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Hello Everyone,

We hope you are enjoying peaceful and love-filled holidays!

Following are:

1. The web links, and the dates and times, for the streaming of the Winter Teachings (please note that there are separate streaming channels for H.E. Garchen Rinpoche’s teachings and for Ven. Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s teachings).

2. Information about the recommended texts for the teachings.

3: H.E. Garchen Rinpoche’s instructions on how to receive an empowerment online.

We’re so happy the worldwide sangha will be participating via the global temple!

Meditation Retreat, with Ven. Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche
December 27-29: 9 am – Noon, 2-5 pm

Drupon Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche Streaming Channel:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/winter-meditation-retreat-2012

Recommended text for the Meditation Retreat:
Introduction to Mahamudra, by Lord Jigten Sumgon
Available through the Garchen Institute webstore at:
http://www.garchen.net/GBI-Shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=471

Vajrayogini Empowerment and The Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices Teachings,
with H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
December 30: Vajrayogini Empowerment, 10 am – noon (possibly until 1 pm)
December 30: Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices Teachings, 2:30-5 pm
December 31 – January 4: Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices Teachings,
9 am – noon and 2-5 pm

H.E. Garchen Rinpoche Streaming Channel:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/winter-teachings-2012---garchen-rinpoche

Recommended texts for The Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices Teachings:
1. The Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices
Available for download in several languages at:
http://www.garchen.net/resources.html (scroll down to "37 Practices of the Bodhisattvas" section)
2. Heart of Compassion (an extraordinary commentary on The Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche that is recommended by H.E. Garchen Rinpoche; Rinpoche says that The Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices text is taught in all the lineages and that all available commentaries are valuable to study)
Available through the Garchen Institute webstore at:
http://www.garchen.net/GBI-Shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=825&zenid=c8fe38d2f4807af22616addcb2e03921
Recommended text for Vajrayogini practice (this is a restricted text that may only be acquired after receiving the empowerment and only if you commit to doing the short daily practice on a regular basis—this requirement was given by H.E. Garchen Rinpoche on December 25, 2012)
Available through the Garchen Institute webstore at:
http://www.garchen.net/GBI-Shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_26&products_id=1277

H.E. Garchen Rinpoche’s Teachings on How to Receive an Empowerment Online

The touching of the vase to the crown of the head is the outer empowerment. The inner empowerment is to visualize yourself as the deity. The real empowerment is to realize the nature of your mind.

When you cultivate bodhicitta, that is the real deity, and when you do this, that is when you actually receive the empowerment over the internet.

If you live near the temple and think, “Oh, I don’t need to go to the temple; I can just receive the empowerment over the internet,” that is not the right motivation. If you have the opportunity to come to the temple, then you should come.

If you don't live nearby and cannot come, but with all your heart would like to, that is the right motivation for receiving the empowerment over the internet.

Whoever has faith and devotion will receive the empowerment regardless of where they are, because the dharmakaya pervades like space. Even if you come to the temple to receive an empowerment, if you have no devotion you still will not receive it.

To quote Lord Jigten Sumgon, “You receive the empowerment only when you understand the meaning of the empowerment.”