Upcoming Events
Shamatha Meditation Intensive: Sunday February 28, 2010 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
The aim of Shamatha or Tranquility Meditation, the basis of all Buddhist meditative practices, is to calm the 'monkey mind', our everyday mind of constant mental activity, emotionality and conceptualization, enabling us to gain insight into our real nature. You are welcome to join us for a day of Shamatha practice, which will give depth and perspective to one's regular daily meditation sessions. The day is intended to provide an introduction to more intensive practice and longer periods of meditation and retreat. While a daily meditation practice is very beneficial, making time in one's life for longer periods of practice enables one to settle and relax into the practice without the interference of deadlines or other activities. We will begin at 9 am with a review of the technique and instructions, and continue throughout the day with 45 minute periods of sitting followed by 15 minutes of walking meditation. Meditation practice will continue until 5 pm with two refreshment breaks and a one hour lunch break. Refreshments will be served during the breaks, but please bring your own lunch.
The intensive is provided free of charge, but donations to support the temple are always appreciated. The Palyul Foundation of Canada issues tax deductible receipts for donations over $25. Since seating is limited, could you please RSVP to info@palyulcanada.org.
Highlights of Past Events
Losar - Tibetan Lunar New Year, February 14, 2010
We celebrated the Tibetan Lunar New Year of the Metal Tiger at Orgyan Dzong Temple on  Sunday, February 14th at 11:00 am. According to the Buddhist calendar, this marks the beginning of 15 very auspicious days that commemorate the Buddha displaying a different miracle on each of these days, and is therefore an excellent time to purify negative and accumulate positive karma. Tibetan Buddhists traditionally visit temples on this day to receive blessings and make offerings to the Three Jewels (the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha).
On this day we performed a ritual fire offering (Sang) to purify negativity, repay karmic debts and engender good karma, a special Guru Yoga of Padmasambhava written by Peling Rinpoche and an offering feast (Tsok). Ven. Lama Jigme distributed Mendrup (ritually prepared and blessed herbal medicine) and protection cords.
Annual Autumn Retreat
Orgyan Osal Cho Dzong held its annual fall retreat this year from October 24 to November 1. The retreat concluded with a Fire Puja for Hungry Ghosts on Saturday evening, and Guru Yoga, Riwo Sang Cho, Ser Khyem, Three Part Torma Offering and offerings to the local protectors, Shri Nirmata and Nagaraja Kala Amrita atop Ati Peak on Mt. Moriah to the north of the temple on Sunday morning.
His Holiness Karma Kuchen's Visit
The Palyul Foundation of Canada was honoured by the visit of His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, 12th Throne Holder of the Palyul Lineage to Orgyan Osal Cho Dzong Buddhist Temple and Retreat from August 18 to 20. 
On August 19, His Holiness gave the wang (empowerment) of Ratna Lingpa's Vajrakila, the Lung (textual transmission) for the sadhana and blessed the temple.
His Holiness also performed on August 20 a ground breaking ceremony for a 30 foot tower shrine for world peace which will enshrine a 13 foot statue of Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava. The event was covered in the local papers:
Belleville Intellegencer
EMC Community Paper
This statue is one o f several that Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche, one of the senior Khenpos at Namdroling Monastery in India, is having cast and placed in various countries around the globe. Khenchen Namdrol is having these statues created and ritually installed with the intention of their being a powerful source of blessings, healing and peace for the whole world, and to avert and pacify virulent new diseases, famine, war and conflict which will continue to intensify while individual well-being and contentment diminish. These difficult conditions, according to the teachings of the Buddha, are symptomatic of the era we are living in, an 'age of degeneration'. Guru Rinpoche - Padmasambhava, the second Buddha, specifically promised to answer the prayers and shower his blessings upon those who call upon him during these difficult times. This shrine is being constructed in memory of the late Ven. Lama Jampa Rabjampa - Peling Tulku Rinpoche. |
