OCTOBER 1991 NEW YORK CITY

The Tibet Center has the great honor of sponsoring a rare and historic program that will take place during October 1991 as part of the celebration of the Year of Tibet.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will confer a Kalachakra Initiation at the Forum in Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 21-23. His Holiness will give preparatory teachings on the Path of Compassion from October 16-19. The Namgyal monks will perform ceremonial dances as part of the preparation for the initiation on October 20.

Although the Kalachakra Tantra is meant for practitioners of the highest faculty, it also has a special connection with all the people of this planet. For that reason, the initiation is traditionally given openly, giving ordinary people the opportunity to establish a karmic link with Kalachakra. His Holiness has explained that the initiation is a powerful force for the realization of world peace.

Of those who wish to receive the initiation for practice, the best disciples have the actual experience of bodhicitta and emptiness; the medium-level disciples have at least a slight experience of bodhicitta in meditation and a correct understanding of reality from study and reasoning; and the lowest-level disciples should have a least an intense appreciation for and interest in developing bodhicitta and understanding the true nature of reality.

Those who wish to receive the initiation as a blessing, to establish a karmic realtionship with Kalachakra, may attend. The initiation can be conferred on this basis to those who sincerely appreciate the opportunity.

Path of Compassion

Teachings are given prior to tantric initiations such as the Kalachakra to develop the prerequisite qualities of bodhicitta or the wish to become enlightened for the sake of others, and the understanding of the true nature of reality.

His Holiness's teachings will be preceded by five days of teachings on Nature of Mind given by preeminent lamas from each of the five Tibetan religious traditions. That schedule is as follows:

October 11: Nature Of Mind, Venerable Lopon Tenzin Namdhak, Bon tradition

October 12: Dzog Chen, Venerable Trulshik Rinpoche, Nyingma tradition

October 13: Mahamudra, Venerable Tenga Rinpoche, Kagyu tradition

October 14: Inseparability of Samsara and Nirvana, Kyabje Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, Sakya tradition

October 15: Union of Bliss and Emptiness, Venerable Tara Rinpoche, Gelug tradition

In each tradition the Nature of Mind represents the highest and most sublime teachings. The Lamas will teach from their own unique perspective and lineage. This series offers a rare opportunity to study Tibet's most advanced teachings presented by some of its most renowned lamas.

Kyabje Sakya Trizin Rinpoche and the Venerable Lopon Tenzin Namdhak will teach in English. All the other lamas will have translators. We are happy to announce that Sogyal Rinpoche will translate for the Venerable Trulshik Rinpoche.

All the teachings will be given at the Forum in Madison Square Garden and will be held from approximately 1-6 PM.

Bon TraditionVenerable Lopon Tenzin Namdhak

The Venerable Lopon Tenzin Namdhak is the principal master of the Bon monastery at Dolanji, India. He was born in Kham, Tibet, in 1926 and entered the monastery in 1933. Lopon Tenzin Namdhak is a Dzog Chen master who transmits the most ancient Dzog Chen teachings of Shang- Shung. He has been actively responsible for the Bonpo refugees of Tibet, establishing for them a prospering settlement in India at Dolanji, where, thanks to his efforts, a new site was found for Tibet's ancient Manri Monastery.

Nyingma TraditionVenerable Trulshik Rinpoche

The Venerable Trulshik Rinpoche is one of the most learned and accomplished tulkus of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is a principal student of H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and is the abbot of Thubten Choling Monastery in the mountains of eastern Nepal. Born in 1930 in eastern Tibet, Rinpoche was the subject of a 1986 British documentary film entitled Lord of the Dance, Destroyer of Illusion.

Kagyu TraditionVenerable Tenga Rinpoche

Born in 1932 in eastern Tibet, the Venerable Tenga Rinpoche is a tulku of the Karma Kagyu school. Tenga Rinpoche is from Benchen Monastery in Tibet and received monastic vows from the previous Situ Rinpoche. He was fully trained in Buddhist philosophy and practice, with particular emphasis on the monastic arts, religious music and dance, and the construction of mandalas. Rinpoche left Tibet in 1959, and was the Dorje Lopon (Master of Rites) at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim for many years. In 1976 Rinpoche moved to Kathmandu. Rinpoche teaches extensively in Asia and the West.

Sakya Tradition Kyabje Sakya Trizin Rinpoche

Kyabje Sakya Trizin Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1945 and became the head of the Sakyapa order at the age of seven. From his earliest years, Kyabje Rinpoche received intensive training in all aspects of Buddhist knowledge, including logic, epistemology, philosophy and meditative technique. Among his main gurus was the renowned nonsectarian master Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. Kyabje Rinpoche has received a vast array of teachings from Sakyapa and Nyingmapa lamas, and he is a master of Dzog Chen teachings.

He resides with his wife and two sons in Rajpur, India where he provides spiritual and secular guidance to more than 5,000 Tibetan refugees from the district of Sakya.

Gelug Tradition

We are deeply saddened to learn that the Venerable Tara Tulku Rinpoche passed away in Dharamsala, India on June 27, 1991 at 9:00 pm. A brief biography of Tara Rinpoche follows.

The Venerable Tara Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1925. He was recognized as a tulku and began his studies at Drepung Monastery near Lhasa at the age of six. After completing his geshe lharampa degree in 1955, he continued his studies and training at Gyuto Tantric College.

Rinpoche helped reestablish the Gyuto Tantric Monastery in India where he served as abbot for three terms. Subsequently, His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed him abbot of Mahayana Monastery in Bodh Gaya. On December 4, 1990, His Holiness appointed Tara Rinpoche Sharpa Choje, or the Second Minister of the Gelugpa tradition.

The passing of Tara Tulku Rinpoche represents a great loss for the Tibetan Buddhist community, both in Asia and the West. He profoundly touched the lives of many and will be sorely missed.

October 15: Union of Bliss and Emptiness, teacher to be announced, Gelug tradition

Oct 16-19: Path of Compassion Teachings 1:305:00 PM

On four afternoons preceding the initiation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teachings based on Shantideva's Bod- hicharyavatara, The Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (available from Snow Lion). This text is studied by all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

October 15: Union of Bliss and Emptiness, teacher to be announced, Gelug tradition

Oct 16-19: Path of Compassion Teachings 1:305:00 PM

On four afternoons preceding the initiation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teachings based on Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara, The Guide to the Bodhisattva s Way of Life (available from Snow Lion). This text is studied by all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

October 20: Viewing the Ritual Dancing 2:004:00 PM

Oct 21-23: Kalachakra Initiation 1:305:00 PM

October 24: Viewing the Sand Mandala/Long Life Ceremony 9:0011:00 AM

For additional information on registration and housing contact:

The Tibet Center, 359 Broadway, New York, New York 10013, tel. 212-353-9391