Kalachakra Empowerment by Beru Kyense Rinpoche in Spain, May 2009

Karma Guen Buddhist Center is very happy to announce a great program for this years spring course. From end of May until June 7th we have the honor of welcoming H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje, the 2nd Beru Kyense Rinpoche, the 4th Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Lama Ole Nydahl at Karma Guen together with many eminent friends from around the world.

17th Karmapa, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Beru Khyentse Rinpoche

In Summer 2008 we had asked Gyalwa Karmpa for giving the Kalachakra empowerment at Karma Guen 2009. H.H. recommended us to contact Beru Kyense Rinpoche as he has a very good transmission of this empowerment. We are very happy that Beru Kyense Rinpoche accepted and agreed to give this empowerment. Since the Kalachakra Stupa was build in 1994, now 15 years ago, we find it a good way to celebrate that.

Kalachakra Stupa in Karma Guen

Followed the 12 year old Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche (son of Beru Kyense Rinpoche) will give the Buddha of Limitless Light (Amithaba) empowerment. And for the 21st time Lama Ole Nydahl will guide the 5 days Phowa course at Karma Guen.

On June 3rd, Gyalwa Karmapa will give the Gyalwa Gyamso empowerment, and then for the first time in Karma Guen Gyalwa Karmapa will give 3 days of teachings. H.H. has chosen the text by Shanti Deva for his teachings. On Sunday June 17th Gyalwa Karmapa will give the White Liberatrice (Tara) empowerment at the stupa in Benalmadena.

Stupa in Benalmadena

As you can see we will have a great program at Karma Guen this year and we look forward to welcoming all our many friends from around the world. On-Line registration will be soon available at the Karma Guen page.

The Events Schedule:

Sunday 24th of May 2009

Budda of Long Life Initiation by the 4th Jamgol Kongtrul Rinpoche

Location: Benalmadena Stupa

Wednesday 27th to Thursday 28th of May 2009

Kalachakra Initiation by the 2nd Beru Kyense Rinpoche

Location: Karma Guen

Friday 29th of May 2009

Buddha of Limitless Light Initiation by the 4th Jamgol Kongtrul Rinpoche

Location: Karma Guen

Friday 29th of May to Tuesday 2nd of June 2009

Phowa course by Lama Ole Nydahl

Location: Karma Guen

Wednesday 3rd of June 2009

Gyalwa Gyamso Initiation by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje

Location: Karma Guen

Thursday 4th to Saturday 6th of June 2009

Teachings by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje (Shanti Deva Text)

Location: Karma Guen

Sunday 7th of June 2009

White Liberatrice Initiation by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje

Location: Benalmadena Stupa

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Beru Khyentse Rinpoche

The 2nd Beru Khyentse was born in central Tibet in 1947 and, as a young monk, was recognized and enthroned by the 16th Karmapa. At the age of thirteen he led his monks and lay devotees from his monastery in Nangchen, out of Tibet, and established a community including monastery and retreat centre for them in Mainpat, India.

Rinpoche completed extensive studies in Buddhist philosophy and training in Vajrayana rituals, receiving instruction from many Lamas including Dzongsar Khenpo Chimey Rinpoche, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, the 16th Gyalway Karmapa, Khunu Rinpoche, His Holiness Sakya Trizin and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. After completing the traditional four-year retreat in the Karma Kamtsang tradition, Rinpoche established monasteries in Bodh Gaya and Kathmandu and the Nangchen monastery, nunnery, institute and three-year retreat centre in Tibet.
Rinpoche rebuilt the Sakya monastery, Nyenthang Tashigang, near his birthplace in Tibet and founded the Tharjay Charitable Foundation to sponsor bridges, schools, clinics and medical treatment for the nomads of eastern Tibet.

The past three decades Beru Khyentse Rinpoche has been teaching and travelling tirelessly around the world, presenting the Dharma in the spirit of non-sectarianism and in a manner suitable for all students from beginners to the most advanced practitioners.

The Khyentse Lineage

The 1st Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, 1820-1892, was one of the most important illuminators of Buddhism in Tibet. This great treasure revealer was born in east Tibet as an emanation of Manjushri and in previous lives had incarnated as many masters including the Indian Pandita Vimalamitra, the Tibetan King Trisondeutsen, Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen founder of the Sakyapa school, Gampopa, Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa. With his unsurpassable learning and realisation gained through study, practice and visions Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo was not confined to sect or school and propagated the Dharma impartially to all.

At the end of his life Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo’s mind was absorbed into the wisdom mind of Vimalamitra, from which five emanations of body, speech, mind, qualities and activities emanated simultaneously. Thus the speech emanation became the 1st Beru Khyentse, son of the King of Beru in east Tibet, the mind emanation Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the activity emanation Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro of Dzongsar.
 

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Bhutanese Object to the Commercialisation of Culture

Thankas (painted scrolls) as wall decorations, religious figures on calendars and T-shirts, and düngs (religious trumpets) as door handles — Bhutanese religious artifacts have found novel functions today.

While these roles are admired and gel well with the cultural diversity of Bhutan, Bhutanese cultural experts believe that these religious artifacts should be kept in appropriate places.

According to experts, the only place for religious icons like thankas and düngs is the altar room. “Of course, the düng is a musical instrument, but using it for decoration is not appropriate nor is hanging thanka everywhere. You should respect it as it’s only used for religious purposes,” says the culture secretary Dasho Sangay Wangchug.

But using religious figures on calendars, says the secretary, has both pros and cons. He said that it’s good as it makes people understand better, but bad when the calendars are dumped after their use is over.

Do we commercialise culture by using religious icons as decorative pieces?

Observers feel that, although cultures do evolve over time in response to the needs of the time, the political will and popular determination to preserve culture should adequately curb cultural dilution.

“It’s in our hands to preserve the sanctity of our religious art, which we know has no connection with individual expression but rather is guided by religious regulations and considered sacred,” says a Thimphu resident, Tshering Dolkar.

“However, if we choose to commercialise it, we’re to blame if it’s abused by buyers, who may not necessarily share our sentiments but view the items as beautiful aesthetic pieces for decoration.”

Says another observer, who works in an international organisation, “I’m hurt when religious icons are used in the wrong place with the wrong connotation. Using them in public places is one way of promoting it, but I still feel there is some need of restriction required.”

A corporate employee feels that the value of religious figures diminishes when used in calendars. “It may be effective, but once they see it everywhere, you stop feeling the sacredness of these symbols.”

What we need at this time, say observers and culture officials, is an intervention by the government. “There are no rules and regulations in place now. We need to have some guidance in place to direct people, to make people aware that religion should be respected and to consult if they don’t know,” says Dasho Sangay Wangchug.

By Sonam Pelden, kuenselonline.com

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Dalai Lama Opens Inter-Religious Symposium in Sarnath

Varanasi, India, January 7: His Holiness the Dalai Lama today arrived in Sarnath, Varanasi, where he is scheduled to give a week-long teachings from tomorrow on “Kamalashila’s The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa) and Shantideva’s A Guide To the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (chodjug)”.

His Holiness inaugurated a six-day world religious symposium in Bhavnagar district in western Indian state of Gujarat yesterday. His Holiness considers promotion of religious harmony as one of his three commitments. The Tibetan leader said it is very important to practice religious tolerance for a peaceful world and that all religious faiths preach the same goals. Also present at the symposium was Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of the exile Tibetan government.

Tibetan sweater sellers from nearby cities attended the opening function to get blessing of His Holiness.

After the teachings in Sarnath near the Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, the Tibetan leader will attend the opening session of the “International Conference on Buddhism and Science” beginning January 16, 2009.

Source: www.phayul.com

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Pictures from Kagyu Monlam 2008

The Great Kagyu Monlam of 2008 took place at Bodhgaya from 1st December to 7th December.

The purpose of Kagyu Monlam is doing aspiration prayers for the benefit of others. It was told by Nagarjuna that if aspiration prayers are done together with great bodhisattvas, the resulting prayer is so powerful that it can avert natural disasters and can remove all kinds of bad karma.

Reciting aspiration prayers is also tremendously important in order to give the full meaning of this precious human body. That’s why to be in Bodhgaya and to make these prayers is a great opportunity, as planting the seed of enlightenment in one’s mind.

The tradition of these great Monlam was established in Tibet in the eighth century. During the following centuries these gatherings grew more and more popular. In the 13th century the 3rd Karmapa introduced the monlam to the Kagyu Lineage. The first Kagyu Monlam in exile with the 17th Karmapa took place in 1996, in Bodhgaya and was conducted by the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje and Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. Today, representatives of the four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism are making prayers in Bodhgaya.

Article by H. H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa about Kagyu Monlam read here.

Pictures from Kagyu Monlam 2008:

Beru Khyentse Rinpoche’s monastery
Read more »

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