As soon as we are born we embark
upon a journey that leads inevitably to death. It would be in ones
best interest to educate oneself in order to be prepared for that
experience. Considered in this teaching are the necessary conditions
and resources that will enable us to ensure that the journey to death
will be the best possible one we can make. The entire transition between
an individuals death and their being reborn is comprised of three
phases. The interval from the time the outer breathing ceases until the
inner breathing ceases is the first phase of The Intermediate State of
the Death Experience. Once the inner respiration has ceased and all
breathing has stopped, the ensuing phase is called The Intermediate
State of Reality. Approximately twenty one days later begins The
Intermediate State of Rebirth.
All three of these phases are covered in depth by Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin
in these teachings given over two weekends in September 2012 and May
2013.
Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin guides us
through an exploration of what happens in the death process and how the
after-death experience manifests for every individual. Drawing from Guru
Rinpoches Great Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate States, known in modern times as The Tibetan Book of the Dead,
he gave a complete overview of the key instructions from this famous
cycle of treasure teachings--the very instructions that reveal how we
can discover the potential for liberation and awakening within the death
experience itself.
Preparing for Death, Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin, Vajra Echoes, 10 DVDs, 8 hrs., $100.00
Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin
was enrolled in the first class of Karma Shri Nalanda Institute at
Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center where he studied under Khenchen Thrangu
Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. He received the Acharya
degree from Nalanda Institute and Sampumanand Sanskrit University,
jointly, in 1991. As a khenpo, he taught at Nimalung Monastery in
Bhutan. He served as senior abbot and principal teacher at Nalanda
Institute at Rumtek from 1997 to 2002. In 2002, he returned to Bhutan to
go into retreat . He left retreat, following the request of His
Holiness the 17th Karmapa, to serve as a resident teacher at Karma
Triyana Dharmachakra, Woodstock, New York.
Translation was provided by Jigme Nyima. He used as a reference The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The First Complete Translation,
translated by Gyurme Dorje in Penguin Classics. Jigme has been
translating for KTD lamas since 2007, and in particular has traveled as
the interpreter for Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin to KTD affiliate centers. Prior
to coming to KTD, he worked and trained as a resident at Kagyu Thubten
Choling, directed by Lama Norlha Rinpoche.
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