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Geshe Lobsang Yonten, Ven. Kartsön (Yaki Platt), H.E. Ling Rinpoche, Geshe Ngawang Sonam, and Ven. Tenzin Khentse in King’s Park, overlooking the city of Perth and the Swan River, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Kirsti Kilbane.
His Eminence Ling Rinpoche traveled to Perth, Western Australia, in March upon the invitation of FPMT center Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, spending one week in the coastal city. Ros Charron, newsletter editor at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, shares the details of his visit:
His Eminence Ling Rinpoche arrived in Perth, Western Australia, on Tuesday, March 21, 2018. Upon arriving at Perth Airport Rinpoche was warmly greeted by Hayagriva Buddhist Centre resident teacher Geshe Ngawang Sonam, center director John Waite, and students.
Geshe Ngawang Sonam, H.E. Ling Rinpoche, Geshe Lobsang Yonten, center director, and students at Perth Airport, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Ven. Tenzin Khentse.
We were so thrilled to have Rinpoche come to Perth. His planned activities included a public talk, “The Buddhist Science of Happiness,” at the University of Western Australia, as well as a two-day teaching on Lama Tsongkhapa’s prayer The Foundation of All Good Qualities and a Je Rig Sum Chig Thus jenang at the Metro Hotel Perth.
We were all touched by Rinpoche’s warmth, his gentle and easy going manner, and how amazingly generous he was with his time during his week-long stay here.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche greeted at Perth Airport by Kirsti Kilbane, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Jude Milan.
In the course of the week H.E. Ling Rinpoche attended a lunch with members of Hayagriva Buddhist Centre. The lunch was hosted by Vietnamese restaurant owner and generous Hayagriva Buddhist Centre benefactor Sony Tang. Afterwards Rinpoche went for a boat ride on the picturesque Swan River.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche, Ven. Tenzin Khentse, Geshe Lobsang Yonten, Ven. Kartsön (Yaki Platt), and John Waite enjoying a boat ride on Swan River, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Kirsti Kilbane.
On Thursday, March 22, H.E. Ling Rinpoche visited Hayagriva Buddhist Centre. We are so grateful for the statue Rinpoche donated to the center that day. This exquisite Lama Tsongkhapa statue is filled with many rare and difficult to obtain holy objects, including pieces of robes that belonged to His Holiness the Sixth Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, who passed away in 1983.
The following day H.E. Ling Rinpoche visited the University of Western Australia’s campus, where he gave a public talk on “The Buddhist Science of Happiness” at the Octagon Theatre. More than two hundred people came to hear Rinpoche speak at this event on campus.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche then spent the weekend teaching on Lama Tsongkhapa’s prayer The Foundation of All Good Qualities at the Metro Hotel Perth.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche teaching at the Metro Hotel Perth, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Kirsti Kilbane.
On the second day of the two-day teaching Rinpoche conferred the Je Rig Sum Chig Thus jenang.
Geshe Ngawang Sonam, Oi Loon Lee, Jude Milan, Nora Daniels, and John Waite making a mandala offering to H.E. Ling Rinpoche at the Metro Hotel Perth, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Kirsti Kilbane.
Rinpoche visited the Hayagriva Buddhist Centre the following day, blessing us with his presence as we engaged in the practice of Guru Puja also known as Lama Chöpa.
During his time with us H.E. Ling Rinpoche liberated Western Australian rock lobster, a species native to the Western Australian coast, purchased by Hayagriva Buddhist Centre from a local fish market.
The Government of Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed it was suitable to release them onto the reef at Cottesloe Beach in Perth. Rinpoche was assisted by students, who carried the Western Australian rock lobster from the shoreline into the Indian Ocean.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche with Ven. Tenzin Khentse, Geshe Lobsang Yonten, Geshe Ngawang Sonam, and Nora Daniels liberating Western Australian rock lobster, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Kirsti Kilbane.
Rinpoche also paid a visit to AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche, Geshe Lobsang Yonten, and John Waite at the Aquarium of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Ven. Kartsön (Yaki Platt).
H.E. Ling Rinpoche visited Hayagriva Buddhist Center one final time before departing Australia from Perth Airport. Rinpoche gave a short talk to volunteers and organizers who assisted with his visit to Perth.
H.E. Ling Rinpoche with volunteers and organizers at Hayagriva Buddhist Center, Perth, Western Australia, March 2018. Photo courtesy of Ven. Tenzin Khentse.
We pray for H.E. Ling Rinpoche’s very long life and perfect health, and for all of Rinpoche’s holy wishes and precious Dharma activities to be accomplished instantly and without any obstacles in order to bring great benefit to all sentient beings. We hope and pray that Rinpoche will return to Perth to teach and bless us again very soon!
For more information about Hayagriva Buddhist Centre visit their website:
http://hayagriva.org.au
For the latest news about H.E. Ling Rinpoche’s schedule visit Rinpoche’s website:
http://lingrinpoche.info/schedule.php
FPMT.org and Mandala Publications brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings, and events from over 160 FPMT centers, projects, and services around the globe. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.