Dear Sangha and Friends,
 

On behalf of our precious lama Tulku Orgyen Rinpoche, I would like to thank all of you who participated, from near and far, in the 10th Annual Mantra-Thon for World Peace and Healing, which focused on the practice of The Assemblage of Vidyadharas: Display of Great Exaltation (Rigdzin Dupa Dechen Namrol), Awakening in the Guru's Pure Vision, and other prayers and practices, with special emphasis on recitation of the Vajra Guru Mantra Mantra of Guru Padmasambhava. This year we were so fortunate to practice during the special holy month of Saga Dawa, commencing on the first day and concluding on Saga Dawa Duchen, the anniversary of Lord Buddha's enlightenment and parinirvana, so our collective merit was multiplied thousands of times over. Though we could not be together in person, our live streamed events allowed many who lived far away from Tulku Rinpoche to join us in real time. Tulku Rinpoche blessed us with teachings and the Bodhisattva vow ceremony, answered our questions on practice with great clarity, and led us in other profound practices like Medicine Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha Pujas. We even performed a virtual tsog together! This year Rinpoche's sanghas in the U.S. were joined by sanghas and friends in Canada, Vietnam, Australia, Germany and India.

 

Just as the Buddha and Guru Rinpoche prophesied, we are living through increasingly turbulent times. Most recently, the Coronavirus pandemic has precipitated not only a global health crisis, but economic and psychological damage on an unprecedented scale. At the same time, the profound levels of suffering experienced daily by indigenous people and people of color in the U.S., particularly African Americans, due to systemic racism and violence, has been exposed more than ever, with world wide protests erupting following several recent murders of black men and women. Our practice this year is dedicated especially for those most affected by these twin ills of disease and hatred.

 

Such a confluence of events has made our 10th Mantra-Thon for World Peace and Healing starkly relevant and our commitment to practice more urgent. Tulku Orgyen Rinpoche emphasized over and over again in his teachings that the most important components of our practice are devotion to the Three Jewels and bodhicitta, the compassionate determination to free all beings from suffering. Motivated by by our unified commitment to the Dharma and to all mother beings of the six realms, I am humbled and happy to report that we collectively recited OM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM

 

2,049,350 times!

 

Tulku Orgyen Rinpoche has said at our Mantra-Thon retreats that "not a single mantra recited is ever wasted," and we should be confident that all our mantras and other dharma activities over the past several weeks will definitely bear beneficial fruits for ourselves and others in the future.

 

Again, thank you for being part of the Mantra-Thon. For now, let us rejoice in our merit and make aspirations for the long life of Tulku Orgyen P'huntsok Rinpoche and Ven. Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche Yangsi, Sey Gyanata Rinpoche (the Yangsi of Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche), H.H. Penor Rinpoche Yangsi, and all our precious teachers, especially H.H. the Dalai Lama, who turns 85 next month; to all those who were named as beneficiaries in our prayer lists during the retreat; to peace and prosperity the world over; and to the complete and perfect Enlightenment of all beings!

 

As it is said in the Rigdzin Dupa Dechen Namrol Sadhana:

 

HUNG! DAK GI DU SUM GE TSA KUN

Hung! All merit accumulated throughout the three times

ZAK ME DE WA CHHEN POR NGO

We dedicate for the attainment of undefiled Great Exaltation.

KHOR DAY DAK NYAM ROL PA RU

In the pure equality of samsara and nirvana,

JANG CHHUB CHHEN POR SANG GYAY SHOK

May we all awaken in the great state of Enlightenment!

​

For Tulku Orgyen Rinpoche and Odiyana Institute,
Aaron Joseph