Today March 19, 2013, as scheduled, Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche took a one day break from the Kagyu Ngagdzo empowerments and we celebrated the first anniversary of the Parinirvana of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche. The day started with the White Tara ritual known as the "Ngodrub Kuntsol" or "Bestowing all Accomplishments" composed by the Sixth Shamar Chokyi Wangchuk, a White Tara ritual that is widely used in our Karma Kagyu tradition.
We were lucky in that these days the statues, made in the likeness of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, had arrived and were filled with his precious bodily relics and consecrated by Drubwang Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche. You read about this already previously in a brief post by Tenpa Yarphel, the senior bursar of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche. The ritual was interrupted for the lunch break and continued at 1:00 p.m. and we were then all surprised and overjoyed when Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, who had a very close relationship with Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, made an appearance and joined us for the remainder of the ritual, which continued until the afternoon. The day was then brought to a close, after dinner, with the recitation of the brief Karmapa Guru Yoga composed by Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, various other prayers and the offering of butter lamps, accompanied by the recitation of Jowoje Palden Atisha's famous "Marme Monlam" or "butter lamp aspiration". The photos were all taken by Sherab Wangchuk, Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche's personal attendant. Keep checking back for more occasionally.
Best wishes,
Benchen Monastery Committee