A New Year’s Greeting from Tulku Sherdor and BWI

Tulku Sherdor, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, and Rinchen Esther at Unity in Diversity Symposium,
Sivananda Ashram, Bahamas, December 2011

From Portugal with Love: Life Ransom Ceremony, Estoril, December 201

Wishing all of our extended family, friends, sangha and community the best of health and best in all your virtuous activities this year.  While we are experiencing some growing pains (e.g. with our website and newsletter needing to be fed more consistently), growth is a good and promising trend.  Our activities and outreach are expanding: 300+ subscribers, 1500 friends on facebook, and more than 75 dharma talks and events this past year, onsite and on the road.

Please look ahead and join your intentions and energy with our activities this year.  Highlights include the Rimay Monlam at Garrison Institute in June (www.rimaymonlam.org – registration now open), and a special visit to BWI by His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche on May 18 at 2 pm.   More on the latter program soon!  We also plan to complete our three-year cycle of Guhyagarbha teachings with Ven. Khenpo Sonam Topgyal Rinpoche in the fall.

Please do register on our website, if you have not yet, because we will be continuing to post teachings and texts and other materials of interest in the private resources area for our subscribers, as well as other materials suitable for the public.

The Vital Essence of Vajrasattva
a meaning translation of the hundred syllables

Om!  Oh, glorious Vajrasattva,
Guard and protect the state of samaya,
make manifest self-existing Vajrasattva,
be my constant, strong support,
be pleased with me, I ask you!
Hold fast to me, I ask you!
Care deeply for me, won't you?
Grant me all attainments.
In all activities, make my intentions outstanding.
"Hung," and "ha ho," your laughter resounds.
Miraculous master, Bhagavat,
vajra glory of all Tathagathas,
never forsake me, do you hear?
Samaya hero, make me a perfect vajra holder, Ah!

"Based on whatever understanding I obtained from looking at Sanskrit versions and at existing English translations from them, in the beautiful city on America's west coast, Seattle, on April 11, 2011, the one called Hung Kar Dorje jotted this down in Tibetan."
[His loyal friend Sherab Dorje re-translated this from Tibetan into English on April 24, 2011, in case it is useful.