Amitabha Empowerment, Teachings, and Special Puja for the Deceased

Each year to commemorate the passing of His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche into the Pure Realms, Venerable Lama Tsang Tsing offers a series of special events culminating in a Puja of Blessing for the Deceased. This profound Puja is rarely performed in the West and carries a great blessing for the deceased. Venerable Lama Tsang Tsing offers this Puja each year for the benefit of all beings in general, and for the local community and KDC Sangha in particular. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to benefit loved ones who have passed away (especially during the past year) at KDC's annual Amitabha Puja for the Deceased. As described in detail below, your donations are highly auspicious and an important component of the Puja.

Amitabha Empowerment

Saturday, May 8, 2:00 p.m.(Arrive by 1:45 p.m.)

The Empowerment authorizes one for the meditation of Buddha Amitabha, "Infinite Light." The Refuge Vow is required and will be offered prior to the Empowerment.

$20 general ($15 KDC members).

Amitabha Practice

Sunday, May 9, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Arrive by 8:45 a.m.)

The Amitabha sutra states that even to hear the name of Amitabha is cause to be reborn in the Pure Land of Dewachen. Amitabha practice carries a great blessing and is easy to accomplish. Venerable Lama Tsang Tsing has accomplished many long Amitabha retreats; this is an excellent opportunity to practice with him. The Empowerment is required.

$30 general ($25 KDC members). Text $10.

Amitabha Special Puja for the Deceased

Sunday, May 9, approximately 2:30 p.m.
Please arrive between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m.

This Puja is extremely helpful when performed for the benefit of one who has died. After dying, due to karma and habitual patterns, we have no control over our future rebirth, and we are driven by the power of our previous actions. This profound Puja purifies negativities and obscurations and liberates the deceased from samsara, leading to rebirth in the Pure Land of Dewachen. Names of deceased and donations may be submitted by anyone who has had a family member or friend die recently or long ago. It is traditional to make a monetary offering along with the names, because due to the auspiciousness of interdependence, the merit of the offering accomplishes the welfare of the deceased. Please submit the names along with monetary donations in advance.

Chenrezig Empowerment

Saturday, May 29, 2:00 p.m. (Arrive by 1:45 p.m.)

Chenrezig is the principal deity in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, whose essence is love and compassion. This Empowerment is a blessing ceremony that authorizes one to do the meditation practice of Chenrezig. By doing the meditation of Chenrezig, which is part of the regular KDC meditation schedule, one develops love and compassion for all. The Refuge Vow is required and will be offered prior to the Empowerment.

$20 general ($15 KDC members)

Chenrezig Teaching and Practice

Sunday, May 30, 9:00-4:00 p.m. (Arrive by 8:45 a.m.)

His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche taught, “Chenrezig represents the union of love and compassion of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Meditation on Chenrezig develops that love and compassion in practitioners, thus leading to the realization of emptiness, the ultimate nature. That is why I chose this yidam for Western students.” Participants must have received the Empowerment.

$30 general ($25 KDC members). Text $8

$20 general ($15 KDC members)

Seven-Point Mind Training: Mahayana Great Compassion, Teaching and Practice
Lama Sonam Dargye (Tony Albino)

Sunday, June 27, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Arrive by 8:45 a.m.)

This Mahayana tradition of mental transformation was brought to Tibet in the 11th century by the great Indian teacher Atisha. It is cherished by all schools of Tibetan Buddhism and considered indispensable for one's Dharma practice to bear fruit. Renowned for its universal and pragmatic approach, it gleans all of the Mahayana teachings to seven basic points and shows how to apply them to one's life. Includes teaching, meditation, and discussion.

$30 general ($25 KDC members)

Special All-Day Puja for Buddha's First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

Thursday, July 15, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Arrive by 8:45 a.m.)

The Turning of the Wheel of Dharma is one of the Four Great Festivals of the year related to the life of Sakyamuni Buddha and celebrates the Buddha's first teaching on the Four Noble Truths. During this period of time, the effects of positive and negative actions are multiplied 100,000 times; therefore, Venerable Lama Tsang Tsing will lead the KDC Sangha in the practice of the Monlam Choga ("The Complete Flowering of Activity to Benefit Others") compiled by His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche.

The Monlam Choga includes a Tsok (Vajra feast offering). Any donations for shrine offerings and Tsok result in great merit and should be made in advance if possible. Venerable Lama Tsang Tsing encourages all who can to participate. People planning to attend Puja are encouraged to participate for the full day and should arrive by 8:45 a.m. There will be a mid-day lunch break; you are welcome to bring your own lunch and eat at the Center. If you would like to prepare the mid-day meal for the Lamas or would like to provide the meal through a donation, please contact Kathleen Epstein at (541) 746-6459 to make arrangements.

The Pecha for this Puja has been translated into English and transliterated, so all can participate. This extensive Pecha is ninety pages long and includes many additional prayers, such as the Long Dewachen prayer, which can be used elsewhere. Pechas will be available for purchase for $15.

Annual Mahamudra Retreat
Lama Sonam Dargye (Tony Albino)

Friday, July 30 to Sunday, August 8

Lama Sonam (Tony Albino) will lead KDC's annual Mahamudra Retreat, to be held at a private, country site near Eugene blessed by many High Lamas. All students able to make the practice commitment are welcome to receive the teachings and transmissions, based on the Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Certainty, a key text in the Mahamudra tradition. Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche designed the retreat and its accompanying program of meditation practice to meet the needs of lay practitioners including newcomers. Vast and profound, Mahamudra is the pinnacle of the Kagyu Lineage, and embodies the deep meaning of all the sutras and the tantras; instructions in Mahamudra can only be obtained from a qualified Lama.

Lama Sonam Dargye completed the traditional three-year retreat in 1989 under the guidance of Venerable Lama Tsang Tsing. Due to his training and qualities, Lama Sonam has Venerable Lama Tsang Tsing's complete confidence to lead the retreat.

The retreat will include time for group and individual practice as well as group teachings with question-and-answer periods. The daily schedule begins at 6:00 a.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m. and includes Chenrezig and Mahakala Pujas each afternoon. All participants are asked to commit to a year-long program of daily meditation practice to the best of their abilities. Friday afternoon, July 30, is arrival day and orientation. The schedule of teachings and practice begins Saturday morning and concludes Sunday, August 8.

The cost of the retreat is $400 ($300 for KDC members of six months or more) and includes three meals per day and instruction. Participants will be asked to assist the cook for a short period each day, but no one will thereby miss teachings or practice sessions. Accommodations will be in tents with an outdoor privy and a sheltered shower facility.

The retreat is limited to twelve persons. To reserve your place in the retreat, please send a $100 deposit payable to KDC by May 30. Deposits are non-refundable because advance purchases are made from the time your deposit is received. The retreat must be paid in full by July 15. For information please call Lama Sonam, (541) 747-8634, or Lama Kunzang, (541) 485-3961 between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

$400 ($300 for KDC members of six months or more)

Milarepa Empowerment

Saturday, August 14, 2:00 p.m. (Arrive by 1:45 p.m.)

Milarepa is widely regarded as Tibet's greatest yogi. Through diligent Dharma practice he achieved full enlightenment in one lifetime. The Buddha stated that whoever hears the name of Milarepa receives an immediate blessing and will not take rebirth in a lower state of existence for seven consecutive lifetimes. The blessings received from the Milarepa Empowerment will help the Dharma practitioner quickly attain results from their daily meditation practice; therefore, any student of the Dharma is highly encouraged to take this Empowerment. The Refuge Vow is required and will be offered by Lama before the Empowerment.

$20 general ($15 KDC members)

Milarepa Teaching and Practice

Sunday, August 15, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Arrive by 8:45 a.m.)

Lama will give instructions on doing the practice of Milarepa as a daily meditation. The day will conclude with a Milarepa Tsok. This Tsok is offered in memory of Kyabje Dorje Chang Bokar Rinpoche, who passed into the Pure Realms on August 17, 2004. Monetary Tsok donations are also welcome and bring benefit to the donor.

$30 general ($25 KDC members)
Text $10. Some Shrine copies will be available.

White Tara Empowerment

Saturday, August 28, 2:00 p.m. (Arrive by 1:45 p.m.)

White Tara is one of the main long-life deities. White Tara's practice is imbued with many blessings and is easy to accomplish. White Tara was one of His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche's main yidam practices and is also a principal practice of many other High Kagyu Lamas. The Refuge Vow is required and will be offered by Lama before the Empowerment.

$20 general ($15 KDC members)

White Tara Teaching and Practice

Sunday, August 29, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Arrive by 8:45 a.m.)

Through Tara meditation practice one receives the blessings and protection of Tara, and all suffering and obstacles are pacified. Among Tara's many forms, White Tara's main activity is to bestow the blessing of long life. A long life enables one to progress on the path of Dharma and achieve the state of Buddhahood for the benefit of self and others. The practice of White Tara is brief, easy to accomplish, and carries a great blessing. Participants must have received the White Tara Empowerment.

$30 general ($25 KDC members)
The practice text is included in the cost.