Announcement / Important Update
The latest announcements will be posted here. It is each participant's responsibility to come for frequent checks.​​
​​​
-
People who have received the Phowa course earlier could bring their own Phowa text.
​
-
There are meals provided in the retreat centre, lunch & tea are free of charge, please making your kind donations. Breakfast & dinner is USD 12 for two time meals
​
-
Timetable announced
​
-
Please kindly Donation for general Phowa course expenses, free lunch for participants, assistant monks travel expenses to and from south India, Phowa text and visualization photos printing etc are some of things I can remember.
​
Last update on 7th Mar
Phowa Course Details
Date
​
11th - 18th, April 2024
Language​
Tibetan, Nepalese
Venue
​
Amitabha Foundation Palchen Galo Retreat Center, Kopan, Buddanilkantha Nagarpalika ward -11, Kathmandu Nepal
​
Translation ​
To be confirmed
If there is translation, the participants who need translation will have to bring their radios. It may hard to find good quality reliable radios in nepal. ​
Daily schedule
​
Words from Amitabha Foundation
To all the devotees, monks and nuns, ordained and lay persons,
​
Phowa involves the direct transfer of our consciousness at death to Dewachen: the Blissful Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha. When the power of the realised Phowa Master's transmission meets the devotion of the student to Buddha Amitabha and their pure motivation, clear signs of success can arise very quickly. Marpa himself described Phowa as "the teaching that offers enlightenment without meditation ". ​ After the course, daily practice for 10 days followed by lifelong fortnightly Phowa practice ensures we can meet death with the "cheerful confidence " promised by Marpa.
​
The 16th Karmapa, the emanation of activity of all the Buddhas of present, past and future, H.H. Kyabje Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche, an embodiment of Maha Guru Ogyen and the foremost head of the Nyingmapa Lineage in exile and many other great masters have all recognized His Eminence Choje Ayang Rinpoche as a highly realized and accomplished Phowa master and that his teachings will benefit many sentient beings in the path to attaining enlightenment and also the Buddha Dharma in general. His Eminence is a lineage holder of both the Nyingma and Drikung Phowa and continues the unbroken line of succession of the Drikung Phowa masters from Buddha Vajradhara.​
​
His Eminence Choje Ayang Rinpoche has been conducting Phowa courses all over the world for over four decades. It is incredibly fortunate, Rinpoche has now decided to bestow both the Nyingma and Drikung Lineage Phowa teachings at Amitabha Foundation Palchen Galo Retreat Center, Kapan, Kathmandu Nepal.
​
About His Eminence Choje Ayang Rinpoche:
https://amitabhafoundation.us/about-his-eminence-ayang-rinpoche/
Requirement:
​
Requirements: If you are taking the Phowa course for the first time, Rinpoche asks that you attend all sessions.
Practice after the course: After the course, Rinpoche advises everyone to try and do the practice at least twice monthly, preferably on the full and new moon days.
Commitments: To receive the Phowa teachings for the first time, Rinpoche requests that students who have not already completed the Ngondro (Preliminary Practices) do so within a reasonable time. Alternatively, they can do 150,000 Long Vajrasattva mantras plus 150,000 Buddha Amitabha mantras, in each case with visualisation. These practices are taught during the Phowa course.
​
All participant are expected to answer questions about their Dharma background during the registration.
Teaching Fee:
​
In order to keep the Dharma door open to all, there is no fee.
​
Yet there are considerable amount of expenses in order to make the teachings happen, for example hiring 2-3 cook to provide free lunch & Tea for participants, assistant monks travel expenses to and from south India, Phowa text, visualization photos printing, Tsog Offering and shrine offering etc. We encourage those with financial ability to make an offering to the teaching.
​
Make a donation:
​
1) Donation from distance:
Donation could be made to any Amitabha Foundation Center in your country.
Amitabha Foundation Centres Contact Information could be found here. Or make an online donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LR85Q3X2U86E8
​
**After making the donation, please kindly submit the donation receipt & dedication list here : https://forms.gle/adT4Na3rHhcscDfR8 .
​
2) Make Donation while you are here
You can bring cash and make the donation when you arrive the retreat centre.
​
Dharma Supporter Scheme :
​
For those who have generously donated $500USD or more for the Phowa Course, it would be AF’s honor to reserve a seat for you in the 'Dharma Supporter Zone', You would have more flexibility for your entry time, and other special arrangements to show our gratitude towards your kind support.
​
How to join:
1) Indicate your interested to in becoming a joining Dharma Supporter Scheme in the Phowa registration form.
​
2) Bring the cash to the Amitabha Retreat Centre on 10th April during 11am - 6pm, or anytime during the Phowa course to make the offering. We suggest you to arrive on 10th to secure your seat. Deeply appreciate for your generosity and support.​
Registration for Phowa Course:
​
Method 1) Apply Online: All participants are highly recommended to register online for our better arrangement, here is the registration form. Once you have submit the form, you will be accepted automatically. Even you are unable to register online, you are still welcomed to join the course, please arrange your ticket and accommodation anytime.
​
Method 2) If you fail to open the form, please kindly send you name to our email at hechojeayangrinpocheorganizer@gmail.com It will take longer time to process your application, please kindly be patient.
Local Transportation
The Amitabha Mandala Temple and Retreat Center is on a mountain top in the Kathmandu Valley. Around 20mins taxi from the Airport (Please allow extra time for busy traffic).
The retreat center located in a silent valley, yet it remains very easy to access from the city of Kathmandu. Retreatants are nearby, also monasteries of Kopan and Pullahari. It takes about 50 minutes to walk, 12mins by car to Boudhanath Stupa, costs will be around 300 - 400 rupees.
​
Boudha is 3.5 kms from Amitabha Foundation Palchen Galo Retreat Center and the famous Boudhanath stupa is in Boudha. It has many Buddhist monasteries, guest houses, shops and nice restaurants with most having vegetarian options.
​
Taxi, Rickshaw, Motorcycle are common in order to getting around Kathmandu.
​
​You can download various cab-hailing apps such as Pathao, InDrive and Taximandu to travel within Kathmandu. They work similarly to Grab and Uber. It is also easy to hail taxis on the streets. But take note that you need to negotiate the fares. Going by meter is an option but not advised if you are not familiar with the routes/fares.
​
You may download the local taxi app for your travelling.
​
International Travel
1) Travel Visa to Nepal
please check here
https://www.immigration.gov.np/page/tourist-visa
, or visit the Nepal Embassy Website from your own country.
​
2) Airport
The closest international airport to the retreat centre is Kathmandu Airport (KTM), which is around 30mins by taxi if no traffic. Best to book a taxi from the Prepaid counter just outside the arrival hall. The cost from the airport is approximately 1000 rupees.
​
You can also take any taxi outside the arrival hall, if you don't mind bargaining for the price.
​
Generally the traffic can be quite bad at rush hours, usually between 9am - 10.30 am and 4pm - 530pm. So take note of this if you are heading to the airport for your return flight and plan accordingly.
​
3) Mobile and Wifi
Any international data card that cover Nepal will be workable. Free Wifi is available in the airport but the connection may not be very stable. Most tourist restaurants within Nepal provide free wifi. Ncell SIM card is quite popular and has good reception as well. You can get their SIM card at the airport. You will need to provide 2 passport size photos. Ncell SIM cards can also be purchased at boudha and Thamel easily.
​
Accomodation
Accomodation : Each participant should take care their accomodation and book the room as soon as possible.
​
A list of hotel recommendations for your consideration, please go to here. Or you may book any accomodation that is suitable for you.
​