We are very pleased to announce the upcoming 12-Armed Red Ganesha-Ganapati Empowerment live from Zasep Tulku Rinpoche on Zoom.

Date: Friday, October 1st, 2021 (Saturday Oct 2nd in Australia)

Time: 3:30pm PDT (Vancouver B.C. time)

Registration via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/…/12-armed-red-ganesha…

Suggested Donation: $30-$60 (sliding scale/you choose) for the Empowerment and Dana to Rinpoche is appreciated and most welcome.

Prerequisite: None (other than a desire to practice Ganesha) Open to all (invite friends, family members, and non-Buddhists are welcome)

Commitment: no particular number of mantra commitments after receiving this initiation (as you like). Pictured with the sadhana is a torma which you are not obligated to make at this time, offerings of fruit and cakes are fine for now.

* Regular GFTW Zoom link, Pre-empowerment instructions, Sadhana and GFTW donation link https://gadenforthewest.org/support/ are given at the time of registration.

** Please note that the Ganesha practice is in Rinpoche’s Book entitled “Source of all Buddhist Protectors” which is available for purchase from Irina in Toronto sirina27@gmail.com or Deb in Vancouver madsendebra64@gmail.com

Description of Ganesha-Ganapati from Rinpoche …

Ganesha is honoured as a Yidam deity as well as a Dharma Protector in both the Hindu tradition and the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Ganesha is a protector of Dharma practice and prosperity; he also removes hindrances and obstacles.

Ganesha, Vajrayogini, and Kurukulla are the three red deities, part of the thirteen golden Dharmas of the Sakypa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Ganesha is one of the fifteen directional protectors – in that group he is known as a Vinayaka.

Mahakala, Ganesha, and Kartika are brothers, and it is good to look up the stories about these brothers. Many people think the story of Ganesha is purely a Hindu myth, but it all depends on the definition of mythology. Shiva was a powerful being: When you look at the stories of the divine Lila there are many miracles; the gods are continuously doing things to inspire spiritual awareness.

At the time of Buddha Shakyamuni, Buddha advised his chief disciple Maha Ananda, that the monks, nuns and lay devotees should first take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, then make offerings to Ganesha. They should recite his Mantras seven times, twenty-one times or 108 times, then they could achieve their wishes and remove  obstacles to Dharma practice. 

Ganesha also promised to protect the Dharma in front of Guru Padmasambhava at the great stupa, Gomasala Ganda, in India. Guru Padmasambhava composed 108 Sadhanas of Ganesha and gave them to Tibet’s second great king Trisong Detsen. 

Practitioners of both Hindu and Tibetan Buddhism will greatly benefit from receiving the empowerment of Ganesha. As a Buddhist you take refuge to the three jewels, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, during the initiation ceremony, but if you are a Hindu you don’t have to take refuge to the three jewels. You can if you wish, but it is up to you.  I advise you to  recite the mantras of Ganesha as much as you can!

Jai Ganesha 

Jai Maha Ganapati