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Dear Dharma friends,
The dharmic culmination of this year in Danakosha and the whole
Finland was His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche's acceptance of
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche's heartfelt request to come to Finland in
September. Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche had expressed his wish that His
Holiness would transmit the most important empowerments of the terma
tradition for the benefit of all Finnish Dharma practitioners and for
advancing Buddha Dharma in Finland. We had the honour to have His
Holiness in Finland from 8th to 18th September 2009.
His Holiness bestowed publicly three major initiations in Danakosha:
Ka Gye, Gong Du and Phurba, together called Ka-gong-phur-sum,
comprising the essence of all of Guru Rinpoche's terma treasures. He
also taught the transference of consciousness, or Phowa, according to
the Longchen Nyingthig tradition. In addition to this he bestowed the
empowerment to the seven line prayer of Guru Rinpoche and gave a text
transmission to Jigme Lingpa's Yeshe Lama, an important guide to
Dzogchen practice. He gave the chöd practice Khandro Ge Gyang as a
blessing in Rangjung Ösel retreat center.
The occasion attracted Dharma practitioners from every Nordic country,
as well as from many European countries, and His Holiness' retinue
included members from every Himalayan country.
The last days of his visit were spent vacationing. The Danakosha's
sangha in Turku had the opportunity to meet His Holiness, when he
followed their invitation to visit Turku. He also had a look at local
sights and culture. He visited a dairy farm in Inkoo and observed a
milking robot in action, and visited Korkeasaari zoo in Helsinki.
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche escorted His Holiness and his retinue to
Switzerland and Austria, where Tibetan colonies sought His Holiness'
blessings and where his journey back to India begun.
Danakosha's sangha is very happy and thankful to have had the
opportunity to host this extraordinary Dharma occasion, and we would
like to express our gratitude to everyone who took part in organizing
the visit, and thereby contributed to the success of this historical
occasion and stabilizing of Buddha Dharma in Finland.
The summer was busy time for Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche. Saga Dawa was again
celebrated in Rangjung Ösel in the beginning of the summer, and
Rinpoche bestowed the empowerment to the practice of Buddha Shakyamuni
and 16 sthaviras according to the namchö terma of Mingyur
Dorje. Following the invitation of Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro
Rinpoche, he visited Lotus Garden center in the United States. He also
visited the Nalandabodhi center in New York by the invitation of VII
Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, and gave teachings there.
He attended H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche's teachings in
August. His Holiness bestowed the second part of the Northern
Treasures termas in the late Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche's Khordong
center in Poland. Before coming to Finland His Holiness and his
retinue visited Czech Republic, where Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro
Rinpoche's sangha and the local Dzogchen community hosted the
visit.
During the Saga Dawa in Rangjung Ösel
A Letter from Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche to All Precious Dharma Friends
Dear Students and Dharma Friends,
Please contemplate that we have all received a human body, a precious
life, through our own merit which we created in previous lives. If we
wish to have a blissful and happy life in the future, we must develop
merit. Bliss and suffering depends on our own actions. So, Dear Dharma
Friends, we should keep our precious merit in our minds very well and
create more and more. How can we do this? What is the way to keep
merit and to increase it? Buddha Shakyamuni explains that we should
guard our three doors: our body, speech and mind. As much as possible
we should avoid negative acts, speech and thought and instead develop
our virtue. We should always check our own mind in order to uproot our
negativity, our non-virtue.
How can we recognize non-virtue? There are 10 non-virtues: 3
non-virtuous acts of the body, 4 of the speech and 3 of the mind. The
non-virtue of the body is to take life, to steal and to involve in
sexual misconduct. To give up non-virtue is a virtue in itself and if
we want to practice the virtues of body we should involve in giving
and protecting life, in donating and offering of what is ours, and by
taking celibacy vows. The non-virtue of speech is lying, instigating
discord, using harsh language and gossip. Giving up these is
virtue. Practicing the virtue of speech is remembering to speak
kindly, meaningfully and truthfully. The non-virtues of mind are
general adversity towards others, grudge and wrong view. Giving up
these is virtue and practicing the virtue of mind is always to be
mindful about one's own negative thought and to rejoice in the
positive ones in order to increase them.
All of us want happiness. Ultimately we cannot get it from another; we
have to create the causes of happiness ourselves. So, please check
your own mind. Are you daily nurturing your virtue or non-virtue? Be
aware of what you should accept end reject.
I wish you all the best. Take care of your body and keep your mind well.
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche
Danakosha's Upcoming Program
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche teaches fundamentals of Buddhism
Every Tuesday from 3rd November to 1st December. 6 pm to 7.30 pm in Danakosha
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche teaches meanings of Dharma words and reading Tibetan
Fridays 6th, 13th and 20th November and 4th December. 6 pm to 7.30 pm in Danakosha
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche teaches Tibetan Buddhism and meditation
in Lahti
Sat November 7th 2009, 2-4 pm
Alex Park, Aleksanterinkatu 6, Lahti
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche teaches Tibetan Buddhism and meditation and answers to questions
in Lahti by the invitation of Minerva society. Suggested entrance fee
5/10€.
Inquiries: Arvo Koskinen, tel. 0400 907093.
Aspiration prayers and refuge ceremony
Mon 9th
November starting at 6 pm in Danakosha
November 9th is the anniversary of
Buddha Shakyamuni's descent from the god realms and also Danakosha's
anniversary. Because of that the whole of Danakosha's sangha gathers to
recite aspiration prayers. After the prayers Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche will
give refuge vow for everyone inclined, particularly to the members of
the new ngöndro group. Please
check Danakosha's
web calendar for more details.
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche teaches about Buddha's root teaching in Tampere
Sat 14th November from 10am to 1 pm
Tampereen pääkirjasto Metso, Pirkankatu 2, 33101 Tampere
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche teaches about Buddha's root teaching in Turku
Sat 21st November, 10am to 12am
Askaistentie 29, Turku
Please register to turku@danakosha.fi
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche visits Portugal
Thu 10th December to Wed 16th December
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche leads a Konchog Chidu Drubchen in Sweden
Fri 25th to Wed 30th December.
Please check Danakosha's
web calendar for more details.
Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche has started a new Longchen Nyingthig Ngöndro
group, which assembles every Sunday. Gomde practice, a short
recitation and calm abiding practice based on Buddha Shakyamuni
Sadhana, is held on Tuesdays, and is open for all. Tsog practices are
held on the 10th and 25th days of the Tibetan lunar calendar. Tsogs
are open for all, and they are especially meant for practitioners who
have received initiations and can so renew their vows. The puja of
Buddha Shakyamuni is done on the full moon days as indicated by the
Tibetan lunar calendar. All new and old Dharma friends are cordially
welcome.
In case of changes and adjustments that may take place, please check
the program in
our internet calendar before attending.
Go to Danakosha's webpage
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