Dorje Chang Institute

Announcing:

His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche’s

First New Zealand Tour

29 February – 29 March 2020

Auckland Events on Sat, Sun and Mon, 29 February – 2 March

during the auspicious Days of Miracles Buddha Days!

On this page you will find information on:

• Auckland Event Details
• Auckland Event Bookings
• Help Needed
• Biography of H.E. Yongzin Ling Rinpoche

Already know what you need to know? Ready to book? Go straight to the Booking Form by clicking the button below. Otherwise continue reading more details on this page.

Dorje Chang Institute is hosting the Auckland events at an outside venue, Avondale College Theatre, to be able to comfortably accommodate all of those who would like to attend these precious events. Please note that all Auckland bookings are made directly through Dorje Chang Institute (click any booking link on this page to go to the seat booking form).

(P.S. To view the schedule details for tour events in other NZ cities visit H.E. Yongzin Ling Rinpoche’s website here.)

Transforming Problems into Happiness: The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation

Saturday, 29 February, 10am – 12pm and 2 – 4pm

“The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation is an incredible practice [written by the great hidden meditator Geshe Langri Tangpa Dorje Sengye]. It is a very skillful psychological method that can make being happy or unhappy, wealthy or poor, healthy or sick, beneficial for all sentient beings.” – Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Perfect Freedom

Compassion and Loving-Kindness

Sunday, 1 March, 10am – 12pm

His Holiness the Dalai Lama shared, “From my own limited experience I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life.”

Public Talk: A Peaceful Mind in a Turbulent World

Sunday, 1 March, 2 – 3.30pm

Modern society aims to create the external conditions that will bring us well-being and happiness. We have shops full of products, food from every country and hours of entertainment at our fingertips. However, despite all these developments and the variety of pleasures we have access to, the moments of internal peace and true happiness are rare. We often feel tension in almost every aspect of our life and at times, it seems that the outer world also contributes to the internal restlessness that we feel. Buddhism teaches that internal happiness is not derived from external factors, but rather from positive states of mind, like love, compassion, patience and generosity – and offers methods that we can use to develop these qualities to deeper levels throughout our life, increasing inner peace and well-being.

Introduction to the Secret, Profound Practice of Tonglen

Monday, 2 March, 7 – 9pm

“Tong-len is the practice of ‘taking and giving.’ It is a most brave practice to generate bodhicitta,” Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains. “When you do this meditation, it is the most excellent thought transformation and the best psychology for the West to make the mind happy no matter what problem there is mental or physical… Also, if you are sick this is the best healing and it is also helps heal other sentient beings… It is the most powerful purification for you and also for collecting extensive merit. It is the quickest way to achieve enlightenment.”

If you wish to attend one or more of the talks, please use our booking form to book your seat(s).

To make this special opportunity available for you and others to enjoy and benefit from, we need to cover our portion of costs involved with the tour, including: airfares and internal travel costs, food and other daily hosting expenses providing for H.E. Ling Rinpoche and entourage, a tour translator, facilities hire (including theatre, parking, sound system, security), etc. as well as offerings to His Eminence and entourage during the visit.

There is a per seat set donation of $20 to help us cover these hosting costs. We have kept the amount as low as possible with the hope that those who are able to make an additional contribution will take the meritorious opportunity to do so.

There is an opportunity to make an extra donation (of any amount) on the Booking Form towards the visit. Any amount, big or small, is most appreciated! By supporting this visit you are helping to make this Dharma opportunity possible for the benefit of sentient beings. All donations are eligible for NZ tax rebates as we are a Registered Charitable Trust. Any extra amount is welcome. Many thanks for your generosity! Persons who make additional donations of $300 and above will have access to Sponsor Reserved Seating in the front rows of the theatre.

Ordained Sangha:  Seats are free for ordained Sangha members. Please email our office to register in advance with your name, ordination level and date of ordination. Thank you.

Please do not let financial hardship prevent you from attending the events. We hope that as many people as possible can benefit from these teachings. If you cannot afford the per seat donation contribution, please contact our office in advance to discuss work exchange opportunities.

To prepare for and support a visit of this importance we will need a lot of help. Please consider lending some time and support either before or during the visit. We will need help in areas such as:

• Cleaning, arranging and beautifying the rooms that His Eminence and entourage will stay in and use during their stay at DCI – window cleaning, bathroom cleaning, vacuuming, spring cleaning, etc.
• Cleaning and preparation at DCI – Gompa, library, lawns, gardens and grounds, Buddha statues in the gardens, stupa and prayer wheel room, etc.
• Help with putting up visit posters at suitable locations around Auckland (you can either download and print this poster file or pick up posters from DCI after we reopen for our regular program). Please make sure to ask permissions of the place, if needed, to hang up a poster there.
• Venue set up, arranging, cleaning – especially on Saturday morning, then some tidying prior to teach talk, followed by clean up on Monday night after the talk.
• Greeters at the venue (at the doors and also inside)
• Photography during the events and visit
• as well as other tasks

We are scheduling Working Bees at the following times:

• Saturday, 22 February from 10am – 4pm. Please pack a lunch. Welcome to come for all or part.
• Sunday, 23 February after class from 12 – 4pm. Please pack a lunch. Welcome to come for all or part.
• Wednesday, 26 February 5 – 8pm. Welcome to come for all or part.

We would appreciate your help! On the Booking Form there is a section where you can offer your support, as well as note any particular type(s) of help you are happy to offer support with.

His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche was born in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, on 18 November 1985. In 1987, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama recognized him as the reincarnation of the 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche (1903 – 1983), who was the Principal Tutor of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

The 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche was His Holiness’ main teacher and spiritual advisor throughout his lifetime, and accompanied His Holiness when he fled into exile from Tibet in 1959. His Holiness refers to him as “my Root Guru”. He was also the 97th Gaden Throne Holder – the supreme head of the Gelugpa tradition, which is the largest tradition in Tibetan Buddhism. He was the most renowned and qualified master of the 20th century and his many students included Lamas, Tulkus, and Geshes from all the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

Beginning with Charka the Arhat Udhay during the time of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha, twenty previous incarnations of H.H. the 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche have been identified, including Tutors to His Holiness the 6th, 11th and 13th Dalai Lamas; the 48th and 75th Gaden Throne Holders; as well as kings, yogis, scholars, and lay adepts prominent in the spiritual histories of India and Tibet.

H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche joined Drepung Monastic University in South India in 1990 at the age of 5, where his enrollment was celebrated with large religious ceremonies. He began his monastic studies at Drepung at the age of 10 and has since been engaged in rigorous religious study and spiritual training under the special care and guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In 1993 H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche received his novice monk’s vow from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at Drepung Monastery. On 3 March 2004, the 50th Anniversary of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama receiving his Bikshu (fully ordained monk’s) vows from the 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche in 1954, His Holiness continued the monastic lineage by bestowing upon H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche the Bikshu vows in His Holiness’ Palace in Dharamsala, India.

H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche has traveled to many countries in Asia, Europe, Australia, Canada, the United States, Mexico & Israel, as well as to many Tibetan settlements throughout India, Nepal and the Himalayan regions, where he has given teachings and talks on a variety of subjects.

H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche has attended many important Buddhist events, such as the World Peace Puja in Bodhgaya, India, January 2005; the International Conference on Vinaya in Sarnath, India, January 2011; the Global Buddhist Congregation in New Delhi, India, November 2011; the First Founding Members Conclave of the International Buddhist Confederation in New Delhi, India, September 2013; and is a regular attendee of the Mind and Life Conferences in India.

He has also organized and led several important Buddhist events, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s historic series of Jangchup Lamrim Teachings on 18 classic treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment at the great seats of learning in South India – Sera, Drepung, Ganden and Tashi Lhunpo Monasteries – in 2012 -2015. These teachings were attended by approx. 35,000 – 40,000 people each year, including 3500 – 4000 foreign attendees from approx. 70 different countries.

In November 2012, while driving to Goa Airport to greet His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the Jangchup Lamrim Teachings, His Eminence 7th Ling Rinpoche was severely injured in a catastrophic motor vehicle accident. Sadly, the driver was killed and other passengers sustained serious injuries. H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche required lengthy surgeries and He was unable to walk for several months. His complete rehabilitation and recovery took several years.

H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche has completed all five Geshe Studies subjects (Logic, Perfection of Wisdom, Middle Way, Higher Knowledge, and Monastic Discipline) and He was awarded His Geshe Degree from Drepung Loseling Monastic University in South India, in November 2016. H.E. 7th Ling Rinpoche completed the traditional year of further studies at Gyuto Tantric College in Dharamsala, India, in March 2018.

In 2015, H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche commenced a series of International Teaching Tours, including visits to Singapore, Australia, Canada, the USA, Mexico, Israel & Mongolia. H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche receives frequent invitations to teach overseas, and is always very well received by Tibetan communities and international students. H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche continues to be closely guided and advised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Biography Source: The Official Facebook Page of H.E. the 7th Ling Rinpoche

Venue for Auckland Events: Avondale College Theatre

Colophon: We would like to sincerely thank H.E. Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, Yongzin Lingtsang Labrang and all support staff for all photos and biographical information generously provided. All of the above photos are courtesy of Yongzin Lingtsang Labrang. In the biography section all but the final photo are from H.E. Yongzin Ling Rinpoche’s website and the final photo, supplied by YLL, was taken by Rosemary Rawcliffe in 2017. The last photo on this page was taken by Sandra Galista in 2016 in Singapore.

We encourage you to visit H.E.’s website to enjoy more photos, biographical and lineage information: http://lingrinpoche.info/