His Eminence Vajra Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche presided over the Great Indiscriminate Amitabha Puja for Transferring Consciousness to Perfect Completion at Onsenji Monastery in Kinosaki, Japan.
On November 26, 2024, His Eminence Vajra Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, at the request of Abbot Yusho Ogawa of the thousand-year-old Onsenji Monastery in Kinosaki, Japan, presided over the Great Indiscriminate Amitabha Puja for Transferring Consciousness in the Mahavira Hall of Onsenji Monastery, liberating the beings who perished in the Kitadanjima earthquake one hundred years ago. The puja included 19 Japanese believers, 97 disciples, and 2 believers.
This puja was requested by Abbot Yusho Ogawa to liberate the local residents who lost their lives in the 1925 earthquake that nearly destroyed the entire town of Kinosaki. Many women perished while preparing lunch when their homes collapsed. On the centenary of the devastating earthquake, the sentient beings who had long awaited liberation finally received the compassionate blessings of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, attaining relief from suffering and being reborn in virtuous realms.
To honor the arrival of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, Onsenji Monastery erected a large Dharma portrait (of Rinpoche) outside the hall. Upon Rinpoche’s arrival, the clear and melodious calls of crows echoed outside, as if the Dakinis were welcoming the great practitioner. When Rinpoche paid homage to the mandala, the Mahavira Hall was instantly filled with radiant light, fragrant incense, and the tremor of the ground. The thangka of the yidam, Amitābha Buddha, shone with exceptional brilliance.
When Rinpoche ascended the Dharma throne and began the ritual practice, the hall was bitterly cold while fierce gales swept through the surrounding mountains. The howling wind carried mournful cries that resembled the wailing of women, shaking the wooden doors of the hall and snapping the patākā, as though the long-awaiting sentient beings were urgently gathering. Gusts of icy wind rushed into the hall, nearly toppling the offerings several times. The khatas fluttered violently and covered the butter lamps, yet no fire was ignited. All the offering lamps on the mandala were extinguished by the wind, except for the lamp personally lit by Rinpoche, which continued to shine brightly.
During the ritual, Rinpoche twice manifested a furious expression, letting out deep, commanding growls. His countenance became indistinguishable from that of Vajrapani depicted in the thangka of the mandala. When Rinpoche made the flower offering to the Buddhas, a single petal placed upon his crown did not fall despite the persistent gusts, remaining in place until the end of the puja. Truly, it was through Rinpoche’s mighty power of cultivation and merit, and his compassionate blessings, that the puja could proceed smoothly to perfect completion.
After the Great Indiscriminate Amitabha Puja for Transferring Consciousness was brought to perfect completion, the wind and rain outside the monastery suddenly ceased. The mountains became tranquil and serene, the sky opened bright and clear, and the air grew warm again. Historical records note that the majority of those who perished in the earthquake a hundred years ago were women, corresponding exactly with the phenomena that unfolded during the ceremony.
Out of boundless compassion and disregard for his own physical limitations, Rinpoche, abiding in Mahamudra chanding, accomplished within just three hours the Great Consciousness-Transference Ritual that ordinarily requires more than four hours, without pause or rest. Such inconceivable power and merit drew deep admiration from all present.
Following the perfect completion of the puja, when Rinpoche emerged from the resting chamber and descended the steps, he already needed the support of two attendants. Yet upon seeing the Japanese believers waiting outside, sincerely seeking blessings, Rinpoche—despite his fatigue—still granted them blessings and Dharma instructions. He kindly reminded them to take care of their health and even took the initiative to bestow blessings upon the young disciples. Rinpoche’s vast bodhisattva vow to benefit sentient beings knows no bounds of time or space; wherever there is need, he extends the blessings of the Dharma to bring aid. By journeying all the way to Japan to preside over this extraordinary Great Indiscriminate Amitabha Puja for Transferring Consciousness, Rinpoche once again manifested the great compassion, fearless courage, and bodhicitta vow and actions of a great practitioner.
Updated on December 2, 2024