Lama Tenzin’s Letter to the Ripa Sangha
Dear Friends of the Ripa International Sangha,
Rigon Thupten Mindolling Monastery has announced that a long life Mandala offering ceremony to His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche will be celebrated from January 31st to February 2, 2023, organized jointly by the members of both Ripa monasteries, Thupten Mindolling in Odisha, India and Tashi Choeling in Pharping, Nepal. The main purpose of conducting this ceremony, followed by an extensive long life puja, is to dispel all forms of obstacles in the life of H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, as the upcoming year of the Tibetan Water Rabbit is an obstacle year for him according to Tibetan astrology.
The three Ripa monasteries of Odisha, Nepal and Tibet are performing a large number of pujas as the result of divinations from several high Lamas and many other pujas have also been requested to be completed at different monasteries such as H.H. Penor Rinpoche’s monastery in South India etc. For the western Sangha, I would like to announce three ways to participate actively and to join the prayers in our monasteries:
1 – Participation from Afar
Whoever wishes to make a donation for supporting these pujas within the monasteries may send their contribution to the RIC accounts (detailed below). This is important and necessary. In order to minimize bank fees, once collected and all together, the RIC will then send the donations to the monasteries. 2 – Contributing our prayers individually on Zoom each Thursday at 19:30 (GMT +2)
In addition to the many extensive pujas performed by the monastic communities, there are a large number of Seven Line Prayers and Vajra Guru Mantras to accumulate. We are invited to do these prayers in our homes as well as centers.In order to strengthen our prayers and to connect, we will join all together via Zoom each Thursday evening from 19:30 to 20:30 to accumulate both pujas. Thus, practicing together will bring both benefits to our beloved teacher, as well as bring us together as one Sangha. Please join us so that we may enjoy our efforts in solidarity.
3 – Joining the ceremonies and the pilgrimage
Of course, the Sangha from all over the world is invited to join the Tenshuk ceremonies for the Long Life of His Eminence from January 31st – February 2nd, 2023 in the Thubten Mindolling Monastery in Odisha.
Since many of our students have never been to Bodh Gaya and Varanasi, which are the most important sites for a Buddhist pilgrimage, we would like to take this opportunity to organize and guide a pilgrimage to each Buddhist site prior to His Eminence’s long life offerings and on the way to Odisha. The pilgrimage starts in New Delhi on Monday, January 23rd and ends with arrival at the Monastery in Orissa, on Monday, January 30th. Enroute, we will spend four days in Bodh Gaya, joining the annual Nyingma Monlam – World peace prayer. Whoever is interested in the pilgrimage, may join.
May there be auspiciousness for the benefit of all sentient beings and long life to His Eminence!
Lama Tenzin Phuntsok, Resident Lama of the Ripa International Center and the RIC Team
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