2010 - Orissa India

January 10th - 22nd, 2010

Rigon Thupten Mindrolling ~ Monastery Opening

The Ripa Ladrang Foundation is pleased to bring you news of the Inauguration Ceremonies and Retreat that was held at the Ripa - Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery in Orissa, India. This was truly a global event with dignitaries from the Tibetan and Indian governments, honored Rinpoches and Monastics and many lay participants from around the globe coming together for this very auspicious occasion. His Holiness the Dali Lama had graciously agreed to conduct the formal opening ceremonies and his arrival, teachings and blessings were truly the pinnacle moments for all of us.  The arrival of His Holiness by helicopter was like the flight of a beautiful Garuda carrying such a precious manifestation of Chenrezig into our world. The Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery has been in place, serving the community, since 1968 when Ripa Tulku Rigzin Chogyal Rinpoche and Terton Namkha Drimey Rabjam Rinpoche built a provisional monastery.  His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed the monastery and named it Thupten Mindrolling.  In November 1988, His Holiness inaugurated a new concrete version of the monastery which was better able to support the ever expanding work of the Ripa Lineage and assuage the industriousness of the local termites. Through the needs of the time, an ever expanding monk and lay community, this new large Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery has come to be built and blessings once again have flowed from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

(Buddha statue, HHDL throne, main hall) 

For many of the Western students, who have made pilgrimages to Orissa in the past, the sight of the new Monastery was overwhelming – hundreds of monks rooms, a beautiful new main Gompa and spaciousness for the work of the Dharma to proceed. The design and workmanship is exquisite with the very finest sculptors and painters having come from Bhutan and Nepal to dress the Gompa. A view from the Front Gate ~~ The monastery is surrounded by perimeter walls.  As you approach from the front there are a series of steps up to the gated doorway and then a long courtyard painted with the eight auspicious symbols, leading up to the Gompa, Surrounding all three sides are monk quarters, class rooms, a kitchen and dining halls.  Landscaping surrounds the monastery exterior and sections of the courtyard. Graciously, the monks moved out of their rooms to allow the Western guests accommodations.  They moved into the older monastery down the road – a much smaller accommodation for them and an opportunity for Western students to appreciate the simplicity of a monk’s quarters! The Western students were very grateful for this expression of generosity.

For this occasion, the entire monastery grounds had been decorated.  Beautiful banners, flags, red seating mats with garlands and garlands of flowers and prayer flags hanging everywhere.  The front gate had banners celebrating the arrival of His Holiness and welcoming him on behalf of all the local communities and officials.

The main event was the Inauguration Ceremony from January 10th – 14th. After that, the Ripa Masters graciously agreed to conduct a one week retreat.  During retreat, teachings would be given by all three Ripa Masters, Terton Namkha Drimey Rabjam Rinpoche, Dungsey Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche and Dungsey Dechen Gyurme Rinpoche in the beautiful Gesar Temple in the top of the Gompa.  Those who stayed after the inauguration for retreat felt a special kinship with this land and monastery to be practicing so soon after its inauguration.

Week One: Inauguration Ceremonies 10-15 January 2010 January 10th, 2010  

Final Preparation and the arrival of hundreds of guests from around the world. January 11th, 2010 - Formal Arrival and Greeting of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Bhubaneshwer airport, reception held with Dungsey Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, accompanied by the President of the local Tibetan Assembly and the Settlement Officer at the state guest house. His Holiness departed Bhubaneshwar by helicopter and arrived at the helipad, Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement, and then proceeded by motorcade to his private residency at Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery. Terton Namkha Drimey Rabjam Rinpoche and  Dungsey Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, with the organizing committee, offer mandala and welcoming tea. The arrival of His Holiness was filled with incredible amounts of excitement and anticipation.  He flew in from Bhubaneshwar and traveled a short distance through the settlement by car to the monastery entrance. Terton Namkha Drimey Rabjam Rinpoche exchanged Katas with His Holiness and they went up the stairs through the gates of the monastery and into the private quarters on the second floor of the Gompa for the luncheon.  The roads were packed with people, everyone cheering, waving flags and banners.  The Indian police were ever present guarding and protecting His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

(His Eminence and His Holiness greeting) 

In the afternoon, His Holiness visited CST Chandragiri and addressed the students and teachers. His Holiness also attended religious exhibitions organized by Rigon Thupten Mindrolling monastery and an exhibition on organic farming by the Settlement office. January 12th, 2010 –  His Holiness performed the inaugural ceremony of the Padmasambhava Mahavihara. He lit the butter lamp and ascended the golden throne.

(New throne for His Holiness, the Dalai Lama) 

At this point in the ceremonies, many of us were waiting inside the Gompa for His Holiness to cut the ribbon and swing open the main doors of the monastery Gompa.  It was a very moving moment when His Holiness entered and went to his golden throne.  Such an extraordinary event. One of His Holiness’ greatest wishes is for the continued propagation of the Tibetan culture and Buddhist practice.  This monastery stands tribute to the generosity of its Patrons and the heartfelt wishes of His Holiness and the Ripa Masters. In the afternoon His Holiness arrived on the dais for the afternoon public program. The National Anthem was sung by local school students and speeches were given by the local authorities for the Tibetan government.  Cultural and traditional dances were performed celebrating Indian, Orissa and Tibetan dance styles.

January 13th – 2010  His Holiness confers the empowerment “Guru Guheya samaja Amhisheka from the discovered treasury of teacher Guru Chowang. His Holiness presides over the Gana Chakra Tsok feast from Terton Namkha Rinpoche’s mind treasure of Guru Sadhana. A ceremonial mandala offering of gratitude to His Holiness was lead by the Ripa Masters and settlement officials. In the afternoon, His Holiness consecrated the Stupa of Enlightenment built on the settlement grounds and takes his departure via helicopter.

Week Two: Retreat 17- 21 January 2010 

After a few days of rest and the arrival of any new retreat participants, the group was ready to begin formal retreat.  Mornings were Ngondro practice in the Gompa.  The view from the Gesar Temple was vast across all the farming lands around the community.  The sky still dark with morning fog – a good view for turning the mind to practice.  Afternoons and evenings were teachings with some working meetings for students supporting the Ripa International, Ripa Ladrang and Padma Ling Foundations. Terton Namkha Drimey Rabjam Rinpoche’s first teaching was on the preciousness of our opportunities, the impermanence of existence and the need for us to practice with diligence and devotion.  He then began a series of teachings on the life of Gesar, the Warrior King of Tibet. As there were many new students attending retreat, His Eminence graciously asked Dungsey Dechen Gyurme Rinpoche to come each evening for open question and answer sessions on the dharma. This was vastly beneficial and often humorous.  Over the course of the five days, the students deepened their understanding of Guru Padmasambhava and the life of King Gesar.

After commencement of closing ceremonies attendees journeyed back to their respective countries.

Those in attendance will go back to their daily lives – monks, householders, craftsmen, writers, graphic artists, photographers, computer programmers, project managers, CEO’s, - having witnessed and participated in a coming together on such a grand scale of art, beauty and diversity in peoples as not conventionally gathered. 

The positive impact this event and its teaching will have on generations to come will be extraordinary. 

MAY ALL BEINGS BE ENLIGHTENED!! MAY THE MASTERS LIVE LONG!!

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