POSTPONED: Vajrakilaya Drupchen August 2024
For people in the western world, Drupchens are almost as difficult to attend as they are to set up. They are also costly. Lamas with specific skills are required with great knowhow, Tormas other shrine offerings need to be made and set up within an entire Mandala, and daily tsok and subjugation of negativity rituals are needed each night.
Although Vajrakilaya teachings have proliferated, being able to actually participate in a Vajrakilaya Drupchen is vastly different than simply just receiving empowerment, teachings or even doing a short daily practice. A drupchen places one squarely into the actual vital essence mandala of Vajrakilaya with all its benefits and challenges.
The drupchen presents a huge opportunity therefore but not one without challenges on physical, mental, and financial levels. Planning and preparation for this drupchen have in fact started years ago and now we are close to the dates from August 1st through August 10th flanked by preparation and dissolution days.
Those interested should please reach out to us right away (info@bodhivastu.org) as accommodations are extremely limited and logistics are on the heavy side.
Our growing center has growing pains as well. Our current accommodation rustic limitations seem to be very much in accordance with the Dharma while the average western person has grown accustomed to an otherwise high standard of dwelling place. Costs for such a major activity normally run much higher than any initial estimates we can make.
Joining the blessing Stream by Sponsoring:
A very meaningful way to join in the blessing stream and energy if one cannot attend in person for whatever reasons, is to sponsor the drupchen and there are many ways to do this.
1. Sponsor a tsok: Daily and major tsoks for the drupchen will range from $300 - $1,200. Sponsoring one complete tsok forms and excellent connection and sponsor’s names can be read out during the dedication.
2. Offering a meal to the entire assembly: this is a very tradition thing to do as well. Sponsors can cover the costs of a lunch for the entire assembly providing sustenance for the practitioners performing the rituals. Sponsoring one meal can range from $400 - $600 depending on number of attendees and amount offered.
3. Tea offering service: it’s important to keep the assembly awake. In Tibet and throughout the Himalayas, offering tea and a light snack is a common way to assure that and to keep everyone going. This is estimated to range between $40- $60 each service which occurs twice a day.
4. Shrine Tormas and Daily Tormas: made laboriously by the lamas, these art works are essential for the entire drupchen and many are offered on a daily basis. Good tsampa, the traditional best substance for making Tormas, is expensive. One can offer for this purpose.
5. Ginseks: To complete the drupchen, four activity Ginseks should occur; pacifying, enriching, magnetizing and wrathful activities each have their own ginsek. Each ginsek needs a minimum of $200-$300 for substances alone.
6. Offering to Lamas: To establish the entire mandala and perform the drupchen requires at least ten competent lamas. Torma making, nightly subjugation of negativity, and ginseks (burnt offerings) are just some of the activities requiring sponsorship. Making offerings to all the lamas making the arts and performing the rituals in general is highly meritorious.
7. Substance Connections: Whereas it may be simpler to just sponsor freely from the categories above, for those who do wish for a substance blessing connection to the drupchen, we have created opportunities for such. For this reason we have made many items available for supporters of different levels. Please visit : https://www.bodhivastu.org/vajrakilaya-mandala as these items may change from time to time. Please understand that this is NOT a list of commercial bookstore items. They will remain in the mandala for blessing until the mandala’s dissolution and then it will take some time to send these out. Your patience and understanding is therefore requested. There are Phurbas, both metal and wooden and likely there will be kustabs of Vajrakilaya and Guru Dewachenpo made from clay mixed with Vajrakilaya Mendrup among other blessed items. Click here to see some of those possibilities
In all cases, if one cannot sponsor an entire category for example, one can simply donate any amount towards that category of offering.
General
All attendees must be responsible for themselves on all levels, physical and emotionally. We do not suggest coming to a drupchen with the idea that you will be able to adjust external circumstances and other people in the Sangha. Since none of us have the unimpeded super knowledge of a Buddha it is best not to judge others and to participate with a benevolent open and flexible mind filled with the cultivation of kindness. Unruly behavior that creates turmoil and disturbance for practitioners is not wrathful, it is inappropriate, so please conduct yourself with self discipline. Please be kind to all participants and Bodhivastu staff who are all offering their personal time towards the accomplishment of the drupchen.
August means summer time and that means it’s hot. Aside from your Dharma clothes you’ll need to bring light clothes for relaxing, bug repellant, a flashlight or head lamp style light for moving around at night.
We request all participants to bring their own bowl, plate and eating utensils so you can be responsible for your personal cleanup and hygiene. This small gesture becomes large as it helps participants become responsible for and reduces their footprint and develops habits of self reliance.
Some of you who are staff will be offering extra dedication of your time in terms of commitments to tasks like kitchen crew or other tasks. Many of these people are already known to us.
Schedule
This is going to be a drupchen which means 24 hours a day
We will accomplish the nighttime sessions using recitation of mantra in 2-3 night shifts of several people each night.
Some of you may have limits in terms of how long you can sit or if you are senior then there just maybe physical limits. This need not be a deterrent. We all just simply need to give it our best effort and be forgiving to ourselves in the correct measure.
Those who express interest will receive further communications and updates by email.
Joining the blessing Stream by Sponsoring:
A very meaningful way to join in the blessing stream and energy if one cannot attend in person for whatever reasons, is to sponsor the drupchen and there are many ways to do this.
1. Sponsor a tsok: Daily and major tsoks for the drupchen will range from $300 - $1,200. Sponsoring one complete tsok forms and excellent connection and sponsor’s names can be read out during the dedication.
2. Offering a meal to the entire assembly: this is a very tradition thing to do as well. Sponsors can cover the costs of a lunch for the entire assembly providing sustenance for the practitioners performing the rituals. Sponsoring one meal can range from $400 - $600 depending on number of attendees and amount offered.
3. Tea offering service: it’s important to keep the assembly awake. In Tibet and throughout the Himalayas, offering tea and a light snack is a common way to assure that and to keep everyone going. This is estimated to range between $40- $60 each service which occurs twice a day.
4. Shrine Tormas and Daily Tormas: made laboriously by the lamas, these art works are essential for the entire drupchen and many are offered on a daily basis. Good tsampa, the traditional best substance for making Tormas, is expensive. One can offer for this purpose.
5. Ginseks: To complete the drupchen, four activity Ginseks should occur; pacifying, enriching, magnetizing and wrathful activities each have their own ginsek. Each ginsek needs a minimum of $200-$300 for substances alone.
6. Offering to Lamas: To establish the entire mandala and perform the drupchen requires at least ten competent lamas. Torma making, nightly subjugation of negativity, and ginseks (burnt offerings) are just some of the activities requiring sponsorship. Making offerings to all the lamas making the arts and performing the rituals in general is highly meritorious.
7. Substance Connections: Whereas it may be simpler to just sponsor freely from the categories above, for those who do wish for a substance blessing connection to the drupchen, we have created opportunities for such. For this reason we have made many items available for supporters of different levels. Please visit : https://www.bodhivastu.org/vajrakilaya-mandala as these items may change from time to time. Please understand that this is NOT a list of commercial bookstore items. They will remain in the mandala for blessing until the mandala’s dissolution and then it will take some time to send these out. Your patience and understanding is therefore requested. There are Phurbas, both metal and wooden and likely there will be kustabs of Vajrakilaya and Guru Dewachenpo made from clay mixed with Vajrakilaya Mendrup among other blessed items. Click here to see some of those possibilities
In all cases, if one cannot sponsor an entire category for example, one can simply donate any amount towards that category of offering.