Within Tibetan Buddhism, there are ritual dances performed by the monastic order for various purposes, such as combating evil and ushering in good fortune. The Winter Ritual Dance is one such example, during which monks don their ceremonial robes to perform the dance.
Monks performing the Winter Ritual Dance.
On one particular occasion, Gaden Yangchen Phuntsok Ling Monastery in Kham, Tibet held a four-day Winter Ritual Dance between 31 October and 3 November 2013. Dances were performed for the first three days of the event, with a large crowd gathering to watch the monks dance in their ceremonial robes and receive blessings.
In conjunction with this Winter Ritual Dance, the monastery also celebrated the reopening of its two stupas, known as the Stupa of Reconciliation and the Stupa of Long Life, which are both 13-metres tall. They were both recently renovated and dedicated to the long life of the monastery’s abbot, Khen Rinpoche Trinley Lhundup Drakpa Gyaltsen.
The Abbot of Gaden Yangchen Phuntsok Ling Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Thrinley Lhundup Drakpa Gyaltsen, flanked by two of the most prominent lamas in Tibet – Lama Wangchuk (left) and Geshe Lobsang Tenzin (right)
On the fourth and final day of the celebrations, the monastery’s abbot together with two visiting Lamas, namely Lama Wangchuk and Geshe Lobsang Tenzin presided over the sogtae, or Life-Entrustment ceremony of Dorje Shugden. The sogtae initiation was auspiciously conferred on the gathered crowd numbering 5,000.
Dorje Shugden’s heart crystal, which is symbolic of the mutual commitment between the practitioner and the Protector, was given to those who received the life entrustment of Dorje Shugden. This commitment will endure until the practitioner gains Bodhicitta. Dorje Shugden chakras were also distributed to the faithful.
Dorje Shugden’s heart crystal was given to those who received the life entrustment
The crowd anticipates the arrival of the visiting lamas
The arrival of Lama Wangchuk who tirelessly teaches the Dharma
Thousands flocked to the monastery for the event
Both ordained and lay await their turn to receive Dorje Shugden’s initiation
Blessed Dorje Shugden chakras were also distributed to the faithful for protection
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nicholas
Posted on August 10, 2016 #1 AuthorThis 5000 crowd has shown their faith and fortunate enough to witness the ritual dance and also receive the life entrustment of Dorje Shugden. It’s very important to preserve this tradition and knowledge for our future generation and may more people have the opportunity to participate.
Pastor Henry Ooi
Posted on August 10, 2016 #2 AuthorIt is awesome to see so many people turned up for this ceremony, and to receive the empowerment for Dorje Shugden’s practice. And in Tibet, China. People there are very fortunate, having the freedom to practice without obstacles. Wonderful. I wish one day soon this 350 year old practice will be practiced without prejudice.
Khoo Hou Haw
Posted on August 10, 2016 #3 AuthorRejoice to know over 5000 people attending the initiation of Dorje Shugden. It show that many tibetan are having faith in the Enlightened Buddha Dorje Shugden. May the Lamas who spread the Dharma all live long and the preserve the tradition.
Pastor Moh Mei
Posted on August 10, 2016 #4 AuthorA very blessed event for the 5,000 to be conferred Dorje Shugden sogtae initiation. There are many Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world but not everyone has the fortune of being conferred sogtae. Hopefully, there will be more conducive conditions in the future for Dorje Shugden lamas to given sogtae to more people.
pammie yap
Posted on August 10, 2016 #5 AuthorIt would be very interesting and an eye opening place to watch the dance!!! I am sure it was exciting and full of blessings too since sogtae initiation was given to 5000 people!!
Tibet is still flourishing with so many DS practitioners and I rejoice for them.
Absolutely love the heart crystal’s representation. To have Dorje Shugden be with me ‘hand in hand’ until I gain Bodhichitta. He is truly compassionate!
Pastor Antoinette
Posted on August 10, 2016 #6 AuthorHow auspicious! The beautiful pictures show how many are gathering to witness and join this holy initiation. This practice is very much alive in Tibet and takes several days. I rejoice for the lucky ones to receive the sogtae and to be protected in all their life by holy Dorje Shugden.
Mingwen
Posted on August 10, 2016 #7 AuthorGlad to know that more and more people are placing their faith on the Great Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. He can be appear in a wrathful form(some people might assume him as a demon when they first see him, included myself), however, how he appears to the worldly world wil not change his real identity, a real Buddha.
Jace Chong
Posted on August 11, 2016 #8 AuthorDorje Shugden practice is definitely not a practice for minority looking at the number of practitioners in Tibet. Sogtae is the ritual that can trace back many hundreds years ago and so glad that this tradition still alive in Tibet, it shows that China is preserving the Tibetan culture and religions very well.
Rejoice for the 5,000 practitioners who receive the life entrustment from Dorje Shugden through Lama Wangchuk and Geshe Lobsang Tenzin.
June Kang
Posted on August 11, 2016 #9 AuthorIt is nice to see 5000 people gather together to celebrate this event and both ordained and lay people wanting to receive the Dorje Shugden initiation. How wonderful that all of them have so strong faith in Dorje Shugden. Wish that will be more Dorje Shugden lamas to give sogtae initiation in future and around the world.
Hope we can have this at our country- the winter ritual dance.
Albert
Posted on August 11, 2016 #10 AuthorWow, this is so happening in Tibet where 5000 people attending, so many people making connection with Dorje Shugden and getting blessing from him, this is indeed one of the most exciting news.
Although the ban has been existed for a long time, but it does not shake the people’s believe to Dorje Shugden for a even a bit, because more and more people realized that Dorje Shugden is not a demon as what people out there mentioned, he is a manifestation od Manjushri Buddha, he is an enlightened beings.
It is wonderful to see this event and I believe more and more events like this will be happening in different places around the world, May more people get connected with this unconventional Protector who can bring us so much benefit.
Pastor Chia
Posted on August 11, 2016 #11 AuthorSuch great news the to heard of 5000 people at China Tibet are fortunate received holy practice of Dorje Shugden this days. Before the ceremony,monks are performing lama dance in tradition way for the good fortune. Rejoice for those attendee receive Dorje Shugden sogtea initiation was auspiciously conferred and reveived Dorje Shugden’s heart crystal, which is symbolic of the mutual commitment between the practitioner and the Protector. This commitment will endure until the practitioner gains Bodhicitta. Dorje Shugden chakras were also distributed to the attendee as the protection from protector.
Eric kksiow
Posted on August 11, 2016 #12 AuthorFirst of all i would like to rejoice for the 5000 peoples and always wished Dorje Shugden practice spread more wider all over the world.
Found out some interesting part from this article, would like to Google it more detail of Winter Ritual Dance.
Thank You
Erick
Sofi
Posted on August 12, 2016 #13 AuthorI rejoice at the merits of the 5,000 who received the Sogtae or Life-Entrustment ceremony of Dorje Shugden from The Abbot of Gaden Yangchen Phuntsok Ling Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Thrinley Lhundup Drakpa Gyaltsen, two visiting prominent lamas in Tibet – Lama Wangchuk and Geshe Lobsang Tenzin. May the people of Tibet be blessed by the propitiation of Dorje Shugden and place their faith in their practise of this enlightened World Peace Protector.
Alice Tay
Posted on August 12, 2016 #14 AuthorThis is wonderful to see many people have benefited from this event. I rejoice to the 5,000 people who have received the sogtae initiation from Khen Rinpoche Thrinley Lhundup Drakpa Gyaltsen together with Lama Wangchuk and Geshe Lobsang Tenzin. May those have received the sogtae continue to practice dharma and transform for the ultimate path to Buddhahood.
For those have not received the sogtae initiation, continue to make a strong motivation so that you may have the merits to receive the teachings from a qualified guru in the near future.