Details of Program
FOUR-ARMED MAHAKALA EMPOWERMENT
Tues - 31st March 2009 (Open to Public)
The retreat will begin with a Four-armed Mahakala Empowerment which is open to the public and
registered retreatants.
The Mahakala empowerment is extremely rare and precious and not easily available even within
Tibetan monastic circles.
Varioues forms of Four-armed Mahakala (Skt. Chatur-bhuja Mahakala, Tib. Wylie: mGon po phyag
bzhi pa) are the primary protectors of the Drikung Kagyu lineage.
The four arms of this manifestation of Mahakala perform one of the following four positive karmas or
actions, which are said to be his specific boon to his worshippers:
Pacify sickness, hindrances, and troubles.
Increase life, good qualities and wisdom.
Attract whatever Dharma practitioners need and bring people to the Dharma.
Destroy confusion, doubt, and ignorance.
THE GANGES MAHAMUDRA & GREAT DRIKUNG PHOWA RETREAT
Wed to Sat - 1st – 4th April (Strictly for registered retreatants only)
Chakrasamvara Empowerment (2 Days)
(strictly for registered full-time retreatants only)
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche shall generously bestow the rarely given Chakrasamvara
empowerment for retreatants for the first time in Singapore. Chakrasamvara emanated from the
Buddha Vajradhara and was the treasured yidam (meditation deity) of Lord Jigten Sumgon, the
founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. Most of the famous 80 Indian mahasiddhas attained highest
realization relying on this deity, which is considered to be the chief yidam within the Drikung Kagyu
lineage. The general lineage derives from Vajradhara down to Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa,
Gampopa, and Phagmo Drupa, and the tradition of practicing Chakrasamvara was established by Ga
Lotsawa, a contemporary of Phagmo Drupa." This empowerment is considered very secret and not to
be given or received carelessly.
There are many samayas for the Chakrasamvara empowerment, but the principal one is that we must
not cause any discord in the sangha, and especially not among those with whom we receive the
empowerment. We must commit to always being harmonious in the sangha and to benefiting sentient
beings, or at least to not harming them. It will also enhance the power of the empowerment if we can
commit to reciting Chakrasamvara's mantra.
The practice text will be available to practitioners who pre-order at a suggested offering
of S$15 per copy. This sadhana has been specially instructed by Garchen Rinpoche to be
translated by Ina Bieler to be available for disciples in Spore to practice at home.
You can reserve your copy during reistration.
The Ganges Mahamudra Teaching and Practice
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche shall give an extensive commentary and guidance in the practice of
the "Ganges Mahamudra". As taught by Tilopa to Naropa, and then to Marpa who translated it into
Tibetan. This short instruction is considered the source text of all Kagyu doctrine in general and
especially of our tradition of Mahamudra. This is an approach to meditative practice that can be used
by everyone that is very effective and easy to implement.
The Ganges Mahamudra booklet will be provided to all retreatants.
Great Drikung Phowa Teaching and Practice
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche shall lead us once again in the Great Drikung Phowa Teaching and
Practice.
One of the Six Yogas of Naropa, Phowa, or ‘transference of consciousness at the time of death’ is
the simplest and most direct method to attain enlightenment. This great Drikung Phowa lineage,
whose Tibetan name "Jaktshukma" (means “the standing grass blade") is one of the most powerful
and precious Phowa practices still taught today.
The practice text will be provided to all retreatants
REFUGE CEREMONY
Sat - 4th April 2009, 1.30pm – 2.30pm (open to public)
GURU YOGA PUJA & AMITABHA JANG CHOG PUJA
Sat - 4th April 2009, 3.30pm – 6 pm (open to public)
GURU YOGA PUJA
Rinpoche and Sangha will lead us on Lama Chopa and Tsok Offering, Garchen Rinpoche’s Guru
Yoga – Light Amassment of Blessings.
Lord Jigten Sumgon says, "From today on, with one-pointed devotion pray to your great master and
practice according to what he teaches. Thus, it is certain you will achieve the ultimate
accomplishment (Buddhahood)." The practice is a complete meditation for purifying the four
obscurations through receiving the four empowerments of transforming one's body, speech, and
mind into the pure enlightened state. We also offer tsok with the Guru Yoga practice. In a tsok
practice, we make food offerings during the practice, imagining that the Buddhas come and accept
our offerings.
AMITABHA JANG CHOG PUJA
Merit is accumulated through making offerings to Buddha Amitabha and this is transferred to the
deceased for their purification and liberation. This practice helps the deceased in the bardo and
shows them the path to enlightenment. During Jang Chog (nameplate ritual), the name of the
deceased is written on a paper tablet and burned in the process of the puja to symbolize that the
burning of the wisdom fire purifies all the gross and subtle defilements, obscurities and negative
karma of the individual and thereby ripen their merit to be reborn in the Amitabha's pure land of
Dewachen (Sanskrit: Sukhavati).
Participants can register for the Jang Chog Puja for their deceased loved ones, creditors of the ten
directions, past-lives parents and other sentient beings as well as elimination of obstacles and
voluntary puja contribution.
AMITAYUS EMPOWERMENT
Saturday - 4th April 2009, 7.30pm – 9.30 pm (open to public)
Amitayus empowerment for ripening the potentials for long life, wisdom, and merit (virtuous,
wishfulfilling energy) in our own life and mind.
OFFICIAL OPENING OF NEW CENTRE BY RINPOCHE
Schedule for the Official Opening Ceremony
9.30am - To arrive and be seated
10 am - Official Opening Ceremony by H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
10.10 am - Chanting & Blessing of New Centre & statues by H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
11.30am - Short Speech by Rinpoche
12.00pm – Refreshment