<< Venerable Lama Lodu Rinpoche

Jambhala is an 8th level Bodhisattva who completely mastered the art of the ten perfections, and is especially committed to the perfection of prayer. With his wisdom, he knows the situations of all sentient beings, and with his compassion, he acts for the benefit of all sentient beings.

At the beginning of the Empowerment, Lama Lodu Rinpoche will give Refuge to those who have not yet taken refuge. Taking Refuge is beginning your path in Buddhism, and agreeing to not harm others in thought, words or actions.

An empowerment is a ritual that invokes the actual blessing and power of a deity, which, according to Tibetan Buddhism, already resides within us. An empowerment, given by a qualified Lama, purifies the Karma of the participants. In Kagyu Buddhism, also known as Vajrayana Buddhism, it is very important to have a proper continuous stream (unbroken) transmission from masters to disciples right from Buddha Vajradhara (Dorje Chang or Sambhogakaya Form of Buddha Shakyamuni) till the present day Lineage Holder (in this instance, the Venerable Lama Lodu Rinpoche).

Kagyu refers to “Oral Transmission (KA)” and “Master-Disciple (GYU),” meaning that Buddha’s teachings are passed down from master to disciple over generations. Shakyamuni Buddha lived 2500 years ago, and we are not able to receive teachings directly from him. It is said that the Lineage Holders are no different from the Shakyamuni Buddha himself, and if the Empowerments are given by ordinary persons without a lineage, then the transmission will contain flaws and errors. So unbroken lineage in the propagation and practice of the Dharma is the assurance that the Buddha’s teachings are unchanged with the original meanings.

Practicing the puja, i.e. reciting the prayers from a text and visualizing the deity, and chanting the mantra helps the practitioner to develop within himself the qualities of that deity. The practice of Jambhala is associated with generosity and the quality of richness and abundance, and is therefore considered the most effective in eradicating poverty, both on the psychological and material level.

There are many deities associated with Tibetan Buddhism, and they all manifest different qualities of the enlightened mind. In Vajrayana Buddhism there are Wrathful Deities, to cut through obstacles and remove ego, and Peaceful Deities, to develop loving kindness, compassion and wisdom.

The Venerable Lama Lodu Rinpoche will give a brief explanation of how to do the daily practice of the Jambhala puja, during the afternoon session.

If you go

What: Jambhala Empowerment and Explanation Bestowed by Venerable Lama Lodu Rinpoche.

Where: Saturday, October 22, 2005 at Open Secret Bookstore, 923 C Street, San Rafael, California.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $50.00. Sponsored by: Marin Dharma Study Group, Lama Gyeltsen, Resident Lama

Venerable Lama Lodu Rinpoche
Beginning with His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, who described him as a "lama who has highly developed his inner practice," many Tibetan masters have said that we are blessed to have a teacher with the wisdom and qualities of Lama Lodu Rinpoche. His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche advised the students of KDK to take advantage of the opportunity to practice and learn from Lodu Rinpoche.

Lama Lodu Rinpoche is a preeminent source for those wishing to learn and practice the Nyung Nes (the thousand arm Chenrezig fasting ritual). He has traveled throughout the world leading these retreats. He is also a master of Chöd, the ritual of cutting through ego-clinging by mentally offering one's body to all beings. Lama Lodu Rinpoche is also the source for transmission of all the methods, philosophy, and deity meditations of the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

In an article "Instant Enlightenment," Lama Lodu Rinpoche advised, "Remember when taking the Vajrayana point of view: in every form you see all the deities, every sound you hear is mantra; but every form you see, every sound you hear is inherently nonexistent. It's emptiness. That is the way the Vajrayana is practiced."

Contact:
Kagyu Droden Kunchab, Buddhist Center
http://www.kdk.org