Watch Pain as a Path to Freedom With Teachers from Six Spiritual Traditions of Tibet On Facebook Live

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, events.c-ville.com.

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche has been organizing interesting panel discussions online, including the June 7, 2020 event I shared earlier, "Teachings and Prayers for the Pandemic from Six Spiritual Traditions of Tibet." This upcoming panel discussion looks great too.

Pain as a Path to Freedom With Teachers from Six Spiritual Traditions of Tibet

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche's July 11, 2020 Facebook post says, "In an August 16 Facebook Live conversation hosted by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal, esteemed teachers from six spiritual traditions of Tibet discuss how any experience of life — even the most challenging moment of physical illness or mental distress — can become a path toward personal growth and spiritual enlightenment. The discussion is in Tibetan with simultaneous translation into English and many other languages, 90 minutes."

The Event

The event poster says, "Pain as a Path to Freedom With Teachers from Six Spiritual Traditions of Tibet" and gives the names of the panelists: Yangten Rinpoche (Gelug), Gyaltsab Rinpoche Choekyi Nangpa (Jonang), Khenpo Gyurmey Dorjee (Sakya), Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (Kagyu), Sogan Rinpoche (Nyingma), and Pönlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche (Bön). Hosted by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.

Pain as a Path to Freedom, www.cybersangha.net.

Speakers

Pönlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche

"At the age of 13 and on the advice of his uncle, Pönlop Rinpoche went into a series of 3 months retreats during 1975, 1976 and 1977. In 1979, Pönlop Rinpoche’s brother, Lama Tashi, brought Rinpoche to Menri Monastery in India. His studies there focused on Sutra, Tanta and Dzogchen as well as ritual, grammar, poetry, astrology, divination, medicine, Thanka painting, Mandalas and stupas. Ponlob obtained his Geshe Degree (Doctorate) from the Bön Dialectic School in 1989. Soon after, Rinpoche was appointed Principle Instructor of the Bön Dialectic School by H.H. the 33rd Mentri Trizin and H.E. Yongzin Rinpoche. In 1992 he was further honored by being given the title of Pönlop, the second most revered position in Menri Monastery."

Continue reading Pönlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche's biography on www.olmoling.org.

Sogan Rinpoche

"Ven. Sogan Rinpoche (Tulku Pema Lodoe) was born in 1964 in the Golok region of Amdo, Tibet. As a child, he was recognized by H.H. the XlVth Dalai Lama as the Sixth Sogan Rinpoche and was enthroned at Abo Sera Monastery (in Tibet's Serta region) which he founded in his First Sogan Rinpoche incarnation. He is also the head of Bayan (Wayan) Monastery, located in Golok.

"Rinpoche has studied with many great masters of all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. His principal teacher was Khenpo Munsel, who was one of the great Dzogchen masters of the 20th century and a chief disciple of Khenpo Ngag Chung. After many years of study, pilgrimage and solitary retreat, Rinpoche left Tibet to continue his studies in Nepal. He studied extensively with many prominent teachers and spent several years there in retreat."

Continue reading Sogan Rinpoche's biography on www.sogan.org.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

"Born in 1975 in the Himalayan border regions between Tibet and Nepal, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche is a much-loved and accomplished meditation master. From a young age, Rinpoche was drawn to a life of contemplation. He spent many years of his childhood in strict retreat. At the age of seventeen, he was invited to be a teacher at his monastery’s three-year retreat center, a position rarely held by such a young lama. He also completed the traditional Buddhist training in philosophy and psychology, before founding a monastic college at his home monastery in north India.

"In addition to extensive training in the meditative and philosophical traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, Mingyur Rinpoche has also had a lifelong interest in Western science and psychology. At an early age, he began a series of informal discussions with the famed neuroscientist Francisco Varela, who came to Nepal to learn meditation from his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche."

Continue reading Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's biography on www.tergar.org.

Khenpo Gyurmey Dorjee

"Khenpo Choying Dorjee was born a student of the Khyentse lineage. He was also a devoted student of the late Khen Rinpoche Kunga Wangchuk. He joined Dzongsar Institute in 1992, when it was still located in Bir. In 1998 he was granted his Shastra Degree in Buddhism, which is the equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree. He received his Archaya title, which is the equivalent to an MA, in 2001. He received his Khenpo title in 2002 and received his Khenpo Degree, which is the equivalent to a PhD in Buddhism, in 2004.

"He worked as a revision teacher (kyorpon) at the shedra from 1999 to 2000 and continued as a head teacher until 2013. In 2010, he was appointed as a teacher of Sakya Dungsay Avikrita Rinpoche. Khenpo served as assistant principal of the shedra from 2008 to 2012 and Rinpoche appointed him to be DKCLI’s head principal for the 2013 to 2016 term."

Continue reading Khenpo Gyurmey Dorjee's biography on www.khyentsefoundation.org.

Gyaltsab Rinpoche Choekyi Nangpa

"Since 1993, H.E. Choekyi Nangwa Rinpoche has been in exile in India. Subsequently he studied the five major Buddhist texts in Gaden Monastic University in South India. On many occasions, he received teachings and empowerments from His holiness the Dalai Lama, especially including the Kalachakra and Jonang Kunga Drolchok's (1507-1566) Hundred instructions.

"In 1998, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama offered the Sangye Choeling monastery to H.H. KhalKha Jetsun Dhampa for the revival and promotion of the Jonang tradition and also renamed the monastery, Jonang Takten Phuntsok Chosling Monastery. At that time His Holiness installed Choekyi Nangwa Rinpoche as the Abbot of the monastery. He is currently Abbot of Jonang Takten Phuntsok Chosling Tibetan Buddhist monastery Sanjauli, Shimla, H.P., India. He is looking after all the monastic monks and teaching them in the Jonang tradition. He also teaches Kalachakra six-limb Yoga to students in the Kalachakra meditation Centre."
Continue reading Gyaltsab Rinpoche Choekyi Nangpa's biography on www.jonangmonasteryshimla.com.

Yangten Rinpoche

"Yangten Rinpoche was born in Kham, Tibet in 1978. He was recognised as a tulku aged 10, and enthroned at Kandze Monstery. In 1990, at the unusually young age of 12, he entered the Geshe program at Sera Mey Monastery and graduated with a Geshe Lharampa degree (with distinction) in 2007, aged only 29.

"After graduation, Rinpoche joined Gyuto Monastery for 2 years and completed the traditional tantric studies there. During his time at Gyuto Monastery, Rinpoche helped His Holiness the Karmapa as a debate assistant.

"In 2008 Rinpoche was called up by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to work in His Holiness’ Private Office and has assisted His Holiness on many projects, including being selected to to compile a book on Buddhist Science, from the Kangyur and Tengyur."

Continue reading Yangten Rinpoche's biography on www.tushita.info.

Read more about the panelist on www.cybersangha.net.

Schedule

August 16, 2020

10:00 AM ET - 11:30 AM ET

(7:00 AM PT - 8:30 AM PT)

Watch the Livestream

Watch the livestream on the Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche Facebook page.

Based on my viewing of the June 7 event Facebook livestream with the same panelists, this event  may be conducted entirely, or almost entirely in Tibetan. For English translation, open the Facebook page to watch the livestreaming video, and then open this Ligmincha webpage to listen to a livestream of the English translation.

If you miss the event and would like to listen to the audio recording of the English translation later then look for it on this Ligmincha webpage.

The live event will be translated into a number of other languages through Ligmincha as well.

Watch Tai Situpa Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche Teach Online Organized by Palpung Ireland

Tai Situpa Rinpoche, www.retreatsandvenues.com.

On July 22, 2020, I received a kind email from Palpung letting me know that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 would be a "stay at home" year and that His Eminence the 7th Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's December 2020 transmissions had to be cancelled.

The email reminded readers that recordings of teachings given by Guru Vajradhara the 12th Tai Situpa Rinpoche and Minyur Rinpoche are freely available on www.palpung.org, and that many are translated into other languages such as Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish.

Now there will be new online teachings as well.

Teachings from Tai Situpa Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche

On August 2, I received an email from Palpung sharing the good news that Tai Situpa Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche will be giving online teachings organized by Palpung Ireland.

The Events

The email read, "In response to numerous requests from Palpung Centers worldwide as well as requests from many other Dharma communities, Guru Vajradhara the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa has agreed to transmit the precious Dharma once a month for the next 6 months.

"Also, in response to numerous requests, His Eminence Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche has agreed to teach on Saturday, August 15th.

"Palpung Ireland has been appointed to organize those events.

"These transmissions are open to everyone Buddhists or non-Buddhists, to beginners as well as to long term students."

Schedule

August 9, 2020

5:00 PM IST - 6:30 PM IST

(August 9 from 4:30 AM PT - 6:00 AM PT)

Tai Situpa Rinpoche - "A Meaningful Life"

August 15, 2020

3:00 PM NPT - 5:00 PM NPT

(August 15 from 2:15 AM PT - 4:15 AM PT)

Mingyur Rinpoche - "The Art of Letting Go: How to Cultivate Healthy Relationships"

September 6, 2020

5:00 PM IST - 6:30 PM IST

(September 6 from 4:30 AM PT - 6:00 AM PT)

Tai Situpa Rinpoche - "What Is Freedom"

October 11, 2020

5:00 PM IST - 6:30 PM IST

(October 11 from 4:30 AM PT - 6:00 AM PT)

Tai Situpa Rinpoche - "Inner Peace"

Mingyur Rinpoche, www.wortfm.org.

Watch the Livestreams

English speakers should watch the livetreams on Palpung Ireland Buddhist Centre YouTube channel.

Simultaneous translations in Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish, Slovenian, German, and Portuguese will be available on Zoom.

Viewers who require access to translation in one of those languages should notify the organizers in advance.

Send an email requesting access to your preferred translation to palpungirelandinfo (at) gmail dot com. Your email Title should be written in English and should say "Chinese Translation Request" if you need the Chinese translation, etc.

If you need translation for the August 9 teaching then email the organizers by August 8. 

If you need translation for the September 6 teaching then email the organizers between August 10 and August 14.

If you need translation for the September 6 teaching then email the organizers between August 29 and September 5.

If you need translation for the October 11 teaching then email the organizers between October 3 and October 10.

Palpung Sherabling Monastery, www.palpung.org.

A Brief History of Palpung Monastery, Tai Situpa Rinpoche, and Mingyur Rinpoche

Palpung Ireland is part of the Palpung Confederation and is connected with Palpung Monastery, a Karma Kagyu monastery in Kham, Tibet. Palpung Monastery has 180+ branch monasteries in Chinese and Tibetan districts whose students travel to Palpung Monastery to study ritual, art, retreat practices, and scholarly texts.

Palpung Monastery was founded by the 8th Tai Situpa Rinpoche in 1727 and is the monastic seat in Tibet of the reincarnations of the Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpas. Mingyur Rinpoche explains in this six minute video that the monastic seat of the Minyur Rinpoche reincarnations, Tergar Monastery in Tibet, is an independent branch of Palpung Monastery. In that video he also explains the historical connection between the Mingyur Rinpoche reincarnations and the Tai Situpa Rinpoche reincarnations.

The website of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa's seat in North America, www.kagyu.org, says, "The first Tai Situ Rinpoche, Chökyi Gyaltsen, was a disciple of the Fifth Karmapa. Though he spent a great deal of his life meditating in caves, his renown spread so widely that the Ming emperor granted him the title of Tai Situ" in 1407.

In that six minute video Minyur Rinpoche says that the 8th Tai Situpa Rinpoche gave three year retreat instructions near the end of his life, and that the 9th Tai Situpa Rinpoche was responsible for establishing the system of the three year retreat. Mingyur Rinpoche joined his first three-year retreat at the age of thirteen under the guidance of the 12th Tai Situpa Rinpoche at Palpung Sherabling Monastery.

The 12th Tai Situpa Rinpoche, born in 1954, was found and recognized by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa. He was enthroned at Palpung Monastery at the age of eighteen months. When he was six, he went into exile in India where he stayed and studied with His Holiness the 16th Karmapa who had gone into exile and was at his monastic seat in exile, Rumtek Monastery, in Sikkim. The 6th Mingyur Rinpoche also left Tibet and went into exile in India.

The 12th Tai Situpa Rinpoche is the main teacher to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa in Mahamudra and a teacher of the 7th Mingyur Rinpoche.

At the age of 22 the 12th Tai Situpa Rinpoche established his monastic seat in exile near Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India. I first visited Palpung Sherabling monastic seat when I attended a retreat led there by the 7th Mingyur Rinpoche in 2016, and got to go back last year to attend part of a retreat led by Tai Situpa Rinpoche. I was there alone and enjoyed sitting with members of Palpung Ireland for meals in the dining hall. It is fun that Palpung Ireland are the organizers for the upcoming teachings.

This summary was organized by piecing together information from various trusted websites. I am not that familiar with this history and apologize for any errors.

Watch "Teachings and Prayers for the Pandemic" on Facebook Live

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, houstonculturemap.com.

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche shared this event announcement on his Facebook page on May 21, 2020.

Teachings and Prayers for the Pandemic from Six Spiritual Traditions of Tibet

"On Sunday, June 7, at 10 a.m. New York time, esteemed teachers from six different spiritual traditions of Tibet will offer teachings and prayers for the pandemic in a special live online broadcast hosted by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal.

"The approximately 90-minute broadcast will be in Tibetan, with simultaneous translation available in English and many other languages."

Teachings and Prayers for the Pandemic, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche Facebook.

Schedule

Sunday, June 7, 2020

7:00 AM - 8:30 AM PT

Watch the Livestream

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche Facebook page

CyberSangha website

Watch the livestream in Tibetan and then listen to your preferred language translation using the CyberSangha website.

Speakers

Ponlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche

"At the age of 13 and on the advice of his uncle, Ponlob Rinpoche went into a series of 3 months retreats during 1975, 1976 and 1977. In 1979, Ponlob Rinpoche’s brother, Lama Tashi, brought Rinpoche to Menri Monastery in India. His studies there focused on Sutra, Tanta and Dzogchen as well as ritual, grammar, poetry, astrology, divination, medicine, Thanka painting, Mandalas and stupas. Ponlob obtained his Geshe Degree (Doctorate) from the Bon Dialectic School in 1989. Soon after, Rinpoche was appointed Principle Instructor of the Bon Dialectic School by H.H. the 33rd Mentri Trizin and H.E. Yongzin Rinpoche. In 1992 he was further honored by being given the title of Ponlob, the second most revered position in Menri Monastery."

Continue reading Ponlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche's biography on www.olmoling.org.

Sogan Rinpoche

"Ven. Sogan Rinpoche (Tulku Pema Lodoe) was born in 1964 in the Golok region of Amdo, Tibet. As a child, he was recognized by H.H. the XlVth Dalai Lama as the Sixth Sogan Rinpoche and was enthroned at Abo Sera Monastery (in Tibet's Serta region) which he founded in his First Sogan Rinpoche incarnation. He is also the head of Bayan (Wayan) Monastery, located in Golok.

"Rinpoche has studied with many great masters of all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. His principal teacher was Khenpo Munsel, who was one of the great Dzogchen masters of the 20th century and a chief disciple of Khenpo Ngag Chung. After many years of study, pilgrimage and solitary retreat, Rinpoche left Tibet to continue his studies in Nepal. He studied extensively with many prominent teachers and spent several years there in retreat."

Continue reading Sogan Rinpoche's biography on www.sogan.org.


Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

"Born in 1975 in the Himalayan border regions between Tibet and Nepal, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche is a much-loved and accomplished meditation master. From a young age, Rinpoche was drawn to a life of contemplation. He spent many years of his childhood in strict retreat. At the age of seventeen, he was invited to be a teacher at his monastery’s three-year retreat center, a position rarely held by such a young lama. He also completed the traditional Buddhist training in philosophy and psychology, before founding a monastic college at his home monastery in north India.

"In addition to extensive training in the meditative and philosophical traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, Mingyur Rinpoche has also had a lifelong interest in Western science and psychology. At an early age, he began a series of informal discussions with the famed neuroscientist Francisco Varela, who came to Nepal to learn meditation from his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche."

Continue reading Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's biography on www.tergar.org.

Khenpo Gyurmey Dorjee

"Khenpo Choying Dorjee was born a student of the Khyentse lineage. He was also a devoted student of the late Khen Rinpoche Kunga Wangchuk. He joined Dzongsar Institute in 1992, when it was still located in Bir. In 1998 he was granted his Shastra Degree in Buddhism, which is the equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree. He received his Archaya title, which is the equivalent to an MA, in 2001. He received his Khenpo title in 2002 and received his Khenpo Degree, which is the equivalent to a PhD in Buddhism, in 2004.

"He worked as a revision teacher (kyorpon) at the shedra from 1999 to 2000 and continued as a head teacher until 2013. In 2010, he was appointed as a teacher of Sakya Dungsay Avikrita Rinpoche. Khenpo served as assistant principal of the shedra from 2008 to 2012 and Rinpoche appointed him to be DKCLI’s head principal for the 2013 to 2016 term."

Continue reading Khenpo Gyurmey Dorjee's biography on www.khyentsefoundation.org.

Gyaltsab Rinpoche Choekyi Nangpa

"Since 1993, H.E. Choekyi Nangwa Rinpoche has been in exile in India. Subsequently he studied the five major Buddhist texts in Gaden Monastic University in South India. On many occasions, he received teachings and empowerments from His holiness the Dalai Lama, especially including the Kalachakra and Jonang Kunga Drolchok's (1507-1566) Hundred instructions.

"In 1998, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama offered the Sangye Choeling monastery to H.H. KhalKha Jetsun Dhampa for the revival and promotion of the Jonang tradition and also renamed the monastery, Jonang Takten Phuntsok Chosling Monastery. At that time His Holiness installed Choekyi Nangwa Rinpoche as the Abbot of the monastery. He is currently Abbot of Jonang Takten Phuntsok Chosling Tibetan Buddhist monastery Sanjauli, Shimla, H.P., India. He is looking after all the monastic monks and teaching them in the Jonang tradition. He also teaches Kalachakra six-limb Yoga to students in the Kalachakra meditation Centre."

Continue reading Gyaltsab Rinpoche Choekyi Nangpa's biography on www.jonangmonasteryshimla.com.

Yangten Rinpoche

"Yangten Rinpoche was born in Kham, Tibet in 1978. He was recognised as a tulku aged 10, and enthroned at Kandze Monstery. In 1990, at the unusually young age of 12, he entered the Geshe program at Sera Mey Monastery and graduated with a Geshe Lharampa degree (with distinction) in 2007, aged only 29.

"After graduation, Rinpoche joined Gyuto Monastery for 2 years and completed the traditional tantric studies there. During his time at Gyuto Monastery, Rinpoche helped His Holiness the Karmapa as a debate assistant.

"In 2008 Rinpoche was called up by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to work in His Holiness’ Private Office and has assisted His Holiness on many projects, including being selected to to compile a book on Buddhist Science, from the Kangyur and Tengyur."

Continue reading Yangten Rinpoche's biography on www.tushita.info.

Mingyur Rinpoche and the Tergar Meditation Community on How to Make Friends With Fear and Depression

Mingyur Rinpoche, www.seattleyoganews.com.

I'm enjoying the Tergar Meditation Community online offerings. Tergar Meditation Community is the meditation community of Mingyur Rinpoche.

Their offerings are so diverse and regularly scheduled—online meditation practice sessions with Tergar Facilitators, talks from Tergar Instructors, and talks from Mingyur Rinpoche—all livestreaming on YouTube.

Here's the latest Tergar e-newsletter dated Thursday, May 7, 2020.

Making Friends With Fear and Depression

"In this week’s online programming, we explore how to make friends with our thoughts and welcome them as a way to connect with others. Join us for a live teaching with Tergar Instructor Antonia Sumbundu and group practice sessions with Tergar Facilitators. 

Tergar Instructor Antonia Sumbundu, Tergar newsletter.

"In unpredictable and difficult times like those we are now experiencing, it is normal for our minds to be filled with thoughts that stem from feelings like depression, worry, and fear. We don’t need to fight these thoughts or try to escape from them, but can instead learn to welcome them and relate to them so that they help us to uncover our innate awareness, kindness, and understanding. Rather than isolate us further, they can be our bridge to connecting with others even more deeply and authentically.

"Join us for a live-streamed teaching with Tergar Instructor Antonia Sumbundu on Thursday, May 14 at 1:00 PM EDT (19:00 CEST).

Online Meditation Practice Sessions, Tergar newsletter.

"Join us on YouTube Live for three group practice sessions each week with 20 minutes of guided meditation plus the opportunity to ask practice-related questions. The sessions are recorded so you can come back to practice at any time.

Mondays, 10 AM EDT (4 PM CEST)
Tuesdays, 8 PM EDT (Wednesdays, 2 AM CEST)
Fridays, 2 PM EDT (8 PM CEST)

Mingyur Rinpoche, Tergar newsletter.

"Remember that you can always watch past talks and sessions from Mingyur Rinpoche, Tergar Instructors, and Tergar Facilitators on the Tergar Meditation Community YouTube channel including Mingyur Rinpoche's Sunday, May 3 teaching "Finding Freedom from the Causes of Unhappiness."

"Be sure to subscribe to the channel, and click the bell icon to receive notifications when new streams and practice sessions are added.

"Please visit the Tergar Covid-19 resources page for news and resources for practice during this time.

"May you, your loved ones, and your communities be safe and healthy.

Sincerely,
Tergar Meditation Community"

Mingyur Rinpoche will livestream on YouTube on Sunday, May 17.

Subscribe to the Tergar Meditation Community e-newsletter to receive updates or subscribe to the Tergar Meditation Community YouTube channel and request notifications.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche Advises on How to Meditate With Mantras During Covid-19

Tenzin Chemey and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, TibetTV April 18, 2020.

TibetTV, the official media outlet of the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government in exile in Dharamsala, India, is producing a series of short advice videos during Covid-19 to help viewers.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

On April 18, 2020, Tenzin Chemey from TibetTV interviewed Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche for the YouTube video "In Conversation with Kyabje Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on Power of Meditation during COVID-19 Pandemic."

Tenzin Chemey previously interviewed Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on February 1 for the YouTube video "(Ep. 256) Exclusive Interview: Kyabje Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on Meditation and Transformation." (They recorded that February 1 interview twice: once in Tibetan and once in English. You will see the Tibetan version has had many more views.)

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on Tibet TV YouTube channel.

At the end of that February 1 interview Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche recommended three kinds of meditation for beginners: meditation on the breath, meditation with sound, and meditation while reciting a mantra silently in your head. They revisited this topic in April.

Meditation With Mantra Recitation

On April 18, Tenzin Chemey asked Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, "We have to take special care of elderly people. In our community going to koras, visiting monasteries, and attending religious gatherings play a huge part in the routine of the elderly. Now that they have to stay home away from all these visitations their routine has been disrupted too. What do you suggest the elderly members of our community to practice? What kind of meditation?"

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche answered, "I think the elderly normally practice a lot of mantras like OM MANI PADME HUM, OM AH HUM BENZA GURU PEDMA SIDDHI HUM, OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA—so a lot of the mantra recitations. So I think it's really important when you do this mantra recitation you have to know how to meditate with that.

"So normally we say to do at the beginning refuge and Bodhchitta. So let's say if you recite 'OM MANI PADME HUM' (the mantra of Chenrezig, Avalokiteshvara) you imagine Chenrezig in front of you. Take refuge. You don't need to worry about the form, color, shape, what Chenrezig looks like exactly. That's not so important, most important is feel the presence of Chenrezig. So what we say is the moment you think of Buddha in front of you Buddha is just there. So Chenrezig is looking at you, Chenrezig is thinking about you. So feel the presence of Chenrezig and take refuge.

"After that, Bodhichitta: 'I want to practice the Chenrezig mantra, the Chenrezig practice to benefit all beings, and especially the beings who are affected right now by the coronavirus, and for world peace, and help all beings to achieve enlightenment. Therefore I'm going to practice Chenrezig today.' So that's Bodhichitta, so beginning with refuge and Bodhichitta.

"Then continue to recite OM MANI PADME HUM. So when you recite OM MANI PADME HUM pray to Chenrezig. Pray for whatever you want: good health, to remove obstacles, for world peace, and especially if you want to pray for people you know who are in problems, obstacles, pray for them. And then all beings. And while you pray 'OM MANI PADME HUM' there's a lot of light that comes from Chenrezig's body, normally what we call the five colors special with whatever Buddha. So Chenrezig is white, so white light radiates and touches you and all beings. And through that light heal all the diseases and purify all of the negativity, bad karma, everything.

Four-armed Chenrezig painted by His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Devotees of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje Facebook.

"In the end all beings, all sentient beings, become Chenrezig. The realm becomes a pure realm. The beings become Chenrezig, you and all beings. So now you and all beings are reciting the mantra together 'OM MANI PADME HUNG.' Everybody becomes Chenrezig. So that's the main practice.

"Then in the end conclude dedication. So now you ask Chenrezig as witness of your dedication 'I want to dedicate this virtue to all beings' and in particular if you want to dedicate to whoever is sick or whatever your family members or whatever, and all beings free from suffering of samsara, achieve full enlightenment. 'So I'm going to do this dedication just like Chenrezig. What your dedication is, I'm going to follow your dedication.' So you can dedicate in the end.

"So if you do that (Rinpoche holds up three fingers to signify refuge, Bodhichitta, and dedication) then this is really kind of like an important practice. The essence of Lord Budda's teachings, many many essences of Lord Buddha's teachings are together. You can do this with OM AH HUM BENZA GURU PEDMA SIDDHI HUM, you can do this with Tara. If you do this with Tara (OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA) you can imagine Tara. So any other Buddha practice, I think when we do that, this is really beneficial."

Watch the April 18 interview on the Tibet TV YouTube channel or below.



Advised Mantras
Several mantras have been advised to stop the spread of Covid-19:

Two Mantras to Help Stop the Spread of Covid-19 advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche

Three Mantras to Recite During Covid-19 advised by Khadro-la

Three Mantras and Prayers to Stop the Spread of Covid-19 advised by Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration

Learn Meditation from Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche During Covid-19 advised by Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche

Never Give Up Bodhichitta Including During Covid-19 advised by Jamyang Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

Parnashavari the Leaf-Clad Goddess Protects Against Covid-19 advised by His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen

The Verses that Saved Sakya from Sickness: A Prayer for Pacifying the Fear of Disease advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Additional Covid-19 Practice Advice from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Tergar International
For more advice from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche during covid-19 see the April 1, 2020 blog post "Practicing with the Tergar Meditation Community During Covid-19."

Make sure to subscribe to the Tergar email newsletter and Tergar Meditation Community YouTube channel because Tergar is adding new online learning and meditation events every week.

Practicing with the Tergar Meditation Community During Covid-19

Mingyur Rinpoche teaching at Tergar Osel Ling Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal, January 2017, Rinpoche's Facebook page.

Tergar International is a meditation community under the guidance of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (Mingyur Rinpoche). They offer online and in-person programs that help people from all spiritual traditions learn to live with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.

Tergar International

Tergar International has been reaching out, offering more opportunities to learn and practice meditation in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

Tergar has created a COVID-19 page on the Tergar website. It says "... Tergar International has suspended all in-person events and gatherings for the time being. Our biggest concern is to help alleviate the suffering caused by anxiety, fear, and grief. With so many people in social isolation, we are putting all our resources into supporting virtual meetings to sustain local groups and the development of an online resource and teaching program for the broader community.

"As Mingyur Rinpoche wrote in The Joy of Living, 'The best form of security we can offer ourselves is to develop an open heart.' Our practice is what helps to be present, openhearted, and responsive at this challenging time. When we remember awareness, we remember our connection with the world and others."

Mingyur Rinpoche

Mingyur Rinpoche gave a one-hour talk "Living With Distress" on Sunday, March 29, 2020 from 9:00-10:00 AM PT. It was livestreamed on Tergar's new Tergar Meditation Community channel:



Watch a short (eight-minute) video from Mingyur Rinpoche on the crisis published on March 15 on the Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche YouTube channel.

He will give another live teaching on Sunday, April 5 at 3:00 AM PT using Tergar's new Tergar Meditation Community YouTube channel. It will be translated into a variety of languages. Check the video description field beneath the video.

There will be a Q&A at the end of the teaching. Enter your questions for Rinpoche in the chat with the hashtag #AskMingyurRinpoche

Get Help with Your Meditation Practice

Subscribe to the Email Newsletter and YouTube Channels

Sign up to receive the email newsletter by going to "Stay Connected" on the lefthand side of the Tergar website.

Subscribe to the new YouTube channel Tergar Meditation Community because it is being used to livestream and then archive events. Set up notifications so you don't miss out on an opportunity to join a livestream. Here's how to do that if you need some help.

Upcoming YouTube livestream events are listed on the Tergar website. Tergar instructor Tim Olmsted is giving a teaching on the Tergar Mediation Community YouTube channel on Thursday, April 2 at 1:00 PM PT. It will be recorded and then shared on the YouTube channel. 

Take a Free Online Course

Register for a free four-part Introduction to Meditation course taught by Mingyur Rinpoche. Suitable for beginners and experienced meditators, the course covers how to get started with meditation, how to work with difficult emotions in meditation, how to meditate using sound, how to meditate using the breath, and how to meditate using awareness. Get started by creating a free account on the Tergar E-Learning website and then register for the course. It can be taken at any time. 

Find a Tergar Group to Connect and Practice with Online

Check out the directory of Tergar practice groups and reach out to your local practice group to see if they are offering online programming. Sign up for their email newsletter.

My local Tergar practice group is meeting regularly on Zoom. We had eighteen people meditating together and checking in with each other. Tergar practice groups are welcoming new members. There is no cost involved.

Tergar instructor Tim Olmsted met with several of the Tergar practice groups via Zoom on Saturday, March 28 to offer support and guidance. Listen to a recording of that call.

Learn from Mingyur Rinpoche and Tergar-certified Instructors

Watch videos of Mingyur Rinpoche teaching on the Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche YouTube channel such as "How to do retreat in daily life?"



Watch videos of Mingyur Rinpoche teaching in Tibetan with simultaneous translation into English on the Karmapa YouTube channel. Search that channel for the videos of Mingyur Rinpoche teaching during the 37th Kagyu Monlam in 2020.

Download free MP3 files of Mingyur Rinpoche leading guided meditations.

Tergar instructors have been offering livestreamed guided meditations on the new Tegar Meditation Community channel, such as the March 23 video "A Steady Heart in Turbulent Times with Edwin Kelley and Antonia Sumbundu."

The Tergar Meditation Community Soundcloud channel has a large collection of free audio recordings.

Read Mingyur Rinpoche's Newest Book

In Love with the World: A Monk's Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying by Mingyur Rinpoche with Helen Tworkov was published in 2019. It is a beautiful book, and the e-book might be available from your local (perhaps temporarily closed) public library. An excerpt is available free online.

Read a short article about Mingyur Rinpoche's four year wandering retreat, the basis for the newest book, or listen to an interview with Mingyur Rinpoche and Helen Tworkov.

India Adventure III: Retreat with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, and then farewell, India.

My shared taxi reached Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat,  (Sherabling) in the early evening on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. It had been a beautiful drive through the Himalayan countryside near sunset, from McLeod Ganj to this monastic community set in the woods outside of Baijnath, not far from Bir.

Sherabling is the seat of the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa, Pema Donyo Nyingche Wangpo (Tai Situ Rinpoche). He is one of the highest ranking lamas of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. (His Holiness the 17th Karmapa and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche are also Karma Kagyu.)

While this was not my first time receiving a teaching from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, it was my first visit to Sherabling and I was charmed by the setting. The monastery is set in the middle of the woods. Prayer flags strung from tree to tree fluttered high above us as our taxi driver navigated the narrow, pine needle covered roads outside of Sherabling.

Road to Sherabling.

Road to Sherabling.

I had come to attend a five day teaching with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche entitled Mahamudra Moonlight Beam Transmission. This was my first retreat in the Karma Kagyu tradition, and my first retreat focused on meditation techniques.

Welcome to Sherabling.

The teachings were held in a gompa located on one of the upper floors of one of the larger and newer buildings on the Sherabling campus.

Sherabling. The building were the retreat was held.

Sherabling. The building where the retreat was  held.

All of the retreat's activities took place within this one building, with the exception of some of the accommodation. I moved from a shared room with my friend Aniko in one of the older buildings to the dormitory in the new, big building. I shared the dormitory with five nice western women.

Lobby of the new building, where all of the retreat activities took place.

My dormitory room. I had the bed on the far left in this photo.

We had a good amount of teaching time but we also had the chance to relax and catch up with friends, too. A few of my friends had come to Sherabling for the retreat. It was a nice way to end my time in India.

Our retreat schedule.

I attended the Tara Puja at 6AM on the first day, and tried to make it there at least one more time during the retreat. Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche didn't join us for those; they were led by some of the monks.

Otherwise, our first teaching with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche began at 9AM. Prior to that breakfast was served first in the dining halls inside, and then it was moved outside to the big tent where we had lunch and dinner. All of the meals were served buffet style. I had heard the food would be good, and that was true.

Before the teachings began we would recite prayers in unison from the books set out for our use on racks outside of the temple.

Prayer book cover.

Prayer book table of contents.

I enjoyed reciting the Dakpo Kagyu Lineage Prayer, which was new to me. We recited it in tune in Tibetan, just as the prayers were done at the Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya.

First page of the Dakpo Kagyu Lineage Prayer as it appears in the prayer book.
The top line is Tibetan, written in Tibetan script.
The second line is the phonetically spelled Tibetan.

Great Vajradhara, Tilopa, Naropa,
Marpa, Mila, Lord of Dharma Gampopa,
Knower of the Three Times, omniscient Karmapa,
Holders of the four great and eight lesser lineages --
Drikung, Tag-lung, Tsalpa, these three; glorious Drukpa and so on --
Masters of the profound path of Mahamudra,
Incomparable protectors of beings, the Takpo Kagyu,
I supplicate you, the Kagyu gurus.
I hold your lineage; grant your blessings so that I will follow your example.

Revulsion is the foot of meditation, as is taught.
To this meditator who is not attached to food and wealth,
Who cuts the ties to this life,
Grant your blessings so that I have no desire for honor and gain.

Devotion is the head of meditation, as is taught.
The guru opens the gate to the treasury of oral instructions.
To this meditator who continually supplicates him
Grant your blessings, so that genuine devotion is born in me.

Awareness is the body of meditation, as is taught.
Whatever arises is fresh--the essence of realization.
To this meditator who rests simply without altering it
Grant your blessings so that my meditation is free from conception.

The essence of thought is dharmakaya, as is taught.
Nothing whatever but everything arises from it.
To this meditator who arises in unceasing play
Grant your blessings so that I realize the inseparability of samsara and nirvana.

Through all my births may I not be separated from the perfect guru
And so enjoy the splendor of dharma.
Perfecting the virtues of the paths and bhumis,
May I speedily attain the state of Vajradhara.

May precious bodhicitta be born in those in whom it has not arisen.
Having arisen, may it not degenerate, and may it continue to develop more and more.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche at Sherabling. Photo by Palpung Institute.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche taught us the foundations of Mahamudra Meditation as explained in the text Moonbeams of Mahamudra. This text and the text Mahamudra Ocean of Definitive Meaning are the two major Mahamudra texts for the Kagyu lineage. The first focuses more on the knowledge needed to practice Mahamudra, while the second is more oriented towards the practice of Mahamudra.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche teaching at Sherabling. Photo by Palpung Institute.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche had the Tibetan language and the English translations out in front of him at all times during class. He would reference the two and highlight errors in the translation, to try to ensure we were receiving the proper instruction on Mahamudra.

Text used in the retreat.

In 2014 His Holiness the 17th Karmapa gave a talk about Mahamudra at the Root Institute in Bodhgaya:

“Mahamudra texts say one must not pursue mental afflictions, but when they arise, one shouldn’t worry about it. For example, someone on a journey will see various scenery. One doesn’t have to stop seeing what one sees, nor does one have to be alarmed. The journey must go on. We tend to claim ownership of what is on the path. Rather it is a journey of noticing mental afflictions, looking at their essential nature. Then mental afflictions will become powerless because they are not automatically equipped with the power to overwhelm us. By feeding them, mental afflictions gain strength. Whatever is concocted like lies, must come to the surface. If one doesn’t entertain it, the mental afflictions will be defeated by themselves. We have to confront the afflictions with all means and methods and if we can weaken their power we can tame and even uproot them. All dharmas come to the same point. All the profound instructions aim to uproot our mental afflictions. It is important to understand this."

His Holiness the 17th Karmapa taught on Mahamudra in Sarnath in 2011; you can watch the teachings here.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche at Sherabling. Photo by Palpung Institute.

The Mahamudra Moonlight Beam Transmission Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche was giving us from May 12 - May 16, 2016 was the first in a series of five retreats on the same topic. The first two years were designed to be more introductory but by the third year students will need to make a real commitment to the practice in order to attend the retreat.

 

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche teaching at Sherabling. Photo by Palpung Institute.

I somehow got a nice seat in the temple. Each student was given a number, which corresponded to a labeled seat in the temple.

I was seat # 094. This is my seat and white desk.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche teaching. I'm in the middle, laughing. Photo by Palpung Institute.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche teaching at Sherabling. Photo by Palpung Institute.

I spent one lunch break exploring the Sherabling campus with my friend Yaron, who was also in the retreat.

A temple at Sherabling.

Same temple at Sherabling.

During the lunch breaks we also got to watch and help socialize Tai Situ Rinpoche's three puppies. If I remember the story correctly, Tai Situ Rinpoche found them on the side of the road in bad condition and brought them home to Sherabling. They were frisky and adorable.

Sherabling puppies.

Sherabling puppies.

I walked around Sherabling later in the evening one night, and heard the monks debating in a walled in courtyard. I peered in through an open doorway and got to take in the scene and their voices as they echoed off of the walls. It turned out to be a beautiful evening.

I enjoyed being able to spend these five days with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. His teachings on meditation were so helpful. I think of them often.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche retreat at Sherabling. Photo by Palpung Institute.

During the retreat, Venerable Jampa Dorje who had been my main contact leading up to my arrival at Sherabling, and who continued to direct and manage retreat logistics on site, announced that we would be able to meet individually with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.

I was able to meet with him towards the end of the retreat.

Waiting in the hallway outside of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's rooms for my name to be called.

Meeting with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche in his rooms.

Part of the practice we did during the retreat included the Long Life Prayer for Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. We were given photocopies of the prayer for use during the retreat. It makes me happy to see it once again, here.

Long Life Prayer for Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.

At the conclusion of the retreat we did long life prayers for our teacher, and got to approach him at his throne one at a time to offer him a khata and receive his blessing. It was beautiful. He also performed the refuge ceremony. We all got together for a group photo with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. It was a memorable retreat.

Group photo with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. I'm somewhere near the middle.
Photo by Palpung Institute.

I published a blog post from the Sherabling internet cafe before I left for Delhi on the overnight bus, so that I could catch my flight from the Delhi airport back to the US.

I left Sherabling on May 16, 2016 arriving in Delhi on the morning of May 17. Before going to the airport that night I stopped to visit with Jayanti, a good friend of my mom and I, who lives in Delhi.

Dirty shoes at the end of six months in India.
Propped up against a wall with my travel backpack outside of a Delhi metro station.

I had heard Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche would be flying out of the Delhi airport soon, but you can't imagine my surprise when I actually saw him and the attendant who took our picture. I had already checked my bag, and was walking towards the India Immigration counters to present my passport and visa when I saw them leaning over a counter, filling out the government forms. I walked by, beaming, bowed with hands folded and said "Tashi Delek, Rinpoche." He gave me a huge smile and said "Tashi Delek."

We waited in nearby lines for over an hour before passing through the India Immigration counters and on to our separate flights. The last I saw, his attendant was standing at the counter in front of an immigration official, processing paperwork. I know they had a safe trip because my mom saw them shortly thereafter when Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche taught in the US.

Amazing.

Then, when I boarded my flight from Delhi and flipped through the movie selection, I found Kung Fu Panda 3. Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche had quoted Kung Fu Panda during the retreat. I smiled as soon as I saw the reference right there on the plane. Of course I had to watch the film.

Kung Fu Panda 3 on my flight.

And then I was back in New York. India Adventure III had come to a close.

Welcome to New York ... more specifically JFK airport.