JOIN ARI BHÖD’S ANNUAL
ÖGYEN DZAMBHALA ENRICHMENT & PROSPERITY RETREAT
NOVEMBER 29th – DECEMBER 1st, 2024
IN PERSON & VIA ZOOM at Ari Bhöd/Pema Drawa, Tehachapi, CA
LED BY VENERABLE GELONG KALSANG RINPOCHE
With a special opening blessing of the Mandala and Shrine Consecration Thursday, November 28th (Thanksgiving Evening) for retreatants
| The Ögyen Dzambhala treasure was revealed in America, by His Holiness Örgyen Kusum Lingpa with the intention to provide Western students with a profound and skillful means to enrich our spiritual path during this age of decline and to further foster interdependent conditions for dharma to flourish in the West. “Through the blessings of Ögyen Dzambhala, we can restore the outer universe and the inner inhabitants back to the original state of resplendence and vitality and can eventually yield the ultimate prosperity of sublime and ordinary spiritual accomplishments, leading all beings to the state of pure awakening.” —Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa (1951–2009) |
| RETREAT INFO We are overjoyed that the annual Ari Bhöd Ögyen Dzambhala retreat is led once again by our visiting Vajra Master, The Venerable Gelong Kalsang Rinpoche. This three-day practice retreat begins Friday, November 29th. The retreat concludes with an offering of Tsok and the bestowal of retreat accomplishment blessings (Siddhis) on Sunday, December 1st. We will be practicing from THE BODY TREASURY OF VAIROCHANA, The Prosperity Accomplishment Sadhana of Ögyen Dzambhala text throughout the retreat. This text is available for purchase and requires previous Empowerment. Upon registration, retreatants will be sent the practice schedule and accompanying daily sadhana sequence, as well as a unique Zoom link for the retreat. Whether near or far, all registered retreatants will receive a bundle of Dzambhala retreat siddhi blessings, enrichment shrine blessings, and tsok blessings following the retreat. Previous Dzambhala empowerment is required for those who plan to attend this retreat. Part-time attendance okay, full time attendance encouraged. |
| RETREAT HISTORY Through the enlightened intent of His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, His Holiness Örgyen Kusum Lingpa (Treasure Revealer of the Three Kayas) made a significant journey from his remote monastery in Golok, Tibet, to the United States in 1994. During this historic visit, His Holiness was accompanied by Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa Rinpoche, who escorted him from Asia to the United States and continued to support him throughout his inaugural tour of the USA. During their remarkable time together, Lama Chödak Gyatso tirelessly supplicated His Holiness Örgyen Kusum Lingpa to reveal the Terma (hidden treasure) of Ögyen Dzambhala for the benefit of the current generation. Moved by Lama Gyatso’s persistent and compassionate request, and with the perfect convergence of causes and conditions, His Holiness Kusum Lingpa revealed the Ögyen Dzambhala treasure in America. His primary intention was to provide Western students with a profound and skillful means to enrich their spiritual path during this age of decline and to foster the interdependent conditions for dharma to flourish in the West. His Holiness entrusted the custodial responsibility for this terma practice to Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa Rinpoche. Under Lama Gyatso’s guidance, the Ögyen Dzambhala practice was translated into English and upheld daily, culminating in annual retreats at Thöndup Ling in Los Angeles until Lama Gyatso’s parinirvana in 2009. Since then, Ari Bhöd has faithfully continued this annual retreat under Lama Gyatso’s auspices. We have carried forward the full spectrum of auspicious conditions and the elaborate ceremonial traditions Lama Gyatso established as custodian of this sacred practice. We feel deeply honored to uphold this transformative retreat and are profoundly grateful for everyone’s support in participating in and sustaining this annual enrichment retreat accomplishment, especially that of our Vajra Master, the Venerable Gelong Kalsang Rinpoche. SAMAYA! Your donations and dedications are meaningful! Therefore, we request that you please include a dedication of merit with your donation to be read aloud daily.If you are unable to attend this year’s annual Ögyen Dzambhala Retreat but would like to connect with Gelong Kalsang Rinpoche and the enrichment qualities of Prosperity, Wealth, Longevity, and Wisdom by participating in our Ögyen Dzambhala Retreat Mandala this year, you may donate towards the fulfillment of this retreat by offering toward our daily Tsok, butterlamps, retreat support, and our elaborate Ögyen Dzambhala Enrichment Shrine! |
THE VENERABLE GELONG KALSANG RINPOCHE is a fully ordained Bhikshu monk and lama of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is renowned as a highly accomplished meditator and master of retreat. Ordained as a monk at the age of eleven, Rinpoche studied with and received empowerments and teachings from the foremost lamas of the Nyingma lineage of this era, including His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, His Holiness Trulshik Rinpoche, His Holiness Chatral Rinpoche, His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, and His Holiness the Dodrupchen Rinpoche.
In the 1980s, The Venerable Gelong Kalsang Rinpoche was appointed by his root lama, His Holiness Chatral Rinpoche, to serve as the Dorje Lopon (Vajra Master) for Pal Rigdzin Drubpe Gatsal Ling (the Glorious Pleasure Grove of the Accomplished Awareness Holders), the monastery of His Holiness Chatral Rinpoche at Yanglesho in Pharping, Nepal, a post Gelong Rinpoche dutifully held for many years. Currently, Rinpoche generously teaches the Buddha Dharma throughout the world and faithfully presides over many of Ari Bhöd’s annual retreats in Tehachapi, CA. The Venerable Gelong Kalsang Rinpoche is one of Ari Bhöd’s most revered visiting lamas. Humble, generous, and kind–a dharma treasure–Rinpoche and his vast Dharma knowledge are a guiding light for all.
Gelong Kalsang Rinpoche currently serves as Abbot and Spiritual Director of the Nyingmapa Padmasambhava Pureland Buddhist Association in Taiwan and at his long-term retreat centers throughout Nepal, including his monastery, Kunkhap Yosal Thonkdol Choeling, in Pharping, where Rinpoche is in the final stages of completing his extraordinary Zangdok Palri Temple, a heartfelt offering dedicated for the benefit of all sentient beings—past, present, and future. If you wish to know more about the Zangdok Palri project please contact us at contact@aribhod.org.