21 May - Saturday

Preparation for Avalokiteshvara Empowerment

2:00pm - 5:00pm

22 May - Sunday

Actual Empowerment Ceremony
of 1000-Armed Avalokiteshvara

2:00pm - 5:00pm

Questions? Please email office@tdling.com

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is an emination of the compassion of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions. When the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practicing bodhicitta he worked tirelessly for the benefit of sentient beings but no matter how much he did, there were always more sentient beings in need. When the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara became disheartened, the Buddha Amitabha came to him and told him not to lose heart. Simply by seeing Buddha Amitabha, the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was inspired to continue his practice. But again he was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness and hit his head against a rock. At that moment he eminated eleven faces and one thousand arms. The thousand arms eminated one thousand Wheel Turning Dharma Kings, and the thousand eyes on the palm of each hand eminated a thousand Buddha's. In this way, the Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara is able to benefit each sentient being according to their individual needs.

An Empowerment is a tantric ceremony in which a qualified lama empowers his disciples to engage in higher practices of tantra through ripening their mental continuum. This Empowerment belongs to the lower Tantra or Kriya Tantra. In order to participate in the Empowerment of 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara, one must first take Refuge and receive the Boddhisattva vows, both of which will be given during the preparation on the first day.

Geshe-la advises that one should be certain that they can maintain these vows before participating in the Empowerment. To review the Refuge vows click here. Regarding the Boddhisattva vows, Geshe-la says that one should be willing not to harm others and to treat all sentient beings with love and compassion, without discrimination.

There will be a small commitment given with this Empowerment, most likely one mala, or rosary, recitation of the mantra of Avalokiteshvara OM MANI PEME HUNG. The real commitment Geshe-la says, is that one will not cause harm to others, and that one will help all sentient beings to be happy, treating them equally with loving kindness and compassion.

There are no fees or suggested donations for this ceremony.
If you would like to make a contribution it would be welcome and appreciated.