Phowa Teachings
May 4, 2009 by javajoba
Filed under Teachings & Practices
We just found out that khenpo is going to give us prelims for phowa. When he returns , he will do the last stage which requires a lama to chant while student does practice.
Khempo has giving us preliminaries last night to do before he returns, in about 3 months. If you are planing on joining us for the rest of the teaching please let us know. We will be selling the dvd soon.
Khenpo Choejur
MAY TEACHINGS: Sunday evenings @ 7pm
Translations by Professor Robert W. Clark, Ph.D. of Stanford University.
More information coming soon
PHOWA Instruction: May 3
Highly prized by Tibetan people, Phowa teachings and empowerments are rarely given in the West. Khenpo Choejor will give instructions in the Jonang lineage of Phowa. This teaching does not require a previous empowerment.
Phowa, literally “transferring consciousness”, has many meanings. Phowa is the practice one learns to transfer one’s mind stream to the Pure Land of Amitabha (Dewa Chen) at the moment of death. With a good practice, one is not reborn in Samsara, but remains in the Pure Land of Amitabha where one attains full enlightenment under the teaching of Amitabha Buddha.
AMITABHA Text and Commentary:
Date: not sure yet
Because the Phowa practice depends upon Amitabha (Buddha of infinite Light), Khenpo would like to spend time giving the complete text of Amitabha: Buddha of Infinite Light.
These texts, from both Nygma and Kagyu lineages, are major teachings in Tibet.
It is customary to give Phowa in conjunction with Amitabha teachings.
Amitabha
PHOWA TEACHING REGISTRATION:
We encourage early registration so that we can better plan space requirements.
Phowa registration fee $75 early registration $95 after April 20
Please make checks payable to “Dorje Ling” and mail to:
Dorje Ling Buddhist Center
3253 Shallowford Road
Chamblee, GA 30341
Other teachings offered with self-directed donation.
Donations also accepted through PayPal on our website at www.jonang.org
OTHER TEACHINGS:
Offerings are appreciated – your donations help pay for translations and center operations.
We want our Dharma teachings to be available to all.
If you have a financial need or want information, please call Lori Kuster at 770 270-0927.
If you live out of town and are interested in receiving teachings over the phone or by CD,
contact Eric Kuster at 770 270-0927.
GREEN TARA CHANTING: Join us Sunday mornings @ 10:30 am
KALACHAKRA EMPOWERMENT: coming in MARCH 2010
Sangye Khadro: Thanks for the feedback re: the Kalachakra approach to dream yoga. I am one of those who were unable to attend due to weather. How can we avail ourselves of this instruction in preparation for Khenpo’s return?
Be well,
Swami Kala
Great Question Heather, No other empowerments are required before the retreat. There will be other empowerments given that will cover all the requirements.
For the Kalachakra empowerment in 2010, is it required that you have had a previous empowerment?
Sincerely,
Heather
Also, Swami,
I forgot to mention – the teachings last night were actually on the (or “a”?) Kalachakra approach to dream yoga, in preparation to receive the Kalachakra p’owa teachings, both from the Taranatha teaching lineage by way of one Thubten Gelek Gyamtso, on how to take hold of the clear light in three temporal contexts as translator Robert Clark put it: (1) in general; (2) in deep sleep; and (3) upon death and the bardo (which in turn may be prelminary to p’owa in conjunction with Amitabha).
This dream yoga is the practice he left us to develop in his absence over the next 3 months, in order to make p’owa easier and more accessible, as grasping the clear light in the dream state is easier and more natural than grasping the clear light during the death or bardo process, or at any other time.
If I am mistaken in any way, I hope someone will correct me.
Sincerely,
Suzanne
We’re all waiting to find out. P’owa is generic and can be associated with different transmissions. Last night, Khenpo began a teaching on p’owa in connection with Kalachakra practice, which is perhaps a unique teaching in the Jonangpa tradition and comes down from the Taranatha line of teachings within that lineage. At Dorje Ling we do the Kalachakra practice, for which the Jonangpas are known, so that made sense. However, we are all waiting to see the connection of the Kalachakra p’owa practice with the Amitabha/Dewachen practice and will have to wait until Khenpo returns from his travels, hopefully in three months. Don’t worry, Khenpo will have a good explanation!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phowa
What is the significance of Kalachakra Phowa … I thought that it was associated with Amitabha, no tKalachakra. Are they not distinct initiations/practices?
WE are offering Phowa teachings . they will be may 3 and 10 at 7 pm at Dorje Ling Center in Atlanta.
we invite anyone to come.
there is no previous empowerment and Khenpo has said these will be given in public Teaching style.
Please help me to understand when will be the next phowa empowerment by a lama /kulkul (?) and what I need to have done to attend it. Where it will be and how much it will cost or where to find out those things.
Thank you.
Hello,
Will these teachings also be offered in New York?
Thanks for both your questions. There is no requirements.
There will be 2 teachings: Kalachakra Phowa will be the short teachings the first 2 classes, and Amitabha Buddha will be much longer.
We are expecting to have another Kalachakra empowerment in March 2010.
I am interested in the Phowa teachings, but would need to know times and dates to decide if I can attend. Is there a schedule set up yet?
Burning question: Is a Kalachakra empowerment a prerequisite for the Kalachakra Phowa teachings?? (or Vajravega empowerment as apparently that qualifies one for Kalachakra practice here)…