Tsechen Kunchab Ling is delighted to announce that His Eminence Ratna Vajra Rinpoche will return to the United States August 12 - 23. His Eminence will bestow initiations and teachings at Tsechen Kunchab Ling and other Sakya Centers in New York City, Maryland, and Los Angeles. For information on H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche click here.

If you are unable to participate in any of these events but would like to sponsor rituals by His Eminence, please click here.

Birthday Celebration for H.H. Sakya Trizin, Long Life Initiation, Refuge Ceremony, and Children’s Program
Sunday August 16 – 10:30 – 5:00 pm
In the morning, His Eminence Ratna Vajra Rinpoche will lead a special long life ceremony and birthday celebration for His Holiness Sakya Trizin. The celebration is being held in August due to the blessed presence of His Eminence. This year is the Golden Jubilee—the 50th Anniversary—of His Holiness’ enthronement as Sakya Trizin. In honor of that significant milestone, and in order to request His Holiness’ long life, good health, and the accomplishment of his noble activities, His Eminence will lead special prayers for His Holiness’ long life in the morning. All students of His Holiness are welcome and encouraged to join in the ceremonies.

Following the long life ceremony, His Eminence will bestow a very special combination of Padmasambhava and Amitayus Long Life Initiation and lead a tsok offering. Bring or send names or photos of people for whom you wish prayers for long life and health to be said during the initiation and subsequent retreat. Following a buffet lunch, His Eminence will bestow refuge vows, and a special Dharma program for children. No charge – donations accepted.

Padmasambhava/Amitayus Guided Retreat and Special Prayers for Health and Longevity
Sunday August 16 at 6:30 pm to Tuesday August 18 at noon
Join His Eminence in a special two-day overnight guided retreat for health and long life, with special prayers for our Dharma teachers, family, friends, those for whom prayers have been requested, and all sentient beings. Retreat charge $100 includes food, lodging, and tuition. Bring a sleeping bag.

Sacred Jambala Water Offering Ceremony for Increase of Merit and Wealth
Tuesday, August 18 - 2:30 pm
His Eminence Ratna Vajra Rinpoche will perform a sacred Jambala ceremony of 1118 water offerings for the increase of transcendent good qualities of enlightenment and the worldly good qualities of merit and wealth. Wealth vases will also be consecrated. Send names of those for whom prayers should be said, or order wealth vases to bless your home and business. No charge, donations accepted.

Jambala Initiation for Wealth and Success and Avalokiteshvara Ritual for the Deceased
Saturday, August 15 – 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Jambala bestows the blessings of increase and success in Dharma and daily life especially for these difficult economic times. The Avalokiteshvara Ritual for the Deceased is a special ritual to benefit deceased family members, friends or pets. Bring the names of those for whom you wish prayers to be said. Held at Queen's Palace, 37-11 57th Street, Woodside, New York. Donation requested.

Teachings at the Palden Sakya Centers
August 19 - 20, 2009
His Eminence will bestow teachings and initiations at the Palden Sakya Centers in New York City. Please see www.paldensakya.org, call (201) 541-0007, or email paldensakya@vikramasila.org for more information.

MARYLAND - Sakya Phuntsok Ling

Dharma talk: How to Find Happiness in Difficult Circumstances
Wednesday, August 12 – 7:30 pm
See Sakya Phuntsok Ling  or call (301) 906-3378 for more information.

Amitayus Hundred Year Long Life Initiation and Offering of Appreciation
Thursday, August 13 – 7:30 pm
See Sakya Phuntsok Ling or call (301) 906-3378 for more information.

LOS ANGELES - Tsechen Chokhor Ling

Welcoming and Dharma Teachings
Saturday, August 22, 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche will explain the Buddhist approach to dealing with obstacles in life and ultimately transforming them into the seeds of great success. This is an especially relevant teaching in these challenging economic times. Public talk will be preceded by a welcoming ceremony for H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche. See Tsechen Chokhor Ling for more information.

Buddha Shakyamuni Initiation and Manjushri Transmission
Sunday, August 23, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Buddha Shakyamuni is the historical Buddha who appeared in this world 2,500 years ago. Receiving Buddha Shakyamuni’s blessing and performing his practice is one of the best methods of accumulating merit and purifying negative karma. Manjushri is the embodiment of all the Buddhas’ transcendent wisdom and is known as the Father of All the Buddhas. Reciting Manjushri’s mantra and homage brings the blessings of increased intelligence and the ultimate result of perfect primordial wisdom. H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche’s family lineage has a very special connection to Manjushri. See Tsechen Chokhor Ling for more information.

Vajrapani Initiation and Teaching
Sunday, August 23, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Vajrapani is the special practice for clearing away obstacles to success in one’s spiritual practice. Receiving this initiation brings the blessings of Vajrapani and prepares one to undertake this profound practice. See Tsechen Chokhor Ling for more information.

Twenty-One Taras Initiation Cycle (revised schedule)
Friday, July 24 2:00 - 9:00 pm; Saturday, July 25 9:30 - 5:00 pm; Sunday, July 26 9:30 - 5:00 pm
Tara removes obstacles and brings auspicious conditions. The twenty-one Taras bring different benefits such as pacifying negativity, increasing wealth and life, magnetizing people, subjugating evil forces, and achieving perfect enlightenment. The initiation cycle will be particularly auspicious as Her Eminence is considered to be an emanation of Tara herself, and Saturday, July 25 is the anniversary of the Buddha's First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma Day.

Twenty-One Taras Retreat in Conjunction with H.H. Sakya Trizin's Birthday and Golden Jubilee
Saturday, September 5 at 10:30 am to Monday, September 7 at 1:30 pm
This study and practice weekend retreat follows on the initiations bestowed by Her Eminence Jetsun Kushog-la by providing an opportunity for study and practice of the twenty-one Tara cycle in the ancient tradition of Palden Atisha, under the guidance of Venerable Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen and Venerable Lama Dorjee Gyaltsen. This retreat will provide an excellent opportunity for guided practice and explanation of the Tara sadhana, with special accumulation of merit in conjunction with His Holiness Sakya Trizin’s birthday and Golden Jubilee. Attendance is limited to those who have received the initiation cycle.
Click here for more information (PDF).