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Gesar Drupa Offering

Apr 22, 2008

The Sakyong sends his love and blessings as he closes his five-week retreat in Nepal. The final week of his retreat is concluding this week, 18-25 April, with a Gesar drupa, or long practice. As many of you may remember, last year the Sakyong conducted a retreat at the Maratika cave for overcoming sickness and increasing one's longevity. This year, he is doing a retreat at Pharping, the site where Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, manifested as Vajrakilaya in the Eighth Century. Vajrakilaya is unique; his traits include overcoming obstacles and accomplishing activities.

Likewise, the unique quality of this drupa is that it is a Four Karmas Gesar Sadhana that will become prominent in our community. It is a unique blend of spiritual practice with daily life as pertaining to family and work -- with the added benefit of increasing one's life force energy.

The Gesar drupa is being conducted at Rigon Tashi Choeling, a monastery recently established by His Eminence, Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. This is the only Gesar temple in the Himalayas. The Gesar drupa is a practice that His Eminence has specifically wanted to do with the Sakyong because it combines Mipham the Great's Gesar sadhana and His Eminence's personal terma. The actual Gesar drupa requires a very intense commitment for seven days from early in the morning until late into the evening.

His Eminence plans to give the empowerment next year for the Four Karmas Gesar Sadhana and the Sakyong will give the Dorje Tsegyal, "The Empowerment that Expands One's Life Force Energy". Details will be forthcoming.

Traditionally during such drupas, the sangha makes offerings to the assembled lamas and monks. In recognition of the offerings, the sangha's wishes and aspirations are read out to the assembly. Usually, this starts with a wish for the longevity of their teacher and his or her increased Buddha activity as well as the continued dissemination of the Buddha's teachings. The sangha then expresses their personal wishes for the health and well being of their families, as well as for projects at work or other activities they wish to proceed unfettered. Then they present a kata to the shrine and to the assembled teachers and monks as well as their donation. The sangha may also choose to sponsor tea and food to the assembled monastics.

The Sakyong would like to offer this opportunity to any Shambhalians who are experiencing obstacles or who may have particular intentions they are trying to fulfill. The Sakyong has stated that if one makes such an offering, then, karmically, it is as if you engaged in the drupa practice yourself.

The time to make these offerings is short. If you wish to make such an offering, you must do so by 9pm Atlantic time -- 8pm Eastern, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific -- on this Thursday 24 April (2am Friday 25 April Central European time) through Shambhala's giving website. Offerings may be made either by credit card click here or by check click here with a notation in the Comment Section: "Gesar drupa." (Please note that this "Comment Section" is only to denote special projects as announced through Shambhala News Service, and should not be used to direct offerings to other projects.)

As well, please briefly respond to this email with your name, the names of those for whom you are making the offering, and/or the name of the project. While there is limit to the amount for offerings made on behalf of an individual or project, we do ask that offerings begin at $25, if possible. To view photos of the ongoing Gesar drupa, please click here.

(This announcement was from the Shambhala News Service)