His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, Head of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, will visit St. Petersburg September 14-15, 2010

His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, the Head of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, will visit St. Petersburg, Florida, to give Dharma Teachings and an Empowerment as part of his nationwide Gyalwa Drikungpa 2010 US Tour. Sponsored by the Drikung Kagyu Sanghas of Florida.

By Richard Weissman

For the first time in over 10 years, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, the Head of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, will visit Florida September 14 and 15, 2010, to give Dharma Teachings and an Empowerment as part of his nationwide Gyalwa Drikungpa USA Dharma Tour 2010. This event is sponsored by the Drikung Kagyu Sanghas of Florida.

On Tuesday, September 14, 2010, his Holiness will bestow the Drikung Great Bodhicitta Transmission and Teachings. On Wednesday, September 15, 2010, His Holiness will give the Five-Fold Mahamudra Torma Empowerment and Mahamudra Teachings.

These transmissions, empowerment and teachings will be held at the Chua Phat Phap, Vietnamese Temple, 1770 62nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702. Times are 10:00 AM to 12 Noon and 2:00 to 5:00 PM each day with a break for lunch between 12 Noon and 2:00 PM.

All are welcome to attend. Suggested Donations are $200 for the event and $60 for individual sessions. No one turned away due to lack of funds and Work Study is Available.

For more information, please phone Richard Weissman (727) 452-7714, email drikungkagyuflorida@gmail.com or visit the Gyalwa Drikungpa 2010 Official Florida Tour website at http://www.drikungkagyuflorida.org/

This event is sponsored by the Drikung Kagyu Sanghas of Florida: the Ratnashri Sangha of Tampa Bay, along with the Tibetan Meditation Center (Gainesville), Katsel Dharma Garden (Clearwater), Katsel Meditation Tampa (Tampa), Drikung Dzogchen Community Florida (Tallahassee) & Orlando Buddhist Center (Orlando).

For more information on His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche's Gyalwa Drikungpa USA Dharma Tour 2010, please visit http://www.drikungpa2010.net/

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:

His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, a manifestation of Avalokitesvara (Buddha of Compassion) is the 37th throne-holder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage and the 7th reincarnation of the Chetsang tulkus. Born in 1946, His Holiness was formally recognized and enthroned in 1950. At the age of eleven, His Holiness gave his first public teaching and transmission to thousands on the eve of the Communist invasion of Tibet.

Since coming into exile in the 1960's His Holiness has been working tirelessly to ensure the continuity of the lineage. Today, His Holiness resides at Drikung Kagyu Institute at Dehra Dun, India. The DK Institute is a comprehensive education center which emphasizes both traditional monastic education, as well as contemporary training to meet the needs of these times.

To learn more about His Holiness and the Drikung Kaygu Lineage, visit the Official Drikung Kagyu Lineage website at http://www.drikung.org

DHARMA TEACHINGS:

On Tuesday, September 14, 2010, His Holiness will bestow the Great Drikung Bodhicitta Transmission. Bodhicitta (the "enlightenment mind") is the single indispensable cause of enlightenment without which freedom from suffering and buddhahood is impossible. To practice and realize this mind, it is necessary to rely on an authentic teacher to arouse within us this enlightened attitude through the ritual of conferring the Bodhicitta Vow. While most other traditions of receiving this vow only involves engendering "conventional Bodhicitta" (i.e. the altruistic mind that seeks to liberate all beings from samsara) in the minds of disciples, the Great Drikung Bodhicitta Transmission is unique in that it has a ritual aimed at awakening "ultimate Bodhicitta" within those disciples who are ready for it. This part of the transmission is a rare public occasion of Mahamudra-style "introduction to the nature of mind."

On Wednesday, September 15, 2010, he will bestow the Five-Fold Mahamudra Torma Empowerment. The Drikung Kagyu lineage is the main holder of a system of Mahamudra practice first explicitly taught by Gampopa's main disciple, Phakmo Drupa and later promoted widely by Kyobpa Jikten Sumgon (founder of Drikung Kagyu). This system known as the "Five-fold Mahamudra" presents a complete path to enlightenment in five essential parts: generating the enlightenment mind (bodhicitta), arising as deity, practicing guru-yoga, meditating on Mahamudra and dedicating merit and wisdom. The Five-fold Mahamudra Torma Empowerment empowers students to practice this specific system of Mahamudra practice. In particular, this empowerment is conferred through the use of a torma (a ritual-cake) that represents the highest yoga tantra deity, Cakrasamvara.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

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