Chod Puja in the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan, 2008
On Aug. 16, 2008, the His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche conducted the first Chod Puja in the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan. That night was also the night of the important annual ancestor worship “Daimonji Fire Festival” in Kyoto.
The two tablets above the main entry of the venue of Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan, bear the inscriptions “Natabhatika” and “Glorious Jewel Meditation Place” respectively which were endowed by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche.
His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche has received the orthodox Buddha Dharma that His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche transmitted personally. Being granting the blessing of Drikung Kagyu Lineage, Rinpoche teaches and enlightens the sentient beings with his auspicious wisdom.
In the afternoon of Aug. 16, 2008, the first Chod Puja was conducted by His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche in the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto, Japan.
The attendees included local believers from Japan and disciples of His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche from Taiwan.
At the beginning, Rinpoche enshrined a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha bestowed by Yunga Rinpoche in the mandala.
Rinpoche prostrated toward the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the mandala.
Rinpoche made a reverent salute by touching His Holiness’ throne with his forehead.
Rinpoche enlightened: “Only Buddhadharma could really help to transfer the consciousness of our ancestors to the pure land.”
There were around 80 people, including local believers from Japan and disciples from Taiwan, reverently listening to the enlightenment by Rinpoche.
Rinpoche presented Japanese believers a card printed with Mani Mantra.
Rinpoche started to conduct Chod after giving the enlightenment.
The dharma instrument that Rinpoche used for conducting Chod was bestowed by His Holiness and that was used by His Holiness himself for conducting Chod.
Japanese believers attended the puja with a reverent heart.
Japanese believers attended the puja with a reverent heart.
Chod is one of the Eight Sadhana Teachings in Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism which can benefit countless sentient beings out of reincarnation.
The Mani Mantra in Tibetan, Chinese, English and Japanese. There is no discrimination between languages and spaces in the mercy and compassion of Rinpoche, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
It is immensely toil for Rinpoche to conduct Chod in public, and the mahasiddha must posses great mercy and compassion, great vows and great virtues.
The Rinpoche’s great mercy and compassion is vajra-like immovable. The illumination of Rinpoche’s wisdom guides the sentient beings to engender their supreme faith in Buddhadharma and so as to practice orthodox Buddhadharma industriously.
After the dharma conduction is perfectly completed, Rinpoche gave blessings to the attendees one by one with the statue of Lord Jigten Sumgon.
Rinpoche gave blessings to the patients of serious disease.
After the puja, Rinpoche treated the attendees with a buffet of vegetarian foods in the garden of venue.
That night was the very night of the important annual ancestor worship "Daimonji Fire Festival" in Kyoto. The location of Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center in Kyoto is a good place to view the Daimonji festival.
Viewing the bonfire of Daimonji on Daimonji-Yama from the venue.
The bonfire of Ho (dharma) on Higashi-Yama (Mt. Higashi).
The bonfire of Funagata (shape of a boat) on Funa-Yama (Mt. Funa).
Updated on December 13, 2008