The Water Horse Year is certainly starting with many auspicious ceremonies,
prayers and pujas. We have just received news from His Eminence Namkha
Drimed Rinpoche and Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche in India and wanted to share
it will all of you.
Starting February 22nd, a 10-day Drubchen begins of the Tagsham Cycle
of Enlightenment / the Yidam Gongdu in Orissa, India at the Monastery.
Since most of our daily practices from His Eminence come from the Tagsham
Cycle (Guru Rinpoche, Yeshe Tsogyal, Ngondro, etc.), these ten days of
very high Drubchen are important to the sangha of Ripa Ladrang. During
this time we will be joining in by celebrating and doing specific practices
on certain days. This is a very special, powerful and auspicious time
to do our practices.
H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche was that being Tagsham, known historically
as Tagsham Nudan Dorje or "Samten Lingpa" who was also a Terton.
He discovered the huge cycle of enlightenment now known as the Yidam Gongdu
or Tagsham Cycle. It was also upon the treasure discoveries of Samten
Lingpa that such books as "Skydancer", the autobiography of
Yeshe Tsogyal, were based. Samten Lingpa's treasure discoveries were vast,
a substantial portion of which were major findings about the life of Yeshe
Tsogyal. Thus our Ripa lineage is very closely and directly linked to
Yeshe Tsogyal through our teacher Namkha Drimed Rinpoche as he also was
Arya Sale, one of the primary consorts of Yeshe Tsogyal.
Schedule of Practices
Friday, February 22 - Guru Rinpoche Day - Guru Rinpoche Practice
Today we will be doing Guru Rinpoche practice, The Unelaborate Sphere
of the Heart. If you have not received this practice and would like to
join us, please share by reciting the Guru Rinpoche mantra. If your local
Sangha is holding a group meeting, you should have received notification
already.
Wednesday, February 27 - "Chotrol Duchen" Day - Ngondro Practice
Chotrol Duchen is one of the 4 Great Buddhist Festivals in a year, linked
to the special enlightened activities of Buddha Shakyamuni. Karmically,
the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 10 million
times. This also marks the end of the 15 day Lhosar period celebrating
the 15 days on which, in order to increase the merit and to aid the devotion
of future disciples, Buddha displayed a different miracle each day. We
will be doing our Ngondro practice on this day, reciting many Vajrasattva
mantras. New Your Area Group Ngondro Practice - there will be group practice
the evening of 27th, at the home of a practictioner in Greenwich, CT from
7:30pm to 9:30pm. If you would like to join us, please RSVP to ripasangha@hotmail.com
for directions. A TSOK feast will be offered.
Sunday, March 3rd - Yeshe Tsogyal Celebration - Yeshe Tsogyal Practice
Today we will celebrating the 10 day Drubchen with a special emphasis
on Yeshe Tsogyal. If you have received this empowerment, please join us
all by doing your practice on Sunday. If you have not received this practice,
again, you can join in by simply reading something about her life from
any of many books available. Sky Dancer is an excellent one, or just thoughts
celebrating the Dakini spirit. New York Area Group Yeshe Tsogyal Party
- for those of you in the New York Area, we will be holding a party Sunday,
March 3rd from 11am to 2pm, located at a practitioner's home in White
Plains area. Please RSVP to ripasangha@hotmail.com
if you can join us for this party . It will start with a short set of
Yeshe Tsogyal mantras and readings from SkyDancer and then - delicious
food, fun and rejoicing!
Mantras
Guru Rinpoche
OM AH HUNG VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG
Ngondro - 100 Syllable Mantra
OM VAJRASATTVA SAMAYA
MANU PALAYA
VAJRASATTVA TENOPA
TIK'HRA DHRI DO ME BHAWA
SUTO KAYO ME BHAWA
ANU RAKTO ME BHAWA
SUPO KAYO ME BHAWA
SARWA SIDDHI MEM PRA YATZ TSA
SARWA KARMA SUTZA ME
TZITTAM SHRIYA KURU HUNG
HA HA HA HA HO BHAGAWAN
SARWA TATHAGATA VAJRA MA ME MUNTZA
VAJRA BHAWA MAHA SAMAYA
SATTVA AH
We are all privileged to have the blessing of His Eminence, his son Jigme
Rinpoche and the Monks and Lamas of the Rigon Thupten Mindolling Monastery
to continue to create such acts of enlightened mind and heart in this
troubled world. May all beings flourish!
The Ripa Ladrang Board,
Iris Anderson, Chris Jones, Michael Reid, Myriah McGorrill
