Author: gavinerickson

  • The Sikkim Eco  Pad Yatra, December 2010

    The Sikkim Eco Pad Yatra, December 2010

    Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest mountain in the world

    Join the walking pilgrimage to visit the holy sites in Sikkim, blessed by Guru Padmasambhava, and celebrate Christmas with His Holiness and his spiritual entourage with strikingly beautiful valleys, passes and villages as backdrops. Just like the ancient times when the Buddha walked with his disciples and taught them through his physical actions and verbal expressions, His Holiness and his spiritual sons and daughters will help us relive the ancient traditions of spirituality as well as connect this ancient wisdom with our modern life. 

    For full details and registration please visit http://www.walking.drukpa.com/index.php/the-pad-yatra 

  • Long Life Ceremonies for His Holiness in Darjeeling in October

    Long Life Ceremonies for His Holiness in Darjeeling in October

    The Pel Drukpay Tcheutsok congregation and the Drukpa Plouray center in France are co-organising a pilgrimage to Darjeeling and Sikkim in October, from 11th to 22nd, to attend the Long Life Ceremonies for His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa

    Drubpon Ngawang has written the following letter (translated from French) regarding the pilgrimage:

     

    Dear Friends,

    I am writing this letter on my return from the pilgrimage in Bhutan and Nepal.

    I have been able to have a meeting in Delhi and in Kathmandu with His Holiness regarding the planning of the ceremonies that our European Sangha wishes to offer for the long life of our Master in Darjeeling Monastery in October.

    The year of the Rabbit which starts in March 2011 is announced to be negative and unfavourable for His Holiness and His activities.

    A long life ceremony consecrated with a pure motivation creates immense benefits, infinite merits which are able to remove obstacles and clear away adversities. It is advisable to undertake these practices a few months before the beginning of the year.

    12 years ago in Darjeeling, the European Sangha had facilitated these long life practices and His Holiness’s parents, Bairo Rinpoche and Mayum-La have often told me of the positive effect these ceremonies had on His Holiness health and activities. They encouraged me to repeat this initiative.

    His Holiness has numerous programs everywhere in the world, and you might be tempted to go here or there. But what is more essential for a disciple than the  request to the master that He remains a very long time in this life?

    My personal feeling is that it is of primary importance. Long life ceremonies must be grandiose, as big as the scale of our wishes and the strength of our devotion.

    Alone I can’t do much! I am therefore calling upon you all: disciples, students, followers, friends of His Holiness, because we must be united and numerous…the merits will be immense.

    The Vietnamese Sangha is gathering in Kathmandu this month of September for a long life ceremony.

    I have organised this program with His Holiness, with the monks of Darjeeling, with the travel agency so that everything goes smoothly. The brochure is available where you will find all the information.

    For those who can’t travel there, their financial contribution* will be a precious help.

    Your devoted servant of the Dharma, Drubpön Ngawang Tenzin.

     

    * If you wish to make a financial contribution to the long life ceremonies in Darjeeling please send a cheque (payable to Drukpa UK) to 114 Harvist Road, London NW6 6HJ

    Click here to download the programme

    Click here to download price information and booking form

    If you would you like to receive a copy of the programme by post please send your name and address to london@drukpa.org.uk

     

  • Bringing Smiles Back To Ladakh

    Bringing Smiles Back To Ladakh

    A series of cloudbursts on August 5th rocked the peace of Ladakh and brought a state of devastation never before experienced by anyone in this remote Himalayan region.

    Ladakh is described as ‘my homeland’ by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa and Drukpa UK, in conjunction with Live To Love UK, has been running an appeal  for funds to help to Bring the Smiles Back to Ladakh.

    If you have been touched by these images and stories and would like to contribute to the Ladakh Disaster Humanitarian appeal we urge you to visit our How To Donate page to make a donation via Paypal, using the Live To Love donation buttons. Alternatively, you can send a cheque to Drukpa UK (Ladakh Disaster Appeal), 114 Harvist Road, London NW6 6HJ. 

    So far we have sent £9,000 to the Live to Love Charitable Foundation in Hong Kong for immediate relief purposes and we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everybody who has contributed so far.

    Thank you for your continuing help