November 2019 – News & Updates
Ngor Monastery, Bodhgaya
Rinpoche is currently developing a Ngor Monastery in Bodhgaya, Bihar India. The Monastery’s grounds are located within walking distance of the Mahabodhi stupa and will enable monks from Ngor Monastery and SIV to travel to Bodhgaya for pilgrimage and to perform important ceremonies, rituals and practice. As Bodhgaya is the most holy place for all Buddhists and brings great blessings to all visitors, the new Monastery will likewise bring great benefit to the Ngor Lineage, monks of Ngor Monastery and in turn to all of Rinpoche’s students. Rinpoche’s underlying intention for building the new Monastery was for the propagation of the Buddhadharma in order to benefit of all sentient beings.
Rinpoche’s chief attendant, Lama Tenpa, is currently supervising the Monastery’s construction.
Sakya Institute of Vajrayana (SIV)
New Buildings
SIV is situated in the beautiful forest of Primnaga, Manduwala India. SIV currently houses approximately 100 monks and facilitates advanced Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist teachings and practices. Rinpoche is currently developing new buildings at SIV, which will house junior Khenpos and SIV’s teachers. SIV is fast becoming renowned amongst the Tibetan monastic community for its advanced Vajrayana study and scholarship. During their study and upon graduation, SIV monks perform a range of services for Sakya monasteries and centres both in India and abroad. The new buildings will allow more monks to study at SIV, which in turn will bring benefit to Sakya monasteries, centres and students of Rinpoche and the Sakya lineage all over the world.
Debates
In October, the monks of SIV conducted traditional philosophical debates in front of the senior SIV Khenpos. The debates are conducted by the monks in order to clarify doubts and refine their understanding of the complex topics of the Buddha’s teachings.
Teacher Training
In October, SIV invited Dr Lou Farley, a western psychologist counsellor from the USA who specialises in children behaviours. Dr Farley has been travelling to India and Nepal for the past 10 years to work with educators and students on topics that include child development, the power of student-teacher relationships, effective classroom management skills as well as the integration of traditional Tibetan Buddhist values with modern academics.
Dr Farley’s discussion group at SIV included Sakya Rinpoches, an SIV khenpo and senior SIV monks. Venerable Ngawang Tenzin, who as recently been studying at the University of Sydney, Australia, assisted in translation for Dr Farley.
Rinpoche's Activities
Rinpoche has recently been performing Dharma activities in Sikkim, Nepal and Singapore.
Sikkim
In September, Rinpoche travelled to Mangtro monastery, Sikkim where he bestowed the Mahavairocana Empowerment to the monastic and lay community. While in Sikkim, Rinpoche travelled to the newly built Sa Ngor Choetsok Monastery, which he consecrated. While at the Sa Ngor Choetsok Monastery, Rinpoche bestowed the Vajrapani Three Deity Initiation to the monastic and lay community.
Nepal
In October, Rinpoche travelled to Tharig Monastery, Nepal and bestowed the Vajrayogini Blessing and teachings. Rinpoche is renowned for his accomplishment of Vajrayogini and resultantly there were over 400 attendees, 200 hundred monastics and 200 lay practitioners, which also included overseas students of Rinpoche. The program went for approximately two weeks and His Eminence Khenpo Lunrig assisted Rinpoche by conducting re-teachings in the afternoons.
Singapore
In October, Rinpoche presided over the Grand Medicine Buddha Puja with 52 Deities Sand Mandala. The Puja spanned for 5 days and was conducted at Sakya Tenphel Ling.
Upcoming Events
New Sakya Temple, Bodhgaya
The Sakya Centre, Rajpur Dehradun India, has announced the opening of a new Sakya Temple at Bodhgaya. The soft opening ceremony will take place on 19 November 2019, the western birthday of His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin.
From 19 November 2019, and for a duration of 40 days commencing on 22 November, there will be a bestowal of the Collection of Sadhanas by His Holiness the Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche (His Holiness 41st Sakya Trizin), His Holiness 42nd Sakya Trizin and His Eminence Khondung Gyana Vajra Rinpoche. His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche will be conferring all the reading transmissions. For more information, please view sakyatradition.org.
Sakya Monlam, Bodhgaya
The Great Sakya Monlam for Universal Peace and Harmony will be held this year at Bodhgaya. The Monlam will be held for 10 days starting on or around 25 November 2019 and will be presided over by His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin. For more information, please view sakyatradition.org.