Basics

Amitabha Foundation Australia is fortunate to have for our Spiritual Director His Eminence Choje Ayang Rinpoche, one of the most senior Lamas to be teaching in the world today. Renowned as a Master and teacher of Phowa (the transference of consciousness to the Pure Land of Buddha Amitabha after death), Rinpoche is also widely known for the vivid and unmistakable way he can introduce disciples to their True Nature of Mind and help them stabilize this practice. He makes regular, generally annual, teaching visits to our Centre in Waitara near Hornsby. He offers high level Vajrayana teachings in English and is also regularly available for practice and personal interviews. Many of Rinpoche's teachings are based on Buddha Amitabha sadhana practices, and appeal to students from Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and other Pure Land traditions, as well as to those from other backgrounds.

One of the pioneers of the spread of Tibetan Buddhism throughout the world, Rinpoche is the wisdom emanation of Terton Rigzin Choegyal Dorje, whose acknowledged previous incarnations include the Bodhisattva Ruchiraketu (a disciple of the Buddha whose question concerning the Enlightened One's lifespan generated the Golden Light Sutra), Langdrol Lotsawa (one of the 25 close disciples of Guru Rinpoche), Repa Shiwa O (one of Milarepa's 8 heart-sons) and Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, author of "Mahamudra - the Moonlight" and "Clarifying the Natural State". After leaving Tibet in 1959 at the age of 17, he was requested to teach internationally by HH Dalai Lama, HH 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, and HH Dudjom Rinpoche.

Rinpoche teaches in English, in a characteristically clear, warm and compassionate manner. His teachings are always fully comprehensive, with precise and detailed meditation instructions that enable any student to engage confidently with high-level teachings. It is common for students to have powerful and transformative experiences that deeply enrich their spiritual lives simply through being in Rinpoche's presence or by hearing his voice.

Known for his active compassion as well as for the depth of his realization, Ayang Rinpoche is the founder and Spiritual Director of the Amitabha Foundation which has branches in many countries dedicated to charitable and development projects supporting impoverished people in India, Nepal and Tibet. He has recently re-established his monastery in Tibet, and has founded monasteries, nunneries, temples and retreat centres in India and Nepal.

Please see attachment below for a recent letter from Rinpoche