As scheduled, the transmission of the Precious Kagyu Ngagdzo Chenmo, compiled by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and given by Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, began at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday the 3rd of March.
Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche has already given a number of empowerments, reading transmissions and instructions to a large number of participants. The main shrine hall is packed with predominantly ordained participants not only from our own Benchen monastery, but also with visitors from Thrangu, Pullahari, Palnge, Lekshe Ling and Samten Ling monasteries, as well as Thrangu and Tekchok Ling nunneries. They number about a thousand. Another five hundred or so fill the older small shrine hall and the upstairs rooms, with both local and international students present. Even though full translation is difficult, because of the sheer speed and depth of Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche's teachings, Chinese and English translators struggle to provide their audiences with summaries of the goings on. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche has chosen Jamgon Kongtrul's famous instruction manual on the Mahamudra preliminary practices "The Torch of Certainty" as a background teaching and delivers daily talks on the subject before launching into yet another empowerment. The whole atmosphere is very relaxed and peaceful and all participants are looking forward to more.
With best wishes to all,
greetings from the Benchen Office