April 25 t0 28, 2011, Trip to New Zealand
From April 25 to 28, 2011, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche led fifty-two disciples from the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center to New Zealand to pay homage to Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s Three Grace Root Guru His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and to visit the Milarepa Retreat Center of the Drikung Kagyu Order, which is being constructed and supervised by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche also invited His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang to take a sightseeing trip to the tourist sights near the Milarepa Retreat Center.
Upon arriving in Auckland, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche is received and welcomed by local believers of New Zealand with khatas (white scarves) at the airport.
When Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche checks in to the hotel in Auckland, an auspicious rainbow appears outside the window.
When the disciples arrive at the major road leading to the Milarepa Retreat Center, they see cattle grazing around the roadside.
Knowing that Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s car is coming, the spiritual cattle approach the roadside fence on their own initiative and form an orderly procession to wait for Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche. After Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s car has passed, the cattle then walk away from the fence to graze.
Arriving at His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang’s residence, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche is received by His Holiness’s attendant in front of the building.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche offers a khata to his Three Grace Root Guru His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang bestows a blessing upon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche with his forehead.
Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche offers his regards to his Three Grace Root Guru His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang bestows dharma talks about the founding of the Milarepa Retreat Center in New Zealand upon the disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center. His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang commends the Venerable Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche for his numerous contributions to the Drikung Kagyu Lineage and for sponsorship of the Milarepa Retreat Center. Additionally, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang also talks about the relationship between a guru and a disciple.
The disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center reverently listen to His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang’s teaching.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang’s marvelous teaching.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang talks about the relationship between a guru and a disciple. Being concerned about Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s hard work, His Holiness instructs the staff of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center to properly arrange Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s rest time. The disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center shed tears when they think of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s painstaking efforts.
The Milarepa Retreat Center is secluded and surrounded by a tranquil environment.
The precious tree root table and stools were specially purchased and offered by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche to the Three Grace Root Guru His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. A Vajrayana practitioner’s reverence and sincerity towards his guru can be seen in his every action.
In the morning, when the disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center arrive at the retreat center, it is gloomy and slightly rainy. However, at the arrival of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the sky begins to clear up.
The Milarepa Retreat Center
The construction of every hut and beam in the Milarepa Retreat Center was personally supervised by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. This shows the siddhi master’s tremendous care for the disciples’ dharma practice.
The disciples have lunch at the Milarepa Retreat Center.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang takes Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche to visit the backyard and view the plants personally grown by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang takes Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche to see the backyard and the plants personally grown by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang.
After taking Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche to see the backyard, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang returns to his residence, closely followed by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The Milarepa Retreat Center.
Retreat huts under construction at the Milarepa Retreat Center.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang leads Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche on a tour around the retreat center. Upon seeing His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and their guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center immediately run in their direction and closely follow behind.
The Milarepa Retreat Center.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche attends a dinner banquet with the disciples.
The disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center arrive and wait at a restaurant where His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and their guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche will have lunch with them. It is raining and thick clouds cover the sky.
The New Zealanders dining at the restaurant ask the disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center whom they are waiting for. The disciples tell them that they are waiting for their guru, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, and introduce to them to Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s book, Happiness and Suffering. The English version of the book has been released, thereby allowing more people around the world to have the opportunity to receive help from Buddhism.
The New Zealanders dining at the restaurant ask the disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center whom they are waiting for. The disciples tell them that they are waiting for their guru, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, and introduce to them to Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s book, Happiness and Suffering.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang arrives at the restaurant, closely accompanied by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche recite mantras to bless the food prepared by the restaurant and dedicate merits to all sentient beings.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang’s lama attendant makes an offering of some snacks to His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
A disciple’s father happens to pass away during his trip to New Zealand. Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche asks the disciple about the matter and bestows blessings to protect the consciousness of the disciple’s father.
Previously rainy and gloomy, the sky turns clear upon His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s arrival at the restaurant.
The New Zealanders who left the restaurant come back to implore His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang for a blessing.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang compassionately bestows a blessing upon the New Zealander believers.
Having received a blessing from His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, the New Zealander believers leave the restaurant. They tell the disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center that they feel very fortunate to have come across such a wonderful event, and they promise to cherish Happiness and Suffering.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang steps out of a car.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, accompanied by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, visits a local park with a giant tree over 800 years old.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche take a photo in front of a gigantic tree over 800 years old.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, accompanied by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, visits a local park with a giant tree over 800 years old. The disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center follow closely behind.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, accompanied by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, visits a local park.
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang leads Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche on a walk in the woods.
The disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center reverently see His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche off.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche specially spares some time to have dinner with the disciples.
While waiting for a boarding call at the Hong Kong airport, the Venerable Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, who has flown for eleven hours, bestows blessings upon a believer from Mainland China despite fatigue.
Updated on June 23, 2011