By H.E. Asanga Vajra Rinpoche
Date: Sunday, July 24th
Time: 10:00 am PT

In-person Dharma Lecture
*Full vaccination and KN95 mask required*
Suggested Donation: $40 Members, $60 Non-Members

Registration required: 70 spaces available. Please register at https://conta.cc/3HFInQm by July 22nd. First 50 registrants will be in the Shrine Room. Last 20 registrants will be in the Cultural Hall watching on a projector screen.

Mahayana Buddhism teaches that everyone can achieve enlightenment and that all sentient beings have within us the spiritual potential which essentially means that we have the potential to attain enlightenment if we make the effort and create the causes for enlightenment. This is referred to as Buddha-nature and this inherent spiritual potential can be awakened through understanding and practice.

By H.E. Asanga Vajra Rinpoche
Date: Sunday, July 24th
Time: 11:30 am PT

In-person Ceremony
*Full vaccination and KN95 mask required*
Registration: 70 spaces available. Please email monastery@sakya.org to register. First 50 registrants will be in the Shrine Room. Last 20 registrants will be in the Cultural Hall watching on a projector screen.

Taking refuge is the first step on the Buddhist path to enlightenment. Refuge is a ceremony during which a person formally becomes a Buddhist and receives a Dharma name. This differs from the passive refuge one receives at an initiation.

Bestowed by H.E. Thartse Khen Rinpoche
Date: Wednesday, July 27th
Time: 6:00 pm PT

In-person Initiation
*Full vaccination and KN95 mask required*
Suggested Donation: $40 Members, $60 Non-Members
Registration required: 70 spaces available. Register at https://conta.cc/3bZN5wC. First 50 registrants will be in the Shrine Room. Last 20 registrants will be in the Cultural Hall watching on a projector screen.

The Vajrapani, known as Chagna Dorje in Tibetan, represents the power of the Buddha and the energy of the enlightened mind. He is one of the triad of Bodhisattva protectors (Sk: Trikulanatha, Tibetan: Rigsum Gonpo) consisting of Manjushri, Chenrezig, and Vajrapani. Vajrapani protects the practitioner from harm and removes the obstacles in their path with the thunderbolt held in his right hand. He is depicted in wrathful form and he is alternatively known as the Lord of Secrets and the Demon Subduer. The Vajrapani practice helps us to focus our life energy towards the goal of attaining enlightenment.

Sakya Monastery is looking forward to welcoming Ngor Monastery Throne Holder and renowned Master of the Sakya Tradition, His Eminence Thartse Khen Rinpoche on his first visit to the United States. Ngor Thartse Khen Rinpoche is the 77th abbot of Ngor, a main branch of the Sakyapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Born into a royal family in Mustang, Nepal, Rinpoche was ordained as a monk at the age of eight by His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. At the age of thirteen, he was recognized as Ngor Thartse Shabdrung Rinpoche by His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin. Rinpoche then completed extensive studies of ritual and rites of the Ngor tradition, with close instruction from His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, who ordained him as a bhiksu at the age of 19. After completing his formal monastic education and training, Rinpoche attended Sakya Institute to study Higher Buddhist Philosophical studies and Art. He later joined Sakya College to further study Tantra. Rinpoche travels extensively in Asia where he founded and supervises numerous monasteries and Sakya centers.