The construction of the magical city of Khadro Ling continues to rise up before our very eyes as Chagdud Rinpoche’s vision dissolves our limited conception of what is possible.
The cupola of the temple was beautifully renovated for Chagdud Khadro to enter retreat in June. Reports are that her health is good and practice strong.
In July, Lama Drimed and other western Chagdud Gonpa Lamas arrived for a month-long training with Rinpoche and were immediately engaged in assembling the multiplicity of substances necessary to consecrate statues. Over 300 statues, including the nine-foot Akshobhya were meticulously prepared to receive central channels, sacred relic pills, saffron-painted rolls of mantra, deity chakras, and articles of worldly wealth as well. Consecration of the statues was completed during the Essence of Siddhi drubchen, when the blindfolds covering the statues’ eyes were removed, signifying the infusion of the deities’ wisdom. Sangha artists continued work on lama dancing masks, finishing twelve wrathful masks and some of the eight emanations of Padmasambhava.
Following the drubchen, Rinpoche was in good health and energetic, often speeding his way up the stairs to visit Khadro in retreat, or out the door and down the elevator to check on work on the stupas, before his attendants could catch up with him. The gathering of his lamas and their time together seemed to have brought a new glow to their teacher.
Muscovites Slava Romanov and his wife Ira graced Khadro Ling for several months. Slava, “The Russian Translator” (as he was known), translated two-thirds of the spiritual biography of Sherab Gyaltsen, the first Chagdud Tulku, before departing for graduate studies at the University of Virginia.
After the Western lamas departed at the beginning of August, the Khadro Ling sangha moved into high gear for the next great phase of accomplishment—preparing the eight stupas on the hillside. Lama Damtsig arrived from Nepal to oversee the construction, including the ritual aspects. Lama Damtsig has studied with Chatral Rinpoche since the age of six, under whose tutelage he became a master of arts, drawing, and the construction of the stupas of the Buddha according to the tradition of the omniscient Jigme Lingpa. After completing a three-year retreat,he dedicated his life to building stupas and has built nearly 100,now constructing many around the base of the famous Swayam-bunath Stupa in Nepal.
In order to be able to fill all the stupas with mantra and tsatsas in one month, new techniques had to be developed. Suzanne Meister converted scaffolding that Palden—our resident artist from Sikkim—uses in painting the temple, into a device that can feed mantra through the saffron and drying processes, and finally,be rolled by people at three different stations. Further methods were introduced to saffron the thousand plus kilos of mantra at the printer as well. After completion, the printer asked if he could use the remaining saffron water to pour over his presses, to infuse them with its blessings!
As Rinpoche departed for the weekend of 100,000 Red Tara Tsok offerings in Floranopolis, Lama Damtsig began filling the ascension chambers of the stupas with layers of tsa tsas, packed in dry sand. The twelve thousand clay tsa tsas that had been made and filled with Shakyamuni’s mantra and adorned with five-col-ored umbrellas were not sufficient. A quicker method was devised to turn out another eight thousand in a week, using rubber molds and plaster. Lama Damtsig commented that even though the use of computers and machinery creates a difference in construction methods from Nepal to Brazil, the merit generated is the same.
Chagdud Rinpoche had consecrated seven of the stupas by September 5 when Tulku Sang-ngag arrived to consecrate the eighth; this last one commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment according to the ritual of the Two Stainless Ones. For this,two hundred tsa tsas were specially made by Chagdud Rinpoche and filled with Traktor and Odzer Drimed mantras. The Entire Khadro Ling sangha participated in the final three days of the six days of consecration ceremonies.On the morning of the second day, Rinpoche interrupted the ceremony to announce news of the terrorist attacks in the United States. The contrast between the inconceivable blessings of constructing and consecrating the stupas, and the graphic suffering that reverberated throughout the world following the terrorist attacks, gave us even greater focus. The news strengthened our resolve to dedicate the profound stores of merit and wisdom embodied in the stupas to relieve the suffering of beings.
At almost the same time, Khadro Ling hosted a three-dayconference—organized by Yvonne Viera—on death and dying for health professionals in the hospice field. Most of the several hundred people in attendance received the Amitabha empowerment and took bodhisattva vows.
Construction has begun on a hospice facility with several units and a common area for conferences, with completion expected in January 2002. Under construction as well are two morehouses for sangha members and a third prayer-wheel house.
Palden, our skilled visiting artist, has completed paintings depicting Guru Rinpoche and his twenty-five disciples, and Hayagriva, covering almost half of the southern wall of the temple.His brushes are now revealing Tröma and her mandala, and the protector Rahula.
The number of visitors to Khadro Ling continues to grow,sometimes five hundred a week. Perhaps a measure of their faith was demonstrated in the five hundred butter lamps they offered this month. May the merit and wisdom of all beings increase!
By Susanne Fairclough
The construction of the magical city of Khadro Ling continues to rise up before our very eyes as Chagdud Rinpoche’s vision dissolves our limited conception of what is possible.
The cupola of the temple was beautifully renovated for Chagdud Khadro to enter retreat in June. Reports are that her health is good and practice strong.
In July, Lama Drimed and other western Chagdud Gonpa Lamas arrived for a month-long training with Rinpoche and were immediately engaged in assembling the multiplicity of substances necessary to consecrate statues. Over 300 statues, including the nine-foot Akshobhya were meticulously prepared to receive central channels, sacred relic pills, saffron-painted rolls of mantra, deity chakras, and articles of worldly wealth as well. Consecration of the statues was completed during the Essence of Siddhi drubchen, when the blindfolds covering the statues’ eyes were removed, signifying the infusion of the deities’ wisdom. Sangha artists continued work on lama dancing masks, finishing twelve wrathful masks and some of the eight emanations of Padmasambhava.
Following the drubchen, Rinpoche was in good health and energetic, often speeding his way up the stairs to visit Khadro in retreat, or out the door and down the elevator to check on work on the stupas, before his attendants could catch up with him. The gathering of his lamas and their time together seemed to have brought a new glow to their teacher.
Muscovites Slava Romanov and his wife Ira graced Khadro Ling for several months. Slava, “The Russian Translator” (as he was known), translated two-thirds of the spiritual biography of Sherab Gyaltsen, the first Chagdud Tulku, before departing for graduate studies at the University of Virginia.
After the Western lamas departed at the beginning of August, the Khadro Ling sangha moved into high gear for the next great phase of accomplishment—preparing the eight stupas on the hillside. Lama Damtsig arrived from Nepal to oversee the construction, including the ritual aspects. Lama Damtsig has studied with Chatral Rinpoche since the age of six, under whose tutelage he became a master of arts, drawing, and the construction of the stupas of the Buddha according to the tradition of the omniscient Jigme Lingpa. After completing a three-year retreat,he dedicated his life to building stupas and has built nearly 100,now constructing many around the base of the famous Swayam-bunath Stupa in Nepal.
In order to be able to fill all the stupas with mantra and tsatsas in one month, new techniques had to be developed. Suzanne Meister converted scaffolding that Palden—our resident artist from Sikkim—uses in painting the temple, into a device that can feed mantra through the saffron and drying processes, and finally,be rolled by people at three different stations. Further methods were introduced to saffron the thousand plus kilos of mantra at the printer as well. After completion, the printer asked if he could use the remaining saffron water to pour over his presses, to infuse them with its blessings!
As Rinpoche departed for the weekend of 100,000 Red Tara Tsok offerings in Floranopolis, Lama Damtsig began filling the ascension chambers of the stupas with layers of tsa tsas, packed in dry sand. The twelve thousand clay tsa tsas that had been made and filled with Shakyamuni’s mantra and adorned with five-col-ored umbrellas were not sufficient. A quicker method was devised to turn out another eight thousand in a week, using rubber molds and plaster. Lama Damtsig commented that even though the use of computers and machinery creates a difference in construction methods from Nepal to Brazil, the merit generated is the same.
Chagdud Rinpoche had consecrated seven of the stupas by September 5 when Tulku Sang-ngag arrived to consecrate the eighth; this last one commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment according to the ritual of the Two Stainless Ones. For this,two hundred tsa tsas were specially made by Chagdud Rinpoche and filled with Traktor and Odzer Drimed mantras. The Entire Khadro Ling sangha participated in the final three days of the six days of consecration ceremonies.On the morning of the second day, Rinpoche interrupted the ceremony to announce news of the terrorist attacks in the United States. The contrast between the inconceivable blessings of constructing and consecrating the stupas, and the graphic suffering that reverberated throughout the world following the terrorist attacks, gave us even greater focus. The news strengthened our resolve to dedicate the profound stores of merit and wisdom embodied in the stupas to relieve the suffering of beings.
At almost the same time, Khadro Ling hosted a three-dayconference—organized by Yvonne Viera—on death and dying for health professionals in the hospice field. Most of the several hundred people in attendance received the Amitabha empowerment and took bodhisattva vows.
Construction has begun on a hospice facility with several units and a common area for conferences, with completion expected in January 2002. Under construction as well are two morehouses for sangha members and a third prayer-wheel house.
Palden, our skilled visiting artist, has completed paintings depicting Guru Rinpoche and his twenty-five disciples, and Hayagriva, covering almost half of the southern wall of the temple.His brushes are now revealing Tröma and her mandala, and the protector Rahula.
The number of visitors to Khadro Ling continues to grow,sometimes five hundred a week. Perhaps a measure of their faith was demonstrated in the five hundred butter lamps they offered this month. May the merit and wisdom of all beings increase!
By Susanne Fairclough
The construction of the magical city of Khadro Ling continues to rise up before our very eyes as Chagdud Rinpoche’s vision dissolves our limited conception of what is possible.
The cupola of the temple was beautifully renovated for Chagdud Khadro to enter retreat in June. Reports are that her health is good and practice strong.
In July, Lama Drimed and other western Chagdud Gonpa Lamas arrived for a month-long training with Rinpoche and were immediately engaged in assembling the multiplicity of substances necessary to consecrate statues. Over 300 statues, including the nine-foot Akshobhya were meticulously prepared to receive central channels, sacred relic pills, saffron-painted rolls of mantra, deity chakras, and articles of worldly wealth as well. Consecration of the statues was completed during the Essence of Siddhi drubchen, when the blindfolds covering the statues’ eyes were removed, signifying the infusion of the deities’ wisdom. Sangha artists continued work on lama dancing masks, finishing twelve wrathful masks and some of the eight emanations of Padmasambhava.
Following the drubchen, Rinpoche was in good health and energetic, often speeding his way up the stairs to visit Khadro in retreat, or out the door and down the elevator to check on work on the stupas, before his attendants could catch up with him. The gathering of his lamas and their time together seemed to have brought a new glow to their teacher.
Muscovites Slava Romanov and his wife Ira graced Khadro Ling for several months. Slava, “The Russian Translator” (as he was known), translated two-thirds of the spiritual biography of Sherab Gyaltsen, the first Chagdud Tulku, before departing for graduate studies at the University of Virginia.
After the Western lamas departed at the beginning of August, the Khadro Ling sangha moved into high gear for the next great phase of accomplishment—preparing the eight stupas on the hillside. Lama Damtsig arrived from Nepal to oversee the construction, including the ritual aspects. Lama Damtsig has studied with Chatral Rinpoche since the age of six, under whose tutelage he became a master of arts, drawing, and the construction of the stupas of the Buddha according to the tradition of the omniscient Jigme Lingpa. After completing a three-year retreat,he dedicated his life to building stupas and has built nearly 100,now constructing many around the base of the famous Swayam-bunath Stupa in Nepal.
In order to be able to fill all the stupas with mantra and tsatsas in one month, new techniques had to be developed. Suzanne Meister converted scaffolding that Palden—our resident artist from Sikkim—uses in painting the temple, into a device that can feed mantra through the saffron and drying processes, and finally,be rolled by people at three different stations. Further methods were introduced to saffron the thousand plus kilos of mantra at the printer as well. After completion, the printer asked if he could use the remaining saffron water to pour over his presses, to infuse them with its blessings!
As Rinpoche departed for the weekend of 100,000 Red Tara Tsok offerings in Floranopolis, Lama Damtsig began filling the ascension chambers of the stupas with layers of tsa tsas, packed in dry sand. The twelve thousand clay tsa tsas that had been made and filled with Shakyamuni’s mantra and adorned with five-col-ored umbrellas were not sufficient. A quicker method was devised to turn out another eight thousand in a week, using rubber molds and plaster. Lama Damtsig commented that even though the use of computers and machinery creates a difference in construction methods from Nepal to Brazil, the merit generated is the same.
Chagdud Rinpoche had consecrated seven of the stupas by September 5 when Tulku Sang-ngag arrived to consecrate the eighth; this last one commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment according to the ritual of the Two Stainless Ones. For this,two hundred tsa tsas were specially made by Chagdud Rinpoche and filled with Traktor and Odzer Drimed mantras. The Entire Khadro Ling sangha participated in the final three days of the six days of consecration ceremonies.On the morning of the second day, Rinpoche interrupted the ceremony to announce news of the terrorist attacks in the United States. The contrast between the inconceivable blessings of constructing and consecrating the stupas, and the graphic suffering that reverberated throughout the world following the terrorist attacks, gave us even greater focus. The news strengthened our resolve to dedicate the profound stores of merit and wisdom embodied in the stupas to relieve the suffering of beings.
At almost the same time, Khadro Ling hosted a three-dayconference—organized by Yvonne Viera—on death and dying for health professionals in the hospice field. Most of the several hundred people in attendance received the Amitabha empowerment and took bodhisattva vows.
Construction has begun on a hospice facility with several units and a common area for conferences, with completion expected in January 2002. Under construction as well are two morehouses for sangha members and a third prayer-wheel house.
Palden, our skilled visiting artist, has completed paintings depicting Guru Rinpoche and his twenty-five disciples, and Hayagriva, covering almost half of the southern wall of the temple.His brushes are now revealing Tröma and her mandala, and the protector Rahula.
The number of visitors to Khadro Ling continues to grow,sometimes five hundred a week. Perhaps a measure of their faith was demonstrated in the five hundred butter lamps they offered this month. May the merit and wisdom of all beings increase!
By Susanne Fairclough
The construction of the magical city of Khadro Ling continues to rise up before our very eyes as Chagdud Rinpoche’s vision dissolves our limited conception of what is possible.
The cupola of the temple was beautifully renovated for Chagdud Khadro to enter retreat in June. Reports are that her health is good and practice strong.
In July, Lama Drimed and other western Chagdud Gonpa Lamas arrived for a month-long training with Rinpoche and were immediately engaged in assembling the multiplicity of substances necessary to consecrate statues. Over 300 statues, including the nine-foot Akshobhya were meticulously prepared to receive central channels, sacred relic pills, saffron-painted rolls of mantra, deity chakras, and articles of worldly wealth as well. Consecration of the statues was completed during the Essence of Siddhi drubchen, when the blindfolds covering the statues’ eyes were removed, signifying the infusion of the deities’ wisdom. Sangha artists continued work on lama dancing masks, finishing twelve wrathful masks and some of the eight emanations of Padmasambhava.
Following the drubchen, Rinpoche was in good health and energetic, often speeding his way up the stairs to visit Khadro in retreat, or out the door and down the elevator to check on work on the stupas, before his attendants could catch up with him. The gathering of his lamas and their time together seemed to have brought a new glow to their teacher.
Muscovites Slava Romanov and his wife Ira graced Khadro Ling for several months. Slava, “The Russian Translator” (as he was known), translated two-thirds of the spiritual biography of Sherab Gyaltsen, the first Chagdud Tulku, before departing for graduate studies at the University of Virginia.
After the Western lamas departed at the beginning of August, the Khadro Ling sangha moved into high gear for the next great phase of accomplishment—preparing the eight stupas on the hillside. Lama Damtsig arrived from Nepal to oversee the construction, including the ritual aspects. Lama Damtsig has studied with Chatral Rinpoche since the age of six, under whose tutelage he became a master of arts, drawing, and the construction of the stupas of the Buddha according to the tradition of the omniscient Jigme Lingpa. After completing a three-year retreat,he dedicated his life to building stupas and has built nearly 100,now constructing many around the base of the famous Swayam-bunath Stupa in Nepal.
In order to be able to fill all the stupas with mantra and tsatsas in one month, new techniques had to be developed. Suzanne Meister converted scaffolding that Palden—our resident artist from Sikkim—uses in painting the temple, into a device that can feed mantra through the saffron and drying processes, and finally,be rolled by people at three different stations. Further methods were introduced to saffron the thousand plus kilos of mantra at the printer as well. After completion, the printer asked if he could use the remaining saffron water to pour over his presses, to infuse them with its blessings!
As Rinpoche departed for the weekend of 100,000 Red Tara Tsok offerings in Floranopolis, Lama Damtsig began filling the ascension chambers of the stupas with layers of tsa tsas, packed in dry sand. The twelve thousand clay tsa tsas that had been made and filled with Shakyamuni’s mantra and adorned with five-col-ored umbrellas were not sufficient. A quicker method was devised to turn out another eight thousand in a week, using rubber molds and plaster. Lama Damtsig commented that even though the use of computers and machinery creates a difference in construction methods from Nepal to Brazil, the merit generated is the same.
Chagdud Rinpoche had consecrated seven of the stupas by September 5 when Tulku Sang-ngag arrived to consecrate the eighth; this last one commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment according to the ritual of the Two Stainless Ones. For this,two hundred tsa tsas were specially made by Chagdud Rinpoche and filled with Traktor and Odzer Drimed mantras. The Entire Khadro Ling sangha participated in the final three days of the six days of consecration ceremonies.On the morning of the second day, Rinpoche interrupted the ceremony to announce news of the terrorist attacks in the United States. The contrast between the inconceivable blessings of constructing and consecrating the stupas, and the graphic suffering that reverberated throughout the world following the terrorist attacks, gave us even greater focus. The news strengthened our resolve to dedicate the profound stores of merit and wisdom embodied in the stupas to relieve the suffering of beings.
At almost the same time, Khadro Ling hosted a three-dayconference—organized by Yvonne Viera—on death and dying for health professionals in the hospice field. Most of the several hundred people in attendance received the Amitabha empowerment and took bodhisattva vows.
Construction has begun on a hospice facility with several units and a common area for conferences, with completion expected in January 2002. Under construction as well are two morehouses for sangha members and a third prayer-wheel house.
Palden, our skilled visiting artist, has completed paintings depicting Guru Rinpoche and his twenty-five disciples, and Hayagriva, covering almost half of the southern wall of the temple.His brushes are now revealing Tröma and her mandala, and the protector Rahula.
The number of visitors to Khadro Ling continues to grow,sometimes five hundred a week. Perhaps a measure of their faith was demonstrated in the five hundred butter lamps they offered this month. May the merit and wisdom of all beings increase!
By Susanne Fairclough
The construction of the magical city of Khadro Ling continues to rise up before our very eyes as Chagdud Rinpoche’s vision dissolves our limited conception of what is possible.
The cupola of the temple was beautifully renovated for Chagdud Khadro to enter retreat in June. Reports are that her health is good and practice strong.
In July, Lama Drimed and other western Chagdud Gonpa Lamas arrived for a month-long training with Rinpoche and were immediately engaged in assembling the multiplicity of substances necessary to consecrate statues. Over 300 statues, including the nine-foot Akshobhya were meticulously prepared to receive central channels, sacred relic pills, saffron-painted rolls of mantra, deity chakras, and articles of worldly wealth as well. Consecration of the statues was completed during the Essence of Siddhi drubchen, when the blindfolds covering the statues’ eyes were removed, signifying the infusion of the deities’ wisdom. Sangha artists continued work on lama dancing masks, finishing twelve wrathful masks and some of the eight emanations of Padmasambhava.
Following the drubchen, Rinpoche was in good health and energetic, often speeding his way up the stairs to visit Khadro in retreat, or out the door and down the elevator to check on work on the stupas, before his attendants could catch up with him. The gathering of his lamas and their time together seemed to have brought a new glow to their teacher.
Muscovites Slava Romanov and his wife Ira graced Khadro Ling for several months. Slava, “The Russian Translator” (as he was known), translated two-thirds of the spiritual biography of Sherab Gyaltsen, the first Chagdud Tulku, before departing for graduate studies at the University of Virginia.
After the Western lamas departed at the beginning of August, the Khadro Ling sangha moved into high gear for the next great phase of accomplishment—preparing the eight stupas on the hillside. Lama Damtsig arrived from Nepal to oversee the construction, including the ritual aspects. Lama Damtsig has studied with Chatral Rinpoche since the age of six, under whose tutelage he became a master of arts, drawing, and the construction of the stupas of the Buddha according to the tradition of the omniscient Jigme Lingpa. After completing a three-year retreat,he dedicated his life to building stupas and has built nearly 100,now constructing many around the base of the famous Swayam-bunath Stupa in Nepal.
In order to be able to fill all the stupas with mantra and tsatsas in one month, new techniques had to be developed. Suzanne Meister converted scaffolding that Palden—our resident artist from Sikkim—uses in painting the temple, into a device that can feed mantra through the saffron and drying processes, and finally,be rolled by people at three different stations. Further methods were introduced to saffron the thousand plus kilos of mantra at the printer as well. After completion, the printer asked if he could use the remaining saffron water to pour over his presses, to infuse them with its blessings!
As Rinpoche departed for the weekend of 100,000 Red Tara Tsok offerings in Floranopolis, Lama Damtsig began filling the ascension chambers of the stupas with layers of tsa tsas, packed in dry sand. The twelve thousand clay tsa tsas that had been made and filled with Shakyamuni’s mantra and adorned with five-col-ored umbrellas were not sufficient. A quicker method was devised to turn out another eight thousand in a week, using rubber molds and plaster. Lama Damtsig commented that even though the use of computers and machinery creates a difference in construction methods from Nepal to Brazil, the merit generated is the same.
Chagdud Rinpoche had consecrated seven of the stupas by September 5 when Tulku Sang-ngag arrived to consecrate the eighth; this last one commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment according to the ritual of the Two Stainless Ones. For this,two hundred tsa tsas were specially made by Chagdud Rinpoche and filled with Traktor and Odzer Drimed mantras. The Entire Khadro Ling sangha participated in the final three days of the six days of consecration ceremonies.On the morning of the second day, Rinpoche interrupted the ceremony to announce news of the terrorist attacks in the United States. The contrast between the inconceivable blessings of constructing and consecrating the stupas, and the graphic suffering that reverberated throughout the world following the terrorist attacks, gave us even greater focus. The news strengthened our resolve to dedicate the profound stores of merit and wisdom embodied in the stupas to relieve the suffering of beings.
At almost the same time, Khadro Ling hosted a three-dayconference—organized by Yvonne Viera—on death and dying for health professionals in the hospice field. Most of the several hundred people in attendance received the Amitabha empowerment and took bodhisattva vows.
Construction has begun on a hospice facility with several units and a common area for conferences, with completion expected in January 2002. Under construction as well are two morehouses for sangha members and a third prayer-wheel house.
Palden, our skilled visiting artist, has completed paintings depicting Guru Rinpoche and his twenty-five disciples, and Hayagriva, covering almost half of the southern wall of the temple.His brushes are now revealing Tröma and her mandala, and the protector Rahula.
The number of visitors to Khadro Ling continues to grow,sometimes five hundred a week. Perhaps a measure of their faith was demonstrated in the five hundred butter lamps they offered this month. May the merit and wisdom of all beings increase!
By Susanne Fairclough
