LSWSD Urgent Notice 4th November 2013, i.e today marks the 10th Death Anniversary of the 19th Ven Bakula Rinpoche of Ladakh. His Holiness was a renowned Buddhist leader of India who was also the founder of the Ladakh Buddhist Vihara. In fond memories, gratitude & prayers, LSWSD is going to have a simple lightening of Butter Lamps & prayer session at Ladakh Buddhist Vihara Today. All the Members are Kindly requested to preside over the session today at 4pm sharp, even we highly regret apologize for the late notice. Venerable 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche lived one of the most interesting lives of a Buddhist lama. Born into a royal family of Ladakh, India, he was later recognized by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama as a reincarnation of Bakula Arhat - one of the Sixteen Arhats (direct disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha who had tremendous spiritual realizations). Bakula Rinpoche had a keen interest in Mongolia and Russia from a young age, and while other Tibetan teachers were going to the West, Bakula Rinpoche said, Everyone is going to the west - its easy to go to the west. After Rinpoche worked as a minister of the Indian government under Indira Gandhi, he began to travel to Mongolia and the USSR, where he helped re-open ancient monasteries and organize Buddhist peace conferences. In 1990, was appointed as the Indian ambassador to Mongolia for a period of two years. When he arrived, Mongolia was still communist, but during his stay - which lasted more than 10 years - it became a free country, so Bakula Rinpoche could travel freely and work to revive pure Buddhism. After the fall of Communism in Mongolia, Bakula Rinpoche established monasteries and nunneries, hosted His Holiness the Dalai Lama, invited Lama Zopa Rinpoche several times, and granted ordination to many Mongolians. He retired from his position as ambassador in 2000. Interestingly enough, according to Mongolian folklore, there was a long-held belief that Bakula Arhat would one day come from India to revive Buddhism in Mongolia. Perhaps it wasnt folklore.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 06:29:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015