On January 3, 2013, His Eminence Vajra Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche presided over the auspicious Ksitigarbha Blessing Puja at the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan. Taking part in the Puja were 11 Japanese and 8 Taiwanese believers, as well as 121 Japanese and Taiwanese disciples. 
In all, a total of 140 people participated in this rare and precious Puja.
In 2011, Japan incurred the wrath of nature in the form of the Tohoku Earthquake. Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche watched the scenes of Tsunami destruction on TV and saw many houses being swept away by the giant waves. What touched the guru was that in the aftermath of the catastrophe, many Tsunami victims re-erected the stone statue of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and made sincere offerings. Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche was moved by the faith shown by the victims for the Bodhisattva, despite their having gone through untold suffering and horror. The guru has taught before that Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha is also called “Earth Store Bodhisattva”. “Earth” means that Ksitigarbha is compassionate like the Earth that nurtures the sentient beings to learn the Dharma; “Store” signifies that the bodhicitta of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas benefits all sentient beings. However, even though Japanese people were familiar with Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and their offerings were sincere, they did not know how to make offerings in accordance with the Dharma. For this reason, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche felt very sympathetic and compassionate for them.
On January 3, the day of the Puja, the weather in Japan was severely cold with strong wind and an overcast sky. Before the Puja, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche arrived at the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center, Kyoto, Japan, to bless the prayer flags. The disciples were instructed to erect the flags at the center of the courtyard of the Buddhist Center. When His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche began reciting mantra for the prayer flags, warm and glorious rays of light emerged to shine on the earth, penetrating and dispersing the dark clouds, thus revealing a vast azure sky. The brightening of the weather was indeed an auspicious sign heralding the success of the Ksitigarbha Blessing Puja to be presided over by His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, signifying that the Puja, filled with pure Dharma, would relieve the suffering of sentient beings and bring happiness to them!
At the beginning of the Puja, the attendees put their palms together in respect to welcome His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, 
as the guru ascended to the Dharma throne. Before performing the Dharma, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche disseminated the precious Dharma teachings: Many people in China, Korea, and Japan are very familiar with Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha. Unfortunately, they have not learned how to make offerings according to the Dharma. As such, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche explained in detail to the attendees the aspiration of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, the location of the Dharma performance and mandala, as well as the requirements for the presiding practitioner.
After the start of the Dharma, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche performed the auspicious Tantra to help attendees accumulate the wisdom and the resources for their Buddhist practice and widely benefited sentient beings in the Six Realms. The guru explained clearly the Dharma appearance of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and the origin of the “Sutra of Fundamental Vows of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha”, led the attendees in reciting the verses of the Sutra, and elucidated their true meanings. Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche also explained the auspiciousness of the mantra: One who sincerely recites the mantra in retreat will be liberated in this life, thus removing himself from suffering.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche stated that the Dharma method of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha could eradicate affliction and sorrow. All attendees were urged to pay homage to the Sutra, to deeply believe in Buddhism, to accept causes and effects, as well as to do all the good deeds and refrain from doing the evil ones. Even if people fall into the evil path, as long as they remember the Dharma name of a Buddha, they will be saved by Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha. During the ritual of dedication, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche placed the “Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha” on the head of every Japanese believer, reciting the mantras and blessing them for a long time. The Japanese believers respectfully went forward to receive the blessings. They were very happy and grateful.
Under the thorough teachings and instructions of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, sentient beings from the Six Realms have gained immeasurable Dharma benevolence. Then, the attendees knew clearly and correctly how to make offerings to Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha in accordance with the Dharma and how Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha protects sentient beings. Consequently, they felt profoundly grateful for the ubiquitous help offered by the Dharma for the sentient beings.
At the end of the Puja, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche exhorted compassionately, that since this year will be a year of extreme weather conditions, everyone should break away from doing evil and instead do good deeds in order avoid natural disasters. This will also be a year full of world-changing events, so it is important to exercise caution. Everyone should be vigilant and discreet in ways of taking food and drink, as infectious gastrointestinal diseases could become epidemic. Eating meat and seafood could make one more susceptible to contracting diseases. People who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases or influenza should have their ailments treated before spring time. Those whose lungs have mucus and who smoke and love icy-cold food will also contract diseases easily. Finally Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche wished all a good year.
At the successful conclusion of the Puja, all attendees rose in unison with palms together to express thanks to His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche for having auspiciously performed the Dharma. They sincerely paid their respects as Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche descended from the Dharma throne. With His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s great mercy and compassion, sentient beings had such auspicious causal conditions to attend the precious Ksitigarbha Blessing Puja in the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center, Kyoto, Japan, learning the Dharma of right knowledge and right faith; thus, accumulated the resources of virtues and wisdom for their Buddhist practice. It was a cold day, but during the Puja many attendees felt warmth in their body, signifying that they had received the guru’s auspicious blessings. Furthermore, they all praised Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche for performing the Dharma to benefit sentient beings with his attainment in the cultivation of Tantra. At the start of the New Year, the Ksitigarbha Blessing Puja presided over by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche would definitely benefit Japan and countless sentient beings in the void, as well as bring the incredible blessings to Japan and world peace.
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Updated on January 19, 2013