September 30, 2019

H.E. Ling Rinpoche returned to his residence in Dharamsala (India) at the beginning of September, where Rinpoche granted audiences to visiting groups from Mon Tawang, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

On 11th September, H.E. Ling Rinpoche was very warmly welcomed to Ladakh with a special welcome ceremony at Jokhang Temple in Leh attended by the head representatives of the Ladakhi Buddhist Association, Ladakh Gompa Association, numerous Ladakhi monasteries and many dignitaries. Later that day, Rinpoche was presented with a very warm welcome ceremony at Thiksey Monastery, led by Khenpo Thiksey Rinpoche and monks. The following day, on 12th September, Rinpoche was very warmly received with a welcome ceremony at Likir Monastery by the Abbot, monks, Head of Likir Village and the general public. Rinpoche gave a teaching on Lama Tsongkhapa’s “Three Principal Aspects of the Path”. The next day, Rinpoche visited Bodh Kharbu Phodang in Kargil Ladakh to speak with the monks and public.

On the afternoon of 13th September, H.E. Ling Rinpoche arrived at Tashi Lhakhang in Wakha-Mulbekh and was presented with a special welcome ceremony, followed by Rinpoche presiding over a ribbon cutting ceremony and consecration (rubney) of the newly built Tashi Lhakhang Prayer Hall. The following day, on 14th September, Rinpoche gave teachings on Langri Tangpa’s “Eight Verses of Thought Transformation” and bestowed the White Tara Long Life Initiation. On the afternoon of 15th September, Rinpoche presided over the special Opening Ceremony of the newly rebuilt Tashi Lhakhang and then gave a talk and enjoyed a culture show. The special occasion was attended by numerous government officials and dignitaries. On the morning of this day, Rinpoche visited Jangchup Choeling Nunnery in Wakha to bless the Prayer Hall and give a talk to the nuns and many dignitaries from Ladakh.

On 16th September, His Eminence Ling Rinpoche gave a heartfelt talk to the youth of Wakha–Mulbekh. Later Rinpoche visited and spoke to young students at the Lamdon School, Wakha-Mulbekh. At the day’s conclusion, Rinpoche departed for Tingmosgang and was later very warmly welcomed by its representatives and the public. At Timonstgang, on 17th September, Rinpoche bestowed the White Tara Long Life Initiation. Then Rinpoche visited Teh Village and blessed the main Manjushri statue. Later when visiting Saspol, Rinpoche was very warmly greeted and then blessed the Prayer Hall and gave a short talk. Rinpoche concluded the day with arrival at Nimmu Village where Rinpoche was again very warmly welcomed and consecrated the recently rebuilt Nimmu Prayer Hall. The following day at Nimmu Temple, on 18th September, Rinpoche bestowed the Buddha Amitayus Long Life Initiation and taught on the “Introduction to Buddhism”.

On 19th September, His Eminence Ling Rinpoche bestowed the White Tara Long Life Initiation during a visit to Pethup Monastery. In the afternoon, Rinpoche gave a talk to students at Jamyang School, Leh. The morning of 20th September had Rinpoche giving Dharma advice and a short talk at the Elderly Home at the Tibetan Settlement in Choglamsar. Rinpoche then gave a talk to students, teachers and staff at the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) and later spent time at TCV’s home dedicated to children with disabilities and blessed them.

On 21st September, H.E. Ling Rinpoche returned to Thiksey Monastery to bestow the Green Tara Initiation and give a talk. The next day, on 22nd September, Rinpoche was honored as the Chief Guest of the Ladakh Union Territory Celebration held at Thiksey Monastery and also gave a talk. His Eminence Ling Rinpoche concluded the very successful Ladakh tour on 23rd September, with a talk to students, teachers and staff at Siddhartha School in Stok.

August 31, 2019

August commenced with H.E. Ling Rinpoche’s visit to Tibet House in New York, where Rinpoche spoke about “The Integration of Dharma and Worldly Activities.” Rinpoche was the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony of the ‘First Education Summit of Tibetan Language and Culture Schools,’ and he gave the “Hundred Deity Commentary” at Drepung Loseling Institute. Rinpoche bestowed the White Tara Long Life Initiation in New York City, kindly hosted by the Himalayan Elders Project, and he joined the Tehor Community in New York for their annual picnic. The visit to New York concluded with a public talk organized by the Tibetan Association of New York and New Jersey.

Rinpoche’s next stop was Connecticut, where he bestowed the White Tara Long Life Initiation and gave Dharma talks organized by the Tibetan American Community of Connecticut and Dongag Kunphen Ling Dharma Center. Continuing on to Vermont, Rinpoche visited the Tibetan Association of Vermont before being warmly welcomed to Milarepa Center (FPMT) where he gave two days of teachings on “The Importance of Private Retreat in the Development of Your Dharma Practice,” and “How to Develop Bodhicitta and Emptiness.” In Massachusetts, Rinpoche gave two days of teachings at Amherst College on Lama Tsongkhapa’s “Three Principal Aspects of the Path” and the White Tara Long Life Initiation, kindly organized by Jampel Nyingpo Ling. Rinpoche also gave a talk to the local Tibetan Community in Amherst, organized by the Tibetan Association of Massachusetts.

In Boston, Rinpoche met with Officers from Medford Police Department and gave a talk titled “Cooling the Fire: How to Manage Your Emotions in Stressful Situations,” before giving three days of teachings on Lama Atisha’s “Bodhisattva Jewel Garland” and the Amitayus Long Life Initiation at Kurukulla Center (FPMT). Rinpoche had a special meeting with the younger generation of Tibetans in Boston and spoke with them about “The Preservation of the Unique Tibetan Cultural Identity.”

In Washington D.C., Rinpoche was interviewed for RFA Lengmol Program and VOA Tibet (Kunleng). Rinpoche visited and blessed the Office of Tibet, International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and the Drikung Dharma Center. Rinpoche visited the US State Department in Washington D.C. where he met with the Special Advisor for Religious Minorities. Rinpoche bestowed the White Tara and Amitayus Long Life Initiations at the request of the Capital Area Tibetan Association and he participated in an interfaith dialogue including representatives of the Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Theravada & Mahayana Buddhist traditions. Rinpoche visited the United States Institute of Peace where he spoke on “Nurturing Peace in a World of Disruption,” and participated in a panel discussion. The event was attended by a Representative of the US State Department for Religious Freedom and academic scholars. August concluded with H.E. Ling Rinpoche’s departure from Washington D.C. to India, following a very successful two-month tour of USA and Canada.

July 31, 2019

H.E. Ling Rinpoche’s 2019 USA tour commenced at the end June and continued through the month of July. In July, Rinpoche then visited Wisconsin and gave a week of teachings on Lama Tsongkhapa’s “Foundation of All Good Qualities” and the White Tara Long Life Initiation, at Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon. Rinpoche was the Guest of Honor at the Midwest Tibetans’ three-day celebration of H.H. Dalai Lama’s Birthday, where everyone enjoyed Rinpoche’s presence at the opening ceremony of the sporting events.

Moving on to Michigan, Rinpoche gave two days of teachings on Lama Tsongkhapa’s “Three Principle Aspects of the Path”, followed by a public talk and the Orange Manjushri Initiation at Jewel Heart Center. The visit included a sightseeing tour of the Ford Car Factory in Detroit.

In mid-July H.E. Ling Rinpoche traveled to Toronto in Canada, where he was warmly welcomed by the Presidents of the Tibetan Community, the Tibetan Youth Congress in Toronto and representatives of local Dharma Centers. Rinpoche spoke at the opening session of a two-day workshop for Tibetan youth about “Buddhism, Tibetan Culture and Secular Ethics,” organized by TCCC. Rinpoche gave teachings on the “Eight Verses of Thought Transformation” at Sera Jey Dharma Center and the “Three Principle Aspects of the Path” at Khunpen Ling Dharma Center, in Toronto. The Canada visit concluded with Rinpoche bestowing the White Tara Long Life Initiation and the Medicine Buddha Initiation, organized by TCCC, Ganjong Chodenling & Regional Tibetan Youth Congress.

On 23rd July H.E. Ling Rinpoche arrived in Texas USA, where he was warmly greeted by hosts from Drepung Loseling Institute Texas. Rinpoche was requested to give TV interviews by TV Khou 11 (Great Day Houston) and VIETV Network Houston. Rinpoche gave a talk on “Compassion & Mindfulness as a Tool for Law Enforcement” at the Houston Metropolitan Police Department, and at the Texas Children’s Hospital Rinpoche spoke about “Compassion & Nurturing the Future Generation,” blessing some critical care patients along the way. Rinpoche gave a public talk at Unity of Houston on “How to Contribute to Healing the World” and he gave Buddhist teachings, the Medicine Buddha Initiation and the oral transmission for the Yamantaka Sadhana at Drepung Loseling Institute of Texas. Rinpoche then gave “Introduction to Buddhism” teachings at Truc Lam Meditation Center. The Texas visit culminated with a VIP tour at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in Houston, where Rinpoche spoke about “Diversity & Inclusion.”