TAKING REFUGE IN BUDDHA, DHARMA, AND SANGHA: TEACHINGS AND VOWS

With Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche

Dates: from 12 to 13 July

We are delighted to announce that Khentrul Lodrö Thaye Rinpoche—an eminent master of the Nyingma Kathok lineage—will be coming for the first time to Lerab Ling.

On this occasion, Khentrul Rinpoche will teach on refuge, the entranceway to the Buddhist path, conduct the traditional Refuge ceremony and grant Lay Vows to those who wish to take them for the first time or renew them. It is exceptional to receive these vows from such an eminent teacher of the monastic tradition.

Taking refuge is the foundation or the cornerstone of all Dharma practice. It gives us the stability, confidence and trust needed to embark upon, and to follow the path to enlightenment. The key to taking refuge is acknowledging the fact that we all have buddha nature, and therefore we all have the potential for enlightenment. Refuge is a practice of developing confidence in our true nature.

In the Refuge ceremony we declare our intention to follow the Buddhist path. As an aid in this life change, we receive a Buddhist name. The teacher might also cut a strand of our hair as a symbol for our renunciation of worldly attachments.

On the basis of taking the Refuge Vow, it is possible to take one or several of the lay vows. The five lay vows are the basic vows that underpin the Buddhist way of life for lay practitioners. They are the vows to refrain from killing, taking what is not given, lying, sexual misconduct and taking intoxicants. These vows serve as an important support to our lives and practice as Buddhist practitioners.

HOW TO FOLLOW

These teachings will take place in the opening days of the annual Ngöndro Retreat (12-20 July). The Ngöndro Retreat will be led by Rigpa Teachers and will also focus on the topic of Refuge making Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche’s teachings and ceremonies even more meaningful and timely. If you are interested in following the full retreat, find more information here.

KHENTRUL LODRÖ T’HAYÉ RINPOCHE

Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche was born in eastern Tibet, where he is the abbot of Mardo Tashi Choling Monastery. Khentrul Rinpoche was ordained as a monk at age seven. For more than 20 years, he studied and practiced under his main root guru, His Holiness Khenpo Jigmé Phuntsok Rinpoche. He also spent many years studying with H.H. Katog Moktza Rinpoche and H.H. Penor Rinpoche. Khentrul Rinpoche studied, contemplated, and meditated on all of the sutra and tantra scriptures, including those of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. He also received the associated empowerments, reading transmissions, and oral instructions, and earned the degree of khenpo, equivalent to a Ph.D. in Buddhist philosophy, three times.

Khentrul Rinpoche was invited to the United States by Chagdud Rinpoche in 2002. Since then he has established more than 20 dharma centers across North America. For most of the year, Khentrul Rinpoche travels to and teaches at his dharma centers, as well as at universities, medical facilities, and prisons around the world. He started a shedra, the traditional study of Buddhist scriptures, at Katog Choling Gön, his monastery in the West located in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas.

For more information about Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche and his dharma activities visit: www.katogcholing.com

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

There will be two teaching sessions per day, approximately:
—10:00-12:00 &
—14:00-17:00, with a 20-30 min. break.
There will be a few optional practice sessions as well.

Tags: STUDENTS