Benchen Monastery Community

Some Pictures and more Details

From Tempa Lama, March 27, 2017

On 21st March at the Tergar Monastery in Bodh Gaya, India, at 9:30am His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa introduced Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche's reincarnation to the world with an introduction ceremony. It was not more than that. Please do not misunderstand this fact. It was not an enthronement nor a hair cutting ceremony. It was simply an introduction of Rinpoche's yangsi (reincarnation). Please don't confuse the differences. There are lots of meanings in the various ceremonies of our tradition.
His Holiness has stated that the hair-cutting ceremony and the enthronement shall only take place after Yangsi Rinpoche is seven years old. The dates of the enthronement and hair-cutting ceremonies will be decided only later by His Holiness and Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche. It is not certain when the ceremonies will take place. Until then he is going to spend time with his parents playing with the children in the village openly in a clean and natural environment. In that area there are no motorized vehicles at all besides a helicopter flying by from time to time. The air and the water are very clean. From a materialistic perspective the area is very poor, lacking luxury items like electronics and so forth. The people there, however, are very content living peacefully and harmoniously.

This is a link to a Mahakala Puja with Yangsi Rinpoche at the Mahakala Cave on Youtube

Second Letter of Prediction

From Tempa Lama, March 19, 2017

During an audience with His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa on the 2nd March 2017 he told me that Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche Yangsi's exploration team should come to the Tergar Monastery, Bodgaya, during the nun's winter seminar at the time of the three days of Tseringma puja. During the end of the puja on the third day His Holiness sent a Rumtek Khenpo to ask me to step forward to the throne.

Previously His Holiness had presented the first prediction letter to Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche on the 24th February 2016, the second item of prediction, the first drawing, was given to the exploration team and the second drawing was presented to me last year. Now at this occasion His Holiness gave me the second letter of prediction with a katag.

His Holiness requested that the exploration team should come after the puja to further discuss the details. Then after giving us detailed explanations about the second letter His Holiness told us to go back to Nepal to search for the reincarnation for a third time. Following the prediction letter under the guidance of Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche we are now on the search.

In the meantime, as we all know, His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa announced in a Webcast that he will soon introduce Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche's reincarnation.

Pilgrimage and Mahakala Puja

From Tempa Lama, February 4, 2017

We had a wonderful Gutor Mahakala puja together with Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche in the Shakyamuni Shrine Hall, from 19.–27. January.

Then Rinpoche went on a pilgrimage together with more than fifty Benchen monks to the Maratika Cave, where Guru Rinpoche attained the long-life siddhi, from the 28.–31. January. The cave is about an eight-hour drive to the east of Kathmandu.
Now Rinpoche is staying here for some time in the monastery in Swoyambhu and in Parphing.
I hope you all enjoy the photos with scenes from the pilgrimage.
All our Benchen monks from the main monastery and the shedra have left to Bodhgaya to participate in the Kagyü Mönlam.
There were debates between the monks and nuns of the various Kagyü monasteries. This year our Benchen shedra monks did very well and will receive a very good result which will be announced at the end of the Mönlam when they will obtain medals and certificates.
After the Mönlam there will be a big Mahakala puja from 21.–25. February. On the 25th, the main day, twenty-five monks from our monastery lead by our Dorje Lobpön will perform two types of lama-dances, Zhanag Ngacham, which is very special and Zhingkyong cham. His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa specifically appointed the Benchen monastery monks to perform those two lama-dances. We all are very joyous.
Perhaps you can see these dances on a live-stream.

Vajra Guru Recitation finished

from Tempa Lama, January 5, 2017

Between the 13th and 28th December the eight-hundred-million Vajra Guru mantra recitation that was advised by HH Karmapa XVII for the benefit of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche's rebirth was held at the Benchen monastery Swoyambhu, Nepal.
Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche has lead the mantra chants from beginning to end. Rinpoche has given teachings every day, Tibetan in the morning and English during the afternoon sessions. The people were continuously reciting and counting the Guru Rinpoche mantra. At the end on the last day more than three times the required number has been accumulated. That went very great.
Throughout the Benchen community provided lunch, tea and bread to everybody every day. There were about 1300–1500 participant each day consisting of monks, nuns and lay people. During the initiations more than 20,000 participants gathered to receive blessings. Please enjoy pictures taken at the time.

Teachings of H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche at Vajra Guru Recitation

Update from Benchen Monastery, January 24, 2017

The Monastery sent links to YouTube videos with the teachings of Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche. At first there will be Tibetan subtiteled versions available, English version will be publised a little bit later.

On this website you will be informed as soon as they are available. All teachings that Rinpoche will give on the occasion of the Vajra Guru Recitation will be uploaded to YouTube in Tibetan and English.

So, please check out frequently

Links to Tibetan versions Chod Puja Links to English version

Session 1 Session 2 Chod Luejin Session 1 Session 2 Session 3

Session 3 Session 4 Session 4 Session 5 Session 6

Session 5 Session 6 Session 7 Session 8

Session 7 Session 8

Session 9 Session 10

Session 11 Session 12

Session 13 Session 14

Vajra Guru recitation has started at Benchen Monastery

Some impressions from Vajra Guru recitation, December 14, 2016

Program Vajra Guru Mantra’ recitation

From Benchen Phuntsok Dargyeling Monstery, December 2, 2016

The monastery published the program of the Vajra Guru recitation in December. Please click to enlarge.

And some more impressions from current the Kilaya Drubchen in Pharping.

Vajrakilaya Drubchen in Pharping

from Konny Röhrig, December 1, 2016

This year's Vajrakilaya Drubchen of Benchen Phuntskok Dargyeling monastery takes place in Pharping, some miles outside of Kathmandu. There are less lama dancers then usually because the area around the Shedra, the Retreat-Center and the Stupa is smaller than the monastery's area in Swayambhu.

Soon after the end of the Vajrakilaya Drubchen the two weeks Guru Rinpoche recitation based on the Sadhana of Kunchok Chidu will start. It will take place in the monastery in Swayambhu, Kathmandu. The Benchen lamas are busy with preparations for it already now.

15th Karmapa's Guru Yoga empowerment in Parphing on 24th November 2016

From Tempa Lama, November 22, 2916

On the 24th November at 10:00 Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche will give the 15th Karmapa's Guru Yoga empowerment and transmission in Parphing. It is very special and profound occasion. It would be good if anybody who is able to would join.

There is news regarding the Vajra Guru recitation from the 13th to 28th December. We are very fortunate that Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche will likely give teachings in English during the afternoon sessions as well.

Drubwang Sangyes Nyenpa Rinpoche's 53rd birthday

From Tempa Lama, November 20, 2016

Last saturday was Drubwang Sangyes Nyienpa Rinpoche's 53rd birthday. We were having a nice celebration here in Benchen Parphing as well as receiving teachings.
Rinpoche advised that we should not mindlessly eat cake and have a good time. Having a proper motivation a birthday is a sign of getting older. We are one more year nearer to death. It is useful to think about impermanence, we should offer the cake and drinks, and dedicate the merit. We had a nice and wonderful time.

Follow the link to watch the video film on this occasion