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.
Melbourne, Australia SATURDAY April 6, 2024 4:00 PM – Teaching Empowerment
7:00 PM – Puja and Teaching
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mongolia, Singapore and Taiwan
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mongolia, Singapore and Taiwan SATURDAY April 6, 2024 1:00 PM – Teaching Empowerment
4:00 PM – Puja and Teaching
Central Europe and South Africa
Central Europe and South Africa SATURDAY April 6, 2024 7:00 AM – Teaching Empowerment
10:00 AM – Puja and Teaching
São Paulo, Brazil
Sao Paulo, Brazil SATURDAY April 6, 2024 2:00 AM – Teaching Empowerment
5:00 AM – Puja and Teaching
East Coast USA, Toronto
East Coast USA, Toronto SATURDAY April 6, 2024 1:00 AM – Teaching Empowerment
4:00 AM – Puja and Teaching
West Coast USA
West Coast USA FRIDAY April 5, 2024 10:00 PM – Teaching Empowerment SATURDAY April 6, 2024
1:00 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 tolearn.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 Rinpochehere
This is an incredible opportunity to learn how to practice pujas to generate vast amounts of merit and purification. In Vajrayana there are many types of burnt offering pujas that utilize fire. They can be sorted into 3 main categories, Sur (smell offering), Sang Chö (smoke offering), and Jinsek (fire offering). All of these practices have incredibly profound meaning at their core which creates the conditions for the accumulation of both merit and wisdom simultaneously. While each practice invites the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, dharma protectors, local deities, and beings of the 6 realms amongst all others to the practice, they have different focuses for the karma they are working with.
Khentrul Rinpoche has kindly agreed to teach us about these three types of fire offerings. He has composed and arranged compositions of these pujas that a student can do in an extensive and also a simple form at home after this workshop. On Sunday he will perform the king of Fire Pujas, the peaceful Kalachakra Fire puja written by Bamda Gelek Gyatso and Lama Lutrin. This one is larger and more extensive then what we he will teach us how to perform for ourselves.
The 3 Offering Practices
Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs
The Sur is a smell offering that uses fire to burn a collection of offerings to create a sent offering. The main focus is all the bardo beings, hungry ghosts, whoever has incredible suffering, and whomever we have a karmic debt to. This is commonly used as an offering to purify our own and our ancestor’s karmic debt for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings
While this one invites all the buddha, bodhisattvas and deities the main emphasis is on the local deities and dharma protectors. The sang chö (smoke) offering helps to clear karmic obstacles in our samsaric life in to have a precious human birth to practice dharma.
Jinsek Dropan Gyatso – The Ocean of Benefits
There are many types of Jinsek but they all focus on purification. There is extensive offering with many different substances made into the fire that is each linked to creating different beneficial results. This creates the condition to purify anybody’s negative karma and their body.
Practical Workshop Includes:
-Teaching on the different types of fire Pujas Sur, Sang Chö and Jinsek -Demonstration of how to do each type of Puja at home in a simple form -Instructions and prayers so you can practice them yourself -There will be an opportunity for questions and sharing throughout the two days -Audios of the chanting of the 3 Fire Pujas -List of Ingrediants and Supplies You will need to do the Pujas -Instructions on How to set up a fire for the different types of pujas
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.
The form is not published.
Schedule by Timezone
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne, Australia SATURDAY May 18, 2024 9:00 AM – Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs Puja 10:30 AM – Short Commentary on the Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs 12:00 – Lunch 1:00 PM – Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings 2:30 PM – Short commentary on Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings SUNDAY May 19, 2024 10:00 AM – Kalachakra King of Fire Pujas Jinsek (more extensive then the Jinsek Dropan Gyatso 12:30 PM – Lunch 1:30 PM – Commentary and instructions on how to do Jinsek Dropan Gyatso – The Ocean of Benefits
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mongolia, Singapore and Taiwan
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mongolia, Singapore and Taiwan
SATURDAY May 18, 2024 7:00 AM – Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs Puja 8:30 AM – Short Commentary on the Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs 11:00 AM – Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings 12:30 PM – Short commentary on Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings SUNDAY May 19, 2024 8:00 AM – Kalachakra King of Fire Pujas Jinsek (more extensive then the Jinsek Dropan Gyatso 11:30 AM – Commentary and instructions on how to do Jinsek Dropan Gyatso – The Ocean of Benefits
Central Europe and South Africa
Central Europe and South Africa SATURDAY May 18, 2024 1:00 AM – Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs Puja
2:30 AM – Short Commentary on the Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs 5:00 AM – Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings 6:30 AM – Short commentary on Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings SUNDAY May 19, 2024 2:00 AM – Kalachakra King of Fire Pujas Jinsek (more extensive then the Jinsek Dropan Gyatso 5:30 AM – Commentary and instructions on how to do Jinsek Dropan Gyatso – The Ocean of Benefits
São Paulo, Brazil
Sao Paulo, Brazil FRIDAY May 17, 2024 8:00 PM – Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs Puja 9:30 PM – Short Commentary on the Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs
SATURDAY May 18, 2024 12:00 AM – Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings 1:30 AM – Short commentary on Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings 9:00 PM – Kalachakra King of Fire Pujas Jinsek (more extensive then the Jinsek Dropan Gyatso
SUNDAY May 19, 2024 12:30 AM – Commentary and instructions on how to do Jinsek Dropan Gyatso – The Ocean of Benefits
East Coast USA, Toronto
East Coast USA, Toronto
FRIDAY May 17, 2024 7:00 PM – Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs Puja
8:30 PM – Short Commentary on the Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs 11:00 PM – Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings
SATURDAY May 18, 2024 12:30 AM – Short commentary on Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings 8:00 PM – Kalachakra King of Fire Pujas Jinsek (more extensive then the Jinsek Dropan Gyatso 11:30 PM – Commentary and instructions on how to do Jinsek Dropan Gyatso – The Ocean of Benefits
West Coast USA
West Coast USA
FRIDAY May 17, 2024 4:00 PM – Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs Puja 5:30 PM – Short Commentary on the Sur Dotgu Kuntsol – The Gift of All Needs 8:00 PM – Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings 9:30 PM – Short commentary on Sang Chodtrun Gyatso – The Ocean of Offerings
SATURDAY May 18, 2024 5:00 PM – Kalachakra King of Fire Pujas Jinsek (more extensive then the Jinsek Dropan Gyatso 8:30 PM – Commentary and instructions on how to do Jinsek Dropan Gyatso – The Ocean of Benefits
How does an Online Course Work?
Pre-recorded Course Materials You will receive the link to the course in the Dzokden learning center. Before the course starts some videos and information will be there on how to practice in a simple way at home. Live Course Materials The course will be held through “Zoom“. In order to access the sessions, you need to download the Zoom App onto the device through which you want to join. We will provide you with the Zoom link (as well as Zoom Meeting-ID and Password) created by Dzokden. You will need this link (or alternatively Zoom Meeting-ID and Password) to access the online sessions.
Zoom Information
Zoom information will be provided at the latest two days before the online event in your email as well as in the Dzokden learning center.
Access to Video Materials Afterwards The retreat access and all the prayers will be provided for you in Dzokden’s online learning center. We encourage everyone to connect to the live-streamed retreat in real-time but if that is not possible, you can still log in to the learning center after the retreat and access all of the retreat content. This retreat material will be put up in the learning center as soon as possible after each class. Oral transmissions need to be received in real-time. They are never recorded.
In honor of Jetsun Taranatha’s Parinirvana, Khentrul Rinpoche will begin to give a commentary on one of Taranatha’s most precious texts, the Zhentong Nyingpo (The Essence of Zhentong). The commentary will then continue over the next several weekends and be accessible publicly in the learning center to those who sign up for free access.
Jetsun Taranatha is one of the most important Joanng lineage masters. He is revered not just by the Jonang but by my many lineages as he studied them in depth along with the Indian tantric systems. He was particularly well known for understanding the view of each system in an undistorted way from the philosophical perspective of that system. Most people, as they learn aspects of different philosophies, mix an underlying bias or view into their understanding of the system in which they either believe the most or are the most familiar. He did not do this and could argue from the perspective of the view he was holding. The Zhentong Nyingpo is a very special text that explains the Zhentong (emptiness of other) view of the great middle way in relationship to other spiritual systems. This is an opportunity to examine and learn how the Zhentong view is similar and different from that of other views. Of course, for those who understand and believe the Buddhist perspective, this text shows the arguments of how the philosophical system of Zhentong is superior in relation to Rangtong (emptiness of self) and also other spiritual systems. This establishes Zhentong as the completion Dharma. You don’t necessarily have to believe in the superiority of Zhentong to listen to and benefit from understanding this text. You can look at the text as a learning opportunity to understand the strengths, weaknesses, differences, and essence of various systems. This creates a philosophical mental map of how spiritual systems are in relation to each other. This is a huge subject that Jetsun Taranatha has taken and compared in such a small text. Hence this text is considered to be the essence (nyingpo). Commentaries are often hard for translators to translate in real-time if their root text has not been translated to their language. Therefore this event is scheduled to be in Engish, with translations only available at the discretion of the translation groups.
Join our global community in the recitation of Green Tara and Marichi mantra to remove all obstacles for Khentrul Rinpoche and the Global community. Jetsun Tara is the swiftest to respond to prayers for help.
We have schedule this event in advance of Khentrul Rinpoche’s birthday.
This practice will take place on the full moon and a lunar eclipse in March. During the time of the Lunar eclipse in your location, the merit of the offering is multiplied by 700,000 times. Please join us in our accumulation until then but especially anytime in our special 24 hour community organized practice. Members of our different communities in different countries will lead the mantras at different hours. All the mantras that are submitted to Green Tara and to Marichi will be dedicated on April 18th. May this lead to the flourishing of Dzokden and Rinpoche’s activities.
Schedule by Timezone
Central Europe and South Africa – MONDAY March 25, 2024 / 12:00 AM – 12:00 AM (TUESDAY March 26, 2024) Melbourne, Australia – MONDAY March 25, 2024 / 10:00 AM – 09:59 AM (TUESDAY March 26, 2024) Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mongolia, Singapore and Taiwan – MONDAY March 25, 2024 / 7:00 AM – 7:00 AM (TUESDAY March 26, 2024) São Paulo, Brazil – SUNDAY March 24, 2024 / 8:00 PM – 8:00 PM (MONDAY March 25, 2024) East Coast USA, Toronto – SUNDAY March 24, 2024 / 7:00 PM – 7:00 PM (MONDAY March 25, 2024) West Coast USA – SUNDAY March 24, 2024 / 4:00 PM – 4:00 PM (MONDAY March 25, 2024)
This event is available ONLINE only + Pre-recorded course in English.
Two times are available for the Oral Transmission to accommodate more timezones. The Commentary has been pre-recorded by Khentrul Rinpoche *Restricted teaching, please see info below*
Important note: If you are already enrolled in the Secret Dakini Commentary in the Dzokden Learning Center, you will gain automatic access to oral transmissions. The information has been added to your course.
Khentrul Rinpoche will bestow the oral transmission to the Secret Dakini Nogndro. This incredibly poetic practice text presents all the path until Enlightenment concisely. It focuses on the ultimate meaning of the different preliminary practices. Some sections that are extensive in the other Kalachakra Sadhanas are presented here very concisely, whereas others appear in a more comprehensive, non-traditional way.
The “Secret Dakini Treasure” is especially recommended for those practicing wensum (Three Isolations) and the First Vajra Yoga. For this reason, Rinpoche wishes that practitioners planning to attend the longer wensum or 1st Yoga retreat attend this transmission beforehand.
Schedule by Timezone Two online sessions will be offered to accommodate more timezones. You may join either of the 2 online sessions available.
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne, Australia SUNDAY March 10, 2024
11:00 AM – USA Optimized Timezone Oral Transmission Secret Dakini Ngondro
7:00 PM – Asia / Vienna (Central Europe) Timezone Oral Transmission of Secret Dakini
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mongolia, Singapore and Taiwan
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mongolia, Singapore and Taiwan SUNDAY March 10, 2024 8:00 AM – USA Optimized Timezone Oral Transmission Secret Dakini Ngondro
4:00 PM – Asia / Vienna (Central Europe) Timezone Oral Transmission of Secret Dakini
Central Europe and South Africa
Central Europe and South Africa SUNDAY March 10, 2024 1:00 AM – USA Optimized Timezone Oral Transmission Secret Dakini Ngondro
9:00 AM – Asia / Vienna (Central Europe) Timezone Oral Transmission of Secret Dakini
São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo, Brazil SATURDAY March 9, 2024 11:00 AM – USA Optimized Timezone Oral Transmission Secret Dakini Ngondro
5:00 AM – Asia / Vienna (Central Europe) Timezone Oral Transmission of Secret Dakini
East Coast USA, Toronto
East Coast USA, Toronto SATURDAY March 9, 2024 7:00 PM – USA Optimized Timezone Oral Transmission Secret Dakini Ngondro SUNDAY March 10, 2024
3:00 AM – Asia / Vienna (Central Europe) Timezone Oral Transmission of Secret Dakini
West Coast USA
West Coast USA SATURDAY March 9, 2024 4:00 PM – USA Optimized Timezone Oral Transmission Secret Dakini Ngondro SUNDAY March 10, 2024
12:00 AM – Asia / Vienna (Central Europe) Timezone Oral Transmission of Secret Dakini
Who can attend? 1) All who have received the Four Higher Empowerments with Rinpoche or, if not: 2) Any stable Dharma practitioner who has done the Ngöndro extensively in any tradition and has the aspiration to receive Higher Empowerment.
In both cases, they should know quite well the Kalachakra sadhanas “The Divine Ladder” and “Enlightening the Heart”. To get to know Rinpoche’s flexible approach to the Ngöndro, look at the chapter 14 of “Unveiling Your Sacred Truth — Book 2”. For online resources, visit: https://dzokden.org/getting-started
If you do not have the requirements yet, Rinpoche encourages you to prepare yourself as much as you can during the year in order to be able to attend.
