Archive for 2016

Not what you’d find in most Zen monasteries, but the Holy Vajrasana Temple served a more-or-less traditional vegetarian version of a Thanksgiving feast as an Oryoki  dinner during its recent month-long retreat–real mashed potatoes and onion gravy, pecan loaf and cornbread muffins, roasted Brussels sprouts, and–of course–cranberry relish. In the spirit of gratitude for all our many blessings and the gifts of so many, we reflect on the innumerable labors that brought us this food and whether our virtue and ...

The Xuanfa Five Vidyas Seminary offered its first thirty-Day Formal retreat starting November 15. This time it was entirely in Chinese with a local translator providing the interface between the Abbot and the participants. The day started with chanting the Morning Service, followed by an Oryoki Breakfast. Most mornings were devoted to Dharma practice including a special Retreat Practice that could be held in the Dharmapala Chapel, weather permitting. There can be no electricity, lights, or heat in this chapel. ...

The fourth Seven-Dharma Seminar on selected dharma discourses by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was held November 10-13 at the Holy Vajrasana Temple as part of a meditation retreat.  Zhaxi Zhuoma read preliminary translations of three discourses, while Chinese  students listened to the original discourses in Chinese. The group discussions were held together with the participants asking each other questions on the differences among the generation, completion, and transcendental stages of the Buddha-dharma and how one might respond ...

On October 28-30, 2016 Zhaxi Zhuoma read preliminary translations of dharma discourses given by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III at a retreat held at the Heartwood Refuge and Conference Center shown above and located near Hendersonville, North Carolina. The retreat started with an introduction to the Buddha Master and why we know He is a Buddha. The rinpoche also explained how the various Buddhist sects and schools have come into being and the four major traditions that still exist in ...

Family and friends, along with rinpoches and monastics from Vietnamese, Chinese, and American temples including the Holy Vajrasana Temple in Sanger, California, and the Amitabha Temple of Compassion and Wisdom in Rosemead, California conducted a fish release at Marina Del Rey and at sea along with a ceremony to distribute the ashes of Long K. Trieu who left this world on October 5, 2016.

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Vanloads and a large bus full of pilgrims arrived at The Holy Vajrasana Temple to pay their respect to the Holy Vajra Poles and the Bodhi Tree located at the temple. Sitting in the hot sun, they chanted many praises to the Buddhas. The Holy Vajra Poles did not disappoint them, but responded several times, transmitting their blessings to all present. They then enjoyed a catered box lunch before returning to Los Angeles area.

One of several bilingual seminars on the holy dharma discourses of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was held over the long October 8-10 weekend at the Holy Vajrasana Temple and Retreat Center located between Sanger and Fresno, California. This retreat focused on the various aspects of tantric initiation and empowerments and understanding the differences between the two. This is the third such seminar that follows the “Seven Dharma” format for listening to the dharma established by His Holiness the Buddha and designed ...

Flags representing over 300 tribes and nations supporting the Native American protest of an oil pipeline through their lands and sacred burial sites frame the entry to the main camp on federal land just north of the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. Thousands have gathered to stand with the tribes. Zhaxi Zhuoma, Gesang Suolang, Bhikshunni Pannavati, and other Buddhists traveled to the site to see first hand what was happening, show support for their cause, and to join the Oceti ...

The second bilingual meditation retreat was held September 2-9 in Central California at the Holy Vajrasana Temple & Retreat Center. It included a Xuanfa Five Vidya University (XFVU) sponsored seminar on various recent dharma discourses given by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, time for meditation, and oryoki-style meals. Some students stayed the entire week, but others were only able to attend the seminar part.

The dharma discourses covered during this seminar included three very important teachings that were released by His Holiness in ...

With most of the construction work on the temple finished, it is time to start on the landscaping and paving. The first project is to install a cedar moon gate and arbor. When the wood is wet you can smell the cedar.