Join an Online Medicine Buddha Puja to Receive Healing and Prayers for Yourself and Loved Ones

Medicine Buddha painted thankga, www.norbulinkga.org.

One way to receive support during the pandemic for yourself or a loved one is to participate in a Medicine Buddha Puja livestream and share the names of loved ones for prayers. Anyone can join in the livestreams - no need to be Buddhist.

I was recently reminded of this when Sravasti Abbey announced they have begun offering a monthly Medicine Buddha Puja online.

The Benefits of the Medicine Buddha Puja

Sravasti Abbey

Sravasi Abbey explained the Medicine Buddha Puja this way, "Have you recently lost a loved one? Do you long for support in your grieving process? Are you or relatives or friends challenged with illness? We are here to support you—through pujas and prayers via Zoom once a month.

"A puja is a Buddhist ceremony that involves visualization, meditation, making offerings to holy beings, and mantra recitations to receive inspiration and support. A puja generally focuses on a specific deity — a manifestation of enlightenment such as Tara, Avalokiteshvara, or Medicine Buddha. Pujas support our Dharma practice, accumulate merit (positive karma), and help to remove obstacles and other negative circumstances for ourselves and others. 

"Each monthly puja will begin with the Medicine Buddha Puja, which is supportive for health related issues, and also for healing the world and restoring peace and harmony. Medicine Buddha also helps to overcome the inner sicknesses of attachment, anger, and ignorance, and support us to generate and enhance compassion, love, and bodhicitta."

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa taught on the Medicine Buddha in 2014. "The traditional healing methods of Tibet, he said, are closely related to the Buddha’s teachings in several ways. One is the investigation of causes, which are divided into the immediate and long-term. The immediate causes and conditions pertain to the body; for example, the elements have deteriorated or bacteria have invaded. However, if we go beyond attempts to cure a particular infection or operate on a tumor, we can discover the long-term causes. These are related to the mind and mental states, such as anger and attachment. All disease is a result of many interdependent causes and conditions, so it’s important to analyze the complex of these relationships.

"These days, we deal with a lot of pressures in our lives, which bring us stress. Numbers of people have difficulties with their mental and emotional states. Temporary relief is not enough here. To bring a more sustainable, deeper level of cure, we ourselves need to find ways of allowing our minds to be peaceful. The mind gives medicine to the mind; we need to use a mental medicine for our mental afflictions. A good way to begin is to make a connection with the Medicine Buddha, the King of Deep Blue light ..."

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught about the benefits of doing the Medicine Buddha Puja at a Dharma center, "Medicine Buddha puja is excellent to prevent and help with natural disasters involving fire, wind, water, and air, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. It also helps with world peace, stopping war and famine, disease and torture, poverty and sickness. It increases happiness in the area of the center, also peace in the United States, and the rest of the world.

" ... The idea is that everyone can participate. Anyone who would like to experience peace or wonders what to do for peace can join in. It should be advertised well, even for non-Buddhists, who know someone who has died, or is sick, even for people who have relationship problems, family problems, job problems."

Medicine Buddha, www.men-tsee-khang.org.

Dharma Centers Offering Medicine Buddha Pujas on Sundays

Yangsi Rinpoche

Maitripa College

Portland, Oregon

Every Sunday at 11:00 AM PST

Watch the livestream on the Maitripa College YouTube channel.

Request prayers in advance of the puja for loved ones and their names will be read out loud during the livestream.

Read more about the Medicine Buddha Pujas led by Yangsi Rinpoche on www.maitripa.org and access the Medicine Buddha Puja text Yangsi Rinpoche is using for the pujas.

Venerable Samten and staff members

Land of Medicine Buddha

Soquel, California

Every Sunday at 2:00 PM PT

Watch the livestream on the Land of Medicine Buddha Facebook page

Request prayers so your loved ones receive dedication of the merit at the end of the puja. 

Read more about the Medicine Buddha Pujas at Land of Medicine Buddha on www.landofmedicinebuddha.org.

Read an explanation of how the Medicine Buddha Puja is done at Land of Medicine Buddha on www.landofmedicinebuddha.org.

Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin and Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) Monastics

KTD is His Holiness the Karmapa's monastic seat in North America

Woodstock, New York

Every Sunday at 5:00 PM PST

Watch the livestream on the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra YouTube channel.

I don't see a way to request prayers for the Medicine Buddha Puja but you could explore the sponsorship webpage and contact KTD with any questions.

Read more about the Medicine Buddha Pujas at KTD on www.kagyu.org.

Sravasti Abbey Monastics

Newport, Washington

One Sunday per month at 6:00 PM PST

The first was held on July 26 and the next will be held on August 23, 2020.

Join the Medicine Buddha Puja on Zoom.

Register in advance and submit requests for prayers. Each session ends with listening to each others’ optional final reflections and sharing aspirations for yourself and loved ones.

Read more about the Medicine Buddha Pujas at Sravasti Abbey on www.sravastiabbey.org and access the Medicine Buddha Puja text used by Sravasti Abbey for the pujas.

Medicine Buddha, www.thrangumonastery.org.

Medicine Buddha

"Bhaiṣajyaguru (Sanskrit: भैषज्यगुरु, Chinese: 藥師佛, Japanese: 薬師仏, Korean: 약사불, Standard Tibetan: སངས་རྒྱས་སྨན་བླ), formally Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabhā-rāja ("Medicine Master and King of Lapis Lazuli Light"; Chinese: 藥師琉璃光(王)如來, Japanese: 薬師瑠璃光如来, Korean: 약사유리광여래), is the Buddha of healing and medicine in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Commonly referred to as the "Medicine Buddha," he is described as a doctor who cures dukkha (suffering) using the medicine of his teachings.

"Bhaiṣajyaguru is described in the eponymous Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabhā-rāja Sūtra, commonly called the Medicine Buddha Sutra, as a bodhisattva who made twelve great vows. On achieving Buddhahood, he became the Buddha of the eastern pure land of Vaiḍūryanirbhāsa "Pure Lapis Lazuli." There, he is attended to by two bodhisattvas symbolizing the light of the sun and the light of the moon respectively."

Read more about Medicine Buddha on Wikipedia.

Win a Medicine Buddha Painted Thankga

Norbulinkga Institute in Himachal Pradesh, India, is giving away a Medicine Buddha painted thankga. Every order placed through the Norbulinkga Institute online shop until the 16th August will automatically be entered to win.

The Office of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche shared an important update about Norbulinkga Institute on July 31, 2020, on Ling Rinpoche's Facebook page:

''Dear Friends, 

"We hope and pray that you all are doing as well as possible during this unprecedented time.

"On behalf of H.E. Ling Rinpoche, we are writing to express our support for an important organization, Norbulingka Institute, and invite you to join H.E. Ling Rinpoche in supporting this worthy cause. Norbulingka Institute was founded 25 years ago by Kelsang Yeshi and Kim Yeshi under the direction of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who served as Chairperson from its inception until 2015. It is due to their hard work and tireless efforts over the last 25 years that the Institute has been able to flourish and benefit the Tibetan community.

"Norbulingka Institute is a leader in the preservation of Tibetan cultural heritage through its exceptional artwork and craftsmanship. It also provides unconditional humanitarian services and skills-training to newly arrived, exiled Tibetans. Since its founding, Norbulingka has employed nearly 1,400 Tibetan artists and staff. Currently there are 366 employees, trainees and students dependent upon Norbulingka for their livelihoods.

"Since accepting the Chairperson position in 2016, H.E. Ling Rinpoche has been impressed with Norbulingka’s continued operational efficiency as a 100% self-sustaining, not-for-profit organization. Now, with travel to Dharamsala drastically diminished due to the global COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Norbulingka is presented with significant financial challenges as commerce has drawn to a halt.

"During these days of great anxiety and hardship, please consider this a good opportunity to help others if you are able, through your support of Norbulingka Institute in any way, such as purchasing Norbulingka products online, donating, or raising awareness by sharing this information with others.

"For a 10% discount on online purchases use the promotional code: GREENTARA

"To learn more about Norbulingka, please visit norbulingka.org.

"Please visit https://norbulingka.org/blogs/news-from-dharamsala/support-norbulingka for our Press Release.

https://norbulingka.org/pages/donate
https://www.facebook.com/NorbulingkaInstitute/
https://www.instagram.com/norbulingkainstitute/

"We encourage you to subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates, for more information about how you can participate in Norbulingka Institute’s legacy.

"Your support of the Tibetan heritage is most appreciated at this time.

"With thanks from Yongzin Lingtsang Labrang - the Office of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche
www.lingrinpoche.info"

Join a One-Week Online Vajrasattva Retreat with Yangsi Rinpoche and Geshe Tenzin Loden

Vajrasattva, www.melodiousdharma.wordpress.com.

A Dharma center in France, Institut Vajra Yogini, is holding a one-week Vajrasattva Retreat with teachings by Yangsi Rinpoche and Geshe Tenzin Loden.

Vajrasattva Retreat

The retreat is being held online and has already begun. Sorry for not posting it sooner.

The Event

The Institut Vajra Yogini website says, "Yangsi Rinpoche is currently Director of Maitripa College, a Buddhist university affiliated with the FPMT, in Portland, USA. For nearly 20 years, he has given us the great joy of coming to teach at the Institute every summer.

"Because of restrictions on flights from the United States, there is little chance that Rinpoche will be able to attend the Institute this year. For his part, he hopes to return as soon as possible, but for the moment we are obliged to adapt the usual programme in order to maintain this important practice time of the summer.

"In consultation with Rinpoche and Geshe Tenzin Loden, we have decided to continue the retreat."

Vajrasattva Retreat, Institut Vajra Yogini Facebook.

Schedule

August 1 - August 8, 2020

Yangsi Rinpoche is leading one session per day via Zoom. Rinpoche's session will be translated into English.

Session times:
6:30 AM CET - led by Geshe Tenzin Loden (Tibetan to French translation only)
10:00 AM CET - led by Geshe Tenzin Loden (Tibetan to French translation only)
4:30 PM CET - free time (Tibetan to French translation only)
8:00 PM CET - led by Yangsi Rinpoche (Tibetan to French and English translation)

(Yangsi Rinpoche's session is 11:00 AM PT)

Sessions led by Yangsi Rinpoche available with English translation:
Aug 3, 2020 11:00 AM PT
Aug 4, 2020 11:00 AM PT
Aug 5, 2020 11:00 AM PT
Aug 6, 2020 11:00 AM PT
Aug 7, 2020 11:00 AM PT

Aug 8, 2020 11:00 AM PT

Join the Retreat

The retreat is livestreaming in French only on the Institut Vajra Yogini YouTube channel and Institut Vajra Yogini Facebook page. The recordings posted are also only in French.

Register through Maitripa College to watch Yangi Rinpoche's sessions with Tibetan to English translation. These sessions are being held on Zoom.

Texts to download for the retreat in English:
Long long life prayer - Yangsi Rinpoche
Short long life prayer
Solitary Vajrasattva
Vajrasattva Retreat 2020
Wheel of Sharp Weapons Translation

The retreat is being offered by Institute Vajra Yogini to all of us by donation only. Please offer what you can via their website.

Vajrasattva

"Vajrasatva (Sanskrit: वज्रसत्त्, Tibetan: རྡོ་རྗེ་སེམས་དཔའ། Dorje Sempa, short form is རྡོར་སེམས། Dorsem, Монгол: Доржсэмбэ)[1] is a bodhisattva in the Mahayana, Mantrayana/Vajrayana Buddhist traditions. In the Japanese Vajrayana school of Buddhism, Shingon, Vajrasatva is the esoteric aspect of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra and is commonly associated with the student practitioner who through the master's teachings, attains an ever-enriching subtle and rarefied grounding in their esoteric practice. In Tibetan Buddhism Vajrasatva is associated with the sambhogakāya and purification practice."

Continue reading on www.wikipedia.org.

Yangsi Rinpoche, www.institutvajrayogini.fr.

Yangsi Rinpoche

"Yangsi Rinpoche (President) was recognized as the reincarnation of Geshe Ngawang Gendun, a renowned scholar and practitioner from Western Tibet, at the age of six. Rinpoche trained in the traditional monastic system for over 25 years, and practiced as a monk until the age of 35.

"In 1995 he graduated with the highest degree of Geshe Lharampa from Sera Je Monastery in South India. He then completed his studies at Gyume Tantric College, and, in 1998, having the particular wish to benefit Western students of the Buddhadharma, Rinpoche came to the West to teach and travel extensively throughout America and Europe.

"Rinpoche served as a resident teacher at Deer Park Buddhist Center (Madison, Wisconsin) for five years, and is currently the Spiritual Director of Ganden Shedrup Ling Buddhist Center (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Dharma Friendship Foundation (Seattle, Washington), and Tara Buddhist Center (Nashville, Tennessee).

"He founded Maitripa College in 2005 in Portland, Oregon. Rinpoche is the author of Practicing the Path: A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo, published in 2003 by Wisdom Publications."

Continue reading Yangsi Rinpoche's biography on www.maitripa.org.

Geshe Tenzin Loden, www.institutvajrayogini.fr.

Geshe Tenzin Loden

The Institut Vajra Yogini website says, "Geshe Tenzin Loden, the new resident teacher at the Institute, was born in Bylakuppe, in southern India in 1961. He entered Sera Je Monastery at the age of nine and continued his studies until he obtained the title of Geshe in 1994. He then spent six years in strict retreat.

"From 2003 to 2006, he occupied the post of chant master (omze), still in Sera Je, which he left at the end of 2007, at the request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, to succeed Geshe Tenzin Dorje."

Create Merit While Celebrating Choekhor Duchen

Choekhor Duchen, Twitter.

Friday, July 24, 2020, is Chokhor Duchen, the day people around the world will commemorate the anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha's first teaching.

Chokhor Duchen is a merit multiplying day. The merit received for any positive actions done on July 24 will be multiplied. This week, I have been sharing some opportunities to create merit:

Help Pay Dharamsala Animal Rescue Staff Salaries on Chokhor Duchen

Help Supply Volunteers with Dog Food for Street Dogs in Nepal on Chokhor Duchen

Make Offerings to Tibetan Buddhist Nuns on Chokhor Duchen

There are many programs scheduled for Chokhor Duchen. Participation in these programs is another opportunity to create merit. Here are just a few of the programs taking place on Friday, July 24.

Tibet House New Delhi

Geshe Dorji Damdul will lead the taking of the Aspirational Bodhisattva Pledge and will give a teaching on Four Noble Truths with Emphasis on the Truth of Cessation of Suffering.

Choekhor Duchen, Tibet House New Delhi e-newsletter.

The Event

The Tibet House New Delhi poster says, "Celebrating Choekhor Duechen (The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma) led by Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director, Tibet House, New Delhi.

"All are welcome.

"10:30 AM - 12:00 PM IST: Aspirational Bodhisattva Pledge
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM IST: Four Noble Truths with Emphasis on the Truth of Cessation of Suffering"

Schedule

July 24, 2020

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM IST
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM IST

(July 23 from 10:00 PM - 11:30 PM PT and on July 24 from 1:30 AM - 3:00 AM PT)

Watch the Livestream

To watch Live - Tibet House Facebook

Geshema Tenzin Deden, Gompa Services Facebook.

Jamyang Choling Institute

A pre-recorded teaching from Geshema Tenzin Deden, given in English and recorded at Jamyang Choling Nunnery and Institute in Himachal Pradesh, India, will be made available for viewing on the Gompa Services website.

The Event

The Gompa Services website says, "On the auspicious occasion of Chokhor Duchen (the anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching on the Four Noble Truths), we are pleased to announce a free webcast on July 24th, 2020 of a teaching titled ‘The Significance of Chokhor Duchen and the Four Noble Truths’ by Geshema Tenzin Deden at Jamyang Choling Nunnery and Institute, Dharamsala, India. The teaching is given in English.

"Geshema Tenzin Deden is a teacher and senior nun at Jamyang Choling Nunnery and Institute. Originally from Kanam, Kinnaur, she received her monastic ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the age of twenty in Bodhgaya. Since 1989, she has been engaging in the rigorous study of Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan language, and other courses at the Jamyang Choling Institute. After completing seventeen years of study of the five major texts, she participated in the Geshema degree program, which was formed under the kind guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 2016, she completed her study of Buddhist Philosophy and was amongst the first batch to receive the Geshema degree.

The Schedule

The Gompa Services website says, "Pre-recorded live, the teaching will be available to view on July 24th, 2020. The webcast will then remain available for you to view at any time of your choosing until August 17th, 2020.

Watch the Video

The Gompa Services website says, "This is a free webcast but registration is needed to view the webcast.

"To register, please go to www.gompaservices.com and sign in to your Gompa account and select Special Events / See details of all events and webcasts; then select the event (from the list in date order, or by selecting Jamyang Choling Nunnery and Institute from the monastery / nunnery list). If you do not have a Gompa account, you can create a free account at www.gompaservices.com/NewToGompa.

"Registration and viewing will be available until August 17th, 2020. At the time you register there will also be the opportunity to make a voluntary offering in support of Jamyang Choling Nunnery and Institute."

International Mahayana Institute

The International Mahayana Institute is the FPMT organization's community of monks and nuns. Join their twenty-four hour Global Big Heart Sutrathon.

The Event

Monks and nuns will lead recitations of the Heart Sutra for twenty-four hours, taking turns. Each session will last one hour and there will be two monastics per session. At the end of each session the monastics will check the YouTube chat to see if there are any questions for the monastics.

The Schedule

The Global Big Heart Sutrathon will last for twenty-four hours on India time.

July 24, 2020

12:00 AM - 11:59 PM IST

(July 23 from 11:30 AM PT until July 24 at 11:30 AM PT)

Watch the Livestream

Watch the twenty-four hour livestream on the Chenrezig Institute Australia YouTube channel.

Follow along by using the text, available for free from FPMT in various languages: English, Chinese, Catalan, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche, Tushita Meditation Centre Facebook.

Tushita Meditation Centre

Tushita Meditation Centre, a retreat center in Himachal Pradesh, India that I have visited is offering a number of programs for Choekhor Duchen.

The Events

The Tushita e-newsletter I received said, "We are extremely honored and delighted that Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche accepted our request to give His first online teaching for Tushita on the very auspicious occasion of Chökhor Düchen."

The Schedule

6:30 AM – 8:00 AM IST – The Path of Joy – Online Course with Venerable Amy Miller

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM IST – Guided Meditation with Venerable Drolma & Light Offering Ceremony with Sangha. (Live on Zoom and Facebook)

An unique opportunity to have your own butter lamp with your special dedication offered on this meritorious day! Click here to sponsor a butter lamp

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM IST – Medicine Buddha Puja – Led by Venerable Drolma (Live on Zoom and Facebook)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM IST – Life of the Buddha (Watchparty on Facebook)

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM IST – Reading of Sutra of Golden Light – Led by Ven. Gyalmo (Live on Zoom and Facebook)

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM IST – Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche – How to Study and Practice (Live on Zoom and Facebook)

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM IST – The Path of Joy – Online Course with Venerable Amy Miller

Watch the Livestream

"This teaching with Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche is open to everyone and registration is not required. For the live stream of Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche's teaching please join us on Zoom or visit our Facebook Page.

"Most of the remainder of the program will be live streamed to all of you through this Zoom Meeting and on our Facebook Page so make sure to follow that space during this day."

Yangsi Rinpoche, www.maitripa.org.

Maitripa College

Maitripa College president Yangsi Rinpoche will lead a Guru Puja.

The Event

The Maitripa College website says, "Join the global Maitripa College Community online on Chokhor Duchen. Chokhor Duchen, or Wheel Turning Day, is a traditional Buddhist celebration day, in which we commemorate the Buddha’s first teaching (Turning the Wheel of Dharma). This is also a day of celebration of the tradition of ordained monastics (the traditional ‘sangha’) in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition."

The Schedule

July 24, 2020

12:00 PM PT

Join the Zoom Meeting

Everyone wishing to join must register in advance to attend the puja.

Five Ways to Celebrate Saka Dawa

Saka Dawa, www.tarabianca.org.

Saka Dawa is on June 5, 2020. A merit multiplying day, Lama Zopa Rinpoche says karmic results are multiplied by 100 million. Here are just five ways to make the most of Saka Dawa. These five events are listed in order of occurrence for those in PT zone.

Watch His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Livestream

Friday, June 5, 2020

(Thursday, June 4, 2020 in PT)

8:30 PM PT

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will confer the Ceremony for Generating Bodhichitta (semkye) on the occasion of the full moon day of Saka Dawa. 

Those interested may watch the live webcast in Tibetan, English, Chinese and other languages on the official websites and Facebook pages of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Request a reminder for the livestream on the Dalai Lama Archive YouTube channel.

Read Geshe Tenzin Zopa's Advice for the Livestream

Geshe Tenzin Zopa shared advice on his Facebook page on May 3, 2020.

Geshe Tenzin Zopa, www.dailyadvertiser.com.au.

"🌹🙏Yesterday one student expressed that she wish to have meaningful life in dharma but her life is always busy with work and family responsibilities. Asking advice on how to turn all her ordinary life style in to most meaningful journey to accumulate vast merits and extensive purification of karma while continuing her ordinary responsibilities. She express that since long time she wanted to take one practical and most meaningful practice in her life that hopes to fulfills her spiritual wishes and highlight the meaning of her life as some one who met the Buddha dharma.

"🙏So my answer to her is:

"First of all I rejoice and congratulate to you for this precious aspirations.

"How wise and great of you to have an understanding and feel the urgency to turn your ordinary life in to most beneficial life for yourself your family members and all other sentient beings wellbeing.

"If you agree with me I humbly suggest you to take the bodhisattva vows from His Holiness the Dalai Lama on coming Friday 5th June 2020 at 9am India time. You can find the link on https://www.dalailama.com/schedule

"If you able to make it then this would be most blessed most special and most fortunate for you in your life. His Holiness is not an ordinary teacher he is actual enlightened compassionate Buddha Chenrezig appears in human Guru form to liberate us from oceans of Samsaric sufferings through dharma transmissions. He is embodiment of all the past present and future Buddha’s compassion.

"Receiving the bodhisattva lineage blessings or seeding of altruistic mind (compassion/bodhichitta) directly from compassionate Buddha himself is greatest blessing and most effective seedling of altruism in our mind stream. Without any doubt this seedling of altruism in our mental continuum will grow to numberless virtues, sustainable inner peace leading up to the fruition of full enlightenment.

"Some more receiving the bodhisattva vows on full moon of Sakadawa month, the month Gautama Buddha chose to display major deeds of Buddha like birth in this southern world, renouncing the worldly life and manifesting in to Parinirvana etc. Siddhartha Gautama have chosen the full moon day to display the deeds of gaining full enlightenment (the ultimate cessation from all contaminations, afflictions and obscurations.)

"Accomplishing the full fruition of altruistic seed that he have inspired to stabilised in his mental continuum when he was as an ordinary like us in many live times a go.

"Such a blessed month and a day that every single virtues and meritorious prayers multiples 100 million times as stated in the Vinaya sutra.

"👍If you have decided to receive the bodhisattva vows then I have this humble suggestions to you. In order to create as much as meritorious interdependent conditions from our side to received the vows and blessing in most beneficial way as possible. It would be beneficial at-less this simple and basic preparatory protocol are present from our side for this visual platform for individual beginners like me and you to get ready to receive the dharma.

"🙏1. Fresh up both body and mind as if you would do when you physically go to attend dharma teaching from a guru.

"2. Do 3 prostrations and seat comfortably on cushion or chair or wherever is convenient or comfortable.

"3. Generate sincere respect and conviction towards preceptor HHDL.

"4. Generate genuine positive motivation of wanting to actualise full enlightenment for the benefits of all sentient beings.

"5. Make a sincere request in your heart to HHDL to grand the bodhisattva vows while offering the mandala practice if you know how to offer mandala offering. If not then just simply visualise and offer from depths of your heart the entire universe including your own body speech and mind, all virtues of past present and future in the form of wish granting jewels or immortal blissful nectar in infinite way to the preceptor and all Buddhas and bodhisattvas.

"6. While feeling how fortunate for this opportunity then follow the live stream of the granting of the bodhisattvas vows accordingly with full attention.

"🙏7. At the end on completion of the ceremony. Conclude with mandala offering practice as a gesture of appreciation on granting of the vows. Or just simply visualise and offer from depths of your heart the entire universe including your body speech and mind, all virtues of past present and future in the form of wish granting jewels or immortal blissful nectar in infinite way to the preceptor HHDL and all Buddhas and bodhisattvas.

"8. Then Rejoice (feel deeply happy) for being so fortunate to received the most precious blessing in my mental continuum the bodhisattva vows that which is more precious then entire material wealth of entire universe. Feel truly happy of becoming spiritual family member a child of all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas.

"Feel truly blessed to received spiritual lineage blessing of most precious mind of Buddhas and bodhisattvas from enlighten compassionate Buddha HHDL himself. Feel full confident with inner joy in knowing that from this present life to all future lives up to full enlightenment I will be fully guided by perfect enlighten mahayanic guru the compassionate Buddha chenrezig.

"9. Then with deep aspirations dedicate the vast merits accumulated in bodhicitta accordingly or simply think and dedicate the merits to be the complete cause of all sentient beings temporary happiness up to the ultimate happiness of full enlightenment.

"10. Then dedicate in emptiness accordingly. Or just simply thinking or understanding that the dedicator the self the substance the merits and the objective the fruition of the merits all in the nature of lacking of inherent existence which only exists in the nature of interdependent arising.

"11. Then move on with daily life with understanding and feeling much meaning in having the blessing of inner guru the practice of 6 perfections the virtues GPS to meaningful life, inner protection of oneself inseparable from compassionate guru, firm confident in virtues life, sustainable inspiration faith and conviction in freedom from all samsara and its causes, full of methods to help yourself and help all other through the tools of loving kindness compassion and wisdom.

"🙏I share this humble conversation and suggestions from ignorance person like me in the hope of some assistance to those of beginner like me in the pursuit of spiritual blessings in virtual platform.

"With lots of prayers and best wishes. Geshe Zopa, June 3, 2020"

Take the Eight Mahayana Precepts from Lama Zopa Rinpoche before dawn on June 5

Watch a recording of Lama Zopa Rinpoche giving the Eight Mahayana Precepts on the FPMT YouTube channel.

Join a Guru Puja led by Yangsi Rinpoche and Maitripa College

Join the global Maitripa College Community on Saka Dawa, one of the most important holidays in the Tibetan calendar, remembering and rejoicing in the life and teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Friday, June 5

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT

Watch the livestream on the Maitripa College YouTube channel.

Watch an Annual Interfaith Celebration on Facebook Live

Friday, June 5

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT

Kurkulla Center shared in an email newsletter, "In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, we call the month of the fourth full moon following Tibetan New Year 'Saka Dawa.' We believe that during Saka Dawa the result of all our actions -- positive and negative -- are greatly increased. Therefore it is a time to be especially virtuous and diligent in our activities, to practice our faith well, and to benefit others. The full moon of Saka Dawa is when the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing are observed.

"Friends from all faiths will join us for an evening of prayer and reflection, and we will particularly dedicate and pray for those who affected by the Covid-19 pandemic - those who have died, become ill, or have been affected adversely in other ways, both in the United States and around the world."

"We are very honored to announce that our special guests will include His Eminence Ling Rinpoche and Medford, Massachusetts Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn. Representatives from all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and the Buddhist traditions of Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam, China, Nepal, and Bangladesh will also participate, as well as community spiritual leaders from the Islamic, Christian, and Jewish faiths.

"Visit our Facebook page on Friday, June 5, shortly before 7:00 PM ET to watch the event live."

Watch Geshe Dorji Damdul teach on Facebook Live

Geshe Dorji Damdul, Choe Khor Sum Ling Facebook.

Saturday, June 6 in IST

(Friday, June 5 in PT)

10:00 PM - 11:30 PM PT

Facebook Live on Tibet House Facebook page

This teaching is part of an online course organized by Tibet House New Delhi and Choe Khor Sum Ling in Bangalore, Karnataka State, India "Two Truths in Four Buddhist Tenet Systems with Emphasis on the Ultimate Reality According to Prasangika Madhyamaka."

Schedule listed in IST:

Saturday, 6th June 2020
1st session: 10:30 am - 12:00 noon IST

Sunday, 7th June 2020
2nd session: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm IST
3rd session: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm IST

Monday, 8th June 2020
4th session: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm IST
5th session: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm IST

Download the text that will be used during the course, "Staircase to Emptiness" from "Blaze of Non-Dual Bodhicittas," from www.bodhiwisdom.org.

Join Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha Pujas During Covid-19

The deity Vajrasattva, lywa.org

Maitripa College president Yangsi Rinpoche is helping people be of benefit during the Covid-19 pandemic by leading Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha pujas for purification and healing the world.

Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha Practice Group

Watch Yangsi Rinpoche do the Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha pujas on YouTube livestream each week and follow along from home.

Maitripa College's website notes that these livestreamed practice sessions are open to all.

Download the free Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha puja materials.

Subscribe to the Maitripa College YouTube channel and request notifications to be reminded when Yangsi Rinpoche goes live. Here's how to do that if you need some help.

Practice Schedule

Thursdays at 5:00 PM PT—Vajrasattva puja

Sundays at 11:00 AM PT—Medicine Buddha puja

Afterwards the videos are archived on the Maitripa College YouTube channel.

Q&A With Yangsi Rinpoche

Q: Is it disrespectful to listen to sutras or mantras while I am in the kitchen or going for a walk?

A: Yangsi Rinpoche said:

"In the sutras sometimes just touching the sutras also lots of merit. So it's totally fine [to listen to sutras and mantras in the kitchen.] Of course if you can sit down and practice that's great but it's not necessary. You can hear the teaching, you can hear the practice it's also OK.

"Basically, the mind, if you keep your intention 'I'd really like to hear the Medicine Buddha prayer' the intention 'I really want to hear' ... I'm pretty much sure the intention is the very Dharma. Otherwise just put for distraction and entertainment, there are a million things online.

"So intention is quite obviously clear, so 'action' it has flexibility. It's not necessary that you have to stay still, and the Buddha Vairocana posture is not necessary. Fundamentally obviously you have the intention for the devotion, for the practice, and so I feel it's OK. If you feel it's not OK then you can sit down and do it. (Laughter.)

Vajrasattva: Purifying our Past Mistakes

Yangsi Rinpoche explained the purpose of the Vajrasattva practice:

"Thank you very much for joining Vajrasattva practice this Thursday night. You know, this Vajrasattva practice is how to keep karmic hygiene. These days we have to keep doing hand washing and cleaning. The Vajrasattva practice is something like that: karmic hygiene to keep karma clean, pure, and healed.

"All of the challenges in our individual lives and the things that we are facing right now, there is a surface condition and of course a deeper level in karmic connection. So this Vajrasattva practice will really be intended to do deeper karmic purification and ... merit accumulation."

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained the purpose of the practice:

" ... Vajrasattva practice is so important generally, and especially nowadays in the world, when there is not only global warming, but many other problems. There are so many other dangers—of war and sicknesses, cancer, and so many people whom you know are dying. There are so many sicknesses and other conditions for dying. This Vajrasattva practice and other purification practices are the ultimate answer ..."

Medicine Buddha: Dedicating our Merit to Others and Healing the World

Yangsi Rinpoche explained the purpose of the Medicine Buddha practice:

"Basically with the Medicine Buddha practice, one thing we should learn is that we have so many elements (the prayer and the dedication) so I feel like the eight Medicine Buddhas are like an eight Lama Zopa Rinpoche kind of personality. Just imagine you have eight Lama Zopa Rinpoche personalities, all of the time doing dedication, prayer, and inspirational.

"So basically in this difficult time, what we're facing right now, we of course need to make the best of things, but also at a deep level in our heart we need to be making some prayers and dedications. And not get caught with the impatient thinking 'Oh when is this going to end?' I would say with this practice, particularly, make a strong prayer and dedication. That's the main thing." 

"... Vajrasattva is karmic purification and Medicine Buddha is pretty much strong prayer and dedication. Directing whatever merit we accumulated becomes very important."

The deity Medicine Buddha, Spit-Fire, CC BY 2.0.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained the purpose of the practice:

"Medicine Buddha puja is excellent to prevent and help with natural disasters involving fire, wind, water, and air, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. It also helps with world peace, stopping war and famine, disease and torture, poverty and sickness. It increases happiness in the area of the center [where the practice is done], also peace in the United States, and the rest of the world."

Prayer Requests

Names given for prayers are read out loud at the end of each practice session. Anyone can submit name(s) for the prayer list by completing the Maitripa College online prayer request form. 

Yangsi Rinpoche

Yangsi Rinpoche is the president of Maitripa College, a Buddhist college in Portland, OR, that awards Masters of Arts degrees in Buddhist Studies and Master of Divinity degrees. Born in Nepal, he was recognized as the reincarnation of Geshe Ngawang Gendun and enthroned at Kopan Monastery in January 1975. Yangsi Rinpoche received his Geshe Lharampa degree from Sera Jey Monastery and then completed his studies at Gyume Tantric College.

Additional Medicine Buddha Practice Groups

Jamyang Buddhist Centre London 

Tuesdays at 8:00-9:30 AM PT—Tara puja

Tuesdays at 9:45-10:45 AM PT—Medicine Buddha puja

Livestreaming on the Jamyang Buddhist Centre London Facebook page

The Guhyasamaja Center

Tuesdays at 4:30-5:30 PM PT - Medicine Buddha Puja

Livestreaming on Zoom. Check the calendar for details and prayer list submission details.

Land of Medicine Buddha

Sundays at 2:30-3:30PM PT - Medicine Buddha Puja

Livestreaming on the Land of Medicine Buddha Facebook page