His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche, of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, is currently in Australia on a seven-week teaching tour. Having arrived on 25 December 2014, he will stay in Australia until 15 February 2015.
From www.drogmi.org
His Eminence will give teachings and empowerments in and around Sydney until 12 January 2015, and again from 23 January to 14 February. From 15–21 January, he will give teachings and empowerments in Melbourne at the Melbourne Sakya Centre and the Nalandra Institute. He will also be visiting regional areas along the way.
The centerpiece of the tour will be the bestowing of the precious Vajrayogini blessings, empowerments, and teachings. The joint hosts of the tour, Drogmi Buddhist Institute (DBI) and Kyegu Buddhist Institute, are honored and delighted that His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche has kindly agreed to bestow these precious teachings and initiations during the special program at DBI in Sydney from 23 January to 7 February.
His Eminence is visiting Australia at the invitation of DBI’s spiritual director, Venerable Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, who initially extended the invitation three years ago.
“We feel that it is a great honor to host such a high lama here in Australia,” said DBI president, Jack Heath. “We are especially pleased and proud that His Eminence has agreed to give the precious Vajrayogini initiations and teachings during his visit.” The practice of Vajrayogini is said to be one of the swiftest tantric methods to achieve enlightenment within this lifetime.
His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche is the second son of Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding, the sister of the head of the Sakya tradition, His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. At the age of 10, he was selected and then trained to become the future abbot of the Ngor sub-sect of the Sakya tradition. He has undergone intensive and rigorous training, in addition to daily tutelage under the direction of the senior Ngor abbot, Luding Khenchen Rinpoche. He has also received numerous teachings and empowerments from His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. After graduating from Sakya College in March 2000, he was enthroned as the 76th abbot of Ngor Ewan Chodan Monastery. He travels far and wide to bestow Vajrayana teachings and initiations throughout the world.
Founded by Venerable Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe and formally established in October 2009, DBI is dedicated to promoting the understanding, study, and practice of Tibetan Buddhism in Australia. The institute was established following on from Khenpo’s role as spiritual director of Sakya Tharpa Ling in Sydney, where he spent more than 12 years building one of the leading Sakya centers in the world. Under Khenpo’s leadership, DBI conducts regular meditation sessions, public teachings, and a formal teaching program, as well as hosting visits by some of the most pre-eminent Sakya masters alive today. Born in 1962, Khenpo has been a monk for over 40 years, completing his final master’s and teaching degree and qualifying as a Khenpo (Tibetan Buddhist scholar and senior lama) at Sakya College in India in 1991. DBI recently celebrated Khenpo’s 20-year anniversary in Australia with the recitation of a long-life prayer composed for the occasion by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin and translated by His Eminence Zimwock Rinpoche.
Kyegu Buddhist Institute is a Tibetan Buddhist meditation center affiliated with the Kyegu monasteries in Tibet and India. Opened in 2000, its regular programs are overseen by its spiritual director, Venerable Aenpo Rinpoche.