It is hard to believe that it has been six years since Anyen Rinpoche and Allison Choying Zangmo have led a Level One Dying With Confidence Training program. We are pleased to announce a Level One Training has been scheduled for this September 4-7 in the Diane Francis Hall at the Historical Winter Street Center in Bath, Maine. This is a rare opportunity to learn more about how to approach your own death as a profound spiritual transition, as well as how to support your loved ones and friends through the dying process. We expect this program to be completely full, so please register early to ensure your attendance and make your travel arrangements.

This program will include teachings on indispensable Vajrayana Buddhist practices, such as phowa, which can be used to support our own death. Rinpoche and Allison will also give practical advice on topics such as how to recognize that you (or someone else) is dying, how to make the best decisions about pain medication and other types of medical treatment, and how to put your worldly and spiritual affairs into order before you die. The Level One Training is always an intense and exciting experience - students often begin to think about issues they've never thought about before, or gain answers to long-held questions.

Reading Anyen Rinpoche's book, Dying With Confidence, is highly recommended. We welcome all of you to join this very special opportunity to delve deeper into Vajrayana Buddhism, which contains a literal treasure trove of teachings that can help us meet death with clarity, courage and compassion.

Rinpoche and Allison will offer these teachings during the annual Green Tara retreat at our center in Montreal. For more information about the full Green Tara retreat and to register for the in-person option, please click here to visit OKL Canada's website.

The Phowa Foundation, a special project of OKL Denver designed to teach us how to use our dharma practice to support ourselves and our loved ones through the dying process, is presenting the online and downloadable portion of these very special teachings. Those unable to attend the retreat in-person, please REGISTER HERE. This option is open to all! Please join us!

***The teachings on Friday through Sunday may run past 4 pm, especially to provide time for Rinpoche to answer questions. Typically, the teaching time on the last day varies and will likely be earlier and shortened. Please check your email for schedule updates throughout the program, and especially on Monday!***

The 17th century Tibetan master Karma Chagme wrote this prayer to help guide ordinary practitioners towards rebirth in Amitabha’s pure land of Sukhavati. The special feature of Sukhavati is that because of Amitabha's many heartfelt aspirations made in his past lives, beings without extraordinary realization can take rebirth in his pure land simply through the strength of their faith and devotion in him and their desire to benefit sentient beings. It is said that once a being takes rebirth in Sukhavati, they will never again be reborn in the lower realms nor regress on the path to Buddhahood.

Anyen Rinpoche recalled this prayer spontaneously as a small child, without ever having read it. He was also entrusted with a detailed commentary on its meaning by his root lama Tsara Dharmakirti Rinpoche numerous times. We are so fortunate to benefit from these auspicious circumstances!

Beginning this fall, Rinpoche will give detailed teachings on this famous prayer, its meaning, and how we as ordinary beings can practice and pray to be reborn in Amitabha’s pure land. Even if, due to our own karma, rebirth in a buddhafield next lifetime is not possible, reciting Karma Chagme’s prayer during this life can create the positive dependent arising to be reborn with the supportive circumstances to practice the dharma and to really be able to benefit all sentient beings.

The Phowa Foundation is happy to present these very special teachings that are suitable for beginner and experienced practitioners alike. They are especially essential for practitioners who wish to die confidently and meet the dharma in future lifetimes. Please join us!