DOOM! Magazine

Posted by MiseryXchord on Friday, June 4th, 2010

108 Buddhist Views, photos of Nepal during the Highest Yoga Tantra Sakya Lamdre transmission. Photographers: Wonderlane, Steve Dalos, Hemant Gurung, Byomo Kusum Sangh

His Holiness Dagchen Rinpoche's hand holds a vajra drawing lines that close the Hevajra Mandala, after the empowerment, Tharlam Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

Tibetan-American lama, H.H. Jigdal Dagchen Rinpoche’s hand holds a vajra drawing lines that close the Hevajra Mandala, after the empowerment, Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal. Now 80 years of age (as of 2009) the senior Tibetan Lama Dagchen Rinpoche co-founded The Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, in Seattle, Washington, the first Tibetan Monastery in the United States in 1979. The original Sakya Monastery was founded by his forebearers more than 900 years ago.

H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche received the Hevajra Anuttarayoga initiation in an unbroken Khon Lineage transmission from the great founder of the Sayka School, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092- 1158), through the last Sakya Throne-holder in Tibet, His Holiness Trichen Ngawang Tutop Wangchuk (1900-1950), Rinpoche’s father.

Havajra is the most important meditational practice in the Sakya tradition. It matures disciples through planting seeds for the realization of the four bodies of the Buddha, empowers one to practice the Shri Hevarja Sadhana, and is a necessary prerequisite to receiving many other teachings such as the Vajrayogini Initiation.

This is the physical plan for the dieties’ palace, just like a blueprint.

Somehow this looks like the world from outer space to me … where the circles are in the sand mandala – vases of victory have been removed.

The additional light is coming from another person’s flash which fired similtaneously; I try to avoid using flash because it is disturbing to the eyes.

Two senior lamas – monks are holding Dachen Rinpoche’s hand up above the mandala so that the technical requirements of the closing are upheld.

This is a huge sand mandala, and was actually used for the intiation – those fortunate few who view this image are very blessed. He gave permission for this image to be made public. Anyone who sees this is said to be granted blessings. It was taken just as he began closing the door, so some of the holy vibration is still to be felt.

So congratulations! to you fortunate ones.

Solo, Tharlam Monastery Band Plays During Lamdre, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 Wonderlane

Solo, Tharlam Monastery Band Plays During Lamdre, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Monks eagerly awaiting the Lama's arrival ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

His Holiness Jigdal Dachen Sakya on the Throne at Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 WOnderlane CC BY 2.0

His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, Tibetan-American Lama b. 1929 in Sakya, Tibet, reads instructions from a Tibetan Pecha, during the teaching section of Lam Dre, Tharlam Monastery, Bodhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal

Sitting on a gold lion throne wearing the formal silk celebration robes, indicative of his status and accomplishments. Out of the frame behind him is a statue of Lord Buddha in the earth touching mudra.

Dagchen Rinpoche, a reme master, is known for his vocal brilliance, his in-depth understanding of human nature and the mind, wide knowledge of many topics, as well as being a great spiritual adept. Many consider him the ‘secret lama’, because despite living in America, as traditional he has not sought media attention — preferring to build monasteries and train and mature many individual western students, as well as groups of Eastern practitioners.

His opinion and advice are widely sought from Eastern and Western students, as well as abbots, monks, nuns, and virtually everyone who comes in contact with him.

HH JD Sakya is the head of the Sakya Phuntsok Phodrang Palace, and sits 3rd in rank from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Tibetan Religious hierarchy.

Of Dagchen Rinpoche his late brother HH Trinley Rinpoche often said “My brother is a Buddha.”

His main seat is Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Seattle, Washington, with another outside of New Delhi, India.

Link to English text www.snowlionpub.com/search.php?isbn=THVIFU

Discipline Whip comes out, Tharlam Monastery ... ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

The senior lamas, family, students and about 1000 monks and nuns, and one guy with a whip calling the shots. Business monk doing the thing … getting things in order …

Closing the Hevajra empowerment mandala, HH Dagchen Rinpoche at Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 WOnderlane CC BY 2.0

Statue of the Buddha, Bhumisparsha (Earth touching mudra, or World Quaking) and HH JD Sakya on the throne, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

A Holy Site of Parping, Self Arising Ganesha and Arya Tara Shrine, Parping ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

One of the most holy sites in the world, like many, humanistic and simple in appearance.

Hevajra yidam photo held proudly by young monks Tharlam Monastery Nepal ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

Vajrayogini Front Facing Shrine Mandala Offering, His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya leading the empowerment into practice, Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

Giant shells, symbols of the Buddha's voice, Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

Dust from Hevajra Empowerment rises above the work as young monks clear off the mandala, Tharlam Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

Dharma horns on silk with offering rice and notes in Tibetan.

This is a job the young monks relish – they don masks usually made of a loose khatag, and sweep it up into copper containers, of grey, grey, grey sand.

A wise Tibetan man I know swooped in silently and dashed off with a handful before it hit the buckets, a big prize. A few grains placed on the head of a dying person is said to ensure a buddhist re-incarnation at the least, and a birth in Kechara otherwise.

His eyes glowing he gave sand away in little packets, and the corners of envelopes; whatever any one had. What a treasure.

Others came too late and begging for it, the monks would give none – the young monks rushed out in sets of twos carrying the red buckets and dispersed it, probably in a nearby river.

26 photographers and videographers capturing HH Dagchen Sakya with Sons and Grandsons, Rededicating and Blessing Prayer Flags at Tharlam Monastery, table of offerings, encircled by a crowd, with clouds of incense, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal ©2007 Wonderlane CC BY 2.0

Cloudy and rainy day considered auspicious for this ceremony … rain like nectar …

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 4th, 2010 at 12:23 AM. It is filed under Feature, Photo Galleries, World and tagged with buddhism, Nepal, wide, Wonderlane. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.