By Laura Ellis
His Eminence Khöndung Asanga Vajra Rinpoche was invited by students of the Mahasiddhi Yoga Centre and the Sakya Tsechen Phuntsog Choling centre to give teachings during the holy month of Saka-Dawa. He was accompanied by his grandmother, H.E. Dagmo Kusho la and four monks. Throughout the ten day trip, H.E. Asanga Rinpoche and entourage kept a full teaching schedule and visited several of Hong Kong’s Buddhist temples, centres and holy places of worship. H.E. Dagmo Kusho la reported that this was the first time Asanga Rinpoche had traveled to Hong Kong on his own and that the teachings went very well. She was happy to assist Asanga Rinpoche and introduce her grandson to many of her own students as well as other practitioners of the Buddha Dharma. She was a great help with the aid of her students in facilitating the teaching schedule. Dagmo Kusho la commented how grateful they were to the students in Hong Kong for their wonderful hospitality, and especially to the administrators of the two centers for making the trip so easy and enjoyable.
People came from all over Asia to receive teachings from Khöndung Asanga Rinpoche. They traveled from mainland China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and even Tibet! H.E. Asanga Rinpoche bestowed the following teachings and blessings on this teaching trip: VajraKilaya, Medicine Buddha, Refuge Vows, Tsok Offering, Hevajra blessing, and long life blessings. On SakaDawa Day, Asanga Rinpoche, Dagmo Kusho la, monks and followers performed a live animal release puja and ceremony. Around 40,000 fish were purchased from the marketplace and given a second chance at life by being released back into the sea with Asanga Rinpoche’s blessing!
The group also visited two famous Hong Kong Buddhist temples: Tsz Shan Monastery and Big Buddha Temple. H.E. Khöndung Asanga Rinpoche was invited by the Tsz Shan Monastery to consecrate a newly constructed Kuan Yin statue that is 5 stories high! The statue contains the holy relics of Shakyamuni Buddha that were donated to the temple by the King of Thailand.
All in all, the teaching tour was very successful on many levels. Even though Asanga Rinpoche just turned 16 years old on May 1st, many of those who met him commented on how impressed they were with Asanga Rinpoche’s teachings and presence for someone so young yet so mature and accomplished.
Long live Khöndung Asanga Rinpoche! May the precious Sakya teachings spread and increase for benefit and happiness of all sentient beings!