Please join our Sangha in welcoming Nubpa Tulku Konchok Tenzin Rinpoche on his very first visit to North America.  He will be here for three days of teachings at the USF Campus in St. Petersburg on the third stop of his 2011 US Teaching Tour.

Day	Date	Location	Teaching
Tuesday	May 3 2-5pm & 6-9pm	DAV 130	Jigten Sumgon's teachings on Bodhichitta
Wednesday	May 4 2-5pm & 6-9pm	DAV 130	Jigten Sumgon's teachings on Bodhichitta
Thursday	May 5 2-5pm & 6-9pm	DAV 130	Importance of Three Year Retreat

NOTE: Thursday's location has changed and supersedes information on the flier.

He took his monk's vows at the age of 14.  In 1987 he entered the Drikung Kagyu Institute at Jangchub Ling Monastery in Dehra Dun.  An outstanding student, he excelled in all subjects and completed the nine-year program of study in only five years, while also teaching Buddhist philosophy.  He was enthroned as a Khenpo in 1998 and spent three more years teaching Buddhist philosophy at the Institute.  He completed the traditional Ngondro and Chakrasamvara practices in retreat.  Khenpo Tsultrim arrived at the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick, Maryland in April 2001 and teaches in fluent English.

Thursday	March 24	Hudson	7 pm - 9 pm
Friday	March 25	Hudson	7 pm - 9 pm
Saturday	March 26	Safety Harbor	10 am - 3 pm	Change your Mind Day at  Philippe Park
Saturday	March 26	Hudson	7 pm - 9 pm
Sunday	March 27	St. Petersburg	10 am - 5 pm

His Holiness Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché
The Gyalwa Drikungpa
Florida Dharma Tour 2010

Tuesday          September 14 - Drikung Great Bodhicitta Transmission
Wednesday   September 15 - Five-fold Mahamudra Torma Empowerment & Mahamudra
Thursday      September 16 - Gulf Oil Spill Blessing at the Gulfcoast Seabird Sanctuary

For the first time in more than a decade the Head of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, will visit Florida to give teachings and an empowerment.

                Location:           Click To See Map                       Information:
                Chua Phat Phap, Vietnamese Temple                 Contact: Richard Weissman
                1770 62nd Avenue North                                       Phone: (727) 452-7714
                St. Petersburg, FL  33702                                       drikungkagyuflorida@gmail.com

                Gulfcoast Seabird Sanctuary                        There is limited parking on-site but
                18328 Gulf Blvd                                                       more within walking distance across
                Indian Shores, FL 33785                                  the street and down 183 Terrace.

Bodhicitta (the “enlightenmentmind”) is the single indispensable cause of enlightenment without which freedom from suffering and buddhahood is impossible. To practice and realize this mind, it is necessary to rely on an authentic teacher to arouse within us this enlightened attitude through the ritual of conferring the Bodhicitta Vow. While most other traditions of receiving this vow only involves engendering “conventional Bodhicitta” (i.e. the altruistic mind that seeks to liberate all beings fromsamsara) in the minds of disciples, the Great Drikung Bodhicitta Transmission is unique in that it has a ritual aimed at awakening “ultimate Bodhicitta” within those disciples who are ready for it.
 
The Drikung Kagyu lineage is the main holder of a system of Mahamudra practice first explicitly taught by Gampopa’s main disciple, Phakmo Drupa and later promoted widely by Kyobpa Jikten Sumgon (founder of Drikung Kagyu). This system known as the “Five-fold Mahamudra” presents a complete path to enlightenment in five essential parts: generating the enlightenment mind (bodhicitta), arising as deity, practicing guru-yoga, meditating on Mahamudra and dedicating merit and wisdom. The Five-fold Mahamudra Torma Empowerment empowers students to practice this specific system of Mahamudra practice. In particular, this empowerment is conferred through the use of a torma (a ritual-cake) that represents the highest yoga tantra deity, Cakrasamvara.

The blessing will be held at Gulfcoast Seabird Sanctuary located at 18328 Gulf Boulevard in Indian Shores.  There is limited parking on-site but more within walking distance across the street and some down 183 Terrace.