Introduction to the Lamdre Teaching
The Lamdre, or Path and Result, is the most important and esoteric teaching cycle of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The teachings and meditations in the six-week cycle explicate, in two parts, the entire path to buddhahood. The first part consists of a teaching known as the Three Visions, and is composed of pith instructions and meditations from the sutras. The second part, which focuses on the Three Tantras, is composed of pith instructions and meditations from the tantras.
The Lamdre teaching is based on the Hevajra Tantra and includes the Hevajra major initiation.
The Lamdre originated from the ancient Indian scholar and mahasiddha Virupa, who was abbot of Nalanda University. He received initiation and pith instructions directly from the tutelary deity Vajra Nairatmya, quickly attained very high realization, and demonstrated great spiritual powers and miracles, such as power over the elements and being unaffected by punishment or poison.
The teachings which Virupa bestowed to his disciples became known as the Lamdre, and four generations later it was transmitted to Tibet. There, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, the first of the five founders of the Sakya tradition, received and mastered these teachings. Later, due to his high realization, he received them again directly from Mahasiddha Virupa himself. Since that time, the Lamdre has been the special practice of the Sakya tradition. It is a unique integration of philosophical explanation and meditative practice.
2024 Lamdre Teachings in Kathmandu
Receiving the precious Lamdre teaching directly from His Holiness the Sakya Trichen Rinpoche himself is a very special opportunity not to be missed. His Holiness is a peerless master of the Dharma in general and of the Vajrayana and the Lamdre in particular. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has praised His Holiness the Sakya Trichen as “king of Vajrayana masters.” His Holiness the Sakya Trichen personally preserves this precious living lineage of practice and its blessings in our time. He has previously bestowed the Lamdre teaching many times in different parts of the world, and is the primary lineage holder of the Sakya, Ngor, and Tsar lineages of the teaching.
This is the first time that His Holiness will bestow the Lamdre in Kathmandu, Nepal. Being able to receive this precious teaching from a teacher like HH Sakya Trichen in a place as holy as Kathmandu, is a particularly rare opportunity.
The complete Lamdre, including its teachings and empowerments, will be conferred by HH the 42nd Sakya Trizin, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, with HH Sakya Trichen, the 41st Sakya Trichen, giving a number of the oral transmissions.
One can choose if one would like to receive just the teaching on the...
Gurus Bestowing the Lamdre Teaching
His Holiness The 41st Sakya Trizin
His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche (The Sakya Trichen) served as the 41st head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism until March 2017, when the throneholder duties were handed over to His Holiness Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, the 42nd Sakya Trizin, formally addressed as His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche.
His Holiness the Sakya Trichen is a member of Tibet‘s noble Khon family, which founded the Sakya Order in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Just as His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the manifestation of all the Buddha’s great compassion, His Holiness the Sakya Trichen is the manifestation of all the Buddha’s transcendent wisdom.
In addition to his leadership of the Sakya Order for over fifty years, His Holiness Sakya Trichen is renowned throughout the world for the brilliance and clarity of his teachings and his fluency and precise command of the entierty of Buddha Dharama. Receiving teachings directly from His Holiness carries a special lineage of blessings from the founders of the Sakya Order, as well as from Manjushri himself.
His Holiness The 42nd Ratna Vajra Rinpoche
His Holiness the 42nd Kyabgon Gongma Trizin, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, is the eldest son of His Holiness Sakya Trichen (the 41st Sakya Trizin). He is considered one of the most highly qualified lineage masters of Tibetan Buddhism. Renowned for his erudition and the clarity of his teachings, His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin the prestigious Khön family, whose successive generations have provided an unbroken lineage of outstanding masters.
On March 9, 2017, His Holiness accepted the mantle of leadership from his esteemed father and root guru, in his new capacity as the 42nd Sakya Trizin or throne holder of the lineage. In doing so, he will continue to guide and inspire Dharma students from all over the world with his wisdom, genuine qualities of unaffected simplicity, humility and complete honesty, by presenting the Buddha’s teachings in the most authentic way, while maintaining the purest of Buddhist traditions.
Tharlam Monastery
Tharlam Monastery was established by Ga Rabjampa Kunga Yeshe in Tibet in the 14th century. Tharlam, located in Kham, was affiliated with Ngor monastery in Tsang, and was home to numerous relics and sacred objects. Vajradhara Gaton Ngawang Legpa spent a sizable sum of donations on the reconstruction of Tharlam Monastery between 1919 and 1921. He constructed a three-story-high golden Buddha statue flanked on the right by Sakya Paṇḍita and on the left by Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo—both also gilded and two stories high.
In 1981, the third Dezung Rinpoche established a new Tharlam Monastery near Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal.
In 1990, HH Dagchen Rinpoche came to Tharlam to bestow the Lamdre for his first time outside of Tibet. It was received by thousands of students, including high lamas, monks, and lay people.
In 1993, His Holiness 41st Sakya Trizin came to Tharlam to give teachings on Dubthab Kuntue, a collection of sadhanas of the Sakya tradition compiled by Loter Wangpo. Thereafter, headed by His Eminence Vajradhara Luding Khenchen and many other nonsectarian high lamas, both empowerments and reading transmissions as well as other quintessential instructions have been given at Tharlam.
In 2007, Jigdal Dagchen Rinpoche again visited Tharlam and...
Message from H.E. Dezhung Rinpoche
With the blessings of the Triple Gem and of all our gurus, I am pleased to welcome everyone to Tharlam Monastery in Nepal for the sacred Lamdre teachings that will be given by H.H. 41st Sakya Trichen and H.H. 42nd Sakya Trizin starting on October 6, 2024. This is the first time His Holiness will be giving this precious teaching in Nepal.
I would like to extend my thanks to our gurus, H.H. 41st Sakya Trichen and H.H. 42nd Sakya Trizin, who have bestowed upon us the honor of hosting these teachings.
In particular, I would like to invite everyone to join me in supporting and helping to make this unique and special event as successful as possible.
Bhavatu Sarva Mangalam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Notice: Please note that His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche (The Sakya Trichen) and His Holiness The 42nd Ratna Vajra Rinpoche along with the entourage will arrive in Kathmandu at 2pm on Oct 5, 2024
Lamdre 2024 program has been scheduled to start on October 06, 2024. The full schedule is published below.
If there is any changes in the schedule, we will keep on updating here.
Dates | Program |
First 3 day's morning | Ushnisha Vijaya, Vajrapani Butadamara and Parna Shawari initiations |
Oct 6 - Oct 15 | 10 days Teaching on the Three Vision |
Oct 16 | Morning: Bestowal of Bodhichitta Vows and acceptance of disciple |
Oct 17 - Oct 19 | Supplementary retreat. |
Oct 20 - Oct 28 | Hevajra Cause Empowerment |
Oct 29 - Nov 2 | Teachoing on the Triple Tantra |
Nov 3 - Nov 6 | Teaching of the Outer Creation |
Nov 7 - Nov 9 | Hevajra path initiation |
Nov 10 - Nov 12 | Teaching of the inner Creaton |
Nov 13 - Nov 15 | Secret empowerment |
Nov 16 | Wisdom empowerment |
Nov 17 | Fourth empowerment |
Nov 18 - Nov 22 | The grand long life Ceremony of HH the 41st Sakya Trichen Rinpoche |
Nov 23 - Nov 24 | Guru yoga blessing |
Nov 25 - Nov 28 | Vajrayogini blessing |
Nov 29 - Nov 30 | Virupa protection blessing |
We regret that there is no accommodation available at the monastery, and camping on the temple grounds is not allowed during the Lamdre. For these reasons, please arrange your own housing.
Please also arrange for your own meals. There are several restaurants within walking distance from the monastery. On days when empowerments and teachings are held, Tharlam monastery will prepare a simple vegetarian lunch as an offering to participants between the morning and afternoon teaching sessions. We regret that we are unable to accommodate special dietary requirements. All students should make their own breakfast and dinner arrangements.
For your ease we have listed below a few hotels you can reach out yourself and make the booking:
- Lords Plaza Anuttara (4 star)
Use promo code "lamdre-puja" for a discount
gmlpkn@lordshotel.com
Whatsapp +977980270777 - Hotel Dolmaling (4 star)
Phulbari, Bouddha
Use promo code "Lamdre2024" for a discount
Whatsapp +9779765964209 - Hotel Siddhi Manakamana (3 star)
- Pata Inn (2 star)
For help on accommodatation, you can contact:
Bipul Timilsina
Whatsapp:+977 9841554551
Wechat: bipul147
- Please bring your Vajra and Bell.
- Please do not bring audio or video recording equipment as no individual audio or video recording will be allowed. Students wishing to have a copy of the teachings will be able to purchase a professionally recorded copy of the teachings for a reasonable price at the end of the teaching cycle.
- Also, please no pets.
- Please bring your photo of the size 3 cm X 2.5 cm.
- If you have radio device, please bring so that you can listen to translation of your language. Translation will be provided in Tibetan, English and Nepali.
Donations and Sponsors
Receiving the complete Lamdre teaching and initiation cycle has always required a great commitment and effort on behalf of a devoted student. He or she must arrange weeks of time away from work and family, a place to stay and provisions, and make substantial offerings to receive this profound teaching. Although most of this planning and effort is still required, Tharlam Monastery with the help of a few generous donors has arranged to make this Lamdre as accessible.
An undertaking of this size and cost is only possible with the generosity of devoted Dharma sponsors. All those with fortunate means and motivation are invited to share in the great merit of making these profound teachings accessible to all who wish to receive them. In addition to the virtuous karma of being a patron of the Dharma, sponsoring the profound Lamdre teaching is a very special way to strengthen one’s connection with these profound pitch instructions.
Donations will be accepted at the Tharlam before and during the Lamdre teachings. You can also you use the following bank and PayPal links to donate remotely.
May the collective merit accumulated through these virtuous activities benefit all sentient beings.
Donations through Nepali Banks only! Pay to this Bank if you are paying from Nepal.
Bank Name: Nepal Investment Mega Bank Ltd.
Account Name: Tharlam Sakya Dharma Vihara
Account Number: 02405020257510
Branch Name: Bouddha
For users paying from outside Nepal, please send your donations to the following bank account.
Bank Name: Prabhu Bank Ltd.
Account Name: Tharlam Sasang Namagyal Ling Sakya Dharma Bihar
Account Number: 3260155862000019
Swift Code: PRVUNPKA
Branch Name: Boudha
Bank Address: Kathmandu, Nepal
If you want to donate via Paypal, you can use the link below. If the link does not work from your country, please note that email address of our Paypal account is bodhikindnessfoundationcanada@gmail.com. You can use this email in Paypal to directly send your donations.
Contact Us
Address
Tharlam Guest House
Boudha, Phulbari
Kathmandu, Nepal
Telephone / Whatsapp
(Temple phone number, no Chinese service)
Service Hours
We only accept email inquiries.
Monday to Friday
Morning, 9:00 am -11:00 am
Day, 2:00 pm -4:00 pm