About
Guru Padmasambhava
"Our precious, our greatest, protection in this dark age, the dregs of time."
-Mipham Rinpoche, A Shower of Blessings
Padmasambhava, whose name means Lotus-Born, is also popularly known by the Tibetan title Guru Rinpoche, meaning precious master. The historical figure of Padmasambhava was a renowned 8th century lay tantric master from the land of Oḍḍiyāna who was invited to Tibet by the patron King Tri Songdetsen and Indian scholar-abbot Śāntarakṣita to enable the transmission of Buddhism to the Tibetan empire and wider Himalayan region. He eliminated obstacles to the construction of Samye, the first monastery in Tibet and taught many disciples, of whom the twenty five main disciples attained supreme realisations. It is only through the blessings and power of Guru Rinpoche that Buddha's teachings were able to take root in Tibet and survive to the present day.
Recognising that his time in Tibet was limited, and out of his great compassion and concern for future sentient beings, Guru Rinpoche hid teachings and objects intended to be revealed at specific times in the future. These teachings and objects came to be known as terma, meaning treasures. These treasures were hidden not only physically, but also in the mindstreams of his disciples. Numerous incarnations of the twenty-five disciples have appeared and continue to appear to reveal these treasures. These teachings are powerful because they continually bring fresh blessings of Guru Rinpoche into our world, and contain methods tailored for the particular audience and circumstances.
Beyond the historical figure, Guru Rinpoche is a personification of the inner guru principle, as indicated by his name Lotus-Born. As Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche explains: "'Lotus' actually represents your devotion. Actually the lotus also represents your mind. Because lotus is born in the mud yet not stained by mud; even though your mind is filled with desire, anger, jealousy, pride, insecurity, but nature of the mind is not stained. This is why the moment you think of Guru Rinpoche, Guru Rinpoche is already there. Then that is 'lotus-born.' Born doesn't have to be born in the hospital. 'Born' - you think of Guru Rinpoche and he is already born. This is why again you are your own master. You are your own Guru Rinpoche."
Ganachakra offerings
"Ornaments of the play of primordial wisdom"
Ganachakra is a Sanskrit term which can be broken down into two parts, 'gana' meaning gathering, and 'chakra' meaning wheel. The Tibetan translation is tshog-kyi-khor-lo, which is commonly abbreviated to tshog (or a variety of phonetic renderings like tsog, tsok, etc.) Ganachakra practices are only found in a particular level of tantric practice, the highest yoga tantras (or in the Nyingma scheme, from Mahayoga upwards). The wheel of gathering refers to multiple forms of gathering, such as: the external offering substances, primarily food and drinks; the gathering of higher guests, all enlightened beings; the gathering of lower guests, all sentient beings; the gathering of practitioners, the yogis and yoginis; the gathering of method (great bliss) and wisdom in inseparable union; and the resultant gathering of merits and wisdom.
The essence of tantric practice is purification of ordinary appearance and grasping. Therefore, the ordinary venue, our ordinary identities, and ordinary offerings are transformed into a celestial mansion, divine identities, and inexhaustible divine nectar through the power of physical actions (mudra), sacred sounds (mantras), and meditation on the inseparability of great bliss and wisdom understanding the true nature of reality. Although the full practice of ganachakra cannot be explained to or performed by non-initiates, this 100,000 ganachakra offering ceremony is open to the public as a means for everyone to make a connection with the profound blessings.
Purpose of the Ceremony
Trashi Ganden Choepel Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre and Padma Ati Buddhist Institute have come together to organise the 100,000 ganachakra offerings ceremony as a means for planting the seeds of peace in our world.
As Buddhists, we view all our experiences to be the product of causes we have created in the past. When those causes encounter suitable conditions for producing a result, they do so in accordance with the laws of causality (popularly known as karma.) Therefore, to experience happiness we must practice virtues, and to reduce suffering we must minimise non-virtues. In order to create a peaceful outer world, we must first create a peaceful inner world.
As explained in the previous section, the ganachakra ceremony is a profound way of gathering vast merits and purifying negativities because the practice takes place on the level of the inconceivable, beyond the ordinary conceptual mind's limitations. This particular 100,000 ganachakra offerings ceremony has been selected by Kathog Rigzin Chenpo Rinpoche as the most suitable remedy for the troubles of our world in these desperate times. Requiring 100,000 offerings underscores the grand scale of generosity needed for spiritual transformation, and encourages group practice which is more powerful than practising alone.
Our hope is that the merits of the ceremony can contribute towards: rebalancing the inner and outer elements, putting an end to epidemic diseases and natural disasters; the pacification of attachment, hatred, and ignorance so beings may be at peace and enjoy abundance; and the flourishing of the Buddha's teachings and the stable lives of the genuine upholders of those teachings so all beings may follow the path to lasting goodness. May difficult circumstances transform into favourable circumstances for everyone, and may practitioners of mind training strengthen their minds so that no matter whether external circumstances are favourable or unfavourable, their peace of mind remains undisturbed.