October 12, 2018

The Inner Hermitage

“Hermitage of the body means reducing mundane activities and emphasizing Dharma. We direct our minds to positive qualities such as love and compassion, joy and appreciation, and with these as a foundation perform meritorious activities. Avoiding actions that are harmful, doing what is beneficial for us and for others—this is known as the hermitage of the body.
 
Hermitage of speech means trying to avoid all talk that is disrespectful, harsh, and negative—anything that brings harm to yourself and others. This kind of talk is known in the Buddha’s teaching as gossip. Gossip has no good qualities. Once begun gossip tends to travel, accumulate, and disturb many people. Reduce and ultimately avoid gossip—this is part of the practice of the hermitage of speech. Another aspect of the hermitage of the speech is to not spend much time talking about trivial things. In other words reduce mundane conversation. Then there is silence. When you practice silence you are self-contained and more inward-looking. You notice the busyness of your body, speech, and mind and your self-awareness grows. Eliminate gossip, reduce mundane conversation, and practice silence—all these make up what is known as the hermitage of speech.
 
The third one is hermitage of the mind. Reduce grasping, clinging, doubt, hesitation, and all thoughts related to the five poisons— ignorance, attachment, anger, arrogance, and jealousy. However these emotions manifest in you, individually, in combinations, or all together—stay away from them, do not indulge them, let them go. That is known as hermitage of the mind.
 
When you maintain the three inner hermitage qualities, you will experience the beautiful, serene environment of the outer hermitage even if you are in the city. In fact when the inner hermitage is strong and stable, you yourself become the outer hermitage, and beings, simply by being near you, will experience comfort and peace, just as if they traveled far away to a mountain retreat. Therefore, value these inner hermitage qualities, and nurture them as much as you can.
 
We further strengthen and glorify the hermitage qualities of body, speech, and mind by reading the Buddha’s teachings, such as the sutras and tantras, by chanting mantras, by performing positive actions, and by always aspiring to do even better in our spiritual practice. This will increase our realization and decrease and ultimately uproot all negative thoughts and emotions. Cultivate devotion, love, compassion, kindness, respect and appreciation, practice the six paramitas—all these good thoughts and deeds are so important. This has been a brief description of how to establish, maintain, and increase the inner hermitage of body, speech, and mind.”
 
Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches
The Nature of Mind
 
Photo of Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche with the PBC NYC Sangha on January 1, 2016. Line drawing of Aro Yeshe Jungne with his disciples by Theresa Cooper.
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October 3, 2018

Unfabricated Devotion

“What is devotion? Devotion is great, unshakeable appreciation of and confidence in your teacher and in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. You feel how precious and superb they are. You treasure your connection to them. You are certain that if you rely on them you will attain every spiritual goal you are seeking, and be able to accomplish the welfare and happiness of others. In the beginning stages, you must conceptualize devotion and work at it, bringing it again and again to mind. This is known as “fabricated devotion.” With practice, devotion becomes increasingly natural until one day it spontaneously springs forth powerfully from your heart. This is “unfabricated devotion,” which is indestructible.
 
Devotion is also the antidote for arrogance and other neurotic states. The teachings say that those with devotion will never take birth in the lower realms again. Also, as it is often said, and as the life stories of many mahasiddhas, particularly Milarepa clearly show, even if you do not receive many teachings, if you have devotion to your teacher and practice the instructions he or she gives you, that alone is sufficient for enlightenment.”
 
Photo of Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche blessing Lama Jomo Lorraine during the Inauguration of the Yeshe Tsogyal Temple in Nashville, TN on September 23, 2018, by Stuart Bernstein.
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September 17, 2018

Join Us for the Enthronement of Ven. Khenchen Yangsi Rinpoche in Sarnath, India

We are honored to invite you to the auspicious occasion of the enthronement of Tulku Yangsi Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche!

This ceremony will coincide with the Buddhist festival of Lha Bab Duchen on October 31, 2018. Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche will host this special event at the Tulku’s seat of Orgyen Samye Chokhor Ling in Sarnath, India (www.PBCIndia.org).

We are very honored that H.E. Terton Namkha Drimed Rinpoche will perform the enthronement ceremony.

 

 

Learn more about how HE Terton Namkha Drimed Rinpoche discovered the definite and unmistaken reincarnation of Ven. Khenchen Palden Yangsi Rinpoche, who he named Palden Yonten Thaye Lodro Chokyi Gyaltsen!

 

 

In October 2018, students of the Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches are gathering from around the world in the holy land of Sarnath, India where the Buddha first turned the wheel of Dharma to celebrate the enthronement of Palden Yonten Thaye Lodro Chokyi Gyaltsen, the reincarnation of our precious teacher, the great scholar and master Venerable Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche.

Soon after the consecration ceremonies, everyone is invited to follow in the footsteps of the great masters and devotees of the past, and go on a guided pilgrimage to some of the sacred places of Buddha Shakyamuni, including a visit to the PBC Miracle Stupa in Shravasti near Jetavan Grove. For those wishing to stay longer, the Sangha will also travel with a knowledgeable guide to Bodhgaya, Nalanda, and Vulture’s Peak Mountain where we’ll meditate, supplicate, and make offerings to all the enlightened beings of the past, present, and future.

Please consider joining us for this pilgrimage and sacred event!

For more information, contact us at Padma Samye Ling

(607) 865-8068  –  jowozegyal@catskill.net

www.padmasambhava.org/event/yangsi-rinpoche-enthronement

 

The PBC Pilgrimage to India in October 2018 is open for all sangha members and friends to attend.

 1. Pilgrimage dates

2. What everyone needs to arrange for themselves

3. Costs

4. Sample Packing List

 

 Pilgrimage dates

  1. Arrive to Sarnath by October 24th, 1 week before the Enthronement. Please correctly calculate the time it takes to travel to Sarnath, and include a couple of days to rest up a bit. It takes at least 2 days to travel from USA to Sarnath.
  2. Enthronement of Ven. Khenchen Yangsi Rinpoche in Sarnath, India on October 31, 2018
  3. Pilgrimage to Miracle Stupa in Shravasti with Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche will happen within a couple of days after the Enthronement, and will last for 2-3 days total.
  4. Afterwards, for those staying longer, arrangements will be made for a knowledgeable guide to accompany those wishing to visit Kushinigar, Bodhgaya, Nalanda, and Vulture’s Peak, which will last for about 5 extra days.

 

  1. October 24th is the Theravadan celebration of Lha Bab Duchen when a procession of the Buddha’s relics will circumambulate the Mahabodhi Temple in Sarnath.

 

What everyone needs to arrange for themselves

 

  1. Book round trip airplane flights to: (1) Delhi India, and (2) from Delhi to Varanasi.

Varanasi is located near Sarnath, India, where the PBC Monastery and Nunnery are located.

 

Here is a link to the location of Orgyen Samye Chökhor Ling Nunnery on Google Maps:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Orgyen+Samye+Chokhor+Ling+Nunnery+of+the+Padmasambhava+Buddhist+Center/@25.38474,83.0233732,242m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x398e2ee870d6a12b:0xa1c385b2ea1fa974!2sSarnath,+Varanasi,+Uttar+Pradesh+221007,+India!3b1!8m2!3d25.3761664!4d83.0227103!3m4!1s0x0:0x71b90cde2eae03f8!8m2!3d25.3844939!4d83.02355?hl=en

 

  1. Make sure you have a Current Passport
  2. Get a Travel Visa. Contact your local embassy. If you’re planning on traveling outside of India and then re-entering India during your stay, plan on getting a “Multiple Entry Visa.”

 

Nunnery Address:

Orgyen Samye Chökhor Ling

Tibetan Nyingmapa Buddhist Nunnery

SA-13/10 Khajuhi, Sarnath-221007

Varanasi (U.P.) INDIA

Contact:

Ms. Pema

Contact Telephone Number:

011 91 7348500332

Contact Email:

orgyensamyechokhorling.vns@gmail.com

 

  1. Any vaccines you would like to take.

It is recommended to consult your own doctor about this.

 

  1. Recommended Hotels at Various Locations:

 

Delhi (Radisson at the airport)

Varanasi/Sarnath (Taj Hotel; Clark Hotel)

Shravasti near PBC Miracle Stupa (Lotus; Burmese Guesthouse; various other monastic guesthouses: www.google.com/search?q=guesthouses+in+shravasti+india&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1)

Bodhgaya (Hotel Mahayana; variety of accommodations)

 

Costs

  1. Plane flights: Costs vary depending on when you buy the tickets, and where you fly out of USA from. Many people fly through NYC. Virgina Atlantic and Delta are standard international airlines. Air India is a national airline within India.

If it’s possible, travel together with other Sangha members to help coordinate ride sharing.

Feel free to ask your local PBC Sangha Coordinator to find out who else is traveling to India.

 

  1. Personal Spending money Bring enough money for traveling expenses such as gifts, food on the go, taxis, etc.
  2. Donation for staying at the Nunnery: $38 per person per day for accommodations, which includes 3 vegetarian meals per day at the nunnery.
  3. Suggested Donation for Enthronement preparations and tsok offerings: $145 per person
  4. Transportation between India locations is each individual’s responsibility, and will calculated on site.

 

Please note that contributions for accommodations and preparations for the Enthronement Ceremony will need to be collected by at least two weeks before the Enthronement (around October 17th) via check (payable to “PBC” with “India Ceremony Donations” mailed to Padma Samye Ling), or completed via PayPal. This will greatly help prepare for the Enthronement.

 

Also Note: Current exchange rate (as of September 15, 2018) of US Dollar to Indian Rupee is: 71 Indian Rupee (INR) = 1 US Dollar.

The exchange rate changes so keep an eye on it here if you like:

www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=INR

 

Sample Packing List

 

Dharma items

  1. Your daily practice sadhanas
  2. Additional Aspiration Prayers you might want to recite at holy sites
  3. Dharma robes
  4. Mala
  5. Inspiring Dharma book for travel times
  6. Journal

 

Food

  1. Recommended to bring your own water bottle or thermos (since you know if it is clean).
  2. Always avoid any food, drink, dessert, etc. that contains unboiled water. Always.
  3. Only drink from sealed water bottles.
  4. Trail mix or power bars
  5. Crackers
  6. Powered milk
  7. Cereal
  8. Peanut butter (if desired)
  9. Coffee (difficult to get in India)
  10. Emergen-C Vitamin C/electrolyte packs to mix in bottled water
  11. Small treats to enjoy or share with others throughout the trip
  12. Any of your usual food supplements

 

Necessities

  1. Individual packs of Kleenex tissues (can get toilet paper there)
  2. Hand sanitizer
  3. Sanitary wipes (to wipe off tables, etc.)
  4. Own cup and utensils (can buy bowl there if desired)
  5. Own towel
  6. Bar(s) of soap
  7. Own toiletries
  8. Sleeping bag
  9. Pillow case
  10. Money belt(s) with additional safety pin to keep attached. Important.
  11. Comfortable walking shoes. Important.

 

Possible First Aid/Medical Kit Items

  1. If desired, get Cypro antibiotics (or equivalent). Check with your doctor.
  2. Imodium
  3. Ibuprofen
  4. Cough drops
  5. DEET mosquito repellent (it needs to work)
  6. Benadryl (capsules and ointment)
  7. Band Aids
  8. Aspirin or equivalent
  9. Antibacterial Ointment and skin cleanser
  10. Antacids
  11. Antihistamines
  12. Shampoo
  13. Adhesive bandages
  14. Antibiotics
  15. Plastic strip thermometers
  16. Grapefruit Seed Extract (strengthens immune system. Add to bottled water as directed)
  17. Probiotics (e.g. Primal Defense, to take daily as directed)
  18. Green drink mix super food (In India eating leafy greens is rare, and if eaten they must be cooked well.)
  19. Your basic daily medications and vitamins.
  20. JetZone Homeopathic Jet Lag remedy (it works really well)
  21. Medical Insurance for traveling (If you desire this. Check with your insurance provider)

 

Clothes

  1. Flip flops for bathrooms and showers
  2. Slip on shoes
  3. Socks/Tights
  4. Scarves for dust or head cover (or mask, but more people use scarves)
  5. Skirts
  6. Layers of clothing
  7. Flashlight (small)
  8. Alarm clock (AA battery-operated)
  9. Sunglasses. Important.
  10. Hat for sun
  11. Shawl for cool mornings/evenings
  12. Extra contact lenses and contact solution if you need.
  13. Extra pair of prescription glasses if you need.

 

Remember. . .

  1. Always wipe all water off plates and glasses before using them.
  2. Hand wash clothes in bucket (can get soap locally)
  3. Don’t give money to beggars until you’re almost back to where you’re going.
  4. Feel free to take candy to give to kids.
  5. Do NOT eat the butter or drink milk (okay in chai because it’s been boiled)
  6. Gifts for monks and nuns: it’s better to not give something individually to one person. If you’re going to leave something behind, give it to Khenpo Rinpoche to be used by all the Sangha.
  7. If you need to call USA, get a phone with International card. India landline can be unreliable.
  8. Can check email from Sarnath cyber cafe (… if you’re lucky)
  9. Traveler’s Checks are sometimes hard to cash. ATM is often easier. Need to cash checks in larger cities, b/c in rural areas they don’t have ATMs or will not cash checks.
  10. Electricity very spotty (usually out for half of the day in many areas)
  11. Ginger tea (or real ginger candy) is good for diarrhea and upset stomach.
  12. Leave extra room in suitcase on the way if you plan on bringing extra items back to USA (Approximate international 50 lb. weight limit per bag. Check with your airline regarding exact weights and any additional luggage fees.)

 

Tips

  1. Don’t show money or passport obviously in public.
  2. Send clothes to be laundered only in decent hotels. Otherwise hand wash.
  3. Wash all underwear yourself – also other clothes as well if possible.
  4. For high altitude, drink lots of water, eat high carb foods, and cut back on salt.

5 Important: Only drink from bottled water. Always wipe water off plates and glasses before using them.

 

Please feel free to write or call with any questions.

This is a very special opportunity, and everyone is warmly invited to participate.

 

For more information, contact us at Padma Samye Ling

(607) 865-8068

jowozegyal@catskill.net

padmasambhava.org

 

Orgyen Samye Chökhor Ling

Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery

Sarnath, Varanasi

www.pbcindia.org

email: orgyensamyechokhorling.vns@gmail.com

telephone: 011 91 7348500332

(Calling from the US to India: (011 + 91 + phone number)

 

Note: The emergency cell of Lama Lorraine in India will be shared once she arrives to India.

 

Here’s a Google Maps link to Sarnath:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Sarnath,+Varanasi,+Uttar+Pradesh,+India&hl=en&ll=25.384128,83.024299&spn=0.002052,0.003825&sll=42.746632,-75.770041&sspn=6.832468,15.666504&oq=sarnath+india&t=h&hnear=Sarnath,+Varanasi,+Uttar+Pradesh,+India&z=19

 

Download a pdf of all of these instructions here.

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The Great Terton Sera Khandro Meets Vajravarahi

 

This video includes Vajravarahi’s advice from Guru Padmasambhava about the extraordinary specialness of the female body.

 

Sera Khandro Dewé Dorje (Tib. སེ་ར་མཁའ་འགྲོ་བདེ་བའི་རྡོ་རྗེ་, Wyl. se ra mkha’ ‘gro bde ba’i rdo rje), aka Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo (ཀུན་བཟང་བདེ་སྐྱོང་དབང་མོ་, Wyl. kun bzang bde skyong dbang mo) (1892-1940) was a great female tertön whose treasure texts are revered by many great Nyingma masters. She was the consort of Tulku Trimé Özer, one of the sons of the illustrious Tertön Dudjom Lingpa. She was also one of the root gurus of Chatral Rinpoche and was reborn as his daughter, Saraswati (recognised by Karmapa Rangjung Rigpé Dorje).

 

 

 

Here is Sera Khandro’s autobiography “The Excellent Path of Devotion,” care of the Lotsawa House:
www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/sera-khandro/excellent-path-of-devotion

 

2018 PSL Shedra on the Terma Lineage
August 27, 2018
Padma Samye Ling

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September 14, 2018

Great Terton First Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

 

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo [’jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse’i dbang po, 1820-1892]. Often referred to as the First Khyentse, Pema Ösal Do-ngak Lingpa, and Ösal Trulpe Dorje, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo was an emanation of King Trisong Deutsen, Chetsun Senge Wangchuk, and Vimalamitra, among others, in addition to being a great tertön and scholar. He co-founded the Ri-me ecumenical movement along with the First Kongtrul, and was a great master of all the Buddhist schools of Tibet. Due to his tremendous realization, the First Khyentse was able to recover many lineages that had been lost over time, and was therefore the father of the nineteenth century Tibetan Renaissance, the lord of the “seven entrusted transmissions” [bka’ bab bdun ldan]. Altogether these include: (1) the oral tradition of kama [bka’ ma], the rare oral teachings from all schools of Tibetan Buddhism; (2) earth terma [sa gter]; (3) rediscovered terma [yang gter], which were previously discovered and revealed again; (4) mind terma [dgongs gter] that spontaneously appeared in the mindstream of Lord Khyentse; (5) recollected teachings [rjes dran], or teachings remembered from former lifetimes; (6) pure visions received from the Three Roots [dag snang]; and (7) the hearing or “whispered” lineage [snyan brgyud], pith instructions given by an enlightened being or qualified teacher.

As His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche explains,

Khyentse Rinpoche had immeasurable faith and devotion towards each of these systems, of which the past traditions have been preserved in unbroken lineages. Therefore, scorning physical fatigue, and with fervent perseverance, he received in full, and without error, all their sequences of maturation and liberation from tutors connected with the sources of each tradition. By reflecting upon them he cleared his doubts; and while experientially cultivating them through meditation he received the blessings of the three secrets and the instructions of close lineages, both in reality and during various visions and dreams, from the learned and accomplished masters of India and Tibet, the peaceful and wrathful meditational deities and conquerors, and the host of ḍākinīs of the three abodes. In these and other ways he had limitless pure visions at each and every instant. Because he was a master of the seven types of entrusted transmission and a peerless tertön who saved many lineages from extinction, always practicing without even the slightest trace of sectarian bias, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo is universally regarded and revered as an exceptional master and lineage holder of all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Again, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche explains,

During the present day there is no one, high or low, with whom he might be compared…because Khyentse Rinpoche had acquired firmness in the twofold precious enlightened attitude, and especially, because he was endowed with the vast power of pure vision and devotion toward all the philosophical systems, and was otherwise totally without bias and bigotry, his students were countless. They included all the well-known holders of the teaching, and great individuals among the Sakyapa, Kagyüpa, Nyingmapa, and Gelukpa, as well as spiritual benefactors, practitioners of retreat, poor mendicants, and adherents of the Yungdrung Pön tradition, without partiality…it was as if there was no one who did not obtain, in accord with his or her devotion, a connection [with the master], whether through the gift of the doctrine, the removal of misfortune, empowerment, or blessing. Free from the fetters of the eight worldly concerns, Khyentse Rinpoche eradicated the roots of such human behaviour as saving face and hope and fear, whether found in persons of high or low status. Thus, his career was that of a king among those who had renounced worldly activity and the cares of this life.

Excerpted from Ceaseless Echoes of the Great Silence: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra Prajnaparamita
www.padmasambhava.org/chiso/books-by-khenpo-rinpoches/ceaseless-echoes-of-the-great-silence

2018 PSL Shedra on the Terma Lineage
August 29, 2018
Padma Samye Ling

www.padmasambhava.org

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September 13, 2018

Relative Purity and Absolute Equality

“The Dzogchen tantra known as Kunjed Gyalpo Gyu, or King of All Creation Tantra, states that the Glorious Conqueror Shakyamuni gave 84,000 teachings to dispel the negative emotions: (1) 21,000 Vinaya teachings to dispel the various aspects of attachment; (2) 21,000 Sutra teachings to dispel the various aspects of anger; (3) 21,000 Abhidharma teachings to dispel the various aspects of ignorance; and (4) 21,000 Vajrayana teachings to dispel all aspects of every negative emotion. All these categories of teaching are intended to eliminate, transcend, transform, or liberate our neurotic states of mind, negative emotions, and obstacles. Hence, all Dharma teachings are related with mind, regardless of the synonyms we use to describe them.”

Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches
Splendid Presence of the Great Guhyagarbha: Opening the Wisdom Door of the King of All Tantras (pg 2)

 

 

 

 

The Mula Guhyagarbha Tantra, or Root Tantra of the Secret Essence, is an Inner Tantra teaching belonging to Mahayoga. However, it is the most important and famous of all the tantras, since every other tantric teaching and sadhana emerges from it. This text describes the authentic realization of all buddhas or enlightened beings—it does not discuss the common perceptions of duality mind. Specifically, it exactly expresses the way enlightened beings perceive and experience phenomena. The Tibetan Buddhist teachings often state that the Guhyagarbha Tantra is the display of primordial wisdom’s pure perceptions and conceptions. Hence, the tantra explains that relative truth is pervasively, massively pure from the beginning, and thus purity is not something newly developed

Now, the entirety of phenomena is also totally transcendent within the great emptiness state. Because there is no permanent, substantially-existent, single object, everything is in the same state of great emptiness, also referred to as “great equanimity” or “great equality.” Therefore, relative truth is great purity and absolute truth is great equality. The foundation and central column of Mahayogatantra—and in fact all the Inner Tantras—is the realization that relative purity and absolute equality are originally inseparable. They are in union, in a single state without any divisions or distinctions. So, whether we are visualizing the deity, reciting mantra, or just meditating on great emptiness, all of it is the same: we are simply connecting with different aspects of the emanations and displays of the true nature.

www.padmasambhava.org/chiso/books-by-khenpo-rinpoches/guhyagarbha-tantra

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September 11, 2018

The Path to Enlightenment

“If we act for ourselves alone, the path of enlightenment is blocked. The way we follow the path of the omniscient Buddha is by generating the thought to free all beings from suffering.”
 
His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
Ngondro Practice According to the Dzogchen View
Excerpted from Illuminating the Path
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Join Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche to Inaugurate the New Yeshe Tsogyal Temple!

September 23 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

On behalf of Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche and the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center of Tennessee, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support to build the new Yeshe Tsogyal Temple in Nashville.

Please join us for a consecration ceremony, led by Ven. Khenpo Rinpoche, followed by a celebratory tsok offering on Sunday, September 23rd at 10am.

Please bring the Treasury of Daily Prayers and Buddha sadhanas, if you have them. Consider bringing a freshly prepared vegetarian offering for the tsok (no alcohol, but soft drinks are welcome).

 

Date: Sunday, September 23, 10am

Address:  419 E. Iris Dr, Nashville, TN, 37204

RSVP:  Click here

info@pbc-tn.org

 

Parking: Directions upon arrival/offsite parking.

Limited seating available.

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