Vajra Vidya Seminar Begins

The 18th annual Vajra Vidya international seminar 2018, teachings by V.V. 9th Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, started on March 7 and it will be held till March 16. This year, Rinpoche is giving commentary on Chapter 4 Carefulness and Chapter 5 Mindfulnesss from “The Way of The Bodhisattva” by Shantideva.

Note: Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche will also teach on Two selected songs (dohas) from the collection of Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo, which will be held from March 31- April 4. The seminar will be held at Shree Mangal Dvip School Shrinehall in Boudha Tinchuli.(Thrangu Rinpoche’s school for Himalayan children)

For more information, visit: Namo Buddha Seminar Page.

H.E. Goshri Gyaltsab Rinpoche bestows Red Crown Ceremony, and Long Life Empowerment

On March 10, H.E. Goshri Gyaltsab Rinpoche bestowed Red Crown Ceremony, and Long Life Empowerment at Vajra Vidya Institue. Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Khenpo, Lama, staff and students of VVI as well as the foreign students who are attending Vajra Vidya Seminar, attended this most auspicious ceremony. PHOTO
Also read about Red Crown Ceremony, and Long Life Empowerment in Bodhgaya during 35th Kagyu Monlam.

Farewel to Khenpo Sherab Phuntsok

On March 22, students of Vajra Vidya Institute organised a small gathering as a farewel to Khenpo Sherab Phuntsok. All staff, and students gathered at shrine hall, and showed their gratitude and aspirations for Khenpo’s next step.
Khenpo Sherab Phuntsok will go to retreat for four years at Thrangu Shekhar Retreat centre, Bhaktapur, Nepal, which may begin from second week of April.
Khenpo is one of the excellent teachers, who gave his marvellous service of more than 15 years at Vajra Vidya Institute. <read full biography>
We wish Khenpo to have successful retreat without any obstacles.

Vajra Vidya Seminar begins

The annual Vajra Vidya Seminar 2015, teachings by V.V. 9th Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, started on February 23 and it will be held till March 6. This year Rinpoche is giving teaching on “Chapter on Instructions on Mahamudra” from the new translation of The Torch of True Meaning by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye.

Note: V.V. 9th Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche will also teach on “Two Songs to Inspire Practice” by Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo during Namo Buddha Serminar in Nepal at SMD school, Boudha, Kathmandu. It will be held from March 28 to April 1, 2015.

For more information, visit: Namo Buddha Seminar Page.

Extensive Long Life Offering Prayers

On February 20, His Holiness 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje arrived Vajra Vidya institute, where large number of monks and lay devotees welcomed him with khatas, incense, and traditional instruments. His holiness was personally received by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche offering Khata on his arrival.

On February 21, also the third day of the Losar, Tibetan New Year, began with the Long life prayers, Amitayus puja from Karmapa’s tradition.
Meanwhile, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche made tenshug, long life offerings to His Holiness.

On February 26, once again all the sangha and lay devotees gathered at the main shrine hall and performed a special puja of Amitayus also known as “the Long Life Practice Uniting the Three Roots”, where His Holines Gyalwang Karmapa made long life offerings to Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.

This morning at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery in Namo Buddha, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche enthroned three new khenpos, Khenpo Karma Puntsok, Khenpo Karma Gendun, and Khenpo Karma Drodul. Khenpo Karma Puntsok and Khenpo Karma Gendun have both been teaching in the Vajra Vidya Institute for many years. Khenpo Karma Puntsok is popular as a teacher of poetry and grammar, and Khenpo Karma Gendun is a specialist in the Shentong Middle Way and Abhidharma. Khenpo Karma Drodul has taught at the shedra at Thrangu Tara Abbey for seven years and is known for his teaching of the five great texts as well as his own poetry.

At this morning’s ceremony, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche said that the reason to appoint these three as khenpos is because of their qualities of being learned, venerable, and good as well as because of their dedication to teaching and learning. He also stressed that vitality of Buddhism depends upon the Sangha flourishing, it is important for there to be khenpos and teachers who can guide young monks and nuns in their development. This will ensure that the teachings may remain from generation to generation, benefitting sentient beings. Rinpoche also presented the new khenpos with special Pandita hats as a symbol of their scholarship and status.

The ceremony including the auspicious puja of the Sixteen Arhats, which was done according to the particular tradition of Thrangu Monastery. All of the monks at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery as well as many from Boudha, nuns from Thrangu Tara Abbey, guests from other monasteries, and several lay people attended and feted the new khenpos by offering them khatas and their best wishes.

On March 21, the final exam result of the academic year 2013-14 were announced at VVI shrine, where our beloved root guru, the very venerable ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, khenpos, and lamas were also present on the very day.
Meanwhile, Rinpoche gave advice to all the teacher and students, regarding importance of their motivation and dedication.
On the very day, graduation day was also held to honor seven students, who has completed Acharya Degree from VVI, M.A. in Buddhist Philosophy, in 2013. The graduates will be giving their services at the monastery.

As request of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje’s sister, Chamsing laa, “The Longevity Prayer, Tsedrup” is being performed at Vajra Vidya Insitute from March 16 for the long life and good health of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa.

To perform the prayers, the very venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche invited all the Thrangu lamas, khenpos who have completed three-year retreat.Around five hundred monks and nuns and lay students, where 70 students along with their professors from the Kagyu Sect of The Central University of Tibetan Studies (CUTS), participated the Tsedrup puja,
See Photos

On March 2, Losar, Tibetan New Year 2141 is celebrated at Vajra Vidya Institute along with His Holiness 17th the Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, monks, and many lay disciples.
VVI welcomed the losar with sixteen Elders prayer, long life prayers, and auspicious prayers in the morning.
Before Losar, five day long, the Great Mahaala Puja was performed from February 5 to March 1.

The annual Hevajra practice of 2014 began on January 20th and finished on the 26th. Present for the puja were our beloved guru the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, khenpos, lamas, and students.

On the final day, H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche also attended the puja. The practice concluded with an extensive fire puja when many different offerings were made into the hearth constructed in front of the monastery.

In 2002 for the first time, the Great Assembly of the Kagyu, the glorious, peerless protector of beings, was held under the direction of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje. During this time, one of the Thirteen Tantras of Marpa's tradition was distributed to each of the Kamtsang Kagyu monasteries to be practiced every year. Blessed in this way, these Kagyu monasteries would be able to revive their practice if it had deteriorated, and if it had not, to make it flourish even more. Thrangu Tashi Choling had the great good fortune to receive the blessing of practicing the two tantras of the Bhagawan Hevajra and of Dakmema along with fifteen goddesses and they have been performed every year at Vajra Vidya Institute.

17th annual Kagyu Gunchoe, took place at Bodhgaya, Tergar monastery (Kagyu Monlam pavilion) from December 3 to January 1. Under the guidance of His Holiness 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje, Kagyu Gunchoe has been a great platform, where students of Kagyu monasteries gather to participate in explanation, debate, and composition and to share their knowledge, views, and ideas.

For the debates, there were three groups: Dudra, Lorig and Takrig group. The VVI Lorig group bagged trophy for second place.

Moreover, Tenpa Dhundup participated in the group of eight engaged in discussion and explanation, whereas Pema Dhundup participated in the area of composition by delivering a paper on the Middle Way.

Our teacher, Khenpo Karma Chogyal, will be entering the Three Year Retreat at Sekhar Retreat House in Bhaktapur at the end of January 2014.
The students of VVI gave him a farewell celebration on the evening of January 19 in the main shrine hall where all the teachers, staff, and students gathered to say good-bye to the Khenpo.
For more than eight years, Khenpo Chogyal has staught fortunate students in the Vajra Vidya Institute. He specialized in Shantideva’s Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva and embodied many of these qualities. Generous with his time and advice, he was kind-hearted and dedicated to helping others.
The teachers and students send their prayers and good wishes that he may practice without any obstacles. We shall miss this wonderful teacher and hope that after successfully completing his retreat, he will return to VVI and teach us again.

November 25, being one of most auspicious day, Lha Bab Düchen, Vajra Vidya Institute performed Kagyu Gurtso puja dedicating to our masters. The Sangha and lay students from Central University of Tibetan Studies also attended.
                                                          
The day, Lhabab Duchen marks Lord Buddha Shakyamuni’s descent from heaven where the Buddha’s mother had been reborn. In order to repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods, the Buddha spent three months teaching in the god realm.

On August 6, the annual rain retreat, Yarney 2013, at Varja Vidya Institute has completed successfully. This year, there were thirteen gelongs and six getsul taking the 45-day long retreat.

During the retreat, the sanghas performed pujas such as Medicine Buddha, Sixteen Arhats (elders), and more.

On August 5, evening, all the monks and some lay practitioners around joined Dharma teaching, where four of monks gave teachings.

In the early morning of August 6, the retreat was concluded doing circumambulation of Sarnath stupas followed by auspicious prayers, medicine Buddha prayer and long life prayers in the main shrine hall.

On June 5, students of the Vajra Vidya Institute observed World Environment Day 2013 by cleaning the surroundings of the monastery in the morning. In the afternoon, all of the staff and students gathered on the grounds, where staff members Gen Palden Tashi, Gen Tenzin and Karma Dorje gave speeches about the environment and the importance of ecology and going green. The shedra student Dorje Phuntsok spoke about oxygen and carbon dioxide, and another student, Ngodup Gyalspen, discussed food waste and how people waste food though thousands of people die every day because of hunger. In the evening, the monks planted several trees on the monastery grounds.

The theme for this year's World Environment Day celebrations was Think.Eat.Save. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted. This is equivalent to the same amount produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, 1 in every 7 people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 die daily from hunger. Therefore, thinking wisely before you eat and help save the environment.

Prayers for Our Guru’s Long Life

The sangha community of the Vajra Vidya Institute is reciting the Twenty-One Praises of Tara one hundred thousand times and doing Medicine Buddha practice on behalf of our guru Kyabje Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Starting on April 15, the sangha has been doing Medicine Buddha practice every morning at 8 am, and will continue for several months. The hundred thousand repetitions of the praises of Tara, which also started on April 15, are being held three times a day in the Green Tara shrine room.
We are doing these prayers wholeheartedly so that Kyabje Rinpoche may live a long and healthy life and continue to benefit all sentient beings. 

The theme for this year's World Environment Day celebrations was Think.Eat.Save. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted. This is equivalent to the same amount produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, 1 in every 7 people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 die daily from hunger. Therefore, thinking wisely before you eat and help save the environment.

Special Ceremony for Khenpos at VVI

On the evening of March 4, the faculty and students of the VVI organized a special farewell ceremony to our beloved Khenpo Lobsang Tenzin, who is leaving us to go to the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in the U.S. Khenpo has taught at the institute for over fifteen years and been the director for more than ten years.
At the same time we welcomed Khenpo Karma Tashi, who recently returned from Thrangu Monastery Canada, where he spent two years teaching the Dharma. Rinpoche has appointed him the new director of the VVI, and so all the members of our community offered him a warm welcome.

H.H. 17th Karmapa gives teachings on Mikyö Dorje’s Hundred Short Instruction

On March 1, His Holiness Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje led the monastic and lay sanghas in an Offerings to the Gurus puja dedicated to the long life of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoiche. His Holiness remarked that Rinpoche has dedicated his entire life to practicing the Dharma, and now that he has reached an old age, His Holiness offered prayers that he may live long to continue helping sentient beings.
You can read more about this event at Kagyu Office website.

H.H. 17th Karmapa gives teachings on Mikyö Dorje’s "Hundred Short Instruction"

His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa gave teachings on  the "Hundred Short Instruction" by the Eighth Karmapa. The teaching was held from February 21 to 28 at the Vajra Vidya Institute, Sarnath.
During the teachings he spoke at length about remembering death and impermanence and truly incorporating the dharma into our beings so that our lives may be more meaningful and beneficial for both ourselves and others.
The Karmapa Office broadcast all the teachings live over a webcast and has since posted audio and video recordings for download at www.kagyuoffice.org.

The 2013 Annual Vajra Vidya Seminar Completed

The 2013 annual Vajra Vidya Seminar was held this year from February 18 to March 1. The Very Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche taught on Atisha’s Lamp for the Path of Enlightenment. Many students came from all over the world, and the students of the shedra also attended the teachings. Everyone present felt it was a great and precious opportunity, made even more special by the presence of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa at the Vajra Vidya Institute during the teachings.
Note: Rinpoche will teach on "The Path of Meditation: Shamatha and Vipashyana in the Mahamudra Tradition" at SMD Boarding School in Boudha, Kathmandu from March 13-17, 2013.