2024 Kstigarbha Blessing Empowerment and Puja

This event is available both Online and In-person.

Khentrul Rinpoche has agreed to bestow the empowerment Kstigarbha and perform a Puja at the request of the Chinese language group.

Kṣitigarbha is one of the four principal bodhisattvas in East Asian Mahayana Buddhism, alongside Samantabhadra, Manjusri, and Avalokiteśvara. His name translates to “Earth Treasury”. Kṣitigarbha is renowned for his vow to instruct all beings in the six worlds between Gautama Buddha’s death and Maitreya’s rise. He also vowed not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied. As a result, he is often seen as the bodhisattva of hell-beings, as well as the guardian of children and the patron deity of deceased children and aborted fetuses in Japanese culture.

BENEFITS OF THE PRACTICE
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Pūrvapraṇidhāna Sūtra outlines the merits of practicing with Kṣitigarbha. The sutra suggests that those who follow its teachings will attain inconceivable merits and benefits. This practice can also aid in dissolving immeasurable negative karma.

Protected by the Naga Kings.                           Merits increase daily.

Gather the causes of the saints.                       Bodhi does not degenerate.

Clothing and food are abundant.                       Diseases do not approach.

Away from water and fire disasters.                  No thieves and misfortunes.

Being respected.                                               Gods and ghosts assist and help.

Rebirth into men.                                               Become powerful and influential princess. 

With upright and good looks.                             Often born in heaven.

Become an emperor.                                         Innate wisdom.

All requests are granted.                                    Relatives and family are joyful.

All obstacles are eliminated.                               Escape from the karmic world.

All places are accessible.                                   Dreams at night are peaceful.

The deceased are free from suffering.               Receive blessings in future lives.

All saints praise.                                                  Intelligent and sharp-witted.

Full of compassionate and loving kindness.       Ultimately attain Buddhahood.

Kṣitigarbha Puja during Qingming Festival
Kṣitigarbha is a highly revered manifestation of the Buddha among the Chinese due to his significant vows to protect those in the lower realms. This is particularly important to the Chinese, who are concerned about their ancestors who may have been reborn in the lower realms. During the Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day (and sometimes referred to as Chinese Memorial Day or Ancestors’ Day), which is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated by ethnic Chinese across Asia, Kṣitigarbha Puja is a common practice and holds significant relevance for Chinese Buddhists.

WHO CAN ATTEND
There are no formal prerequisites.

SPONSOR THE PUJAS
Many people enjoy watching various Pujas online performed by Lamas believing they are receiving a huge benefit. It is also common in the West for people to ask a lama to pray for them without making any offering or having a personal connection. While, as one of all sentient beings, you are connected to the results of the Puja made for the benefit of all sentient beings, the karmic connection is incredibly weak, and therefore so is the result. Normally during certain times in one’s life when a Puja or prayers are required to clear various karmic debts, obstacles, or karmically-based illness, it is customary to make financial offerings to the Lama for prayers and Pujas. This creates a stronger Karmic connection to the Puja, which creates a stronger karmic result.

Kstigarbha Blessing Empowerment and Puja Sponsorship and Offer Candles for Loved Ones

SCHEDULE BY TIMEZONE

Central Europe and South Africa
SATURDAY April 6, 2024
7:00 AM – Teaching Empowerment
10:00 AM – Puja and Teaching

HOW DO THE ONLINE EMPOWERMENTS WORK
1) Register for each attendee who will be receiving the empowerment. You will receive a confirmation email. All of our online events use the Dzokden Learning Center. If you are not already enrolled in it, you will be invited to learn.dzokden.org
2) You will receive access to Zoom for each of the sessions. We do not offer pre-recorded empowerments. Khentrul Rinpoche asks that you receive the blessing in real-time. We do not put up any video recordings of Jenang (blessing), Wang (empowerment) or oral transmissions. Any teachings or puja will be recorded and shared.

OFFERING OF DANA AND SPONSORSHIP
It’s customary for students to make an offering of Dana to the guru at the end of empowerment. As this is an online event, you can make the offering of Dana to Rinpoche here

QUESTIONS?
Please email [email protected]