The Memorial Puja Commemorating the Sixth Anniversary of the Consecration of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center, Kyoto, Japan on May 25, 2014
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche presided over the Memorial Puja Commemorating the Sixth Anniversary of the Consecration of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center, Kyoto and the auspicious Acalanatha Fire Puja at the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan. Those in attendance included 28 believers from Japan, India, and Taiwan, as well as 186 Japanese and Taiwanese disciples, for a total of 214 people. The puja came to an auspicious and perfect completion.
On May 25, 2014, honored guests from around the world and disciples from the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center of Taiwan arrived at the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan to participate the auspicious Acalanatha Fire Puja.
On May 25, 2014, honored guests from around the world and disciples from the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center of Taiwan arrived at the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan to participate the auspicious Acalanatha Fire Puja.
An honored local Japanese guest signed in.
An honored local Japanese guest signed in.
An honored local Japanese guest signed in.
A Japanese disciple signed in.
The mandala-offering representatives were chosen from the honored guests who had drawn lots from the ballot box as they entered the venue.
The mandala-offering representatives were chosen from the honored guests who had drawn lots from the ballot box as they entered the venue.
The attendees reverently made monetary offerings to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The attendees reverently held their palms together, sincerely welcoming His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche ascending the Dharma throne to preside over the puja.
The attendees reverently held their palms together, sincerely welcoming His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche ascending the Dharma throne to preside over the puja.
The attendees reverently held their palms together, sincerely welcoming His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche ascending the Dharma throne to preside over the puja.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche made prostrations to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the mandala.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche lighted the lamps as offerings to the Buddha.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche made prostrations by touching his forehead to the Dharma throne of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche ascended the Dharma throne to preside over the puja.
The attendees made prostrations to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
The attendees received the nectar water, blessed by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The attendees reverently recited the Dharma text.
The attendees reverently recited the Dharma text.
Before performing the Acalanatha ritual, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche bestowed precious Dharma teachings to the attendees.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche described the motivation the attendees should all have in participating in the puja, as well as the auspiciousness of performing the ritual of the Acalanatha yidam.
The standing effigy of Acalanatha at the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche described the motivation the attendees should all have while participating in the puja, as well as the auspiciousness of performing the ritual of the Acalanatha yidam.
The attendees reverently listened to the auspicious teachings of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The attendees reverently listened to the auspicious teachings of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The lead Dharma brother led the believers' representatives in an offering of the mandalas to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The believers' representatives reverently made an offering of the mandalas to Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
On behalf of sentient beings, the lead Dharma brother made an offering of the mandalas to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The believers' representatives reverently made an offering of the mandalas to Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The believers' representatives reverently made an offering of the mandalas to Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The believers' representatives reverently made an offering of the mandalas to Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche continued the teachings of the origin of Fire Offering and its auspiciousness.
The attendees reverently listened to the auspicious teachings of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche started performing the ritual of the Acalanatha yidam.
The sounds of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche chanting the mantra wafted endlessly around the venue, his Dharma voice echoing through the void.
The attendees held their palms together in reverent concentration as they and all sentient beings received Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche's auspicious blessings while he became attuned with the Acalanatha yidam.
The attendees held their palms together in reverent concentration as they and all sentient beings received Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche's auspicious blessings while he became attuned with the Acalanatha yidam.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche proceeded to mandala in the Kyoto Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center's courtyard to perform the Fire Offering.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche ascended the Dharma throne in front of the Fire-Offering mandala at the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, and began to perform the Dharma.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Fire Offering.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Fire Offering.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Fire Offering.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Fire Offering.
On the day of the puja, the weather was hazy and muggy. However, as soon as His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche ascended the Dharma throne in the courtyard and began to perform the Dharma, gust after gust of cool wind began to blow with the sounds of the guru chanting the mantra. The oppressive weather suddenly turned cool and refreshing.
Just then the clouds dissipated rapidly to reveal a deep blue sky. The sun shone down from between the clouds, and a wonderful rain of nectar began to float down from the sky.
Just then the clouds dissipated rapidly to reveal a deep blue sky. The sun shone down from between the clouds, and a wonderful rain of nectar began to float down from the sky.
Two great birds kept wheeling in the sky far above the mandala of Fire Offering. They came forth to praise the compassion and attainment of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The attendees waited reverently in the courtyard to participate in the Fire Offering puja.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche placed kusha-grass on the Fire-Offering mandala during the Fire Offering.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Fire Offering.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Fire Offering.
The disciples ignited the Fire-Offering mandala.
As the Dharma was being performed, many clouds appeared in the sky in the form of dragons, the Garuda, and so on; the sight of these ever-changing clouds was extremely unfathomable.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately allowed each of the attendees the opportunity to reverently receive an offering item, used in the ritual performed by the guru, and toss it into the Fire-Offering mandala as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and as alms for sentient beings.
As the ritual continued, the Fire-Offering mandala's flames burned very fiercely, rising two stories high. The fierce conflagration could not be stopped. The flames of the mandala appeared in the forms of fire deities.
As the ritual continued, the Fire-Offering mandala's flames burned very fiercely. The flames of the mandala appeared in the forms of fire deities.
As the ritual continued, the Fire-Offering mandala's flames burned very fiercely. The flames of the mandala appeared in the forms of fire deities.
At first the flames of the Fire-Offering mandala manifested in the forms of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas descending to Earth on top of their mounts. Praise be unto the incomparable merits with which Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche liberates sentient beings.
At first the flames of the Fire-Offering mandala manifested in the forms of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas descending to Earth on top of their mounts. Praise be unto the incomparable merits with which Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche liberates sentient beings.
The flames crystallized into the Dharma image of Acalanatha with a Dharma vessel held in his left hand, representing the compassion and wisdom of Buddhism.
The flames continued to change. In Acalanatha's right hand was a sword, its incomparable fierce image taking shape more and more clearly. The sword’s flames of wisdom can cut away all human afflictions.
Around Acalanatha's neck was a serpent, and it continued to rear its head among the ever-changing flames.
Around Acalanatha's neck was a serpent, and it continued to rear its head among the ever-changing flames.
Among the flames appeared an image of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche seated and performing the Dharma. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were clearly visible atop his Dharma crown.
The flames then changed to the form of Acalanatha in a sitting position. His two feet pressed down upon four demons—exactly the same as the Tibetan version of the Acalanatha yidam.
The fierce conflagration again suddenly transformed into the giant beak of the Garuda.
After that the flames manifested in the form of a Vajra lion. Praise be unto His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche for propagating Buddhism with such compassion, wisdom, courage, and ferocity.
As the flames continued to change, the head of a dragon gradually began to emerge.
The dragon form rose high into the air with the heat, towering fiercely in the middle of the flames. All of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, devas, nagas, and Dharma protectors come forth to offer praise, blessings and protection for Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche's compassionate vow to liberate sentient beings.
While performing the Dharma, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche used his right hand to pick up offering items and rapidly pass them out. The guru performed this action at least three thousand times. Completely ignoring any physical discomfort, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche used all of his strength to benefit sentient beings in a display of the auspicious and great Bodhicitta of a Vajrayana Tantric practitioner. A Mahasiddha's vow to benefit sentient beings is unfathomable, and can move heaven and earth!
While the Fire-Offering Ritual was underway, the attendees came very close to the flames as they tossed their offering items into the fire. However, during the entire process no one felt overly hot. Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche's blessings are incomparably auspicious!
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Fire Offering.
Completely ignoring any physical discomfort, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche used all of his strength to benefit sentient beings in a display of the auspicious and great Bodhicitta of a Vajrayana Tantric practitioner. A Mahasiddha's vow to benefit sentient beings is unfathomable.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche cast rice and flower petals into the air as offerings to, and praises for, the Yidam. The Fire Offering puja came to an auspicious and perfect completion.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche cast rice and flower petals into the air as offerings to, and praises for, the Yidam. The Fire Offering puja came to an auspicious and perfect completion.
The Fire Offering puja came to an auspicious and perfect completion.
After the Fire Offering was complete, and without taking a break, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche immediately entered the Buddhist Center to ascend the Dharma throne once more.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche led the attendees in a performance of the Dharma protector's ritual and the dedication ritual.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche led the attendees in a performance of the Dharma protector's ritual and the dedication ritual, thanking the Dharma protector’s blessing and protection for bringing the Fire Offering to a perfect completion.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche led the attendees in a performance of the Dharma protector's ritual and the dedication ritual, thanking the Dharma protector’s blessing and protection for bringing the Fire Offering to a perfect completion.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche continued to bestow precious Dharma teachings to the attendees.
Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche's profound yet accessible teachings put everyone in a relaxed frame of mind so that they could receive the Dharma.
After performing the Dharma to an auspicious and perfect completion His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche descended the Dharma throne.
Upon the perfect completion of the puja, all of the attendees stood. In unison they expressed their gratitude for His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche's auspicious performance of the Dharma, and stood to pay reverent homage as the guru descended the Dharma throne.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche presided over this rare and auspicious Acalanatha Fire Offering Puja. Its purpose was not only to pass on the Dharma lineage of the Drikung Kagyu Order, but also to pray for blessings for Japan, to increase the good fortune of the nation and its people. The guru tirelessly performed the Dharma to help all sentient beings with a Dharma rain of compassion and wisdom so that they can be liberated from suffering, thus allowing them to obtain countless merits and benefits!
Updated on July 13, 2015