Guru Puja for the Swift Return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche
Led by Kyabje Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche
April 15, 2023 @ 5:30pm IST
Hybrid Event: In-Person & Online
We are so honoured and fortunate that Kyabje Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche accepted the request of the FPMT centers in India to lead this special Guru Puja for the swift return of our spiritual director, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Everyone is welcome to join and there is no registration needed!
Offerings and donations are welcome.
An Update from FPMT International Office
Yesterday we shared the incredibly heart breaking news that on April 13th, Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is still in the meditation stage in his room in Kopan Monastery. A short video of Rinpoche in clear light meditation is available on Youtube if you would like to view our precious guru at this time.
In the room next to the room where Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy body sits in meditation, Kopan monks immediately started and are continuously engaged in twenty-four hour prayers, pujas and self-initiations, and in Kopan’s main gompa prayers are being offered continually. The ongoing prayers with the monks and nuns are being livestreamed and you can connect with that now on Youtube.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised on the prayers and practices to be done in Kopan, and also immediately accepted to compose a swift return prayer for Rinpoche’s students.
Lelung Tulku is at Kopan and offering special prayers and puja, and Khandro Kunga Bhuma will arrive tomorrow.
The Kopan monks twenty-four hour prayers, pujas, and self-initiations have thus far included Yamantaka self-initiation, The Eight Prayers (many times), Lama Chopa (several times), recitations of Manjushri’s root text and Drang Nge Lekshe Nyingpo, and many Tara prayers.
This morning, April 14, the Kopan nuns took over and began an all day Vajrayogini self-initiation, which is done extensively. In the evening the monks will perform Guhyasamaja self-initiation, which will continue all night.
On April 15, a number of Gyudme tantric monks arrive and will be joined by Kopan monks to do extensive Five-deity Heruka Body Mandala self-initiation. This will continue every day, twenty-four hours a day, for many days.
Following advice from His Eminence Ling Rinpoche, and confirmed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s body will not be cremated, but will be embalmed. Khandro Kunga Bhuma will help to take care of this process.
We will announce information regarding the main prayer ceremony for Rinpoche once the time comes and we have specific details to share.
Khandro-la very clearly said that Rinpoche took on the obstacles for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and maybe other lamas also, but definitely Rinpoche took on obstacles of His Holiness.
Rinpoche continues in clear light meditation, which gives us a very special opportunity to connect with Rinpoche’s holy mind.
Please keep trying to fulfil Rinpoche’s holy wishes, especially to practice impermanence and bodhicitta in the context of the lamrim. Fulfilling the gurus’ holy wishes is a very important part of inviting the guru to return.
For more information visit the FPMT’s Updates Regarding Rinpoche.
Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche was born in the Spiti valley, in India, in 1984. When he was about three years old he was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the incarnation of Kyabje Tsenshab Serkong Tugse Rinpoche (1914-1983), who was one of the seven master debate partners to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachers.
Rinpoche has studied Buddhism in Ganden Jangtse monastery in South India. After deciding to continue his work for the Dharma as a lay person, and completed his education at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala.
On the advice of the Dalai Lama Rinpoche has completed three years of intensive study English in Canada and is continuing his higher Buddhist training.
Rinpoche feels privileged to continue the responsibilities of Tsenzhab Serkong Tugse Rinpoche to teach and benefit people as much as he can.
Rinpoche is teaching in India, combining his experience of the study and practice of Buddhism with his acquaintance with the Western world. His fascinating teachings are full of wisdom, grace and humor.