Year of the Wood Dragon (2151) 2024 - Important Dates
Message from Venerable Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche
Firstly, Rinpoche wishes to extend his best wishes to all students, supporters and friends for a very happy New Year 2024. May this New Year, the Tibetan year of the Wood Dragon 2151, bring to all of you a lot of joy and happiness.
In our daily practice and at our individual level, it is immensely important to have the right motivation and to always generating Bodhicitta Mind which is the wisdom and compassion to benefit all sentient beings. If we continuously and steadfastly practice in this manner, we can be absolutely sure to moving swiftly along the path to supreme enlightenment.
May this year 2024 experience fewer natural disasters such as earthquakes, droughts, floods and so forth.
May we all always enjoy excellent health.
May all his Dharma followers in all directions practice the Dharma diligently, bringing joy and happiness not just for oneself but for all other sentient beings.
May all your obstacles be dispelled and may you always encounter happiness.
Calendar and important practice days
In Buddhist traditions, certain days are considered especially auspicious for particular Dharma practices. These days can be recurrent either each (Tibetan) month or annually. The information below only serves as general guidelines to important practice dates but it is essential to obtain instructions from a fully qualified teacher.
1. Buddha's Days (recurring each Tibetan month): on these days, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 100 times
8th Day - Medicine Buddha
10th Day - Guru Rinpoche
15th Day - Amitabha Buddha
25th Day - Dakini
30th Day - Shakyamuni Buddha
2. Eclipses: On days when Solar and Lunar eclipses fall, the effects of positive and negative actions are multiplied by 10,000 times.
3. Major Buddhist Festivals (Duchen): for example, Saka Dawa Duchen, the 4th Tibetan month (from 20/05/2023 to 18/06/2023) is the most auspicious time for Dharma practice because the effects of positive actions are multiplied by Ten million times, and observance of the five basic precepts is strongly recommended. Killing of animals is not permitted and eating of black foods such as meat, is generally discouraged.
Past Events
23th – 24th Feb 2024
Milarepa and Marpa Lotsawa Anniversaries
Dear Dharma Friends,
Everyone is familiar with the special relationship between Milarepa and Marpa Lotsawa. However the upcoming anniversary will emphasize Guru devotion or Guru yoga as a testament to Milarepa’s unwavering dedication to his guru despite the numerous challenges and hardships Marpa put him through. The relationship between Milarepa and his guru is often cited as an example of the transformative power of guru devotion in the spiritual journey. It highlights the importance of trust, obedience and dedication to the guidance of a qualified spiritual teacher on the path to enlightenment.
The anniversary days of Mila and Marpa fall on the 23rd and 24th of February, respectively. Under the guidance and teachings of Ven. Sonam Rinpoche, we should draw inspiration from these masters to deepen our devotion towards our present guru, making it possible to attain enlightenment within our lifetime.
Rinpoche sometimes suggests that students read two books: Milarepa’s life story and the "100,000 Songs of Milarepa." These books are documented clearly and precisely, narrating his fabulous journey through samsara on the path to enlightenment. Thus, please join Ven. Sonam Rinpoche and other Lamas to celebrate the special event as scheduled below
Friday, 23th February 2024
8.30am – 12.00am Milarepa Guru Yoga
12:00pm – 02:00pm Lunch break
02:00pm – 04:30pm Milarepa Guru Yoga and Tsok Offering
04:30pm – 05:00pm Tea Break
05:00pm – 06:30pm Mahakala puja
06:30pm – 07:00pm Dinner Break
07:00pm – 08:00pm Milarepa’s Aspiration prayer & Lamp Lighting Offering
Saturday, 24th February 2024
8.30am – 12.00am Barom Kagyu linage Toha pray
12:00pm – 02:00pm Lunch break
02:00pm – 05:00pm Barompa Guru Yoga
May you join the anniversaries via a live stream on ZOOM
Zoom Id: 946 144 7283 Passcode: BK8888
Latest News
Latest news and activities from Barom Kagyu Centers
Losar Festival 2024
Losar is considered to be the most significant festival of the Buddhist Community in Tibet. The festival marks the Tibetan New Year and is celebrated with great splendour and grandeur. The Tibetan Buddhists observe the festival to ward off evil spirit and welcome the arrival of the New Year filled with happiness and prosperity.
A 4 days celebration ceremony leading by our Spiritual Director, Venerable Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche was held in Sefton, Australia this year. The sessions began with the Wrathful Guru Rinpoche Prayer from 7th February 2024 through to the White Zhambala Blessing on Tibetan New Year Day, 10th February 2024.
Losar Festival is the time to banish negativity and welcome auspicious energy. With Losar right around the corner, it is a perfect opportunity to purify your soul and welcoming in another year!
Happy Birthday Our Precious Guru
Many of Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche’s disciples from KL, US, Ha Noi and Saigon celebrated VEN. Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche’s birthday in Saigon.
May all Gurus of the glorious Dharma enjoy excellent health and longevity.
May the land be entirely filled with doctrine holders.
May the merit and virtue of the patrons of the Doctrine increase.
May the auspicious Doctrine continuously remain.
2023 Building Barom Kagyu SaiGon Dharma Center Update
We have done 90% of work on the center in 2023, slowly opening for practioners on weekends
Chodrak Nunnery in Tibet
Seven days Amitayus
Chodrak Monastery in Tibet
The 23rd Barom Kagyu World Peace Prayer Dhama Conference.
Barom Kagyu Chodrak Choe Khorling USA
Great 24 Stupas
Barom Kagyu 2023 In Review
The Latest Teaching
Latest teaching transcripts from Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche
Benefit of Medicine Buddha Practice
Gampopa Four Dharma
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Mahamudra Ngondro teaching
I am very happy to see many students here to receive Ngondro teaching because Ngondro is extremely important in dharma practice.
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37 Practices of Bodhisattvas
Rinpoche had a long teachings in 2 months about the 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas
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Sukhavati teaching
Rinpoche taught about four causes and two obscurations to Sukhavati
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The twelve vows of The Medicine Buddha
I vow that my body shall shine as beams of brilliant light on this infinite…
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Essential advice of Rinpoche
We just need to keep our genuine devotion to the Three Jewels…
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Meditaion
Ven.Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche
San Jose
The Barom Kagyu Lineage
Tibetan Buddhism
There are four major schools within the Tibetan Buddhism. Nyingma is the oldest of the four lineages. The others – Sakya, Kagyu and Geluk – emerged after the 11th century during what is called “the latter propagation” of Buddhism in Tibet.
Barom Kagyu is one of many sub-lineages within the Kagyu lineage. Founders of these schools or their teachers have had Indian mahasiddhas or panditas as their root gurus.
Tillipa (988 – 1069), who is more commonly known as “Tilopa”, is regarded as the founder of the Kagyupa lineage in India, because he was the first human teacher from whom Kagyu teachings can be traced. He received many instructions directly from Vajradhara and other deities through pure meditative visions. Prior to his becoming a mahasiddha, he used to make his living by crushing sesame seeds or other odd jobs as his name suggests.
Tilopa was succeeded by pandita Naropa. Naropa (1016 – 1100) became the most important Indian mahasiddha from whom Marpa (1012 – 1096) received the transmission of the Six Yogas and Mahamudra. Tilopa had already prophesied the importance of Marpa long before Naropa met Marpa. Being the first Tibetan teacher of the Kagyu lineage, Marpa first took Sanskrit lessons from Drogmi Lotsawa (992 – 1073/4) in Mugu-lung in Mangkhar region for several years but he left saying Drogmi’s fees were too expensive. However it was Drogmi’s influence which resolved Marpa to go to India. Marpa travelled in India three times and received the complete teachings of Mahamudra from Naropa and many others. Marpa, Drogmi and Ngok played a very important role in reviving the teachings of the Buddha in Tibet.
At the early stage of the formation of the Kagyupa lineage, it became known as “Marpa Kagyu” a name coined from Marpa’s own name. Another early Kagyu school was founded by Khyunpo Naljor Tshultrim Gompa (1002 – 1096) of Shang in Tsang region, who was a disciple of both Naropa and his sister, Niguma. This school was named “Shangpa Kagyu” as its founder came from Shang in Tsang province in central Tibet. It is worthwhile to note that these were the first two schools established in the Kagyupa lineage.
Marpa’s principal disciple was Milarepa (1052 – 1135). He is renowned as the great yogi of Tibet, and his incomparable perseverance in the practices he received from his teacher was, and still is a source of great inspiration especially for those fortunate enough to read his spontaneous songs. These are known as the “Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa” (Mila Gur-boom).
Prayer Requests
Request for Blessing and Prayer at sacred Buddhist Centers of the 900-year-old Barom Kagyu lineage in California, Sydney, Vietnam, Malaysia and Nunnery in Kham (Tibet)
Blessing for Long Life with Good Health
Rinpoche and Lama will perform blessings of people to promote their long life and excellent health
Prayer for the Recently Deceased
In Tibetan Buddhism, death is an extremely important event. For 49 days after the departing of a person, the monks will pray daily for the deceased to experience a smooth journey through the Bardo and to achieve a rebirth in the high realms. The Phowa prayers are extremely powerful as they purify the deceased of their negative Karma. Prayers are dedicated to Dorje Sempa Buddha, Medicine Buddha and to Amitabha Buddha.
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Monday–Friday
8am–6pm
Phone
(612) 9786 5513