Odiyan Ceremonies
Tarthang Rinpoche and the Odiyan Community invite anyone to sponsor prayer ceremonies at one of the four
Odiyan Temples. Each of the four Temples has its own unique qualities but prayers will be answered as soon as
we turn to the Enlightened Ones for help. Ceremonies are held four times a month, on the New and Full Moons,
and the Lunar 10th and 25th.
Though the Odiyan community lives a rigorous, simple lifestyle, we are not advanced practitioners. However,
through the power of the Odiyan temples, we are able to direct our prayers and forge a link between those wishing for help and the blessing power of the compassionate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Offering ceremonies at the Odiyan temples has two benefits: the first is evoking the presence of the Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas through ritual ceremony. The second is that your donations support the continued maintenance and upkeep of the temples: for the prayer wheels (electricity), temple maintenance and improvements, and
gardening and landscaping. Your ceremony support ensures that these precious sacred symbols of Kaya, Vacca,
and Citta can be maintained for future generations of practitioners.
Supporting a far away temple may seem remote. But if we think of time and space differently we may see new
linkages. In Tarthang Tulku’s teachings, it is deeply significant that things exist “at the same time”. Whatever
exists at any moment is part of the same fabric of space and time: everything is completely linked and interconnected. A world with the Odiyan temples is very different from a world without them, for each and every living
being, every moment.
You can connect to the Odiyan temples at any time, by recollecting them, or by imagining yourself circumambulating one of the temples in the company of the Odiyan community.
We are providing here a description of each ceremony, the prayers and focus and the types of requests most
appropriate for each site. We have tried to evoke a bit of the beauty of the ceremony scenes; for additional photos
see the Odiyan.org website. To reach us concerning ceremonies contact Bradley Clemmons at:
bradleyclemmons@gmail.com or by mail at: Odiyan Temple Ceremonies, 33755 Tin Barn Rd., Cazadero, CA
95421.
Thank you for your support,
The Odiyan Community
Lunar 10th - Vajra Temple
Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum
Against a backdrop of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean,
Vajra Temple is in the western direction of the Odiyan mandala.
Guru Padmasambhava, Buddha of the three times, is the patron
of the Vajra Temple, which Rinpoche has dedicated as especially
efficacious for prayers requesting healings of all beings – loved
ones, animals, peoples and circumstances throughout the world.
Ceremonies are held here on the Lunar Tenth, a day sacred to
Guru Rinpoche when he promises to be near anyone who calls
on him for protection, healing, care and love.
As light streams from the interior shining out through its
glass block walls, the Odiyan community slowly circumambulates the Temple plaza with incense offerings. We enter the
sacred monument filled with 108,000 Padmasambhava statues,
continuing our prayers and circumambulating and blowing
conches, invoking the Great Guru’s blessings from our hearts, on
behalf of those requesting prayers. Donations are $108.
Full Moon - Vairocana Garden
Om Muni Muni Shakya Muni Ye Swa Ha
In the central region of Odiyan is Vairocana Garden
with its 27 foot reclining Parinirvana Buddha statue
and the magnificent Vajra Bell. Lord Tathagata Buddha
Shakyamuni is invoked on the Lunar Fifteenth, and the
Odiyan community devotes much of the day and evening
to the puja. After two hours of meditation in the Cintamani Temple, the community performs a slow chanting circumambulation of all the Odiyan temples. Then,
entering the Vairocana Garden grounds, we are under a
canopy of hundreds of prayer flags fluttering in the evening breezes, bringing our focus to the prayer requests.
In the very special peacefulness of the grounds, prayers
are especially invoked to Lord Buddha Sakyamuni. The
community continues its circumambulation among the
silvery birch trees of the grounds, scattering flower petals, making offerings to the Golden Buddha and ringing
the Vajra Bell.
Any heartfelt wish or concern, including prayers for
those who have died are appropriate requests for a Full
Moon ceremony. Donations are $108.
Lunar 25th- Cintamani Temple
Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum
Located in the southern direction of the Mandala, the wish-fulfilling
Cintamani Temple is one of the most beautiful and spiritually powerful
creations in the world. A golden beacon rising up on a vast plaza set against
the blue ocean horizon, in Cintamani’s center is a 25 foot seated Buddha,
and on its exterior are four statues of great Bodhisattvas, 36 feet in height.
A dozen smaller statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and manifestations of
Padmasambhava complete the exterior art. Guru Padmasambhava and the
Enlightened Lineage are invoked for prayer requests of any sincere and
heartfelt concerns.
As dusk fades and stars begin to shine in the deepening sky, the Odiyan community slowly circumambulates the Temple plaza, praying to
Guru Rinpoche and the great masters to come answer our prayer requests.
Throughout Odiyan, all the temple bells are rung, one after another, their
sounds echoing across the hills and valleys of the land. Then the community enters the special temple in the lower level of Cintamani, where surrounded by life-size golden statues of Indian and Nyingma lineage holders,
we focus the power of our prayer in deep silent contemplation. Donations
are $108.
New Moon - Enlightenment Stupa
Om Vajra Sattva Hum
Located in the eastern direction of the Odiyan mandala,
the Enlightenment Stupa symbolizes Enlightened Mind, its
form demonstrated by the Buddha himself. In all Buddhist
lands stupas have been the focal point of devotion and prayer
for millennia. Here at Odiyan, we have conducted prayer
ceremonies at the Enlightenment Stupa since 1988.
In the evening twilight deepening into darkness and
amidst the twinkling lights adorning the Stupa and its
grounds, the Odiyan community gathers for prayers requested by donors. The Stupa is especially appropriate for requests
concerning births, deaths, or any other heartfelt concern.
After prayers invoking Padmasambhava, the Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas, the community focuses its prayers to Vajrasattva, circumambulating the multiple walkways. Donations
for a ceremony and goldleafing is $150.