27. februar 2013

Kyabje Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche's Long life ceremony

Video and Photo gallery of Kyabje Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche's Long life ceremony, emergence of 3 year Retreatants and 5 Khenpo title promotions!  

Dear Friends all over the world,
 On February 25th, the high Lamas and monastic assembly of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery paused in their performance of the White Amitayus drubchen in order to offer a Long Life ceremony, for the monastery's Vajra Master, Kyabjé Tsikey Chokling Mingyur Dewé Dorjé Rinpoche.
Adding to the auspiciousness of the day, 12 monks emerged from their three-year meditative retreat.
Equally propitious, Kyabjé Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche chose meritorious Chötrül Düchen to promote five remarkable monks to full “khenpoship.” 
For your enjoyment, you may view highlights from the five-hour Tenshuk ceremony here
(video and photo).

More details:

Early Monday morning, on February 25th, the high Lamas and monastic assembly of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery paused in their performance of the annual 9-day Great Accomplishment Sadhana of White Amitayus (Tsékar Drubchen) in order to offer a special "tenshuk," or Long Life ceremony, for the monastery's Vajra Master, Kyabjé Tsikey Chokling Mingyur Dewé Dorjé Rinpoche.

Born in the Year of the Water Snake in 1953, Kyabjé Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche will celebrate his 60th birthday in July this summer. Because Tibetan astrology suggests that the return of one's 'animal year,' in the 12-year cycle, may attract impediments, monasteries customarily perform certain rituals to help dispel any such obstacles for their treasured incarnate Lamas.
Kyabjés Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Phakchok Rinpoche and Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche led our entire family of monks, nuns and lay sangha — both local and international — in offering the very touching and beautiful Tenshuk ceremony.

One by one, representatives from all of the monasteries and nunneries connected to our incarnate Lamas made special Tenshuk offerings. Elaborate gold and silver mandala-offerings were made by the high Lamas and their immediate family members. Moreover, exquisite statues, stupas, scriptures and so forth, which symbolize enlightened Body, Speech, Mind, Quality and Activity, were also offered by Rangjung Yeshé Institute and by the various international Rangjung Yeshé Gomdés' representatives to Kyabjé Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche. Each and every offering was accompanied by heartfelt prayers for Rinpoche’s extremely long life and for his enlightened activity to remain unceasing for the benefit of all beings.

In addition to the more than 400 monks, nuns and lay people from all over the world participating in the White Amitayus drubchen, several thousand visitors appeared Monday morning to help celebrate the Tenshuk which took place on full moon, the 15th day of Chötrül Düchen, the Month of Miracles.

Adding to the auspiciousness of the day, 12 monks emerged from their three-year meditative retreat carried out under the close guidance of Kyabjé Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche at our extraordinary Asura Cave Retreat Centre. Imagine the delight of their families, friends and fellow monks who greeted these bearded, long-haired retreatants as they entered the shrine-room! None had been seen nor heard from by anyone, except Rinpoche, since November, 2009. For 3 years of intensive Buddhist practice, the monks adhered to ngakpa vows which prohibit the trimming of any bodily hair whatsoever during retreat.  However, soon the 12 retreatants will again be clean-shaven and return to everyday monastic life in our monastery.

Equally propitious, Kyabjé Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche chose meritorious Chötrül Düchen to promote five remarkable monks: Trokpa Tulku, Lodro Rabsel, Pema Namgyal, Urgyen Tenphel and Tsöndru Sangpo from their current standing as “lobpön,” which means “scholarly teacher,” to full “khenpoship."  Throughout their many years of academic training, these five monks, who were raised and educated in our monastery and its monastic shedra, consistently remained at the top of their classes. Therefore, in recent years Rinpoche assigned four of these monks to teach courses in advanced Buddhist studies to the Western students attending Rangjung Yeshé Institute. The fifth monk, Pema Namgyal, became the personal tutor of Kyabjé Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche and accompanies him everywhere.

Based on their brilliant qualifications and personal achievements, Rinpoche formally endowed each monk with the designation “khenpo” which means “professor” and is the equivalent of a “doctor of divinity” degree in Western terms.

The Tenshuk was a joyous occasion for one and all. Thereafter, the monastery offered a delicious banquet luncheon for everyone in attendance.

For your enjoyment, you may view highlights from the five-hour Tenshuk ceremony here:
Video
Photo gallery