Vajrakilaya Major Empowerment at Tsechen Kunchab Ling

Tibetan painting circa 1300 AD, stone ground colors and gold on cotton. Collection Moke Mokotoff

Venerable Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen is delighted to announce that His Eminence Gyana Vajra Rinpoche has consented to bestow the profound Vajrakilaya major empowerment at Tsechen Kunchab Ling on April 6-7, 2019. Vajrakilaya embodies the enlightened activity of all the Buddhas, and overcomes obstacles and defilements. 

The Khon family, in which His Eminence Gyana Vajra Rinpoche is one of the most important lineage holders, received this practice directly from Padmasambava in the eighth century, when Buddhism was established in Tibet. Since that time until today, the Khon family lineage holders have maintained the daily practice and realization of Vajrakilaya as their special personal practice. Receiving the blessings of the Vajrakilaya major empowerment directly from such a senior member of the Khon family is an extraordinary blessing.

Vajrakilaya Major Empowerment: Saturday – Sunday, April 6-7

Receiving the empowerment requires attendance on both days.

  • Preliminary Empowerment: April 6, and
  • Main Empowerment: April 7

Attendees are advised to arrive at 1:00 pm both days for registration and seating. Doors will be closed an hour later when the empowerment begins.

It is not possible to attend only one day of the empowerment.

Cost: $ 100 includes admission for both days.

An undertaking of this importance is only possible through the generosity of devoted Dharma sponsors.  All those with fortunate means and motivation are invited to share in the great merit of hosting this profound empowerment.  In addition to the virtuous karma of being a sponsor of the Dharma, sponsoring this empowerment strengthens one’s connection to these profound blessings.

Empowerment Sponsor: $1,008 – Sponsors’ generosity covers the considerable costs of hosting the teachings. Sponsors receive the following benefits: 

  • Special seating in the assembly for the sponsor themselves and one other family member. Two people may join together to become a sponsor.
  • Offering the mandala to request the empowerment at the beginning, or the mandala offering of appreciation at the conclusion. 
  • Distribution of offering envelopes to all the monks and nuns. (the temple will prepare the envelopes for you to pass out at the appropriate time in the ceremony).
  • Sponsors do not need to pay the regular tuition for the program. 

If you would like to become a sponsor or would like more information about sponsorship, please contact sakya@sakyatemple.org.  Thank you

The temple welcomes those who wish to accumulate merit by offering service to the temple and sangha during the event. Volunteers may help in various ways, including welcoming visitors; assisting with parking, and cleaning and resetting the shrine room. Volunteers will be recognized with appreciation at the conclusion of the empowerment. The temple does not pay volunteers nor does it offer tuition discounts for volunteering. Please note your preferred volunteer positions on your registration form.

Please arrange your own housing. A list of local options is available on our website. A forum for students looking to share housing and transportation is available–please see below for more information. We regret that there are no accommodations available at the temple, and camping on the temple grounds is not allowed during the teachings and empowerments.

Please arrange your own transportation. You can learn how to get to the temple by public transportation here: https://sakyatemple.org/how-to-visit/

Limited parking is available onsite, free of charge.

Bring your vajra and bell. Please do not bring audio or video recording equipment as no individual audio or video recording will be allowed.