Buddhist Blessing Empowerment Weekend

Blessing Empowerment of Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden & Teachings on Heart Jewel with Buddhist monk, Gen Kelsang Rabka

“A Dharma Protector is an emanation of a Buddha or a Bodhisattva whose main functions are to avert the inner and outer obstacles that prevent practitioners from gaining spiritual realizations, and to arrange all the necessary conditions for their practice ... These Protectors have great power to protect Buddhadharma and its practitioners ... If we rely upon Dorje Shugden with unwavering faith he will care for us just like a father caring for his children.”

– Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, Heart Jewel

Buddhas manifest in many different aspects in order to benefit living beings, for example, as Avalokiteshvara to help us develop compassion, or as Manjushri to help us develop wisdom. And to help living beings overcome their obstacles and gather the necessary outer and inner conditions for practice, they manifest as a Dharma Protector.

Dorje Shugden is the special Dharma Protector of our Kadampa Buddhist Tradition. For us, he is the same nature as the Wisdom Buddha, Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of our lineage. By relying on him we receive special blessings and protection that enable us to progress swiftly along the spiritual path.

During this special weekend event our Resident Teacher, Gen Kelsang Rabka, will grant the blessing empowerment of Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, as well as give the transmission of Heart Jewel puja, which we can use to draw close to this Buddha and receive his profound protection. By coming under the care of this compassionate enlightened being we will have a powerful friend and spiritual ally guiding and protecting us in all things. In particular the practice of Dorje Shugden gives us a special skill in transforming obstacles into our spiritual training.

What is an empowerment?

An empowerment is a special guided Tantric meditation through which we make a deep, heartfelt connection with a particular Buddha and receive their inspiration and blessings. The enlightened mind is said to be like a boundless deep ocean, every drop of which has the power to bring inner peace to living beings. Receiving an empowerment is a means of connecting with this expansive potential inside our own mind, giving us the energy and wisdom to begin to realise our own Buddha nature.

Are there any commitments I should know about?

Everything will be clearly explained during the empowerment, and whilst you are invited to take refuge and bodhisattva vows during the empowerment ceremony, there is no requirement to take any commitments if you don't wish to. It is possible to take the empowerment simply with a good motivation to benefit ourself and be of benefit to others.

Everybody is welcome to attend this event regardless of experience and beliefs, however do note that it is an in-depth Buddhist weekend, and so an openness to the existence of past and future lives, higher and lower realms of existence, karma, and other aspects of Buddha's teachings will be assumed.

Timetable

Saturday, 28th Feb: Blessing Empowerment of Dorje Shugden

10 – 11am: Guided Meditation with KMC SG student

11:30am – 12:30pm: Guided Meditation with Compassion KBC student

(Lunch break – please note that the meditation room will be closed during lunch for Gen Rabka to do his final preparation for the empowerment. Please aim to return to the meditation room at 1:50pm as the empowerment ceremony will begin promptly at 2pm)

2 – 4.30pm: Blessing Empowerment of Dorje Shugden with Gen Rabka including Wishfulfilling Jewel with Tsog puja

(4.30 – 4.45pm: Group photo)

Sunday, 1st Mar: Commentary to Heart Jewel Prayers with Gen Rabka

10 – 11.30am: Commentary to Heart Jewel, Part 1

11.30am – 12.15pm: Guided Meditation

1.45 – 3.15pm: Commentary to Heart Jewel, Part 2

3.45 – 4.30pm: Guided Meditation

Event Fees: $120 per person for whole weekend, or $85 per person for Sat only (Empowerment day)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Teacher

Gen Kelsang Rabka was appointed as the Resident Teacher of KMC Singapore in mid 2020. He is an Australian Buddhist monk who has been studying and practicing Kadampa Buddhism with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche and his senior disciples for almost 20 years, and has taught both in Australia and the UK.

The clarity and warmth in his teachings has helped many students experience the practical benefits of modern Kadampa Buddhism in their daily lives.