SHECHEN RABJAM RINPOCHE

Vajrayana Transmissions & Teachings

Dates: from 5 to 10 November

This event is open to Rigpa Ngöndro and Dzogchen Mandala students &
students from other sanghas who fulfil certain Vajrayana requirements.

Specific criteria & Application Forms are available below.

We are honoured that Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche will visit Lerab Ling again this year. On this occasion he will bestow a number of teachings, empowerments and transmissions that have been specially requested by the Sangha for their practice and study of the Vajrayana. 

EMPOWERMENTS

• Rinpoche has kindly agreed to grant the major empowerment of Chimé Phakmé Nyingtik—'The Sublime Lady of Immortality’, the terma treasure revealed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and a profound longevity practice focusing on White Tara. This extensive empowerment, which has only been granted twice to the Rigpa Sangha in 1996 and 2013, will enable practitioners to carry out retreats and nyenpa practice of Chimé Phakmé Nyingtik.
• In addition, Rinpoche will confer the empowerment of Lerab Lingpa’s revelation Tendrel Nyesel, which centres on Guru Padmasambhava, and is such a vital practice for the Rigpa community.
• This will be followed by the empowerments for:
  · the famous Nyingtik Saldrön guru yoga practice of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, an empowerment which has never been received by the Rigpa community, although teachings about the practice have been given in the past, and
  · Lhatsün Doha, a guru yoga of Lhatsün Namkha Jigme, a terma of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Rabjam Rinpoche will also be granting the empowerment of Netik Phurba—a Vajrakilaya practice which Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo received through oral transmission. This Vajrakilaya empowerment will allow Rigpa students to practise the three daily Vajrakilaya practices found in the ‘Rigpa Daily Sadhana Practice’ book. More details here.

TEACHINGS

During this five-day period, Rinpoche will also give teachings on:

• Shamatha meditation in the context of The Treasury of Blessings, Mipham Rinpoche’s famous practice of Buddha Shakyamuni, along with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s commentary The Sage who Dispels Mind’s Anguish;
• Mind training (lojong) from Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo’s composition: Ambrosia for the Mind;
• Generation phase practice (kyerim) related to Shechen Gyaltsab Rinpoche’s remarkable guidance manual on Vajrayana practice The Illuminating Jewel Mirror; and
• The nature of mind.

***Rabjam Rinpoche has agreed that the teachings on calm abiding (shamatha) and mind training (lojong) along with the reading transmissions of the corresponding texts can be streamed live on 6 and 7 November. Find all details here.

READING TRANSMISSIONS

As well as these instructions, Rinpoche will give reading transmissions for all the appropriate texts, making these five days in November a rare and extraordinary event for all practitioners, embracing the whole spectrum of Mahayana and Vajrayana practice.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN ONSITE?

Before applying for these empowerments and teachings, take the time to reflect on whether you are ready to receive them and understand the commitments that you are taking.

Please check that you fulfil the following requirements.

• You are a member of the Ngöndro or Dzogchen Mandala (this does not apply if you are the member of another sangha). If you feel you should be part of the Ngöndro Mandala but are not yet, please contact your local instructor to have an interview.
• You have already formally entered the Mahayana Buddhist path by taking Refuge and Bodhisattva vows;
• You have a solid foundation and experience of the principles and practices of the Mahayana;
• You have received teachings on all the ngöndro practices, including guru yoga.
• You have started your ngöndro accumulations and are on track to continue.
• You understand the samaya vows related to empowerment in general and are willing to take the ones related to the upcoming empowerments, which might include practice commitments.
• You have spent some time examining your own motivation for receiving these transmissions.
• You have spent some time examining the master giving these empowerments.

Young adults above 16 years of age should fulfil the above criteria to attend the event and fill in the application forms below.

Children below 16 can accompany their parents during the sessions if they wish to. A venue upstairs, in a separate shrine room with live transmission, will also be made available for parents to follow with younger children. Please do not consider that children are actually receiving the empowerments, but simply blessings.

PREPARING YOURSELF FOR THIS EVENT

If you are relatively new to Vajrayana, we recommend you study this Guide Page on Prajna: Vajrayana Buddhism in the Modern World: Is Vajrayana for Me?

We also recommend you to:

• Read Poison is Medicine and Guru Drinks Bourbon? by one of Rigpa’s Spiritual Advisors Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse;
• Speak to a Teacher or Practice Holder at your local centre to clarify any questions.

***If you would like us to organise a session with Rigpa Senior Teachers to answer your questions about this event, please fill in this form and we will try to organise a session in September or October 2024.

HOW TO JOIN

Please fill in this application form by the 29th of October 2024 if you wish to attend these teachings & transmissions. If you qualify, you will receive a link to register for this event. You may also be contacted by one of our teachers to clarify your path of study and practice.

Please allow us at least two weeks to examine your request.
1) Application form for students of other sanghas
2) Application form for Rigpa Ngöndro Mandala students
3) Application form for Rigpa Dzogchen Mandala students

ABOUT SHECHEN RABJAM RINPOCHE

One of the most eminent masters in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche is the grandson and spiritual heir of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Rinpoche has dedicated his life to transmitting the profound and rich teachings of the ancient Nyingma lineage passed down by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Rabjam Rinpoche is one of the main masters of the Nyingma and Longchen Nyingtik traditions that Rigpa relies on to continue granting transmissions, empowerments, pith instructions and teachings.

He is deeply revered by practitioners worldwide, not only for his extraordinary qualities but also for the way in which he continues Khyentse Rinpoche’s vision of safeguarding the teaching and culture of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche is greatly loved and appreciated everywhere on account of his generosity, his modern approach and his warm and endearing presence.

The Rigpa community holds Rabjam Rinpoche especially close to their heart, deeply grateful for his constant kindness and guidance.

Read Rabjam Rinpoche’s full biography on his website.

ABOUT VENERABLE SEAN PRICE

Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche will be assisted and translated by Ven. Sean Price.
Sean Price was ordained as a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in 1994 and has since studied at various monastic institutes in India and Nepal. A number of his translations have been published: The Supreme Siddhi of Mahamudra: Teachings, Poems, and Songs of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage (Snow Lion Publications and The Emanated Scripture of Manjushri: Shabkar's Essential Meditation Instructions (Snow Lion Publications). He has been Tsadra Foundation’s Director of Tibetan Publications since 2009. He currently resides at the Shechen Monastery, Nepal.

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

5 November
20.00-21.00: Important introduction session

6-10 November
09.30-10.30: Teaching with Rabjam Rinpoche
11.00-12.30: Empowerments and reading transmissions with Rabjam Rinpoche
15.00-16.00: Presentations with Rigpa Teachers and/or Practice Holders
16.30-18.30: Tendrel Nyesel Tsok

Tags: STUDENTS