At the request of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, Khenpo Tenzin Norgay has agreed to come to KPC Maryland to give teachings and empowerments on two central deities in Vajrayana Buddhism – Amitabha and Chenrezig. For those new to Vajrayana, the empowerment ceremony is a ritual to introduce us to our own innermost Buddha qualities, also called Buddha Nature, by planting the seeds of awakening in the student’s mind. These seeds will ripen as the student deepens in practice.

Khenpo Tenzin Norgay was born in Bhutan, and later joined the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute at Namdroling Monastery in Mysore, India, where he studied under many great masters, and completed the Shedra (University) program. After formally being enthroned as a Khenpo by H.H. Penor Rinpoche, His Holiness sent him to teach at the Buddhist College at Palyul Monastery in Tibet. Because of his knowledge, experience and fluent command of English, H.H. Penor Rinpoche then asked him to teach students in the United States. He currently heads the Nyingma Palyul Dharma Center (NPDC) in New York, and teaches annually at the Palyul Retreat in upstate NY as well as other Palyul Centers here and abroad. Khenpo Norgay has been a frequent teacher at KPC.

Amitabha is known as the Buddha of limitless light. He made many prayers to liberate all sentient beings on his long path to enlightenment. Once he reached that state, his Pure Land of Sukhavati, or Dewachen, is one of the easiest to enter. You have only to call out to Amitabha with the fervent wish to be of benefit, and you will be born there swiftly. On a deeper level, Amitabha represents our pure nature and symbolizes the transmutation of desire, the predominant emotion of the human realm. Amitabha is the limitless, luminous nature of our mind. His mantra is, OM AMI DEWA HRI.

Chenrezig, or Avalokiteshvara, is said to be the essence of the speech of all the Buddhas and is the incarnation of their compassion. Chenrezig’s mantra, OM MANI PADME HUNG, is one of the most common, especially in Tibet, where Chenrezig is considered their patron deity. Chenrezig takes many forms and names around the world, both male and female. The most common is the one pictured here. He is the expression of compassion in action.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, November 11th

7pm Teaching on Amitabha and Chenrezig

Sunday, November 12th

10am Empowerment ceremony for Amitabha and Chenrezig

REGISTRATION

$30   Teaching

$30   Empowerments

$200 Event Sponsor

We hope you can join us for this auspicious weekend.

The Sunday empowerments are in-person only. Please bring a mask. See you there.