On October 23rd, 2018 on the 14th of the 9th month in the year of the Earth Dog, and on the occasion of His Eminence Vajradhara Luding Khenchen Rinpoche’s 88th birthday, the Sakyapas congregated at Ngor Monastery in Dehradun, India to celebrate the joyous event. The grand birthday celebration in the form of a long life offering ceremony was organized and sponsored by the Kham Lithang Association. The ceremony was presided over by His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin Rinpoche and it was graced by the presence of their eminences the Khöndhungs from both the Dolma Phodrang as well as the Phuntsok Phodrang. Also in attendance were their eminences Luding Khen Rinpoche, Thartse Khen Rinpoche, Shabdrungs, Tulkus, Khenpos, monks, nuns and lay people.

The auspicious celebration of H.E. Luding Khenchen Rinpoche’s birthday also coincided with the auspicious Parinirvana anniversaries of four great Sakyapa lineage masters: Khön Konchog Gyalpo, Bari Lotsawa Rinchen Dragpa, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, and Gonpo Sonam Chogden.

As a precursor to these events, on October 19th, His Holiness Sakya Trichen Rinpoche as well as His Holiness Sakya Trizin Rinpoche presided over the White Tara Long Life Puja dedicated to H.E. Luding Khenchen Rinpoche’s long life.

May the precious gurus live long to benefit all sentient beings and May we have the good fortune to follow in their holy footsteps.