Monday, 13 April 2009 

Lessons in magical thinking and love marked the fifth and sixth day of the Annual Drukpa Council (ADC). On the fifth day of ADC, the participants received a thorough teaching on the founding of the Drukpa Linage. A representative of His Holiness the 70th Je Khenpo from the Kingdom of Bhutan, Yangben Lobpon, delivered a teaching on the Drukpa Lineage and its holders in Bhutan, followed by Kyabje Satrul Rinpoche’s teaching on "The Drukpa Lineage and its holders in Eastern Tibet", and further followed by Kyabje Sey Rinpoche’s teaching on "The Drukpa Lineage and its holders in Ladakh, Zanskar, Lahaul, Kinnaur and other parts of the Himalayas". On the sixth day, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo took center stage and taught us the practice of Lojong.

Yangben Lobpon outlined the lineage holders in Bhutan and educated us on the history of Buddhism in Bhutan and the role of previous Gyalwang Drukpas in spreading Buddhism in the country. Kyabje Satrul Rinpoche, who undertook to compile the complete teachings of the Drukpa Lineage (which such great task is near complete), delivered an engaging teaching on the nuns, monks and yogis in Eastern Kham. He shared with us the incredible physical feats of the nuns and their ability to endure extreme practices including jumping from great heights to land in meditation position and to meditate and sleep in boxes. Subsequently, Kyabje Sey Rinpoche educated us on not only the Drukpa Lineage holders in regions such as Ladakh, Lahaul and Kinnaur, but he taught us how to approach magical thinking and how to process all the mystical stories of the Drukpa Lineage. His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa concluded the day by teaching the practice of Sengey Tsewa followed by an initiation for the practice. Sengey Tsewa is the sacred and magical practice of offering oneself to others.

On the sixth day, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, taught “Awakening Your Mind: Lojong” and explained to us that the in Buddhism, the mind and heart are the same thing. Her teaching reminded all participants the reason that they engage in elaborate rituals and practices … love and compassion. To provide us an illustration of love, she shared a personal childhood story; she was severely burned. Out of her mother’s powerful love, she prayed that her daughter would survive and also prayed to take on the suffering of her daughter so that her daughter would not have to endure such pain. Due to her mother’s intense love, despite severe burns, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s pain and scars were divested.

Participants celebrated its rich Drukpa culture with a Cultural Dance which showcased the various tradition dances which Drukpa teachings reside.

Comments (0)

Write comment

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment