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His Eminence Samdhong Rinpoche
Photo: Contact/Lha

His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche bestowed the highest integrating Tantra of Saying Manjushri Names and its Extensive Commentary by Gyalwa Gedun Gyatso [His Holiness the Second Dalai Lama, 1476-1542] in at nine-day teaching at the Gyuto Tantric Monastery near Dharamshala from March 7 – 17.

The teachings were attended by the practitioner-scholars of Gyuto, and from major monastic seats in southern India, sangha from all regions of the Himalayas, and a large number of lay devotees. There were also international sangha and lay practitioners from abroad.

There was a break in the teachings for the two-day opening ceremony and teaching which was held at Sherab-ling Monastery on March 11 and 12, led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Rinpoche began the teaching by advising on the difficulty of attaining a human rebirth. He spoke of the need to draw essence (meanings) out of this human life we have now; and the need to listen to the Dharma (teachings) with a pure altruistic motive.

On the final day of the teachings, Gyuto monastery offered a long-life ceremony for the welfare of all sentient beings and for the precious sublime teachings to remain prevailing.

Professor Samdhong Rinpoche teaching at Gyuto
Photo: Contact/Lha

Rinpoche concluded his teaching by advising on the need for reflecting and generating joy from the fact that one has attained all the positive factors for practising the teachings: one has the precious human rebirth complete with the attributes of leisures and endowments; one has met the teachings where the instructions from both Discourse (Sūtra) and Protecting Methods (Mantra, Tantra) are complete; one is being fostered kindly by a teacher of the Great Vehicle path; and one has the mental capability to discern well the faults of the ordinary mind, to discard them and to adopt the virtues; and to listen to the sublime teachings and eschew the three faults.

Kyabjey Rinpoche advised the attendees to observe well the vows and pledges, and the importance of pure motive and of sealing one’s deeds with prayers and dedications towards full enlightenment for the welfare of all sentient beings.