Thanksgiving: Black Hayagriva Teachings & Practice
THANKSGIVING RETREAT
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Thanksgiving Dinner
Black Hayagriva is very special, rarely practiced these days and rarely known. For this reason both Lama Tharchin Rinpoche and Lama Sonam Rinpoche requested Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche to bestow the empowerment, which he kindly did in July this year.
This Thanksgiving, Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche will give teachings on the Black Hayagriva, which works quickly in turbulent times to restore balance and bring benefit to beings’ minds and thus the outer elements, to cure disease and to eliminate demonic forces, etc. Padmasambhava himself achieved deathlessness through practicing Hayagriva.
The retreat is open to all – the empowerment is not required. The reading transmission for the practice will be given on the last day.
About Black Hayagriva by Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche
The emanation of all Buddha’s speech arises as Avalokiteshvara, the form of compassion. In order to tame the wildest beings, Avalokiteshvara manifests as extremely wrathful Hayagriva. In this time of degeneration the inner elements of beings are imbalanced with very strong clinging and passions. Externally, this causes war and the use of biological and chemical weapons. Many new diseases with no known cure appear and epidemics spread quickly. Even friends, husbands, wives, and children seem intent on cheating and manipulating each other, so that no one knows who to rely on. This naturally leads to imbalances in the outer elements. The water element causes floods, tsunamis, and hurricanes; the fire element causes volcanoes, drought, and heat waves; wind causes tornadoes and windstorms; and the earth element causes earthquakes and landslides. Likewise, all the different classes of spirits become upset. The whole world, whether it is the inner elements of sentient beings or the outer elements, is extremely turbulent and out of control. At times such as this it is difficult for Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and wrathful deities to penetrate beings’ minds. That is when this form of Hayagriva in union with Tröma Nagmo, who is the most wrathful and therefore the most compassionate, appears.
Extremely Wrathful Black Hayagriva has special power to affect beings’ minds and benefit those who are depressed, dysfunctional, or crazy, as well as to cure disease. This is the condensed essence of all the billions of Hayagriva practices. It is easy to practice and highly effective. Even hearing this practiced will subdue all classes of spirits. Remembering it will eradicate all wrong views and demonic forces. Touching the image of this Hayagriva will pacify all disease and the passions of the five poisons. For whoever has a connection to this practice the seed of samsara will be destroyed.
Padmasambhava accomplished deathlessness through practicing Hayagriva. He transmitted it to his heart disciples, Yeshe Tshogyal and King Trisong Deutsen to practice and hide as terma. This terma was later discovered by Dudjom Lingpa, who was the emanation of Khyeuchung Lotsawa and Guru Dorje Drolod in person. HH Dudjom Rinpoche compiled this whole practice to make it easy to practice.
THANKSGIVING DAY: Thursday November 26
From 1:30 - 3:30 PM Lama Sonam Rinpoche will lead us in Dudjom Lingpa's pure land practice of Buddha Amitabha, which will be followed by our annual Thanksgiving sangha dinner.
Thanksgiving is a special day for loved ones to gather and for that reason it is positive. But it is also a time when many turkeys' lives are taken. We are doing this puja to pray that these turkeys be reborn in Amitabha's pureland. This practice will focus our compassion for them and all sentient beings, including our loved ones who may be ill or have passed away." Lama Sonam Rinpoche/2014
Thanksgiving Dinner - Potluck info and RSVP
BIOGRAPHY of Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche
"Lama Sonam has a very good heart and is noble and honest. He is also knowledgeable about practice. He is very efficient in a pure way and can analyze what is wrong and right in a beneficial way." Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche/Letter to Vajrayana Foundation - March 2000
Lama Sonam Tsering is a Nyingmapa master of Tibetan Buddhism. At a very young age he began learning the scripture with his father. In 1959 his family settled in His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche camp in Orissa, India where he began his training in the Dudjom Tersar lineage, the two stages of creation and perfection. His studies included ritual arts, music, sacred dance and retreats. He received empowerments and instructions from great Nyingma lamas and also served as a Ritual Master (chopen) for many years.
Under the guidance of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Lama Sonam completed his extensive Buddhist education at the Ngagyur Shedrup Dodjo Ling. He received the complete teachings, empowerments and instructions on the Dudjom Tersar and other Nyingma traditions from many lamas and khenpos.
In 1984 Chagdud Rinpoche invited Lama Sonam to the United States. Over the years, he served as a resident lama at Dechen Ling Buddhist Center, Chagdud Gonpa, in Cottage Grove, Oregon. In 1999, His Holiness Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and Lama Tharchin Rinpoche both entrusted Lama Sonam to oversee and guide the Vajrayana Foundation, Pema Osel Ling, where he currently resides.
Lama Sonam has an extraordinary ways of conveying the wisdom and compassion of the Buddhadharma to young people and adults alike. He is a humble practitioner with boundless energy for the dharma which he ceaselessly and joyfully applies for the benefit all beings.
Location:
Pema Osel Ling
2013 Eureka Canyon Road
Watsonville
,
CA 95076