Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen is delighted to announce that His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin, Gyana Vajra Rinpoche has accepted the temple’s repeated requests to bestow a very important collection of initiations known as Drupthap Gyatsa or Bari Gyatsa, which could be translated in English as the Collection of Bari Lotsawa Initiations. This very ancient and special collection of initiations is rarely given, even in India and Nepal.

The Collection will be preceded by the major empowerment of the Lords of the Three Families (Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, and Vajrapani).

Bari Lotsawa (1040-1111) was the second Sakya Trizin and the teacher of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. Earlier in his life, he studied in Nepal and India and compiled these 100 sadhanas from nearly 1000 teachings he received from Ratnākaragupta and Amoghavajra, who were two of the greatest masters of the time. He chose the finest, most profound, and essential practices, compiled and translated them into a collection with very clear individual sadhanas for each deity. From Bari Lotsawa, the collection was transmitted to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, and has come down to the present day in an unbroken lineage of transmission through the Khon family. The collection is preserved in the Tengyur (bstan ‘gyur) under the title Collection of Bari Lotsawa Initiations or Bari Gyatsa (ba ri brgya rtsa). The Collection of Bari Lotsawa Initiations is primarily composed of kiriya tantra practices, but also includes deities from the charya, yoga, and anuyoga tantras. It contains all the short sadhanas of the Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug traditions. It is considered to be the authentic source of every sadhana transmitted from India to Tibet in the New Tantra or Sarmapa tradition, which includes the Sakya, Kagyu, Kadam, Jonang, and Shagba Kagyu schools. Some Nyingma sadhanas are also included such as Guru Padmasambava.

The word “hundred” is a generalized round number. In fact, the collection contains the sadhanas for 79 different deities. The sadhanas are short and easy to practice. They provide the practitioner with the blessings and the tools to achieve the common attainments: pacifying negativity, increasing wealth, merit and life; beseeching the gods, subjugating humans, and spirits; and destroying negative forces. They also bring the blessings and methods to accomplish the uncommon attainments: higher rebirth, engagement in the holy life, and eventually the achievement of buddhahood.

Receiving the collection of initiations is a truly great blessing which protects from all manner of difficulties and brings all manner of blessings. After receiving the Collection, it is not necessary to practice all or even any of the sadhanas immediately. Like a well-stocked medicine cabinet, the Collection provides practitioners with a variety of spiritual medicines to be used whenever they are needed to allay the various sufferings of samsara and accomplish their spiritual aspirations.

The expected order and dates on which the initiations and sadhanas will be given are listed here. Please note that this will depend upon circumstances and the discretion of the Vajramaster.