Thanksgiving Retreat with Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche
Teachings on Longchenpa’s Aspiration Prayer
November 28-30, 2014
Schedule
Text
Registration is open (see right)
These twelve beautiful lines written by Longchenpa, the great 14th Century meditation master and scholar, and translated with commentary here by Kyabje Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, contain profound and practical advice for practitioners, young and experienced alike, on how to practice, lead our lives and make our aspirations towards enlightenment. In particular, they deal with the proper way to relate to the spiritual teacher, in the context of the profound method of Guru Yoga.
"This concise prayer is a truly valuable tool as we travel the Vajrayana path, especially for those of us unable to spend long hours doing practice every day." Lama Sonam Rinpoche
Join us to receive this special teaching from Lama Sonam Rinpoche, who was entrusted in 1999 by Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and Lama Tharchin Rinpoche to oversee the Vajrayana Foundation, Pema Osel Ling, where he currently resides.
"Lama Sonam has a very good heart and is noble and honest. He is also knowledgeable about practice. He is very efficient in a pure way and can analyze what is wrong and right in a beneficial way." Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche/Letter to Vajrayana Foundation - March 2000
Also, on Thanksgiving Day, from 1:30 - 3:30 pm., Lama Sonam Rinpoche will lead us in Dudjom Lingpa's pure land practice of Buddha Amitabha*, which will be followed by our annual Thanksgiving sangha dinner.
"Thanksgiving is a special day for loved ones to gather and for that reason it is positive. But it is also a time when many turkeys' lives are taken. We are doing this puja to pray that these turkeys be reborn in Amitabha's pureland. This practice will focus our compassion for them and all sentient beings, including our loved ones who may be ill or have passed away." Lama Sonam Rinpoche/2014
Please come to Pema Osel Ling for as much of these special events as your schedule permits.
To RSVP for the Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday 27th, click here
If you are not able to attend you may sponsor tsok, butterlamps or texts* in yours or loved ones' name(s) to connect to the Amitabha puja on Thanksgiving Day and/or this special retreat with Lama Sonam Rinpoche, during which we will offer tsok every day. (We will read all dedications during tsok.)
Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche is a Nyingmapa master of Tibetan Buddhism and known to many as Pema Osel Ling’s spiritual director. He trained under His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, amongst other sublime teachers, and received the complete teachings, empowerments and instructions on the Dudjom Tersar and other Nyingma traditions from many lamas and khenpos. His teachings, characterized by wisdom and compassion, go to the heart of the matter and have a practical bias. Scroll down for a more extensive biography.
Resident translator, Cyril Kassoff will translate.
*You can find Dudjom Lingpa's Amitabha Text, The Excellent Path to Omniscience, at Dharma Treasures Bookstore or download it from the Bero Jeydren page of the Vajrayana Foundation website if you would like to recite the practice at home. Also, we would like to make 15 shrine copies of the Amitabha puja available for guests and you can help make this possible by sponsoring one text for $10 or all 15 for $150 here writing "Amitabha text" in the purpose field.
We have copies of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche reciting this Amitabha practice on video. If you are interested in getting a video, email info@heartteachings.com for more information.
Biography: Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche
Lama Sonam Tsering is a Nyingmapa master of Tibetan Buddhism. At a very young age he began learning the scripture with his father. In 1959 his family settled in His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche camp in Orissa, India where he began his training in the Dudjom Tersar lineage, the two stages of creation and perfection. His studies included ritual arts, music, sacred dance and retreats. He received empowerments and instructions from great Nyingma lamas and also served as a Ritual Master (chopen) for many years.
Under the guidance of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Lama Sonam completed his extensive Buddhist education at the Ngagyur Shedrup Dodjo Ling. He received the complete teachings, empowerments and instructions on the Dudjom Tersar and other Nyingma traditions from many lamas and khenpos.
In 1984 Chagdud Rinpoche invited Lama Sonam to the United States. Over the years, he served as a resident lama at Dechen Ling Buddhist Center, Chagdud Gonpa, in Cottage Grove, Oregon.
In 1999, His Holiness Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and Lama Tharchin Rinpoche both entrusted Lama Sonam to oversee and guide the Vajrayana Foundation, Pema Osel Ling, where he currently resides.
Lama Sonam has an extraordinary ways of conveying the wisdom and compassion of the Buddhadharma to young people and adults alike. He is a humble practitioner with boundless energy for the dharma which he ceaselessly and joyfully applies for the benefit all beings.
Location:
Pema Osel Ling
2013 Eureka Canyon Road
Watsonville
,
CA 95076