Offered by H.H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya
Sunday, October 6th
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Shrine Room
Suggested contribution: Public $35, Members $30
Prerequisite: On the day of the initiation, one must be vegetarian (no eggs, meat, alcohol, or garlic) and celibate the entire day (24 hours).
The Medicine Buddha, or Bhaishajyaguru, alleviates suffering, sickness, and injury and thus prolongs human life, improving the human opportunity to attain enlightenment. The Medicine Buddha is a manifestation of Shakyamuni Buddha, who gave medicine teachings to the Fourfold Assembly. He holds a medicine bowl and radiates healing rays of energy to all sentient beings.
Instructions on the Medicine Buddha practice will be given the same day by Tulku Yeshi Rinpoche at 1:30 pm.
His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, head lama of Sakya Monastery, was born in Tibet in 1929. He continues the great Sakya lineage which began with Khon Konchok Gyalpo (1034 – 1102). He received teachings of the unbroken Sakya lineage, the Sakya Vajrakilaya, the Hevajra and the complete Lamdre Tsogshe, from his father, H.H. Trichen Ngawang Thutop Wangchuk, the last Sakya throne holder in Tibet. He also studied with many other great Buddhist teachers, including Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi and Dingo Khyentse Robsal Dawa.
In 1960, H.H. J.D. Sakya was invited to work on a Univ. of WA research project on Tibetan civilization which was sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation. At the request of students, he co-founded with H.E. Dezhung Rinpoche Sakya Tegchen Choling, a center for the study of Tibetan Buddhism and culture. In 1984, the center became the Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism.