January 4, 2024
Himalayan Children’s Fund News Happy New Year Dear Friends, Things have been silent on this end since our November email because I have been in Nepal for HCF administrative work as well as to attend the Grand Chakrasamvara Puja and cremation for our beloved Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. It was good to resume in-person annual visits after nearly 4 years. Facetime, Zoom, WeChat and What’sApp have been useful, to help us carry on our work, especially during the pandemic, but nothing takes the place of actual face to face and heart to heart! It is my privilege to be able to share these stories and photos with you. With gratitude and prayers for peace and joy, health and happiness in this new year.
~ Debra Ann
THRANGU TASHI YANGTSE MONASTERY After Thrangu Rinpoche passed into parinirvana, various prayers and pujas continued 24 hours a day in the presence of Thrangu Rinpoche’s Kudung. At the same time, a full schedule of prayers and pujas were continually carried out in the main and other shrine halls. High Lamas, Tulkus and other dignitaries, disciples, students and admirers from around the world came to Namo Buddha during the 5 month period before the cremation to pay their respects. Space was created just outside the reception room for people to sit and meditate before the Kudung or join in the guru yoga sadhana during the day. A meaningful and powerful experience. PARINIRVANA PUJA IN THE MAIN SHRINE HALL Lodro Nyima Rinpoche and Tulku Damchö led hundreds of lay and monastic devotees in “The Ocean of the Yogic Songs of the Kagyu Lineage” (Kagyu Gurtso) from October 26-28. This was followed by the Chakrasamvara Grand Puja, lead by Zuri Rinpoche and Tulku Damchö, October 20-November 3. Every evening, the Thrangu Guru Yoga, “Invoking Compassion Swiftly” written by HH Karmapa, was recited along with “Calling the Guru From Afar” and many prayers for Thrangu Rinpoche's swift return. On the last day, Rinpoche’s Kudung was moved from his residence to the shrine hall.
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CREMATION DAY
Having prepared the cremation stupa and performed all appropriate prayers and offerings as advised by HH Karmapa, on Lhabab Duchen, (November 4th) Thrangu Rinpoche’s remains were escorted by ceremonial procession through an enormous crowd of devotees from the monastery to the cremation site on the roof of the branch school.
Surrounded by a Chakrasamvara mandala, the cremation stupa stood tall and beautiful. Seating was arranged on the 4 sides of the stupa for the great lamas of the Sakya, Geluk, Nyingma and Kagyu traditions and their sanghas. Simultaneously, each performed their chosen mandala rituals and re offering pujas. In the east Chakrasamvara was led by Gyaltsab Rinpoche; in the south Minling Vajrasattva, led by Rabjam Rinpoche; in the west Hevajra, led by HH 43rd Sakya Trizin Rinpoche; and in the south was Akshobhya, led by Jangtse Choje Gosok Rinpoche.
The ceremony continued for several hours as a great many substances such as butter, rice, kusha grass, oats, oil and more were offered into the stupa.
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Himalayan Children’s Fund P. O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 himalayanchildrensfund.org
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Everyone was delighted when, for a short time, soft, gentle raindrops began to fall. Charpa Metok or Flower Rain, as it is called, is known to appear on auspicious occasions. It was a little like tiny, oating bubbles. Later in the day, after the ceremony concluded, a few rain clouds formed and offered up a brief shower from which a clear rainbow appeared, arching from the clouds to the cremation site. The blessings of the day were many and the feeling among the sangha ~ both lay and monastic ~ was that of warmth and support. Guru Yoga and other pujas continued for 3 days at the cremation site before the bone and ash relics were collected properly into vases and carried by procession to the gompa for 5 more days of pujas.
Then the work began of rolling prayers, setting molds and painting tsatsas for the stupa being built for Thrangu Rinpoche. The 13 foot stupa will be housed inside the top oor of a new residence building which was originally designed for butter lamp offerings. Consecration of the stupa is planned for the one year anniversary of Rinpoche’s parinirvana ~ Saga Dawa, May 23, 2024. Click here to see a Thrangu Media video of the cremation day.
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Himalayan Children’s Fund P. O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 himalayanchildrensfund.org