Sat 8th Feb — Sun 9th Feb
with Resident Teacher, Gen Kelsang Rabka
“The benefits of engaging in the practice of this sadhana are immeasurable.”
– Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
Join us for this special weekend event during which our Resident Teacher, Gen Kelsang Rabka will grant the blessing empowerment of Buddha Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, give the transmission and commentary of his mantra and ritual practice (sadhana), and guide a brief day-retreat in order to help us to deepen our experience of this practice.
By sincerely relying upon Buddha Avalokiteshvara, we will receive his special care in this and all our future lives which will awaken our own potential to attain the supreme happiness of enlightenment.
Who is Avalokiteshvara?
Avalokiteshvara is an enlightened being who is the manifestation of the compassion of all Buddhas. Through sincerely engaging in the practice of Buddha Avalokiteshvara we can gradually awaken our compassionate Buddha nature, we can solve our own daily problems by controlling our desirous attachment, anger and ignorance, and then with this ability we can bring extraordinary benefit to our family, our community and our world by guiding them to the same attainments.
What is an empowerment?
An empowerment is a special guided Tantric meditation through which we make a deep, heartfelt connection with a particular Buddha and receive their inspiration and blessings. The enlightened mind is said to be like a boundless deep ocean, every drop of which has the power to bring inner peace to living beings. Receiving an empowerment is a means of connecting with this expansive potential inside our own mind, giving us the energy and wisdom to begin to realise our own Buddha nature.
Are there any commitments I should know about?
Everything will be clearly explained during the empowerment, and whilst you are invited to take refuge and bodhisattva vows during the empowerment ceremony, there is no requirement to take any commitments if you don't wish to. It is possible to take the empowerment simply with a good motivation to benefit ourself and be of benefit to others. Everybody is welcome to attend this event, however do note that it is an in-depth Buddhist weekend, and so an openness to the existence of past and future lives, other realms of existence, karma, and other aspects of Buddha's teachings will be assumed.
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Timetable
Saturday, 8th Feb: Blessing Empowerment & Commentary to Avalokiteshvara Sadhana
- 10am – 12pm: Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Avalokiteshvara
- 1:30pm – 3pm: Teaching & meditation
- 3:30pm – 5pm: Teaching & meditation
Sunday, 9th Feb: Guided Retreat on Avalokiteshvara Sadhana
- 10am – 11am: Session #1
- 11:30am – 12:30pm: Session #2
- 2pm – 3pm: Session #3
- 3:30pm – 4:30pm: Session #4
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Event Fees: $120 per person for whole weekend, or $85 per person for Sat only (Empowerment day)
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About the Teacher
