghai Province in the western part of China. The mountain had long been a solitude hermitage and still is a popular pilgrimage site for Tibetan lamas and nearby laymen. Pilgrimage to holy mountains was, and still is, significant for the religious, cultural and literary life of Tibet, and even for today’s economic climate in Tibet. This thesis presents the traditional perceptions of the site reflected both in written texts, namely pilgrimage guides (gnas bshad), and in the contemporary practices of pilgrimage to Drakar Dreldzong. It specifically talks about an early pilgrimage guide (Guide A) written by a tantric practitioner in the early 17th century, and newly developed guides (Guides B, C and D), based on the 17th century one, edited and composed by contemporary Tibetan lay intellectuals and monks from Dreldzong Monastery. This monastery, which follows the Gelukba tradition, was established in 1923 at the foot of the mountain. The section about the early guide mainly introduces the historical framework of pilgrimage guides and provides an impression of the situation of the mountain in from the 17th to the 21st century. In particular, it translates the text and gives comments and analysis on the content.
  • Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden Blog Al Jazeera Top Story

    Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden Blog Al Jazeera Top Story

    Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden Blog: Al Jazeera Top Story -- Revisits Court Case against the Dalai Lama 1/15/09 12:32 PM Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden Blog The official blog of the Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden Website, providing the latest news, videos, and updates on the Dorje Shugden controversy. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009 Subscribe Al Jazeera Top Story -- Revisits Court Case against Posts the Dalai Lama Comments Al Jazeera’s People and Power has named ‘The Dalai Lama: The Devil Within’ one of their top two stories of 2008. As a result, Al Jazeera is now Protector of Je featuring it again. Tsongkhapa's Tradition The reporter has added at the end of the updated report: "The case against the Dalai Lama is still with the courts. We hope to bring you an update later in the year." As the lawyer for the persecuted Shugden practitioners, Shree Sanjay Jain, explains: "It is certainly a case of religious discrimination in the sense that if within your sect of religion you say that this particular Deity ought not to be worshipped, and those persons who are willing to worship him you are trying to excommunicate them from the main stream of Buddhism, then it is a discrimination of worst kind." Al Jazeera adds: "No matter what the outcome of the court case, in a country Click on picture for Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden where millions of idols are worshipped, attempting to ban the Website Deity is an uphill battle. One in which many Buddhist monks have lost their faith in the spirit of the Dalai Lama." Search For a full transcript, see Al Jazeera News Documentary, October 2008.
  • Sl.No Name of Religious and Cultural Sites

    Sl.No Name of Religious and Cultural Sites

    Travelling guide to religious and cultural sites in Bumthang Dzongkhag Gewog : Choekhor Sl.No Name of religious and cultural sites Description of sites Nearest road Distance from Distance to Contact person Contact Remarks point Chamkhar town the site number from the 1 Tashi Gatshel Dungtsho Lhakhang The main nangten of the Lhakhang are statues of Lusibi 20 Km 5 Mins Walk Tashi Tshering, 17699859 Guru Nangsi , Tempa, Chana Dorji. Caretaker 2 Sanga Choling Lhakhang The main relice of the Lhakhang is Guru Tshengye statuDhur toe 20 Km 5 Mins Walk Kezang Dorji, 17778709 Caretaker 3 Dhurm Mey Dungkhor Lhakhang The main nangten of the lhakhang are painiting of Dhurmey 19 Km 15 Mins Yeshi Pema, 17554125 Guru Rinpoche and Tshepamey. Caretaker 4 Dhur Dungkhor Lhakhang The main relices of lhakhang are statues of Chenrizey Dhurmey 19 Km 10 mins Ngawang 17577992 and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. walk 5 Dhendup Choling Lhakhang The main relices of Lhakhang are Desum Sangay and Dhurmey 19 Km 15 mins Lam Kinley 17603534 Guru Sangay 6 Barsel Lamsel/Dawathang Lhakhang The main relices of Lhakhang is Statues of Guru Dawathang 7 Km 1 min walk Kezang Dawa, Car 77661214 Rinpoche and a small, grey image of Thangtong Gyalpo. 7 Lhamoi Nyekhang The main relice of the Lhakhang is Guru Tshengye statuDawathang 7.5 Km 10 mins Choney Dorji, Lam 17668141 walk 8 Kurjey Guru Lhakang Status of Guru Rimpoche and Guru mediated in one Kurjey 7 Km 1 min walk Kinley, Caretaker 77113811 caves and left body imprint. 9 Kurjey Sampalhendup Lhakhang The main nangten is status of Guru Rinpoche.
  • 'A Unique View from Within'

    'A Unique View from Within'

    Orientations | Volume 47 Number 7 | OCTOBER 2016 ‘projects in progress’ at the time of his death in 1999. (Fig. 1; see also Fig. 5). The sixth picture-map shows In my research, I use the Wise Collection as a case a 1.9-metre-long panorama of the Zangskar valley. study to examine the processes by which knowledge In addition, there are 28 related drawings showing of Tibet was acquired, collected and represented detailed illustrations of selected monasteries, and the intentions and motivations behind these monastic rituals, wedding ceremonies and so on. ‘A Unique View from Within’: processes. With the forthcoming publication of the Places on the panoramic map are consecutively whole collection and the results of my research numbered from Lhasa westwards and southwards (Lange, forthcoming), I intend to draw attention to in Arabic numerals. Tibetan numerals can be found The Representation of Tibetan Architecture this neglected material and its historical significance. mainly on the backs of the drawings, marking the In this essay I will give a general overview of the order of the sheets. Altogether there are more than in the British Library’s Wise Collection collection and discuss the unique style of the 900 numbered annotations on the Wise Collection drawings. Using examples of selected illustrations drawings. Explanatory notes referring to these of towns and monasteries, I will show how Tibetan numbers were written in English on separate sheets Diana Lange monastic architecture was embedded in picture- of paper. Some drawings bear additional labels in maps and represented in detail. Tibetan and English, while others are accompanied The Wise Collection comprises six large picture- neither by captions nor by explanatory texts.