Invitation from the Sakyong Wangmo to the Tenshuk for the Kongma Sakyong, Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche

I would like to invite everyone in the Shambhala community to take part in an extremely important and auspicious ceremony that we will be holding for the long and healthy life of our Kongma Sakyong, Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche. The Shambhala leadership has kindly supplicated my father, His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, to bestow this blessing on the Sakyong before he begins his year of deep retreat. We now have the auspicious date for the ceremony: Tuesday 10 November.

The ceremony will take place in our Shambhala capital, Halifax. I would love everyone to come. Traditionally, a Tenshuk is performed with all the students present. However, if that is not possible, I would like to invite every Shambhala Centre and group to send at least one representative to attend in person and to make an offering on behalf of their centre or group. We will also be arranging for every centre and group to be part of a worldwide broadcast that day so that we can, in this way, fulfill the traditional aspiration that every single student be present for such an important occasion.

This ceremony, although part of the normally closed vajrayana tradition, will be open to everyone in Shambhala. In the vajrayana this elaborate ritual ceremony is known as a Tenshuk. Tenshuk means to secure the life of the master.

Traditionally, such ceremonies are organized by the students from time to time at special moments in the life of a precious guru. Usually, the ceremony is led by an eminent master who shares close samaya (spiritual bond) with the one who is to be offered the Tenshuk. A Long Life Abhisheka is conferred as part of the Tenshuk. Students then make offerings of rupas and various objects securing the body speech and mind quality and activity of the guru. The offerings are also a symbolic way of showing one's gratitude towards the guru or master for his tireless and selfless dedication in bringing the light of dharma into our life.

To read the full text of Her Majesty's invitation please click here.