Ven. Khen Rinpoche Jampa, Abbot of Sakya Monastery, the seat of His Holiness Dagchen Rinpoche’s in North America, went to Vietnam to teach, bestow empowerments and also to prepare for the consecration of the Long Tho Cremation Plant and Sakya Tsechen Shiday Choling Temple, His Holiness Dagchen Rinpoche’s seat in Vietnam. He said that although it was as hot as Delhi in India (over 100 degrees at midnight!), it was truly a blessing and a pleasure to serve His Holiness and to share the immaculate Sakya tradition with the people of Vietnam. The students there were very eager and enthusiastic to learn the teachings of the Secret Mantrayana and Khen Rinpoche felt a deep karmic connection with all the people that he met.
He believes that the arrival of the Sakyapa in Vietnam will be very fruitful and bring the immeasurable blessings of the Holy Dharma to many, many people for the benefit of all mother sentient beings. Mr. Tho Luu and Mrs. Dang Hong, two long-time followers of HH Dagchen Rinpoche, organized and sponsored his visit. Along with the members of the Sakya Center in Ho Chi Minh City, they meticulously provided for his every need and facilitated many opportunities for him to share the wisdom teachings of the Buddha.
On the 21st of August Khen Rinpoche gave a public teaching on the practice of Yellow Dzambala followed by a Yellow Dzambala puja and candle offering ceremony. On the 22nd he gave a teaching on the Green Tara Four Mandala practice and afterwards performed the puja with 25 members of the Ho Chi Minh City Sakya Center. He gave a public teaching on the practice of Chenrezig on the 23rd, the same practice that we engage in here at Sakya Monastery on Thursday evenings, and led the students in the meditation afterwards.
On August 24th he conducted a smoke offering puja with the Sakya Center members, making offerings to the spirits of the deceased for the Chinese Ghost Festival, a tradition similar to the Day of the Dead in Mexico. From the 25th to the 27th he met with students privately to confer blessings & teachings, consecrate statues, perform divinations and hold private audiences. On the 28th he conducted a Chöd practice with the Sakya Center members, dedicating the merits of the practice to the countless beings that lost their lives in the violence of the Vietnam wars. Khen Rinpoche then conducted a Vajrapani fire puja on the 29th and bestowed the empowerment of Vajrapani with two arms the next day at the newly finished Nagarjuna Memorial Tower Park temple complex.
To the astonishment of all in attendance, Vajrapani’s form could be clearly seen in the shape of the flames for 10 minutes during the fire puja! Khen Rinpoche believes that this is a truly auspicious sign for the establishment of the Sakya tradition in Vietnam. All the teachings and pujas were very successful, with no obstacles. In all, he bestowed the refuge vows to 29 new students and inspired countless more to follow the teachings of the glorious Sakyapa. We sincerely rejoice in the merit of the turning of the Dharma wheel by His Holiness Dagchen Rinpoche, the Dungse lineage, Ven. Khen Rinpoche Jampa and all the compassionate teachers of the three times! May it be auspicious!
