Teaching On "Shower of Blessings" Padmasambhava Guru Yoga

"Shower of Blessings" is a guru yoga practice focusing on the great tantric master Padmasambhava, popularly known as Guru Rinpoche. Padmasambhava was instrumental in transforming Tibet into a Buddhist land, and a key source for the Vajrayana transmissions. He is an exemplar of a non-monastic enlightened master, and renowned as a second Buddha. Ju Mipham Rinpoche, a luminary of the Nyingma tradition founded by Padmasambhava, composed this work in 1887.

Guru yoga is a fundamental practice in all Tibetan Buddhist traditions, and refers to the union of the outer and inner spiritual guides. Beginning with honouring the outer manifestation of wisdom mind, we work towards recognising the inseparability of the outer and inner gurus. Strengthening this recognition and invoking the blessings of Padmasambhava are particularly important during these challenging times.

Our spiritual director Za Choeje Rinpoche is a fully qualified master having completed the traditional monastic studies of Buddhist philosophy and tantra at Drepung Loseling and Gyume monasteries. In particular he holds the oral transmission lineage for this practice in an unbroken line going back to Mipham Rinpoche that will be passed down to us.