Dharma Teachings Schedule
26 - 27 November 2016
Khen. Thamthog Rinpoche, Abbot of Namgyal Monastery, will be here in Singapore (for the very first time) to give the Buddhist community a series of Initiations and a Dharma Talk to deepen our understanding on the differences between Sutrayana and Tantrayana. It is an extreme honor of ours to be able to have the good conditions to have Khen Thamthog Rinpoche in our presence. And we encouraged you to join us as we collectively receive the valuable teachings from Khen. Thamthog Rinpoche in person.
Dharma Talk
What is Sutra and what is Tantra?
Is there a difference between Sutrayana and Tantrayana? For instance, Sutra: All beings have been your mother , Tantra: See all beings as your mother.
It’s sometimes thought that Sutra and Tantra are two completely separate Buddhist paths, with Sutra being philosophical and tantra being ‘mystical’, ‘esoteric’ and ‘devotional’. But in fact Tantra follows logically from Sutra.
As Buddhists, we must maintain a harmony between Sutra and Tantric teachings. We must understand the theory and carry out experiment. We must strike a balance, and cannot ignore either of them.
DATE: 27 Nov / Sunday
TIME: 7pm to 9pm,
VENUE: SingPost Auditorium
10 Eunos Road 8, Paya Lebar, Singapore 408600
ONLINE REGISTRATION before 20 Nov: https://goo.gl/forms/9drci6ly3dgQQkgo2
Initiations
Medicine Buddha and Tara
9am to 12pm: Long Life Tara Initiation
2pm to 5pm: Medicine Buddha Initiation
DATE: 26 Nov, Saturday
VENUE: Chang Clan General Association, 23 Lor 29 Geylang, Singapore 388072
ONLINE REGISTRATION before 20 Nov: https://goo.gl/forms/9drci6ly3dgQQkgo2
INITIATION REQUIREMENTS
As instructed, there will be no commitment upon receiving of initiations by Thamthog Rinpoche.
There is no commitment (minimum practice will be chanting of mantra)
Do keep to a pure vegetarian diet on the 26th November, especially if you intend to take the Long Life Tara initiation.
White Tara (one of Long Life Dieties) is one of the main 21 manifestations of Arya Tara—which means, yes, She is Tara. “Tara protects disciples from one of the main outer hindrances, which is untimely death and she helps practitioners live a long life.”
In Tibet, there’s a saying, “For protection, call on your protector if you have time—but call on Tara if you have no time.”
A prayer from the fifth Dalai Lama puts it this way: “Merely by remembering Her feet one is protected.”
White Tara is known by Tibetan Buddhists as The Swift Protectress because Tara acts quickly to protect the mind from the delusions and snares of Samsara. She is also known as Samaya Tara, translating as ”Vow Tara.” This refers to Tara’s vow to save all sentient beings. Occasionally, White Tara is called “the Mother of all Buddhas”, because She represents the perfect embodiment of graceful power, purity, and wisdom.
As one of the three deities of long life, White Tara is associated with longevity. She counteracts illness and thereby helps to bring about a long life. Furthermore, She embodies the motivation that is compassion and is said to be as radiant and white as the moon. One reason Cintachakra Tara’s mantra is particularly meaningful is that the mantra contains within it the entire sacred teachings on the Four Noble Truths.
”You might have hindrances in your life that could cause your untimely death. If the hindrances are due to your good karma and merit being exhausted, then in order to prolong your life now and to have longevity in future lives, you need to practice (daily) powerful ways to collect a lot of merit, such as chanting the mantras of long life deities, taking long life initiations, saving the lives of people and animals, offering medicine to individuals and taking care of sick people, offering clothing, food, and shelter to the poor people.” – Tritul Jampa Kalden Rinpoche
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO INITIATION SCHEDULE
Please note that there are slight changes to the Initiation schedule. With the compassion of Rinpoche’s, Rinpoche will be conferring Long Life Tara Initiation instead. We have also re-scheduled the Long Life Tara Initiation to the morning slot (9am – 12noon).
We apologise for any inconveniences caused.
Biography
More on Khen Thamthog Rinpoche
Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche was born in 1951 in Lithang, an eastern province of Tibet. At the age of six he was recognized as the reincarnation of the XII Thamthog by H.H The Dalai Lama and His Holiness’s tutor Kyabje Triyan. Rinpoche, as the XII Thamthog, was the founder of the three largest monastic universities in Lithang. From a very young age he put great energy and effort in his studies at Sera Je monastery in Tibet. Once in exile, following 1959, he continued his studies at the Sera Je Monastic University in the south of India.
In 1982 he graduated with the most prestigious Buddhist degree of “Geshe Lharampa” and then entered Ghiumé Monastic Tantric College in order to deepen his study of the Tantra.
Upon obtaining the Geshe Lharampa degree, Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche received the entire transmission of both common and secret teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and both of his tutors, Ven. Song Rinpoche and Geshe Tenzin Gonpo, along with other highly qualified masters of Tibet.
Upon invitation by his master, Geshe Tenzin Gonpo, Rinpoche moved to Italy in 1987 and after Geshe Tenzin Gonpo passed away, in 1992, Rinpoche became the Spiritual Guide of Ghe Pel Ling Institution of Buddhist Studies and remained there for 20 years. Thanks to his tireless effort, Ghe Pel Ling Institute has grown and become an ever-increasing point of reference for those who are looking for a more authentic and spiritual dimension to their lives.
Furthermore, Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche has given life to different non-profit projects, including the restoration of a hospital and construction of a school/hostel in Lithang. In 2006 Rinpoche founded Ghe Pel Ling Onlus, which to date, supports many monks and Tibetan refugee children in India, through a long distance adoption program. In August of 2009, Ven. Lama Thamthog Rinpoche was nominated the abbot of Namgyal Monastery by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, The XIV Dalai Lama, located in front of His Holiness’s residence in Dharamsala and is currently overseeing the construction of a school inside Namgyal monastery for young monks.
Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche’s disciples number in the thousands, consisting of more than one hundred thousand in Tibet and many others in India’s Sera, Drepung, and Gaden. He also has numerous disciples in The United States, Canada, Japan, Vietnam and other major European countries. Ven. Lama Thamthog Rinpoche continues to give teachings at The Ghe Pel Ling Institute of Tibetan Buddhist Studies, where he is still the spiritual guide, and in other parts of the world on behalf of H.H The Dalai Lama.
Rinpoche is also the spiritual guide of Kalachakra Centre in Ventimiglia and The Centre For Tibetan Studies, Tenzin Ciö Ling in Sondrio.