RINGU TULKU'S IRISH VISIT 2016

Illustration: the Prince Siddartha is tempted by the Maras, prior to his enlightenment. Sakya Temple Painting Bodhgaya.

May 21st in the Buddhist calendar is Wesak, which carries three auspicious events in one, celebrating the birth of the Buddha in Lumbini, His enlightenment at the age of 35 in Bodhgaya, after years of austerity and practise; and also marking His death at the age of 84, in Kushinagar, Northern India surrounded by many disciples. 

Ringu Tulku has shared a message below noting the importance of this day for all Buddhists: 

'I WISH YOU ALL A VERY AUSPICIOUS VESAK DAY. THE DAY ON WHICH BUDDHA WAS BORN, BECAME ENLIGHTENED AND PASSED AWAY. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY FOR THE BUDDHISTS. IN TIBETAN WE CALL IT SAGA DAWA.  EVERY THREE YEARS OR SO THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN BUDDHIST CALENDARS COME TOGETHER AND 2016 IS ONE SUCH AUSPICIOUS YEAR.
MAY ALL BEINGS BE KIND TO EACH OTHER, 
RINGU TULKU'

We are also really happy to announce that following the visit to Europe of His Holiness 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, (starting this week in Switzerland and ending on June 6th In Paris, tickets are still available, please see link and previous posts),  Ringu Tulku Rinpoche will be teaching in Dublin KSD and Dzogchen Beara, West Cork.  
In Dublin, he has been invited to continue his teachings of previous years on the  'Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones' by Dza Patrul Rinpoche, a mendicant whose preferred shelter was a cave, preferred nickname was 'Old Dog', who was a master of dzogchen and one of the greatest known teachers in 19th century Tibet.  The talks  will take place each evening 20th - 23rd June inclusive, from 7.30 - 9 pm.  Interviews with Rinpoche can be arranged through Alison at  info@buddhism.ie Please see the website for more information.
Rinpoche will also be teaching at Dzogchen Beara in West Cork, on the weekend of 24th - 26th June, and will be teaching from his recent publication 'Dealing with Emotions'.

For anyone still thinking about coming to hear Jetsun Khandro this weekend at DzB there are still a few places available.

The First Visit to Ireland by Her Eminence Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche

In just over three weeks time, from 20th - 22nd May 2016, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche will be teaching at Dzogchen Beara Retreat Centre, Garranes, west Cork, at the invitation of Rigpa and Bodhicharya Ireland.   Khandro Rinpoche will be teaching on Transforming Negative Emotions: The Five Slogans of Machig [Machik] Labdrön, who was a female master living during the 11th and 12th centuries, and founded the practice of the Chöd of Mahamudra.

Machig Labdrön at Dubdi Gompa, Yuksom, Sikkim

Machig Labdrön was also considered to be an emanation of Prajnaparamita, the embodiment of the buddhas. A contemporary of Milarepa, she was a mother, practitioner and founding master of Chöd or 'cutting through', a practice that goes to the heart of ego clinging and attachment;  she was considered by many to be a dakini manifest.
Khandro Rinpoche is herself a brilliant teacher, transmitting no-nonsense dharma with warmth and clarity, her approach is direct and to the point. 
For the past two decades, Khandro Rinpoche has been teaching in Europe, North America and Asia. Rinpoche is actively involved with the Mindroling Monastery in India and in 1993, Rinpoche established the Samten Tse Retreat Centre in Mussoorie, India, as a branch of Mindrolng Monastery, a place of study and retreat for both nuns and Western lay practitioners. The North American seat of Mindroling International Lotus Garden Retreat Centre was established by Rinpoche in 2003 in the USA.
We hope that this will be the first of many visits to Ireland.
for further information see www.dzogchenbeara.org/jetsun-khandro-rinpoche
and
http://www.shambhala.com/machig-labdron-and-the-foundations-of-chod.html

His Holiness Orgyen Trinley Dorje, 17th Karmapa, to visit Europe in May/June 2016.

The Karmapa Foundation Europe (KFE) is happy to announce that His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, has generously accepted to visit Europe for a third time in 2016.

The visit to Europe has been confirmed and all necessary clearances have been given by the relevant authorities. His Holiness will teach Dharma in new European countries and places: Geneva, Zürich and Paris.

On behalf of all European students and friends, the KFE gives its warmest welcome to His Holiness and has no doubt that the visit will be as memorable as the previous ones so far. It invites everybody and in particular all those people from Europe and outside who have not yet had the opportunity to see His Holiness to try and attend these teachings given in May and June 2016.

Please click here to see the complete list of public events, locations and links to the websites and the information about the ticket sales. Or use the links below to go directly to the organiser's websites:

EVENTS IN SWITZERLAND

EVENTS IN FRANCE

Dates for the diary : Two important visits to Ireland in late spring. Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche & Ringu Tulku Rinpoche

We are so very happy to announce that Her Eminence Jestün Khandro Rinpoche will visit to give her first teachings in Ireland during May this year, at the joint invitations of Bodhicharya Ireland and Rigpa. The venue will be Dzogchen Beara, Allihies, West Cork;  the date, 8pm Friday 20th - 1pm Sunday 22nd May, the topic is yet to be announced.

Khandro Rinpoche was born in Derah Dun, northern India, and educated within both the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions; she also studied from an early age under the tutelage of english speaking nuns at a catholic convent, on the instruction of her three root guides: her father, Mindroling Trichen, HH the 16th Karmapa, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. These masters had the foresight to see the value of western education for her as a teacher travelling beyond India.  It is thus our great good fortune that she is fully at ease in our western environment and delivers all her teachings in fluent English.  

'Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche was born as the eldest daughter of Kyabje Mindrolling Trichen Gyurme Künzang Wangyal, the 11th throne holder of the renowned Mindrolling lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Throughout its history, some of the greatest masters of their time have been born within the Mindrolling lineage including the unique lineage of female masters known as the Jetsünma line, a remarkable Mindrolling tradition.

Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche was recognized by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa as the reincarnation of the great Dakini of Tshurphu, Khandro Orgyen Tsomo, a respected and revered female master who spent most of her life in retreat.

For the past two decades, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche has been teaching in Europe, North America, and Asia. Rinpoche is actively involved with the Mindrolling Monastery in India and in 1993, Rinpoche established the Samten Tse Retreat Centre in Mussoorie, India, as a branch of Mindrolling Monastery, a place of study and retreat for both nuns and Western lay practitioners. The North American Seat of Mindrolling International, Mindrolling Lotus Garden Retreat Centre was established by Rinpoche in 2003 in the USA'.  

We are also delighted to share that Ringu Tulku Rinpoche will be visiting us in Dublin again from 20th - 23rd June 2016 (inclusive).  The four nights of teaching will take place at Kagyu Samye Dzong, 156 Inchicore Road, Dublin, and details will be published here soon.    Due to his overly busy schedule - one result of a constantly widening interest across the world, Rinpoche will not able to provide the customary weekend teachings at the Hilton Hotel organised by Bodhicharya, but will be teaching in Dzogchen Beara from 24th - 26th June. 

Dublin dates for the year of the Fire Monkey

We are happy that Rinpoche has confirmed this year's dates for Ireland :

Dublin

20th - 23rd June inclusive

(the programme and topic are not available yet)  

Dzogchen Beara 

24th - 26th June. 

He extends his new year  greetings to everyone, with a Hindu image of Hanuman the Monkey god-king, and a heartfelt poem.

the Hindu Monkey God-King, Hanuman

On the Fire Monkey New Year 

I wish you a heartfelt Tashi Delek.

Next year, this time, may we meet again

With smiles on our faces

And hearts full of joy.

May our teachers live long

May goodness spread wide

May the world be filled with compassion

May the earth revive its vitality

May beings live in peace.

May all these wishes come true

That I've made with a pure  heart.

With respect,  from Ringu Tulku        February 2016

Hanuman was a key figure in a ancient Indian epic called the Ramayana, he was brave, perservering and loyal, devoted and selfless: he inspired others to face their ordeals and overcome obstacles, he is protector to Kali, and guards her temple doorways all over India. 

UPDATE Prayer to Remove Obstacles, for His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje 17th Karmapa

The request  for mantra recitations comes from the fourth Dodrupchen Rinpoche,  a very special Nyingma Lama who lives in Gangtok, Sikkim, India.  The details of the instruction and how to register a commitment for recitations can be found on the Karmapa Foundation Europe website, under About Karmapa >  Prayers,  where there is also a recording of Ringu Tulku Ringu Tulku chanting  the mantra.

His Holiness Karmapa relaxing at Bodhicharya Berlin Centre, September 2015 . photo copyright. Filip Wolak

Rinpoche has asked that this mantra be recited by us for the benefit of HIs Holiness Karmapa: 

"Please recite the Essence of Dependent Origination dharani for HH the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. This is recommended by many great masters. This will clear all obstacles, bring long life and help to accomplish all his activities in order to bring great benefit to countless beings and the whole universe. This is the dharani:

ये धर्मा हेतु प्रभवा हेतुं
तेषां तथागतः ह्यवदत्
तेषां च यो निरोध
एवं वादी महाश्रमण

OM YE DHARMA HETU-PRABHAVA HETUM TESHAM TATHAGATO HYAVADAT TESHAM CHA YO NIRODHA EVAM VADI MAHASHRAMANAH SVAHA

ཆོས་རྣམས་ཐམས་ཅད་རྒྱུ་ལས་བྱུང་། །
དེ་རྒྱུ་དེ་བཞིན་གཤེགས་པས་གསུངས། །
རྒྱུ་ལ་འགོག་པ་གང་ཡིན་པ། །
དགེ་སྦྱོང་ཆེན་པོས་འདི་སྐད་གསུངས། །

All dharmas originate from causes.
The Tathagata has taught these causes,
And also that which puts a stop to these causes—
This too has been taught by the Great Shramana".

The year as always begins with a lovely new reflection from Ringu Tulku Rinpoche for us to meditate upon, and a request for prayers for His Holiness Karmapa as he begins leading the Monlam cycle for 2016 which began in Tergar Monastery at Bodhgaya on the 14th January with the 3rd Arya Kshema winter gathering for Karma Kagyu Nuns. Uniquely this year will see first steps to restoration of full ordination for nuns, a priority for His Holiness, who views the equality of nuns and monks as paramount for a fully effective sangha.  His Holiness will teach on Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation, webcast live. The Karmapa Foundation Europe which was established by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, will be proactive in supporting this programme and assisting three nunneries in the Himalayan region. The full report of the Karmapa Foundations' activity for 2015 can be found here.