His Holiness 16th Karmapa Visited Belleville, ON Canada Three Times

In 1974, 1977, and 1980 His Holiness the 16th Karmapa visits and bestows the Black Hat Ceremony (Vajra Crown Ceremony) in Belleville, ON. His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa bestowed the Black Hat Ceremony three times in Belleville, ON.

Eventually His Holiness the 16th Karmapa appointed Ven. Choeje Lama Namse Rinpoche to be his representative in Canada. Ven. Choeje Lama Namse Rinpoche visited and spent many summers in Belleville, ON bestowing empowerments, transmissions, blessings and teachings to the Belleville, ON Community for many years.

Ven. Choeje Lama Namse Rinpoche

LAMA NAMSE RINPOCHE was born in Tsurphu, Tibet in 1930 and became a monk at the age of fifteen. From ages 16 to 21, he did intensive studies of the basic fundamentals of Tibetan religious language, etymology, grammar, and poetry. He underwent the serious studies of the Tripitaka, Vinaya, Sutra and Abhidharma, and also the Prajna Paramita, Utara Shastra, Sutra Lankara, the five states of Madhyamika and many other versions and commentaries as well as schools of Buddhist thought and teachings.

From ages 21 to 24, Lama Namse did a three-year, three-month, three-day retreat with intensive practice of the core of the Kagyu teachings such as the Six Yogas of Naropa, the meaning of Mahamudra, and other related practices. From ages 24 to 26, he studied Buddhism further, especially the Five Treasuries of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great. From ages 27 to 30, Lama Namse went on an intensive pilgrimage to many sacred places and private retreats. When he was thirty years old, Lama Namse left Tibet as a refugee. He travelled to India, and from ages 32 to 35, did another three-year retreat. At this time he also became a retreat master for many new retreatants. At age thirty-seven, he travelled to Sikkim to Rumtek Dharmachakra Centre and received the collections of the empowerments of the Kag Ngagzod, Damgang Ngagzod practices. Choeje Lama Namse Rinpoche bestowed Vajrakilaya, Dorje Phurba Empowerments, Amitabha Empowerments, Green Tara Empowerments, and Orange Manjushiri Empowerments in Belleville, ON annually each summer for the Sangha community.

Abbot of Bokar Monastery Historic Visit to Bokar Karma Tara Ling (Belleville, ON, Canada).

Khenchen Lodro Donyo Rinpoche made a historic visit opened and consecrated Bokar Karma Tara Ling. Khenchen lak is a Kagyu lineage master and is the Abbot of Bokar Ngedon Chokhor Ling Monastery in Mirik, India. Khenchen Lodro Donyo Rinpoche was a close student of Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche for fifty years and taught at his side at the annual Bokar International Mahamudra Seminars in India until Bokar Rinpoche passed away in 2004. Khenchen Lodro Donyo is the President of Bokar Karma Tara Ling. Khenchen Lodro Donyo Rinpoche bestowed a Green Tara Empowerment for the Bokar Karma Tara Ling Sangha.

H.E. Ayang Rinpoche

Visited Belleville, ON Canada many summers upon the request of the Jamyangling Family.  Choeje Ayang Rinpoche taught on Phowa of the Drikung Kagyu and Nyingma schools and bestowed Amitabha Empowerments annually to the Belleville, ON Sangha community.