BENCHEN CLEAR LIGHT MEDITATION CENTER

Ven. Tenga Rinpoche arrived in Kathmandu a few weeks earlier than H.E. Nyenpa Rinpoche. They spent a few weeks together, and during this time both Rinpoches visited the Benchen Clear Light Meditation Center often to give final instructions to the retreatants. Since Nyenpa Rinpoche had to leave for India and would not be present for the completion of the 3-year retreat, the retreatants requested Rinpoche to accept their thanksgiving offering before he left. After the ceremony, Rinpoche gave a short discourse, advising them to continue their

Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche

practice even after their retreat is finished and to follow the pith instructions from moment to moment, not letting themselves get distracted by phenomena. The ceremony ended with blessings.

Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche with retreatants


Sangye Nyenpa giving advice to the retreatants


The retreatants with thanksgiving offerings


Mandala offering



In the main shrine hall at the retreat center


Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and retreatants in the courtyard


According to the Tibetan lunar calendar, the 22nd of the 9th month is the day known as Lhabab Duechen (the day the Buddha descendedfrom heaven). On that day this year the second 3-year retreat wascompleted. The day’s ceremonies began at 6 a.m. with a sang(incense) puja. Meanwhile, the relatives, friends and well-wishers started arriving at the center, and about 500 people were waiting outside the main entrance with great anticipation when, at exactly 10a.m., the sound of the opening puja could be heard. To see Tenga Rinpoche and all the retreatants doing puja was so inspiring some of the parents were moved to tears.

Rinpoche then led a procession of the retreatants around the retreatcenter in accordance with ancient Tibetan tradition. It is always very cold in Tibet around this month and that was the time for retreatants to display their proficiency in tumo practice. Wearing only thin whiteshawls, they would make a procession from their meditation place high in the mountains down to the monastery and back again. Rinpoche and all the lamas then went into the shrine hall and started with prayers. Meanwhile, all the participants came inside the shrine room.


Opening the retreat


Tenga Rinpoche leading the procession


Procession of the retreatants



The 21 Lamas making mandala offerings


Well-wishers in the main shrine hall

Tenga Rinpoche and the lamas with their certificates



The Clear Light Meditation Center

In conclusion, the retreatants thanked Rinpoche from the bottom of their hearts by offering mandala, body, speech and mind offerings, etc. The participants also made offerings to Rinpoche and to each of the retreatants and the shrine hall was filled with khataks. Rinpoche gave a short teaching, explaining what a joyful day it was for all of us to have many lamas coming out of retreat. Rinpoche explained the benefits for the people and the importance of the role of the retreatants in the preservation of the Buddha dharma. At the same time, he pointed out that it is very important to continue with their practice in order to enhance their practice for the benefit of themselves as well as for all sentient being. He then distributed the symbolic certificates to the retreatants together with a khatak. Benchen Monastery then offered tea and lunch to all the participants and the whole ceremony ended auspiciously.

A few days later, all the retreatants again gathered together in the new Maitreya shrine hall for another ceremony during which they were offered gifts and khataks by all the Benchen monks and surrounding neighbors.


The 2nd term retreatants in the Maitreya Shrine Hall

The monks who will be joining the third group are looking forward to their three-year retreat and will begin on the full moon of the 1st month of the Tibetan calendar.


The 3rd term retreatants receiving initiation from Tenga Rinpoche



New retreatants in the garden