The Great Indiscriminate Amitabha Puja for Transferring Consciousness of the Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism in the City of Ishinomaki of Miyagi Prefecture, Northeastern Japan, October 21, 2012
At the sincere invitation of the Ishinomaki Tourism Association, on October 21, 2012, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche presided over the Great Indiscriminate Amitabha Puja for Transferring Consciousness of the Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism for the first time at the Ishinomaki Grand Hotel in the city of Ishinomaki of Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, to liberate those who died on March 11, 2011 in the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of Japan. This Great Puja was attended by 124 people, including 6 believers from Japan, 5 believers from Taiwan, and 113 disciples from Japan and Taiwan. When His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche was performing the Dharma, he cast rice and flower petals into the air, signifying all sentient beings praising and making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the rice and flower petals were suspended airborne for a short while before falling down gradually. Such auspicious signs meant that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of Ten Directions had accepted the praises and offerings. It also signified the immeasurable achievement of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
On March 11, 2011, a huge tsunami struck northeastern Japan, and the death toll or the number of people missing exceeded 15,000. Even after more than a year, the affected area is still in utter state of ruins with much recovery effort needed.
With his heart full of thoughts of sentient beings, and at the sincere invitation of the local Tourism Association, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche presided over the Great Indiscriminate Amitabha Puja for Transferring Consciousness in the city of Ishinomaki of Miyagi Prefecture. This was the first time in many years that a Grand Puja of Transferring Consciousness was held in the City.
There were 47 boxes of articles needed for the Puja, weighing more than 900 kilos. All were air-shipped from Taiwan to Japan and required truck delivery to the venue.
The local weather had been forecasted for a sunny day without rain on the day of the Puja. However, after Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche arrived at the airport the wondrous rain like nectar water began to fall for a few minutes, an auspicious sign indicating the arrival of a great practitioner.
When Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche was about to arrive at the venue of the Puja, a giant bird appeared hovering in the sky above the venue, as though to bid welcome to the great practitioner. But as soon as His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche arrived, the giant bird disappeared without a trace. This was extremely incredible.
The Japanese VIPs successively arrived at the venue, getting ready to participate in this rare and auspicious Puja.
Setting out at 5:30 in the early morning, a 75-year-old lawyer drove alone for 5 hours from Fukushima, especially to attend the Puja.
A local Japanese VIP signed in at the entrance.
A Japanese VIP made a monetary offering to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche reverently.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, stepping on the white rug of Eight Auspicious Signs with flower petals scattered on it, entered the venue, protected by the jeweled parasol and preceded by prayer flags, musical instruments and incense burners.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, stepping on the white rug of Eight Auspicious Signs with flower petals scattered on it, entered the venue, protected by the jeweled parasol and preceded by prayer flags, musical instruments and incense burners.
The attendees stood in reverence, with their palms together, to welcome His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche to ascend to the Dharma throne and preside over the Puja.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche made incense offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche made Khadak offering to the Dharma thrones of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche made prostrations by touching his forehead to the Dharma thrones of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche lighted the lamps as offerings to the Buddha.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, with his palms together, prayed reverently to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to bless all sentient beings.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche ascended to the Dharma throne and presided over the Puja.
The attendees made prostrations to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
The attendees made prostrations to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
The representatives of Japanese believers lighted the lamps to offer to the Buddha with joy and gratitude. This ritual was entirely free of charge.
At the pujas presided over by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, there are no major donors as sentient beings are all equal.
The attendees received the nectar water, blessed by His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, to purify their body, speech and mind.
The attendees received the nectar water, blessed by His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, to purify their body, speech and mind.
The lead Dharma brothers led Japanese believers in making mandala-offering to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche on behalf of all sentient beings.
The Japanese believers made mandala-offering to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche on behalf of all sentient beings.
The mandala-offering ritual is one in which the most precious treasures of the universe are offered to the guru, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on behalf of all sentient beings so that blessed rewards can be accumulated for learning Buddhism.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche gave teachings to the attendees on the meaning of transferring consciousness and the rareness and auspiciousness of the Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche gave teachings to the attendees on the meaning of transferring consciousness and the rareness and auspiciousness of the Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
The attendees reverently listened to the auspicious Dharma teachings of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
The attendees reverently listened to the auspicious Dharma teachings of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche led the attendees
in chanting the Amitabha Mantra, which was also shown on the screens of the venue.
The attendees followed His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche in chanting the Amitabha Mantra.
The Japanese believers followed His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche in chanting the Amitabha Mantra.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
The atmosphere of the Puja was solemn and stately.
The atmosphere of the Puja was solemn and stately.
On behalf of the attendees, the lead Dharma brother made offerings of yak-butter tea to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
On behalf of the attendees, the lead Dharma brother made offerings of yak-butter tea to the wish-granting-jewel Dharma thrones of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang.
On behalf of the attendees, the lead Dharma brother made offerings of yak-butter tea to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
On behalf of the attendees, the lead Dharma brother made offerings with auspicious rice to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
On behalf of the attendees, the lead Dharma brother made offerings of auspicious rice to His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang.
The auspicious rice was offered to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche compassionately bestowed upon the attendees with the opportunity to receive the Tsok offerings, signifying that they shared the food with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and hence planted the causal condition for them to share food with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in their future lives.
The attendees gave back a part of their received offered items as offerings on behalf of sentient beings.
The lead Dharma brother, holding the name list of the deceased, made three prostrations to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and the presiding guru on behalf of all attendees and the deceased.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
All the attendees stood up in reverence while the ritual for transferring consciousness was under way.
During the ritual for transferring consciousness, all attendees reverently paid the three-bow homage to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the mandala on behalf of the deceased.
The attendees stood in reverence with their palms together, and the entire venue was in solemn silence with a very stately atmosphere.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Great Amitabha Dharma for Transferring Consciousness.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche cast rice and flower petals into the air as offerings to and praises for the Yidam. The rice and flower petals were suspended airborne for a short while before falling down gradually.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche cast rice and flower petals into the air as offerings to and praises for the Yidam. The rice and flower petals were suspended airborne for a short while before falling down gradually. (As shown in the photo with the area circled in red.)
Even when Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche had put down his hand, the rice grains were still hanging in the air. (As shown in the photo with the area circled in red.) Such auspicious sign meant that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of Ten Directions had accepted the praises and offerings. It also signified the immeasurable achievement of a great practitioner.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, with the immeasurable merits he had accumulated, performing in the meditative state of his Dharma nature, completed the Dharma in just a little more than three hours, whereas this Great Dharma for transferring consciousness usually requires one entire day to perform in Tibet.
Upon perfect completion of the Dharma, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche prayed for all attendees’ auspiciousness and happiness and Buddhism to help more sentient beings in need.
The attendees stood up reverently with their palms together to bid farewell to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche as he descended from the Dharma throne, and expressed their gratitude to the guru for tirelessly performing the auspicious Dharma for and giving teachings to sentient beings.
The Japanese believers reverently made prostrations to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, and expressed their gratitude to him for tirelessly performing the auspicious Dharma for and giving teachings to sentient beings.
With the Dharma music playing, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche descended from the Dharma throne.
Mr. Goto, Director of the Ishinomaki Tourism Association, led his staff to bid farewell to Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, and expressed their gratitude to the guru for tirelessly performing the Dharma.
The attendees left the venue with their heart filled with Dharma joy.
The attendees left the venue with their heart filled with Dharma joy.
Updated on November 18, 2012