September 4, 2022 marks the third parinirvana anniversary of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. To commemorate this solemn occasion and to honour Rinpoche’s extraordinary life and enlightened deeds, a special all-day prayer service will be held in Kechara Forest Retreat in accordance with the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Event Details
Programme
Celebrating the Guru
After Rinpoche entered parinirvana on September 4, 2019, we were advised by high lamas to celebrate our lama on his parinirvana day instead of his birthday. In the past, we requested Rinpoche to live long but now, we are requesting Rinpoche to swiftly return and that we have the merits to find his young incarnation.
Similarly, when Rinpoche was physically with us, we devoted ourselves to our lama through deeds. Serving the lama is considered much more important than making offerings and prayers to him. Now that Rinpoche has entered parinirvana, offerings and prayers to our lama are of utmost importance in our practice of guru devotion.
Therefore, we can maintain our spiritual connection or samaya with our lama through daily practices, pujas and especially by celebrating his parinirvana day.
A Day of Auspicious Prayers
The parinirvana anniversary day begins with an extensive 1000-Offering Lama Chopa Tsog (Je Tongchoe). This extremely meritorious puja includes the offering of 1000 candles, 1000 tormas, 1000 incense, 1000 water bowls and 1000 flowers so that disciples can accumulate oceans of merits for our lama to return once more to continue turning the Wheel of Dharma.
This is followed by a Dharma talk on the practice of guru devotion especially after one’s lama has entered into parinirvana, the spiritual significance of constructing the lama’s stupa, and the process of finding the lama’s reincarnation.
The day ends with auspicious prayers of Tsem Rinpoche’s Guru Yoga and Name Mantra recitation to make special requests for Rinpoche’s blessings, and recitations of Manjushri Namasamgiti and Tsem Rinpoche’s Swift Return Prayers to create the necessary causes and merits for the successful search, recognition and enthronement of Rinpoche’s new incarnation.
Pujas will be conducted by visiting Sangha from Shar Gaden, Serpom, Phelgyeling and Segyu monasteries, and led by His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende and other high lamas and esteemed geshes.
We welcome you to join us in honouring Rinpoche’s life and enlightened deeds on this special day, and to go on pilgrimage to the Tsem Rinpoche Relic Temple to make prayers, offerings, prostrations, and circumambulations at Rinpoche’s Relic Stupa — as the holiest pilgrimage place for a sincere practitioner is the lama’s stupa as well as his residence.
How you can participate
Admission to the puja is free and all are welcome to attend. If you are attending, you may wish to offer kuyong (a token monetary offering) to the Sangha who will be conducting the puja.
To ensure we have enough seating for all guests, please RSVP your attendance here.
How you can contribute
We seek your kind sponsorship to cover the costs of this and other pujas held in conjunction with Tsem Rinpoche’s Parinirvana Anniversary and Relic Stupa consecration ceremony.
Most pujas will be performed in Kechara Forest Retreat from mid-August to mid-October 2022. Your donation will help us with the cost of:
Donate online to the Tsem Rinpoche Parinirvana Anniversary Fund at VajraSecrets.com or WhatsApp us at wa.me/60103020999. Any amount is welcome and deeply appreciated.