The Amitabha Mandala Dharma Center
Opak Kyilkhor Chöling

by | Jul 14, 2007 | News

The Amitabha Foundation Retreat Center is presently being built on a mountain top in Kopan, located approximately 3 km from Boudhanath Great Stupa, in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. It will be open to Buddhist practitioners of all paths.

The main structure is built upon the highest point on the hill, designed like a mandala. This, as well as the registered name of Amitabha Foundation, is the reason for the retreat center’s special name Opak Kyilkhor Chöling (The Amitabha Mandala Dharma Center). Within the retreat center, there will be a total of sixteen temples both large and small.

The following is a detailed description of each temple’s dharma objects and of each temple’s daily, monthly and yearly rituals.

A downloadable version of the Nepal Retreat Center Introduction document is also available here.

1. TSOKHANG TASHI GOMANG
The Main Temple

The Tashi Gomang Main Temple will have Buddha Amitabha as its main deity at the center, with Guru Padmasambhava to the right and Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön, the founder of the Drigung order, to the left.

There will be two stupas, The Namgyal Chöten or “Victory Stupa” to the right and the Changchub Chodten or “Enlightenment Stupa” to the left. Above the Namgyal Chöten to the right there will be images of Buddha Vajradhara with Tilopa and Naropa, and to the left there will be the deities of Long Life: Tsepame, Namgyalma and White Tara. Above the Changchub Chöten there will be Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa to the right and Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani to the left. There will also be the Sixteen Arhats with Buddha Shakyamuni in the center on the wall to the right of Amitabha and the Twenty One Taras with a large White Tara in the center, to the left.

The Kangyur will be kept on the right side of the Enlightenment Stupa and the Tengyur on the left side of the Victory Stupa.

Paintings will adorn the area above the Jamthong, “colonnade window”. The center wall painting will depict the Sukhavati Pure Land. The right wall will portray the eighty four mahasidhas and the Kagyudpa Golden lineage will be depicted on the left wall. Between the windows there will be paintings of the eight bodhisattvas on one side and the eight offering goddesses on the other. On the ceiling between the beams there will be mandalas of the four yidams and the dharma protectors.

In the Tashi Gomang Main Temple, the following offering prayers and rituals will be performed by eight monks on a daily, monthly and yearly basis, according to the Tibetan calendar.

Daily Prayers and Rituals

Morning:

  • White Tara ritual according to the Drigung Tradition
  • Smoke offering (Riwo Sangchö)
  • Smoke offering (Sang) to the three Dharma Protectors of the Drigung Tradition, Achi, Mahakala and Tsi’u-marpo
  • Ritual cake offering prayer (Torma Gyatsa)

Evening:

  • Offering prayers to the Dharma Protectors
  • Smoke Offering for holy beings and spirits (Sur)
  • General Dedication Prayer (Ngowa Monlam)
  • On alternate days, the Great Sukhavati Prayer according to Chagmey Raghase and the Pureland Aspiration Prayer according to the Drigung Tradition.
  • Prayers for the long life of: H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Orgyan Trinley Dorje, H.H. Drigung Kaybgon Chökyi Nangwa in Lhasa, Tibet, H.H. the Drigung Kyabgön Kunsang Trinley Lhundup in India, H.E. Palchen Galo Rinpoche and H.E.Ayang Rinpoche the principal master and founder of the retreat center.
  • Prayer for the flourishing of the Teachings according to the Drigung tradition (Tengyay Monlam)
  • Prayer for the General Flourishing of Buddhism written by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama (Tengyay Monlam)

Monthly Prayers and Rituals:

(According to Tibetan Calendar)

  • 1st – Prayer for the purification of all negative actions according to the Drigung Tradition (Nyepa Kunsel)
  • 8th – Alternately, the Offering Prayer to the Drigung Lineage and the Guru Yoga offering prayer to H.H. the 16th Karmapa (Lama Chöpa)
  • 9th – Great Offering Prayer to the Drigung Protector Deities (long version and short Mahakala Bernagchan)
  • 10th – Tsok offering to the Innermost Profound Three Roots (Yangzab Tsasum)
  • 15th – Alternately, the Namchö Amitabha Tsok Sadhana Offering according to Chagmey Raghase, and the Yangzab Innermost Profound Amitabha Sadhana according to the Drigung tradition.
  • 18th – Tsok offering to Chakrasambhara
  • 19th – Offering prayer to the Drigung Dharma Protectors (long version)
  • 25th – Tsok offering to Vajravarahi
  • 28th – Medicine Buddha ritual according to Drigung tradition
  • 29th – Offering prayer to the Drigung Dharma Protectors (long version and short Mahakala Bernagchan)
  • 30th – Ritual Prayer for the 16 Arhats according to the Drigung Tradition

There will also be, according to Vinaya rules, the Sojong ritual for mending vows and purifying breaches for monks and nuns, as well as eight consecutive days of alternate feasting and fasting during the “White Nyungney” fasting period. This will be open to the public.

Yearly Festivals:

First Month – The Month of Miracles (Chotrül Dawa), according to the Buddhist calendar, also called The Hundred Thousand Month (Bumgyur Dawa) because all practices are multiplied by 100,000.

  • 1st – Ritual Offering to the 16 Arhats (Neten Chudruk Choga) Prayer for the flourishing of the Buddhist teachings (long version, Tengye Monlam)
  • 6th -15th – Recitation of one billion Amitabha mantras (Tungdrup Drüpchen)
  • 15th – Last day of Drüpchen: Amitabha Empowerment (All Tungdrup Drüpchen open to the public) Liberation Prayers for dead beings (Nedren)

Fourth Month – Month of the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni (Saka Dawa)

  • 6th -15th – Recitation of one billion Avalokiteshvara Mantras (Drüpchen)
  • 15th – Festival of the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni (Saka Dawa Düchen)
  • Last day of Drüpchen: Avalokiteshvara Empowerment (All Drüpchen open to the public)

Fifth Month

  • 15th – Festival of World Purification (Zamling Chisang Düchen)
    Smoke Offering Prayer for the Purification of all Negative Actions according to the Drigung Tradition (Sang Nyepa Kunsel).
    Offering Prayer for the Purification of all Negative Actions according to the Drigung Tradition (Sang Nyepa Kunsel)

Sixth Month

  • 4th – Festival of the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma (Sangye Chökhor Düchen); the first sermon by Buddha Shakyamuni in the Deer Park in Sarnath, India.
  • 4th -15th – Recitation of one billion Guru Rinpoche Mantras (Drüpchen)
  • 15th – Last day of Drüpchen: Padmasambhava Empowerment and Long Life Empowerment (open to the public)

Ninth Month

  • 13th-22nd – Vajrasattva Drüpchen. Recitation of one billion Vajrasattva Mantras (Drüpchen)
  • 22nd – Festival of the Buddha’s Descent from the God Realm (Lhabab Düchen)
  • Last day of Drüpchen Vajrasattva Empowerment (All open to the public.)

Tenth Month

  • 30th – Fasting begins with the16 days of alternate feasting and fasting Namgang Nyüngnay; ends on 15th of 11th month (Open to the public)

Twelfth Month

  • 23rd -29th – Ritual for Removing Obstacles in the New Year (Gutor).

    • On alternate years:

  • 1. Red Wrathful Guru according to the Treasure Text of Padma Lingpa (Guru Drakmar)
  • 2. Blue Wrathful Guru according to the Treasure Text of Chögyal Dorje (Guru Drakthing)

Birthdays:

    Offering Prayer for the Purification of all Negative Actions according to the Drigung Tradition (Sang Nyepa Kunsel)Above prayer for the Birthdays of: H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama , H.H. the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, H.H. Drigung Kyabgon Chökyi Nangwa, H.H. the Drigung Kyabgön Kunsang Trinley Lhundup, H.E. Palchen Galo Rinpoche and H.E. Ayang Rinpoche the principal master and founder of the retreat center.

Anniversaries:

    There will be Special Guru Offering Prayers (Lhadrüp) for each of the following:

  • Marpa Anniversary: Accordingly, Damngak Zod for the Kagyu lineage Guru Yoga Tsok Offering Prayer (Tashi Dakpi Dayang)
  • Milarepa Anniversary: Milarepa Guru Yoga Tsok Offering Prayer
  • Gampopa Anniversary: Gampopa Guru Yoga Tsok Offering Prayer
  • Jigten Sumgön Anniversary: Jigten Sumgön Guru Yoga Tsok Offering Prayer
  • H.H. the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje: Four sessions of Guru Yoga and Guru Yoga Tsok Offering Prayers

2. GYUDHEY LHAKHANG
The Tantric Temple

This will be situated above the Tashi Gomang Main Temple and will contain representations of the four Yidam Deities: Kalachakra, Chakrasambhara, Hevajra and Guhyasamaja. There will also be an image of Yamantaka (according to the Drigung Tradition), a White Zambhala (according to the Treasure Text of Chögyal Dorje), and a figure of Golden Vaishravana, the wealth deity. Additionally, there will be a sand mandala for each deity.

    Daily Prayers and Rituals:

  • Four monks will recite the medium length version of the ritual for each of the Yidam Deities.

    • Monthly Prayers and Rituals:

  • Four monks will recite the long version of the rituals for each of the Yidam Deities.

    • Yearly Prayers and Rituals:

  • There will be one week in each year of Drüpchö Offering Prayers dedicated to each of the Yidam Deities (seven days for each).

    • Twelfth Month

  • 23rd- 29th Yamantaka Ritual to expel all negative forces and actions of the New Year (Shingjey Tordok)

3. GYALWA RIG NGA’I LHAKHANG
Temple of the Five Buddha Families

This will be situated above the Gyudhey Lhakhang. In the center of the temple there will be a Buddha Amitabha statue and mandala. Surrounding him on all four sides will be images of the four Buddhas of the four directions: Vairocana, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava and Amoghasiddhi, all facing Buddha Amitabha.

    Daily Prayers and Rituals:

  • Each day there will be a recitation of the medium length version of the Offering Prayer to the five Dhyani Buddhas.

    • Monthly Prayers and Rituals:

  • Each day there will be a recitation of the long version of the Tsok Offering Prayer to the five Dhyani Buddhas.

    • Yearly Prayers and Rituals:

  • Each year there will be one week of Drüpchö Offering Prayers dedicated to each of the five Dhyani Buddhas.

4. TENSUNG KHANG
Temple of the Protector Deities

This will be a separate section of the Main Temple, behind the Pure Land paintings. There will be statues of the main dharma protector deities of the Drigung lineage (Tensung): Achi Chökyi Drölma, Four-armed Mahakala (Gönpo Chakshi), Two-armed Mahakala (Bernagchen) and Chökyong Tsi’u-mar. There will be additional statues of Shingkyong Yab-yum (special protector of Sukhavati), Rahula (Kyabjük), Damchan Dorje Lekpa, Tseringma and Pehar Gyalpo.

    Daily Prayers and Rituals:

  • Each day there will be a recitation of the medium length version of the Offering Prayer to the Dharma Protectors.

    • Monthly Prayers and Rituals:

  • Each month on the 9th, 19th, and 29th days there will be a recitation of the long version of the Offering Prayer to the Dharma Protectors.

    • Yearly Prayers and Rituals:

  • Each year there will be one week of the long versions of the Great Fulfillment Prayer dedicated to the Dharma Protectors. The seven day Achi Kangdö ritual the seven day Kangwachemo Offering Prayer will be performed.

5 – 8. THE FOUR TEMPLES AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE MAINTEMPLE

    These will be dedicated to the following Yidam Deities:

  • 5. South-East Temple: Vajrakilaya (Dorje Phurba)
  • 6. South-West Temple: Red Wrathful Guru (Drakmar)
  • 7. North-West Temple: Blue Wrathful Guru (Drakthing)
  • 8. North-East Temple: Dorje Drölo

    • Daily Prayers and Rituals:

  • Each day there will be a recitation of the medium length version of the Offering Ritual for each of the Yidam Deities.

    • Monthly Prayers and Rituals:

  • Each month, on the 15th, there will be a recitation of the long version of the Offering Ritual for each of the Yidam Deities.

    • Yearly Prayers and Rituals:
    Twelfth month:

  • 23rd – 29th Tordok Ritual for each of the four Yidam deities to expel all negative forces and actions for the New Year.

PROTECTORS OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS

On each balcony on the four sides of the main temple, there will be statues of the Great Protector Kings of the Four Directions (Gyalchen Deshi).

Each of the temples outlined above will have shrine cabinets. There will also be special quarters (Zimchung Kunsig Chöling) exclusively for H.H. the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, H.H. Drigung Kyabgön Chökyi Nangwa, H.H. the Drigung Kyabgön Kunsang Trinley Lhundup, as well as for other High Lamas. These quarters will have statues and shrine cabinets.

OPAK KYILKHOR CHÖLING RETREAT SECTION

Within Opak Kyilkhor Chöling there will be a retreat section called Drubdhey Samten Gatsel Ling (The Garden of Happiness Meditation Center). It will consist of eight clusters of eight cottages, each arranged in the eight directions, to represent the eight sections. Each cluster will have a special name according to the practice for which it is reserved. They will also have a special shrine temple for the teachings and prayers corresponding with each cluster’s particular practice.

The retreat cottages will be self-contained independent units that will include a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor and a shrine and practice room on the top floor.

    1. CHAKCHEN CHÖLING: MAHAMUDRA SECTION
    Here there will be representations of Buddha Vajradhara, Tilopa, Naropa, Nagarjuna, Saraha, the 1st Gyalwang Karmapa Dusum Kyenpa, the founder of the Drigung lineage Jigten Sumgon and H.H. the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. These images will be painted in traditional thangka style and hung on walls.

    2. NARO CHÖLING: THE SIX YOGAS OF NAROPA SECTION
    Here there will be images of Buddha Vajradhara, Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, Gampopa, Phagmo Drupa, Nagarjuna, and Jigten Sumgon.

    3. NEGU CHÖLING: THE SIX YOGAS OF NEGUMA SECTION
    This will have paintings of the Negu choedruk, the Shangpa Kagyu refuge tree and the Guru Yoga lineage masters.

    4. DZOGCHEN CHÖLING
    This will have Buddha Samanthabhadra and the twelve original Dzogchen masters.

    5. NGÖNDRO CHÖLING: PRELIMINARY PRACTICE SECTION
    This will have the refuge tree and guru yoga lineage masters, as well as a painting of the traditional mandala offering.

    6. SHINAY CHÖLING: SHAMATHA (CALM ABIDING) PRACTICE SECTION
    This will have an image of Buddha Shakyamuni, the six students (Thokmed, Yingnye, Choklang, Choedak, Nyenthü Shiwawoe, Shakyawoe) and the two supreme ones (Nagarjuna and Aryadeva). There will also be a painting of the shinay drawing illustrating an elephant and a monkey.

    7. YIDAM CHÖLING: DAILY DEITY PRACTICE SECTION
    This will show the Five Buddha families, Chakrasamvara, Kalachakra, Hevajra, Guhyasamaja, Yamantaka, Vajrakilaya, Red Wrathful Guru, Blue Wrathful Guru and Dorje Drölo.

    8. LU- JIN CHÖLING: OFFERING THE BODY PRACTICE SECTION
    This will have the Chöd practice refuge tree.

CONFERENCE HALL

    There will be a conference hall where discussions and talks will be held with the purpose of cultural exchange between the Western and Eastern worlds.

LIBRARY

    There will be a general library which will contain books in various languages. This will be situated below the front balcony of the Main Temple and will be for the general public use. Additionally, there will be the H.E Palchen Galo Dharma Translator Training and Research Center.

MEDICAL CLINIC

    There will be a Medical Clinic providing general medical treatment.

CHARITY SECTION

    A Charity section will provide clothing, food, money etc. to the local people in need.

The entire Center and surrounding grounds will be a refuge of compassion to all animals in promoting animal liberation. Programs to actively liberate captured wildlife and fish will be encouraged. The buildning of birdhouses will be also be promoted.

Opak Khilkhor Chöling’s wish is that compassion and loving kindness will extend past our local boundaries to promote world peace and that all beings will be freed from the oceans of samsaric suffering by achieving Buddhahood.