Planned giving
Estate and Legacy DonationsGive the Gift that Creates Real Lasting Benefits
While you can’t take any of your possessions with you, you can reap the benefits of virtue and merit in future lives. Give the gift that keeps on giving for the benefit of yourself and all sentient beings to reach enlightenment.
Rinpoche often reminds us that nothing material follows us beyond this lifeābut the merit we accumulate through generosity does. By including Dzokden in your estate plans, you plant seeds of virtue that continue to ripen in future rebirths, benefiting yourself, your loved ones, and all sentient beings. Whether you give now or make arrangements for your legacy at the end of life, your kindness radiates into the world and helps bring about both temporary and permanent benefit of the Golden Age of Peace and Harmony to all beings and aspiration for the enlightenment of all sentient beings.
Reflect on Your Legacy and Impermanence
From encountering the wisdom of the Buddhaāand through our own study and practiceāwe recognize the truth of impermanence. Although it can be challenging to meditate on this every day, it is undeniable that our time will end. Facing this reality invites us to consider: What do we wish to leave behind? How can our deepest values continue after we are gone?
At Dzokden, we see planned giving as an expression of bodhichitta: placing the welfare of others and the flourishing of Dharma above our attachments. While money cannot accompany us into the bardo, the merit generated by supporting the Kalachakra teachings will. Your legacy gift becomes an ongoing source of blessings for all beings and will draw ripples of compassion through innumerable future lifetimes.
Why Include Dzokden in your Estate Planning
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Sowing Causes for Global Peace and Harmony
Dzokdenās mission is to bring Khentrul Rinpocheās vision of universal enlightenment into the world through the unique path of the Kalachakra Tantra. In a time of widespread confusion and suffering, these sacred instructions offer a clear map for personal transformation and collective harmony. By remembering Dzokden in your will, you help to:
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Ensure Kalachakra Wisdom Endures: Your gift sustains teaching programs, empowerments, and practice retreats so that Rinpocheās lineage remains accessible to sincere seekers.
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Support Future Generations: Funds go toward translations, publications, and digital outreachāmaking profound Dharma teachings available to busy modern lives across the globe.
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Nurture a Compassionate Community: Your generosity strengthens the network of practitioners dedicated to bringing about the second Golden Age on Earth.
As you consider your legacy, know that including Dzokden may also bring tax advantages in your jurisdiction. We recommend speaking with your attorney or financial planner to understand how best to align your personal goals with legal and tax considerations.
Khentrul Rinpoche encourages us that it is best to practice the paramita of generosity while alive, so that our practice can reap good karma and we can benefit beings sooner. But if you can’t let go, you need to think seriously. Don’t miss out on your last chance to practice generosity in this lifetime.
Support Khentrul Rinpoche’s Golden Age Aspiration
Since ancient times, the work of great Buddhist masters has depended on the generosity of disciples and patrons. Your legacy gift joins this time-honored tradition, supporting Rinpocheās lifeās mission: to introduce the world to the Kalachakra Tantra and generate the causes for global peace. Gifts to Dzokden directly fund our three flagship pillars based on Khentrul Rinpoche’s vision for the flourishing of the Jonang Kalachakra and Dzokden Dharma:
Education: Developing structured curricula, teaching programs, and online platforms so students can actualize the Kalachakra path through study and practice.
Manifestation & Actualization: Establishing retreat centers, fostering local and global practice networks, and supporting Enlightened Activities that integrate Dharma into everyday life.
Preservation: Translating and publishing core Jonang Kalachakra texts, safeguarding sacred art forms, and digitally archiving lineage instructions to ensure these teachings endure.
When you include Dzokden in your estate plan, you become an integral part of bringing this transformative path to countless beingsāboth now and in future generations.
Arrange Support for the Time of Death
Death Doulas – Prayer Services – Memorial Burials – Death Practice
Shar Khentrul Rinpoche has found the state of the death process in the modern world to be depressing. People do not know what is important to focus on when dying. The families fight for money and possessions and cry about why did they leave me, how can I live… No one focuses on what actually matters – which is the karmic purification of the person who passed away!
The moment of death offers a potent opportunity to actualize the Dharma, yet many Western practitioners are unsure which prayers and practices best support a peaceful transition. Dzokden provides guidance to help you or your loved ones prepare a Death Practice Plan that includes bedside meditations, mantra recitations, and purification of ashes, and memorials. We also connect you with qualified lamas to perform phowa and other rites that purify karma and guide consciousness toward a favorable rebirth. Written guides and audio recordings explain the stages of the bardo and techniques for maintaining mindfulness in the final moments.
Planning these arrangements in advance not only eases anxiety for your family but also creates optimal conditions for your consciousness to transition peacefully while generating merit for future generations.
Let us know what you need help with when you fill out our bequest form here!
How to Get Started
Creating or updating your will may feel overwhelming, but taking these simple steps can bring youāand your loved onesāpeace of mind. The causes of death are uncertain and this cherished body may die even today, so we must reflect with urgency and take steps.
Step 1.
Reflect on Your IntentionĀ Ā
Ask yourself: Who and what matter most? Perhaps itās family members, cherished friends, or the continuation of Dzokdenās mission if you are a dedicated Dharma student. Do you wish to invest in Samsara or Liberation? This is very important. You can die at any point. Also be clear on your own death preparation. The best time to plan for death is the practices you do while living.
You can print out our guide to use to reflect, discuss and prepare in your own time.Ā
Download Dzokden’s Guide to Dying Well.Ā
Step 2.
Discuss with Loved OnesĀ Ā
Sharing your wishes with family and close friends fosters understanding and prevents confusion later. Explaining your spiritual motivation can deepen their appreciation for your choices and ensure harmony when the time comes to carry out your will. Also it’s important to write down how you wish to die. If your family is not Buddhist they may not understand or know what to do when you pass away.Ā
*If you are a vajra yoga student please have a plan for all of your restricted materials but if you fail to please do not stress. Rinpoche doesn’t want anyone worrying about samsara at the moment of death.
Step 3.
Consult a ProfessionalĀ
Donation Planning –Ā Estate laws and tax codes vary by country and state. Engage a qualified attorney or financial advisor to draft a legally binding document that accurately reflects your intentions. They can also help minimize any tax liabilities, preserving more of your gift for Dzokdenās programs.
Death Doula – Consult with our Death Doula to help you prepare a Buddhist death or take one of our courses on death.
By following these three stepsāreflecting, communicating, and consultingāyou create a death plan that honors both your personal values and your commitment to the Dharma.
If You want to know your past life, look into your present condition.
If you want to know your future Life, Look at your present actions.
Guru Padmasambhava