Every year, those KTD students who have finished their Mahamudra Preliminary practices (called “Ngöndro”) gather to perform the Guru Sadhana of the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi.
This special practice removes obstacles and accumulates virtue toward to accomplishment of Mahamudra, and also is dedicated to the longevity of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa and all the masters of the lineage.
Our volunteers begin by collecting food items to offer during the four day retreat; the puja begins on a Monday.
Like most multi-day pujas at KTD, sponsorship was available online. If you want to help sponsor a future feast, visit this sponsorship page. The list of possibilities is wonderful!
You can dedicate Tsok feasts or any Pujas or prayers to family, friends or loved ones.
Khenpo Karma Tenkyong, the President of KTD, inspects the Karma Pakshi empowerment shrine Friday afternoon.
The Karma Pakshi Empowerment, Friday night.
Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin offers blessing water to longtime KTD student Laura Roth. Lama Yeshe Gyamtso translates.
May All Benefit!
The purpose of the annual Karma Pakshi Guru Sadhana Retreat is the long life and good health of His Holiness Karmapa and the benefit of all sentient beings. May all beings see the face of the Buddha Karmapa!
Every day of the retreat, a feast was offered to purify obstacles and obscurations and accumulate merit, and to pray for the long life and excellent health of His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa and all the masters.
Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin (center) and the Karma Pakshi retreat group after a day of practice.
Kagyu students who have completed their Ngöndro come “home” to KTD every year to perform three or four days’ practice of the Guru Sadhana of the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi. On the third day of this week’s Pujas, the Monastery was blessed by a visit from the Guru himself – His Holiness Karmapa paid a short visit to the monastery and gave audiences to the Karma Pakshi practitioners as well as KTD lamas, staff and volunteers. We are so blessed! Karmapa Khyenno!
His Holiness Karmapa made a visit to KTD Monastery this week and gave special blessing to the Karma Pakshi practitioners, as well as KTD Lamas, staff and volunteers. Sitting around His Holiness, from left, are Jane Li, Stephen Kropf, Lama Kathy, Michele Martin, Laura Roth, Patrick Woolridge, Patrice Woolridge, Lama Lodro Lhamo, Tim Wolf and Susan Pasternack.
Stars float in clouds to the East –
my Mother’s stars.
KTD, my second home, I will see you again soon
— Lama Kathy Wesley