Archive of 2013 News & Events

Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling
40th Anniversary — Wood Valley Temple

The temple was established in 1973. This is the 40th Anniversary!

Over the past four decades, NDDL hosted programs with over 50 lamas of all the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. Some lamas have come on multiple visits, gave teachings on the Foundational Practices, Highest Yoga Tantra, Mahamudra and Dzogchen. In the coming years, we intend to continue with our tradition of inviting high calibre lamas. There will also be Fundraising efforts to help support the temple and its projects. Details are forthcoming.

Please contribute generously. Your offerings are much appreciated.

We are pleased to announce programs at the temple with visiting lamas in September.

A Dharma Weekend
with Venerable Ngakchen Rinpoche

Saturday, September 21 — 10am–5pm

Eight Verses of Training the Mind

Sunday, September 22 — 10am–5pm

Introduction to Lama Chopa

A weekend program is scheduled at Wood Valley Temple with Ngakchen Rinpoche, one of the highest lamas of Tashilhunpo Monastery. Rinpoche will be accompanied by Geshe Tenzin Sherab.

Ngakchen Rinpoche was born in South India in 1972. He was recognized as the reincarnation of Ngakchen Darb Hu-Tuktu Lama Jigme Wangchuk by H.H. the Dalai Lama in 1990, and enthroned at Tashlhunpo in 1991. Rinpoche was awarded the Kachen degree (equivalent to Geshe) in 1994; since then, he has taught in many countries around the world.

On Saturday, 9/21/13, Rinpoche will give an explanation of the "Eight Verses of Mind Training" an essential practice for the generation of Bodhicitta, the Altruistic Mind of Enlightenment. On Sunday, 9/22/13 morning, he will give an "Introduction to Lama Chopa" a Guru Yoga text written by the 1st Panchen Lama; in the afternoon, a Tsok Offering will be performed.

A course fee of $100 a day, to include lunch, is requested.

Please register in advance — call: (808) 928-8539 or via email at info@nechung.org.

Nechung Lopon Dorjee’s visit to Drayang Ling was four days, during which time, the temple was filled with his energetic presence. He gave a teaching on the "Significance of Sutra and Tantra", and led a group Riwo Sang Chod fire ritual and a Guru Padmasambhava Tsok. Daily, he performed the fire ritual in the mornings and conducted the rituals of the Nechung Protector in the evenings.

Participant Reflections

The key is before me in the title…it is a prescription for training the mind, not for changing the world. It is to gain a view which, when our intentions & actions are in accord with that view, produce good results rather than suffering. — David F

It was an honor and privilege to be at the Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling Wood Valley Temple on the Autumn Equinox this year, Sept. 21st, 2013. I enjoyed the welcoming and radiant environment, and was thankful for the opportunity to listen and observe the teachings of Venerable Ngakchen Rinpoche of the Tashilhunpo Monastery, accompanied by Geshe Tenzin Sherab. Ngakchen Rinpoche presented a clear and concise explanation of the Eight Verses of Training the Mind as a complete path toward awakening the heart of compassion and wisdom. His commentary on each verse revealed further meaning and understanding behind the process of working with challenging emotional states and transforming them into a beneficial path. Ngakchen Rinpoche went further than his discussion of intention and application, he and his attendants exemplified the teachings throughout the day. The visitation of Ngakchen Rinpoche called forth an exemplary gathering filled with generosity, openness, kindness, wisdom, and compassion in thought, words, and actions.

The teachings of that day in late September are still informing my day to day life. As a result, I am continuing to reflect and integrate how to meet my aspiration of caring for and benefitting my personal, social, and environmental relationships, and have a clearer perspective of my challenges in that respect. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend such a quality presentation, and to have witnessed such a great program here on the Big Island of Hawai’i. I offer many thanks to Ngakchen Rinpoche, Geshe Tenzin Sherab, Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling, Wood Valley Temple, and to all that made this event possible. — Christopher Q

Saturday, September 7 — 10am–5pm

Significance of Sutra & Tantra

Cost: $100 Lunch is inlcuded.

Geshe Dorjee, the former Ritual Master from Nechung Monastery, will be here over the first weekend. Dorjee-la will explain the “Significance of Sutra & Tantra.”

Register in advance: (808) 928-8539.

Sunday, September 8

Guru Padmasambhava Tsok & Lha–Sang fire ritual

A Guru Padmasambhava Tsok & Lha–Sang fire ritual will be performed, followed by a potluck lunch. This event is free, donations accepted.

Teachings with Venerable Tulku Yeshi Rinpoche

Venerable Tulku Yeshi Rinpoche is a Dzogchen master and the reincarnation of Dzogchen Gyaltsab Thodo Rinpoche. He was recognized by H.H. Dalai Lama's Nyingmapa teacher Kyabje Trulshig Rinpoche and has received teachings from twenty-five masters representing all five schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He has published ten books about philosophy, life, nature, peace, and magic. He is the founder of Tibetan Zen, and he has given the Tibetan Zen teaching in many places. His book, Tibetan Zen, will be available in 2013. His autobiography, A Modern Liberation Odyssey, is available now. He also writes novels, poetry for mind training, provides Tibetan astrology readings, can advise people on how to enjoy their life, and bestows empowerments. If you want to have a list of his lineage or to receive astrology reading about your practice and past, present, future life then, please go to his website www.bodhitreeleaf.org or call (206) 390-6567.

At Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling Wood Valley Temple

Please call (808) 928-8539 to register.

Saturday, February 9

9:30am–noon — Green Tea Empowerment

2:00–4:30pm — Great Mother, Green Tara Stories

Cost: $75 Vegetarian lunch is inlcuded.

Sunday, February 10

LOSAR CELEBRATION

9:30am–4:30pm — Guru Tsok, Fire Puja

Donations requested.

Please bring food and drink to share for potluck lunch and your wishes written on paper to burn.

At Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary

For more information visit www.paleaku.com or call (808)328-8084.

Friday, February 15, 6:30–8:30pm

Tibetan Zen & Talk Story

Saturday, February 16, 9–11:30am

Fire Puja for World Peace

Please bring your wishes written on paper to burn.

Suggested contribution for each event: $25.

Event Descriptions

GREEN TARA is the female deity who is the essence of all the Buddha and bodhisattvas love and compassion. Also, she is the deity for health, wealth, energy, peace, joy. She never tires to give her blessings to practitioners of Buddhism (especially in Tibetan Buddhism for 3000 years). Anyone who wishes to have more love and compassion, needs Green Tara empowerment which is very important for practice with her blessing. The practice of Green Tara is very simple, yet profound. Tulku Yeshi Rinpoche has practiced Green Tara for the past 30 years. He will give empowerment and tell stories of Green Tara.

THE GREAT MOTHER, GREEN TARA STORY after one takes empowerment, then one can study and share stories with sangha members. Rinpoche has written a book on the story of Green Tara.. There are stories from both Indian and Tibetan masters about how Green Tara provided help and removal of obstacles for them. So after practitioners listen to the stories, they will know how to be devoted and pray in order to stay close to her, eventually even to become Green Tara herself. A copy of short Green Tara sadhana will be provided for home practice.

GURU TSOK the practice of Guru Rinpoche Tsok came about from Guru Rinpoche’s promise to his sangha: "That whatever is offered to him on his special day, merit will be multiplied." Thus, for blessing anytime, one can practice tsok offering any day. Practitioners should visualize during Tsok practice, Guru Rinpoche and his retinues visiting you from his holy land and give you spiritual energy of love, compassion and wisdom. Especially helpful ways to see all this are vajrayana visualizations. During this event and in practice, one should visualize every being and everything as pure. This means that one must stop ordinary vision and thought.

FIRE PUJA In Tibetan Buddhism, fire puja is very important and there are many different Fire Pujas and Four Activities: Pacification, increase , magnetizing and subjugating. Rinpoche will perform the Pacification fire puja for world peace. This time, he will introduce how to visualize burning one’s negative defilements and karma. Participants can bring small things to burn in the fire as well as intentions/wishes written on paper to burn.

LOSAR is the word for Tibetan New Year and arrives this year one day after the Chinese New Year. A Losar celebration ceremony will also be performed in addition to Fire Puja on Sunday as Rinpoche will hang new prayer flags outside the center for world peace. Please dress up in favorite clothing for this event and bring positive energy because 2013 is an auspiciously lucky year! Traditionally,Tibetans and practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism do the LOSAR Fire Puja in the morning of the New Year. This fire puja will happen after breakfast. Rinpoche says fire will be made and then he will read some special sadhanas for offerings to buddhas, bodhsattvas, local deities, nagas and spirits. Then, we will burn some seeds, food, leaves and your wishes written on paper. After this, we will share and hold ‘tsampa’ (barley flour) and say three times: "Kikisoso Lhagyallo!" (The Victory of God) loudly. Finally, we can do fire songs and dances however style you wish all the while enjoying food and drink with happiness. This event is open to family and friends and pets too.

Every Sunday 10 am - 11:30 am

Four Mandala Tara Practice

This practice is cancelled when there is a teaching program.

Events are located at the Wood Valley Temple.

Donations are greatly appreciated. May the merit of giving and receiving benefit all Beings!