Visit of Geshe Alak Tsawa Rinpoche to the Buddhist Retreat Centre Tarini Dvori

Teachings and initiations

Geshe Alak Tsawa Rinpoche (from the Sera Jhe Monastic University for Buddhist Studies in South India), on his third visit to the Croatian Buddhist Society Padmasana, stayed for the first time at Tarini Dvori, the retreat center for Buddhist study of Sutra and practice of Tantrayana, during the period from May 27th to June 2nd. Rinpoche's arrival coincided with the first day of Saga Dawa, a special month according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, in which Buddha was born, achieved the perfection of enlightenment, and passed into paranirvana. Rinpoche's arrival filled him with a particularly pleasant feeling of returning to yet another of his spiritual homes where his close spiritual companions from the ancient past, Genla Lobsang Norbu and Lhamo Ozer-Reena, live. Rinpoche described Padmasana's Sangha as a closely connected spiritual family, in which peace, order, harmony and deep connection created through common spiritual training prevail. The Sangha was delighted and deeply grateful to Rinpoche for the very practical, spontaneous and vivid teachings, kindness and goodness. The closeness between Rinpoche and Gen Lobsang, the founder of the Society, Buddhist teacher and mentor of Padmasana, multiplied the magnetism of the Dharma field thus created. Together with another permanent mentor of Padmasana, Lhamo Ozer, a good connoisseur of Buddhist doctrine, lecturer and excellent practitioner, a joyful feeling of a Dharma festival was created. Croatian Buddhist Society Padmasana Tib. "Pema Tsang ", has been operating for some time now in the surroundings of Zagreb, in a peaceful, picturesque green environment. With a view of the surrounding meadows and forests, on a hillock one can see the green roofs of Tarini Dvori, Tib. "Jetsun Drolma Podrang", like the dwelling place of the goddess mother Tara herself. A place like a hidden and secluded refuge, with a view of the open sky, accompanied by the chirping of birds, the play of colorful flowers immersed in lush greenery, provides the perfect atmosphere for Buddhist study, tantric initiations, meditation and workshops related to dharma."

"The Dharma activities began with a rabne ceremony"Lungta Tsechog" or consecration of Buddhist prayer flags, of Guru Rinpoche, Jetsun Drolma, Wind Horse and other sets of flags. This ceremony was accompanied by placing flags on the surrounding trees, on a special day favorable for such activities. In accordance with the Croatian national holiday of Statehood Day, the Croatian flag was first raised with the singing of the national anthem. This was followed by the raising of the Dharma flag which is common to all Buddhist traditions. This flag symbolizes the qualities of the mind of Buddha's wisdom and his teachings which emphasize the unity of all sentient beings regardless of different origins, races, etc. The unity of all beings is based on the deep realization that every sentient being ultimately possesses the same Buddha nature. In the background of this event, the Sangha chanted the Dharani mantra of interdependent origination, which contains the essence of Buddha's fundamental teaching on cause and effect.

Members of the Sangha then wrote their names on the prayer flags. After that, on the inner lawn in front of the prayer hall, the flags were hung in a connected string on the surrounding trees, enlivening the peaceful space, fluttering in the wind in vivid colors, strengthening and energizing the potential of the 5 great elements. The motivation of the Sangha was directed toward the wish that the blessed prayers written on the flags, carried by the wind, would bring a sense of inner peace and well-being to all people and the environment. Finally, the larger flags (darcha), of the Wind Horse, were placed on a hilltop by the path leading to the buildings while Rinpoche recited a special concise prayer from a well-known Sutra. May the prayers written on the Wind Horse flags that flutter in the wind swiftly bring peace, harmony, good health and all happiness in all directions.

Geshe Alak Rinpoche conferred a tantric initiation in Yeshe Korlo (White Tara), together with instructions for practice. The White Tara initiation in the precious lineage of the Dalai Lama was given especially for prolonging life (longevity), increasing the potential for the accumulation of merit through positive activities, and for increasing wisdom. All prerequisites and preparations for the initiation were fully met, including those relating to the Yidam with the offering of appropriate tormas. After the initiation, the Sangha received blessed pills for long life. Later that afternoon, a closing offering ceremony was held (Tsok) and meditation on the dissolution of the wisdom mandala in time and space.

To the members of the Sangha of Padmasana who have been sponsoring Rinpoche's eight monks at Sera University for a number of years, Alak Rinpoche gave the oral transmission and blessing of the deity Dzambhala, along with a specific mantra, according to the teaching received from Panang Rinpoche, a Buddhist yogi, so that the students may increase in their minds the wealth of Dharma knowledge, material wealth, and the wealth of health. As a sign of his gratitude to the sponsors, Rinpoche kindly bestowed a special personal protection (sunkor), tsa-tse of Dzambhala, a meditation cord and other things.

Once again, as on all the previous days, Rinpoche, Gen Lobsang Norbu and Lhamo Ozer, surrounded by members of the Sangha, concluded this special time of gathering together with a rich lunch prepared by members of the Sangha. All were imbued with spontaneous kindness and joy.

At the end of these past days on the margin of samsaric thoughts, the Sangha dispersed enriched by an extraordinary experience of encountering their own feelings and thoughts perceived in a completely new way. All those present were filled with joy, aware of the need for further development of the mind of virtue, which is the foundation for achieving inner peace and happiness. The members wished Rinpoche all the best and asked him to come again soon.

 ‘What is together is subject to separation, and what is separated meets again.", this is the law of constant change and transience, a fundamental Buddhist teaching that is the basis of all experiences and teachings on the impermanence of life and death.