Benchen News Letter
PDF Pages 30-32
is a profound and effective way of eliminating outer, inner and secret
obstacles for the coming year for the members of the monastery
as well as for all sentient beings. It is an intensive puja that
continues day and night for nine days. The Mahakala dances take
place on the 7th and 8th days of the puja, and this year the
dances were even more powerful as Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche
performed the Shinggyong dance on the last day. Shingkyong is
the special dharma protector of Benchen Monastery. On the New
Moon day, the last day of the year, all the participants receive
the accomplishment blessings of the puja, and then an incense
offering puja was held.
The Mahakala torma offerings
Our Rinpoches observing the Mahakala lama dance
Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche performing the Shingkyong dance
puja and losar celebration took place in the Maitreya shrine hall. It
was truly a family gathering, as both of our Rinpoches were present
together with the Benchen community of monks. During the
ceremony, saffron rice, khapses and tea were offered to all the
participants, and then the participants offered khadaks to the thrones
of H.H. Karmapa as well as to our Rinpoches and to the throne of
Chime Tulku.
Even before the year-end pujas, Rinpoche had taken the opportunity
to pay a visit to H.H. Drukchen Kyabgon Rinpoche at the
Amitabha Foundation, to offer him early losar wishes. The Amitabha
Foundation is situation in such a beautiful place, and the two great
teachers seemed to enjoy the time spent in each other’s company.
Rinpoches performing the Losar ceremony in the main shrine hall
Tenga Rinpoche with H.H. Drukchen Kyabgon Rinpoche
