On May 18th, nearly 300 representatives from Shangpa Kagyu centers around the world gathered at His Holiness Dalai Lama’s compound in Dharamsala for a special Mandala Ceremony and Mahakala teaching and blessing. Kalu Rinpoche had asked His Holiness for this ceremony over a year before as an opportunity to bring together his vibrant worldwide sangha with His Holiness.

*L - R: Ashima Sarin, Michelee Baird, Alicia Bell, Leslie Shelton, Suzanne Lucas*

Sukhasiddhi Foundation was pleased to be represented by Leslie Shelton, Alicia Bell, Suzanne Lucas, Ashima Sarin, and Michelle Baird at this historic event. When the date was finally announced in March, they scrambled to book flights and hotel rooms, arrange for childcare, and take time off from work. As they arrived in Dharamsala, they learned that the Dalai Lama chose to open the Mahakala blessing to the public. The gathering was not without obstacles. The morning of the event, 3 of them made a last-minute mile and a half sprint through darkened streets to reach the Dalai’s Lama’s compound by 5 a.m. when their taxi didn’t show up! They were incredibly grateful to all be seated in the inner temple, while the crowds outside and on the streets swelled to 8500.

*all Shangpa lineage participants inside the Temple*

*Kalu Rinpoche presenting mandala statue to His Holiness Dalai Lama*

Our sangha sisters were present for His Holiness’s talk of his and his mother’s long devotion to the Six-Armed Protector and the special significance of Mahakala as protector of Tibet, the Shangpa lineage and His Holiness. They witnessed the elaborate mandala that Kalu Rinpoche offered to His Holiness and the Dalai Lama’s affectionate reception, and joined in the long and winding procession of Shangpa members presenting scores of devotional statues amid the rich colors and glowing images of Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple.

The experience was deeply moving for all of them.

Leslie recalled “The experience of being in India and Dharamsala was a whole mix of the mundane and sublime – the liveliness of the streets and people, beautiful temples, the chaos of honking taxis and barking dogs, steep hills and taxis that don’t show up. “But entering the inner temple filled with fellow Shangpa colleagues was remarkable. The golds and reds, the huge statues and chanting monks created such a space of beauty. As images of the Dalai Lama appeared on the big screen that showed him making his way to the temple, waving and blessing the crowds, I was overcome with unexpected emotion and tears just streamed down my face. All around I could see the same response as he entered the temple and took his seat.

Although I did not understand the Tibetan being spoken, I felt like I was sitting in the middle of a still, calm ocean of tremendous depth and expanse. The sense of peace was profound. The rhythm of the words and the unfolding ceremony, which lasted several hours, was like watching a dance in slow motion. The presentation of huge mandala statues along with hundreds more of all sizes brought us to our feet to walk in front of His Holiness and on out into a separate room and through the crowds of many Tibetans reaching out for a moment to touch the statue. The reverence and deep dignity surrounding all of the event was incredibly moving. That is what has remained as the experience slips away. The deep peace that I felt sitting with thousands of others in the sheer, quiet joy of the moment while surrounded by the daily chaos of a bustling community is a great reminder to take a deep breath and be still.”

For Ashima, “A thought became a wish and a wish became destiny. Early this year, a thought came to mind: Wouldn’t it be nice to meet His Holiness Dalai Lama. A month later, an email showed up in my inbox. A chance to go with Sangha members to receive a Mahakala blessing. I was stunned. His Holiness is a revered figure in India and I was enchanted with the story of his life and his journey. Over the years I became drawn to Buddhism and joined the Dharma Training Program, and the benefit of the teachings started transforming my life bit by bit. I had been to Dharamsala 25 years ago but nothing prepared me for the energy and excitement I felt once I arrived there. The love of the Tibetan people for his Holiness as well as reverence that the Sangha felt for Kalu Rinpoche was awe inspiring. When the moment arrived and I saw the vision of his holiness entering the temple, tears started falling. It didn’t matter if I didn’t understand the language or didn’t know the prayers by heart. I felt them. I also felt honored as one of the few Indians in the temple and for me and realized how the two ancient cultures of Tibet and India have so much common ground (and so much to teach the world). The energy I felt that day is still with me. So is the gratitude for Sukhasiddhi Foundation for giving me this once in a lifetime chance.”

Michelle looked back on her experience: “The richness and complexity of the offering that morning mirrors the richness and complexity of my experience of Vajrayana. I was aware, in Dharamsala, of tracing the center and edges of a physical and spiritual mandala as I followed the choreography of offerings moving through the Dalai Lama’s temple. Today I continue to trace the center and edges of a larger mandala of practice and absorption in the Vajrayana world. At Sukhasiddhi we focus on the core essence of the teachings of the Kagyu and Shangpa lineages. Although we maintain some external cultural forms, primarily we focus upon entering into, and engaging directly, with the creation and completion stages of the practices. At our center this makes perfect sense to me, but in the external world it can be confusing to place myself, a white westerner, within a tradition that is often largely male and monastic in its external presentation. “As I looked out at the sea of robes before me in Dharamsala that morning, and watched the Dalai Lama highlight the place of Mahakala, I realized that ultimately it is our devotion, the heart of our practice, that allows us to connect to and traverse our own particular pathway of the Vajrayana. As I circumambulated the Dalai Lama’s temple later, a rainbow appeared in a sky devoid of rain to arc in front of the Himalayas. Behind it I saw the possibility of dancing along the peaks of the mountains, as well as throughout the inner, outer, and secret layers of the mandala.

Alicia recalled the sense of connection:” I feel a strong sense of humility and gratitude that incredibly auspicious causes and conditions made it possible for me to be there. The loving energy from His Holiness, the importance of a deep connection to the protector practice, are gifts I will carry through lifetimes. I practiced with people from all over the world and now have a lasting connection with them as well.”

Suzanne noted that “Attending an event like this, being with HHDL in such close contact, is life changing… Opportunities to be in very sacred places (like on pilgrimage), or be with high level lamas (like His Holiness), can cause shifts on such a profound level—whether one is aware of it or not — that is hard to put into words. There is of course, the teaching and the transmission of that teaching, but so much more is happening… and will probably take lifetimes to fully understand the impact. “One of the key elements for me was devotion. For Kalu Rinpoche to organize this must have taken an immense amount of planning, and it was so obvious how his pure heart fueled such an impressive event. To see the look of love, respect and devotion in Kalu Rinpoche’s face for HHDL, was very, very inspiring, very moving. Kalu Rinpoche’s demonstration of what it means to be devoted to one’s teacher was not only impactful, but exemplary and really encouraged me to contemplate more deeply the great gift that our lamas give to us so freely and generously. I am incredibly grateful to Sukhasiddhi for the opportunity to both be a part of and represent our sangha at this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Permission of Six-armed Mahakala (source: www.dalailama.com)
Downloadable Version (PDF)

Sharing the Experience: Shangpa Mandala and Mahakala Blessing with His Holiness Dalai Lama

Giving Birth to the Wisdom River Meditation Center