With more than some regret, we will soon say farewell to Diedre Niar from Sakya Tharpa Ling….even though she is not going far and we hope will still be a regular visitor to our centre.

Many people have been asking about the welfare of Ani Sangmo. Ani-la has been involved with Sakya Tharpa Ling for a number of years and was ordained by Luding Khen Rinpoche in 2004. Since then she has been actively involved with maintaining the regular practice programme at Drogmi Retreat Centre.

Lama Tenzin Ngawang (Lama) and Ven. Tenzin Lektsok (Tenzin Phil) attended the Buddhas birthday celebrations at Darling Harbour. This annual event is perhaps on of the largest regular public events held in Australia and this year it was larger than ever.

His Eminence 14th Dungyud Tulku Rinpoche gave the White Tara Empowerment on Saurday night. This Empowermnet has been handed down across the Eons to His Eminence 14th Dungyud Tulku Rinpoche.

Dungyud Rinpoche returned to Sakya Tharpa Ling in late April 2008 after spending time at his monastery in Bir, India and at centres in Singapore and Malaysia.

Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe has returned from his duties overseas and will commence his program in early April.

In the month of March we were graced by the presence of Loppon Tsering. Loppon, the resident teacher of the Sakya Yigah Choling centre in Whyalla South Australia, was kind enough to give a series of teachings at our centre whilst Rinpoche was overseas. His teachings included the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva, Vajrayogini teachings and he led the Ngondro retreat. His teachings covered both philosophical and ritualistic aspects of the Vajrayana path.

Her Eminence Jetsun Kusho-La was born in 1938 in Tibet in the year of the Earth Tiger, into the holy Khon family, from which many great masters have come since the 8th century. These include the Five Great Founders of the Sakya order. The Khon family is known by several special names, including Lharig, or Celestial Family. She is the elder sister of His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin, the present throne holder of the Sakyapa school, and the mother of Luding Khen Rinpoche, the current and 76th throne holder of the Norpa sub sect of the Sakyapas. In her lifetime Her Eminence has received teachings from the most highly realised Tibetan Buddhist masters of the 20th century, and has undergone the same training as His Holiness the Sakya Trizin.