Kathok Centre Events

From Kathok Shedrup Ling: We are happy to announce that we are fundraising to save more goats and sheep. The day of the life-release has not yet been determined but we hope to do it some time next month, in June 2022.

 

The goats (and possibly sheep) that we will purchase will be saved from brutal, painful, and certain death. After they are saved, these animals will go on to live peaceful and happy lives, eating grass and vegetation to prevent California wildfires. They will be cared for by the wonderful family and folks of Goats R Us, and together with their goat and sheep friends and family, they will live out their lives in freedom, grazing on the beautiful rolling California hills. Please give if you can. Donation info is below.

 

We want to thank everyone deeply from our hearts. It is only because of your kindness and generosity that releases such as this are possible. To date, we have saved 3,273 animals together! Thank you so much, truly, for helping to save these sweet innocent beings.

 

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Benefits of Saving Lives

by Chatral Rinpoche

 

I bow down before the Lama, Buddha Amitāyus,

And the bodhisattvas in training.

I shall now in brief describe the benefits

Of freeing animals and ransoming their lives.

To save animals from slaughter or any mortal danger,

With entirely pure motivation and conduct,

Is without doubt a practice to be taken up

By all followers of the Buddha Śākyamuni.

Many are the sūtras, tantras and commentaries

Which describe in detail the advantages it brings,

And countless learned and accomplished masters of India and Tibet

Have stressed the value and importance of benefitting beings.

Even in the basic vehicle one avoids inflicting harm on others.

In the mahāyāna this is the very training of a bodhisattva,

And in the secret mantra, a principal samaya of the ratna family.

The reasoning behind this is as follows: in this world,

Nothing is as dear to someone as his or her own life,

So there is no greater crime than taking life away,

And no conditioned virtue brings greater merit

Than the act of saving beings and ransoming their lives.

Therefore, should you wish for happiness and good,

Exert yourself in this, the most supreme of paths,

Which is proven through scriptures and through reasoning,

And is free of obstacles and potential dangers.

Consider your own body, and, with this as an example,

Avoid doing anything that might bring harm to others.

Make every effort not to kill any living creature—

Birds, fish, deer, cattle and even tiny insects—

And strive instead to save their lives,

Offering them protection from every fear.

The benefit of doing so is beyond imagining.

This is the best practice for your own longevity,

And the greatest ritual for the living or deceased.

It is my main practice of benefitting others.

It dispels all external and internal adversity and obstacles;

Effortlessly and spontaneously, it brings favourable conditions;

And, when inspired by the noble mind of bodhicitta and

Completed with dedication and pure aspiration prayers,

It will lead one to complete enlightenment,

And the accomplishment of one’s own and others’ welfare—

Of this you need have no doubts at all!

Those whose minds incline to virtue and acts of merit

Should prohibit hunting and fishing on their land.

Some birds, in particular, such as geese and cranes,

Are impelled by their karma to migrate

And fly south in autumn, north in spring.

At times, weary from the efforts of their flight,

Or having lost their way, some are forced to land,

Distressed, afraid and anxious; when this happens,

You should not throw stones or shoot at them,

Nor try to kill them or do them any harm.

Protect them so they may easily fly once more.

To offer care and affection to sentient beings

In desperate situations who lack protection

Brings just as much merit as the meditation

On emptiness with compassion as its core—

So it has been said by glorious Lord Atiśa.

Lamas, officials, monks, nuns, men and women,

In all the places over which you have control,

Exert every influence and do all within your power

To release animals and ransom their lives,

While encouraging others to do the same.

In all those places where this is done,

Sickness among people and livestock will cease,

Harvests will be plentiful and life will be long.

All will enjoy happiness and wellbeing in abundance,

And at death let go of deluded experience,

Before finding an excellent rebirth within the higher realms.

Ultimately, there is no doubt that this will lead one easily

To find the supreme and perfect state of awakening.

In response to the request of Doctor Dordrak,

Who offered a pure silk scarf and a hundred Nepali rupees,

The one called Chatral Sangye Dorje,

Who strives continuously to ransom lives,

Wrote down spontaneously whatever came to mind.

By the merit of this may all sentient beings

Come to practise enlightened actions!

 

Mamakoling samanta!

 

| Translated by Adam Pearcey, 2005.

___________________________

Donation Information

1. PayPal  from a bank account "send money to friends and family" to kathokshedrupling1@gmail.com 

   - Using this method, Paypal will not deduct fees from your donation

(best for large donations)

2. PayPal by credit card to kathokshedrupling1@gmail.com  

   - Using this method, Paypal will deduct a fee from your donation

3.PayPal donation button

   - Using this method, Paypal will deduct a fee from your donation

Canada: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=F3CWFLQS7HEKJ

USA: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BCA35EYSB4292

Brazil: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XU6S6J4Z8F4XA

 

4. Mail a Check written to "Kathok Shedrup Ling" with the memo: "goat release 2022” to:

     Kathok Shedrup Ling

     2664 Simas Ave.

     Pinole, CA 94564-1214

    *mailing a check is also good for large donations

4. Bank wire transfer: email isisminghao@gmail.com for instructions

Kathok Shedrup Ling, Venerable Lingtrul Rinpoche’s non-profit organization, is a California 501(c)(3) religious non-profit so all donations from the United States are tax-deductible.

 

On the tenth day of the fourth month, the horse month, when the demonic ministers of Oddiyana seek to burn him and his consort alive, he transforms the pyre into a lake, and they both appear on a lotus blossom, miraculously shimmering in majesty. Inspiring faith in all, he ripens and liberates the entire kingdom by bestowing the Kadu Chokyi Gyatso teachings. This is when he is known as Guru Padma Vajra Tsal.

Buddha's birth, enlightenment and paranirvana all fall in Saga Dawa. This makes the whole month a special time to practice.

A day to connect with feminine energy, practice on female deities is encouraged.

A powerful day for the Nyingma tradition.

Through the blessings of the youthful Manjushri,/ The union of awareness and emptiness,/ You released the eight brilliant treasures./ Master of an ocean of treasure-like teachings of the Dharma in both transmission and realization - / To you, Mipham Rinpoche, Manjushri in person, I pray!