Annual Sangha Celebration
The Saturday event welcomes all members of the Awakened Heart Sangha to celebrate our community, its vibrant activity and far reaching aspiration to align with the Mandala of Awakening so we can all awaken together. Lama Shenpen will address us with teachings on the meaning of Sangha as one of the Three Jewels. Join us in appreciating the dedication of everyone who has completed the Discovering the Heart of Buddhism training in recent years as well as everyone who contributes to the life of the community. Register here
On Sunday members and non-members alike are all very warmly welcome. This year the celebrations will have special meaning as we honour our Sacred Site and the10th Anniversary of the Stupa Consecration on Sunday, with guest appearances from Lama Phuntsok and Khenpo Namgyal.
The Enlightenment Stupa at the Hermitage of the Awakened Heart was built by the Awakened Heart Sangha in 2011. It contains in its very heart a small stupa especially blessed for the purpose by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, my main teacher. Lama Phuntsok from Nepal directed the construction and came to consecrate the stupa formally in October of that year. Rigdzin Shikpo contributed to the project and attended the consecration, augmenting its power with his blessing and good wishes. We also received a message from Her Majesty the Queen giving her best wishes for this significant event for the Buddhist religion.
Lama Phuntsok remarked a number of times how he felt that he was building a stupa here for a properly established Sangha community, and that would increase its power to benefit others. He was particularly pleased to see so many of our Sangha members contributing to its construction and consecration, saying the more people involved in all of that, the more powerful and effective the stupa would be.
The stupa slide show is about the building and consecration of the stupa in 2011. The consecration ceremony was Oct 12th 2011
Choje Lama Phuntsok provided essential guidance and advice for the design and building of the stupa. He stayed at the Hermitage for 2 weeks with 3 assistants from Leksheyling , Kathmandu to assist in the filling and consecration of the stupa in October 2011. Khenpo Namgyal works closely with Choje Lama Phuntsok and also provided support during the building of the stupa, in particular offering us precious relics to be put into the stupa to empower it. Both Choje Lama Phuntsok and Khenpo Namgyal have continued to be supportive and maintain their connection with us as a sangha over the years and we have visited them when in Nepal.
SCHEDULE:
Saturday (For Members of the Awakened Heart Sangha)
Morning Prayers and meditation 7 am - 8 am
Members Meeting Members 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Teachings from Lama Shenpen 11.00am - 12.30 pm
Circles within the Sangha 3 pm - 5 pm (with breaks) Exploring the structure, membership and curriculum
AHS Mentors Authorisation 7pm - 7:30pm
Evening Prayers and Meditation - 7.30 pm - 8.30 pm
Sunday (Everyone Welcome)
Morning Prayers and meditation 7 am - 8 am
Introduction from Lama Shenpen 9.30 am - 10 am
Talk and blessing from Lama Phuntsok and Khenpo Namgyal 10 am - 11 am
Prayers and meditation at Stupa 11:30 am - 12:30 am
A making of the Stupa' Slide Show and Talk 3 pm - 4 pm
Light offering and evening meditation at the stupa - 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm
Choje Lama Phuntsok has confirmed that he is coming which is wonderful. Khenpo Namgyal will be with us too (from Bhutan)
Chöje Lama Phuntsok was born in 1951 to a poor family in a remote Himalayan village in Nepal. He received very little education. From very young he wanted to be a monk, but his parents objected. Then when he was seventeen, his father took him on pilgrimage and he met H.H. 16th Karmapa and became a monk. He was very poor and had to support himself working in the kitchen in order to get an education. At age thirty-seven he was eventually able to do a three year retreat. As it came to an end, he wanted to spend the rest of his life in retreat – either that or to build a school to give others the opportunity he didn’t have when he was young. H.H. Karmapa told him that he was most needed to do the latter, and so Lama Phuntsok has committed his whole life to his work for others. Against all odds he set up a school for both boys and girls right up to secondary school. The aim was to teach both traditional Buddhist values as well as give children a good Western style education to prepare them for life in the world. As the children matured and wanted to become monks he set up a monastery at Leksheyling in Swayambu, Nepal. He continues this work and travels around the world teaching and helping others in whatever way he can. He is engaged in numerous projects and has a close relationship with H.H. Karmapa Thinley Dorje. He is a humble man who demonstrates in every way what it means to be a Bodhisattva.
Book here to register your interest.
Zoom links and other information will be sent to those who've registered nearer the time.
If you have any questions email the Events Team at [email protected]ku.gro.sha@stneve