#22 March 2018 Newsletter ::id="fb-yt" shechen.org

#22 March 2018 Newsletter

Quick links in this edition:

Annual Drupchens Begin
International Shechen Seminars
37 New Young Arrivals
Restore 2018
Spreading the Dharma
Other Links

The Drupchens Have Begun! Ceremonies and Dance at Shechen

February through March is a period of heightened activity at Shechen. The shedra exams have just been completed, and the annual drupchens begin, with the full monk body, nuns, and visitors involved.

Drupchen, which literally means “vast accomplishment”, is an intensive group practice performed to establish the altruistic intention to benefit all sentient beings, and to purify and bless the environment. This practice is carried on for 24 hours a day, continuing the recitation throughout the night so that the recitation of the mantra is unbroken. Great contemporary masters, such as His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche have made a point of encouraging and reviving the practice of drupchen, because of its power of transformation in this degenerate age. Similar drupchens are traditionally held across the world at Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and practice centers.

The Shechen drupchens begin with Yamantaka, which is practiced to remove obstacles at the year’s end, prior to Losar, the Tibetan New Year. The Yamantaka drupchen was presided over by Adzom Gyalse Tulku.

Throughout the month following Losar, other drupchens are performed including the Minling Dorsem Vajrasattva, the Tsokchen Duepa and Five Ka’ma, culminating in the Great Tse-Chu Festival of Sacred Dances (March 26th) , and the Lama Sangdu Empowerment (March 27th). Other dances are also performed at the end of some of the drupchens and inside the temple throughout the month.

Rabjam Rinpoche will preside over all these ceremonies. Shechen tulkus, khenpos, lopons and more than 400 monks take part in these elaborate practices. The temple is absolutely booming with life with barely enough room to squeeze in; yet somehow space is always made for one more. Those joining can follow the group practices or do their own contemplative practices during the ceremonies.

The annual Tsechu (the 10th day of the month) includes sacred dances choreographed and composed out of the visionary experiences of great masters. It is held in the courtyard and culminates in a dance that honors the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava, particularly his coming to Tibet to establish Buddhism. The dance festival is a magical event with clowns, swirling brocade costumes, with deep significance.

In this same time period, a drupchö—similar to a drupchen, but takes place only in the daytime—is also held at Shechen Monastery in Bodhgaya. As well, the nuns perform the Phurba Gutor Drupchung at Shechen Orgyen Chodzang Nunnery in Bhutan.

The full Shechen Nepal drupchen schedule can be found here.

Annual International Shechen Seminars

In early December, fifty international students from 18 countries gathered in Bodhgaya, India, for our 8th consecutive year. The Shechen Seminar is a ten-year program of practice and study that guides students through the stages of the Nyingma path. It is structured similarly to a three-year retreat. The teachings and practices are based on Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s rarely taught treasure teachings.

Each December we are given the empowerments and practice instructions to accomplish over the following year. This year, the teachings were given by Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Lungrig Nyima Rinpoche (Lama Gyao), and Sean Price. We were also fortunate to be joined by David Christensen, a close Western student of His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

In 2011 when the seminar first began, there were newer students and those who had been involved in Dharma for many years. Gradually over the years we have developed a wonderful sense of sangha and friendship even though we see each other as a group only once a year for this two-week period.

A parallel program of teachings also takes place annually in Croatia. It is organized by Shechen Croatia and will be held in April 2018. The early part of this seminar is open only to those who have been following their 10-year program, but the latter part is open to others. Further information about the Croatia seminar can be found here.

Juanita Evans, a seminar participant

37 New Young Arrivals

Shechen Monastery has always been a place of education and shelter for young children, and this year is no exception. Thirty-seven children have just been admitted into the monastery and school. They range in ages from five to thirteen years old and many come from poor remote areas of Nepal where they had no opportunity to receive an education.

They will be housed in the school dormitory. New beds and bedclothes, school supplies, and much more have to be purchased.

Jhabindra Subedi, principal of the Shechen School, writes: “We have tested the children and classified them into the proper grades (pre K, first grade, and so on). We will focus at first on Tibetan language because it is a new subject for most of them.
They seem very happy to be here and are eager to learn new things. They seem to be bright and quick learners, and adjusting well to making new friends.”

This is a perfect time to become a sponsor and help a child adjust to his new life. Just $250/annually or through monthly donations helps us provide food, medical care, clothing and an education for these beautiful children.

Help us build the future for a child. Thank you!

Donate Now

Restore 2018

Thanks to the donors who generously contributed to restore the monastery after the earthquake, ceremonies can be held in the newly restored gleaming main Shechen temple.

Tsering Art Students painstakingly painted the decorated columns, ceiling, and sculptural details inside and outside the temple. The statues have been gilded in gold and the sound system has been re-installed. Once again, the exterior is shining with its magnificent colors, and new steps lead the way into the temple entrance.

In May, our artists will begin the work of painting the frescos that depict the lineages and masters. This elaborate project will take three years to complete. We will be in touch about how you can participate in this project.

Rabjam Rinpoche has moved into his new home that was just recently completed. We are delighted that we can offer him this lovely enclave of peace.

We are deeply appreciative of all the workers, monks, artists, and friends who have helped us to accomplish this major restoration.

Spreading the Dharma

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s teachings continue to inspire a whole new generation and every year his writings are translated into additional languages.

Heart of Compassion was recently translated into Arabic and is now available in the Middle-East. Rinpoche’s books have been translated and published in Chinese, Thai, Croatian, Polish, Spanish, Nepali, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and more!

We hear from people from all over the world that their minds and lives have been transformed by his teachings and wisdom. We are deeply indebted to the translators and publishers who have devoted so much time and effort into making Rinpoche’s teachings accessible to more and more people.