Ritual and Teaching: Importance and Benefits of the Jang Chok Ritual for the Deceased
with His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche & Tempa Dukte Lama
Saturday: June 3rd, 2023
from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST
at Olmo Ling Bon Center and over Zoom
Simultaneous translation will be available in English, Spanish/Español, French/Francais and Russian online
In the morning, His Holiness will offer a teaching to explain the importance and benefits of the Jang Chok ritual for the soul of the deceased. In the afternoon, His Holiness, Tempa Lama, and the Geshes will perform the full Jang Chok ritual. Participants are invited to dedicate the ritual to any deceased friends or family members.The Jang Chok ritual from the Du Tri Su cycle is a powerful skillful means to guide the consciousness of the deceased and protect it from the terror of the Bardo experiences. The Bardo is the in-between state where the consciousness has left the physical body at the moment of death and has not yet taken on a new body. This ritual is particularly relevant today at a time when beings face so many difficulties from disease, illness, short lives, and low fortune to early death.
Traditionally, the Du Tri Su Jang Chok ritual begins three and a half days after death. From then on until the forty-ninth day, the family of the deceased invites the spiritual master or lama once every week to perform the ritual. The ritual is a skillful means that closes the doors of rebirth in the six realms of cyclic existence and protects the consciousness from wandering in these realms.
The ritual offers the soul guidance for traversing the successive Ten Stages of Compassionate Beings plus the additional Three Unsurpassable Spheres through which the soul enters the abode of the Three Bodies of the Awakened One. Thus, learning about this ritual is also a profound opportunity to prepare for the time of our own death.
Ultimately, the Jang Chok ritual not only liberates the soul of the deceased but helps all beings be free from the conditioning of birth in cyclic existence and guides them towards full liberation.
The ritual uses the textual source of Du Tri Sü Drub Zhung Ma Rig Mün Sel Khor Wa Dong Truk Zhuk: Exhausting the abyss of cyclic existence by dispelling the darkness of defilements.
His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin and Tempa Dukte Lama will explain the importance and benefits of this powerful Bön ritual. His Holiness, Tempa Lama and the Geshes will then offer the complete ritual in the afternoon.
We are excited to announce the release of the first full English translation, commentary, and explanation of the Jang Chok ritual by Tempa Dukte Lama in the form of his forthcoming book. The book will be released this summer. We thank Khyentse Foundation for generously supporting the translation and commentary of the ritual.
This teaching will be followed by a teaching and training in the Jang Chok ritual with Tempa Dukte Lama and Geshe Lama Rinchen Gyaltsen on July 29-30, Aug 5, 6, 12, 13 (in person and Zoom) as well as an advanced in-person training for practical aspects of the ritual, including torma making, preparing the body of the deceased, and preparing ritual components. The 3-day advanced training will be offered by Tempa Lama on September 2-4 at Olmo Ling Bön Center and Institute in Pittsburgh, PA.
Participants will receive:- Recordings of The Teaching
- Necessary Handouts to aid in the Teaching
His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche
His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche is the worldwide spiritual head of Bon and the 34th abbot of Menri Monastery, the mother monastery of Bon in India. His Holiness was selected as the 34th Menri Trizin on January 1, 2018, following a sacred prayer ritual over several days with lamas, monks, and nuns from across Asia.
His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche was born on November 29, 1972, in Amdo, Tibet. At age 17 he became a monk at Gamal Monastery in Amdo, and at age 18 he joined the Bon Dialectic School of Gamal Monastery. He received his Geshe (doctor of Philosophy) degree from Gamal Monastery at age 24. In 1994, he was able to take the 250 vows of a fully ordained monk from the 33rd Menri Trizin, who gave him the name Dawa Dargyal Wangpo. Thus the 34th Abbot was named Dawa (moon), followed by the 33rd Abbot, named Nyima (sun) – forming an auspicious connection like the moon proceeding in the path of the sun.
In 1997, His Holiness entered Menri Monastery in India, where he received his second geshe degree, in 2012. He served the 33rd Menri Trizin, His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, for many years and held several important roles in the monastery, most recently as general secretary (administrator) of the Yungdrung Bon Monastic Center Society at Menri. In February 2018, Bonpos worldwide joined in celebrating the selection of the 34th Menri Trizin at Menri Monastery. On September 6, 2018, a formal grand enthronement ceremony took place at Menri.
In 2019, Olmo Ling had the great honor of hosting teachings with His Holiness. Read more about this very special visit here (post-event newsletter), here (Public Talk) and here (Teaching on the Loving Mother of Wisdom).
The extended bio of His Holiness is available on the website of the Yungdrung Bon Monastic Center HERE
Support His Holiness’ Visit and His Work at Menri Monastery
Since His Holiness was enthroned as the 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin in 2018, he has been working steadfastly on strengthening the work of Menri Monastery and stabilizing its foundation of support through projects including a new building for Geshes and a much-needed public restroom.
Menri Monastery continues to support several hundred children, including Tibetan refuges and orphans who receive education, shelter, and a loving home at Menri. The nuns at the Redna Menling nunnery at Menri receive the same educational opportunities as the monks, including being able to study towards the Geshe (doctor of philosophy) degree. Many of the nuns have gone through great hardship to be able to come to Menri and lead a life of meditation, study, and service.
His Holiness is also growing deep connections with the worldwide Bon community and making his teachings and blessings available to practitioners in many countries. This year His Holiness is offering the world the precious gift of an extended teaching tour.
We would like to sincerely request your support in gathering funds for an offering to His Holiness for his work at Menri Monastery. Hosting His Holiness and the Geshes traveling with him is a major undertaking for us. We realize that this is a very busy year and many of you are also supporting the ongoing renovations of our recently purchased temple building. Menri Monastery is our spiritual root and the blessing of the Gyalwa Menri Trizin is the foundation of all our work. We are deeply grateful for any donation you feel moved to make to support our offering to His Holiness.
Donate Towards the Offering to His Holiness Here
Registration and Fees
Proceeds support His Holiness’ work at Menri Monastery- In-Person Attendance: $125.00
- Online (Zoom) Attendance: $80.00
Members Receive a 10% Discount
We are offering a discounted registration or scholarship for those facing economic challenges. If you would like to request a discounted registration or a scholarship, please contact Joanna at bon@olmoling.org – please have Jang Chok Discount or Scholarship in the title.
Teaching Venue, Accessibility, and Local Accommodations
The empowerment is held at Olmo Ling Bon Center and Institute. Founded by Tempa Dukte Lama, Olmo Ling is a Bon temple and practice center that is formally affiliated with Menri Monastery. Olmo Ling previously hosted visits of the late His Holiness 33rd Menri Trizin during 2011 and 2013. Tempa Dukte Lama studied closely with the late HH 33rd Menri Trizin from a young age. He is the author of four books and teaches in the US, Mexico, Canada, and Europe.
Note that Olmo Ling is fully wheelchair accessible (the entrance and temple are on the same floor) with an accessible bathroom.
A list of nearby accommodations can be found HERE
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR H.H. JANG CHOK RITUAL