In November, His Eminence Ling Rinpoche received a group of nuns and devotees from Bongyong Sa, Korea, and a group of students from Delhi, at his residence in Dharamsala, for audiences and Dharma talks.

On 18th November, the recently recognized reincarnation of the late Kyabjé Lati Rinpoche visited for an audience with His Eminence Ling Rinpoche for the first time, on the occasion of His Eminence Ling Rinpoche's Birthday.

In December, Rinpoche participated in the General Assembly Meeting of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in Delhi.

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche received several groups for audiences at his residence in Dharamsala during August and September, including groups from Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia. A group from Amitabha Buddhist Center (FPMT) in Singapore also visited and received the oral transmission for "Praises to the 21 Taras" from Rinpoche.

On the 31st August, H.E. Ling Rinpoche gave the Amitayus Long Life Initiation to a large gathering of international students, at Tushita Meditation Center in Dharamsala.

In early September, Rinpoche was invited to give a talk to the Tibetan Women's Association, on the occasion of their 33rd anniversary of being re-established in exile.

Rinpoche sustained a simple ankle fracture after slipping during his daily walk near Gyuto Monastery on the 15th September. He was flown to Delhi on advice from H.H. the Dalai Lama, and underwent successful surgery. Rinpoche was very well cared for by Surgeon Dr. Kamal Dureja and his team of Doctors.

In October, His Eminence Ling Rinpoche consulted with the Nechung Oracle in trance, at Ling Labrang in Dharamsala. The main point the Oracle advised was that Rinpoche's recent ankle fracture was not an obstacle of Rinpoche's, but that Rinpoche had taken on the obstacles of all sentient beings and of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche visited Mongolia for the first time in July and August. A press conference was held at the Corporate Hotel upon his arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Rinpoche's visit commenced at Gaden Theckchen Monastery (Mongolia's largest and principal monastery,) where Rinpoche gave teachings on the "Foundation of All Good Qualities," visited His Eminence the 102nd Ganden Tripa Rizong Rinpoche, and paid respects to the embalmed holy body of the 9th Khaka Jetsun Rinpoche. At Pethup Monastery, Rinpoche was offered a mandala by Bakula Rinpoche, Khensur Jhado Rinpoche, the monastery's Abbot and the assembly of monks. Rinpoche gave "Introduction to Buddhism" teachings and the Amitayus Long-Life initiation for the people of Mongolia, a public talk at Do Ngag Shedrup Ling Center (FPMT,) blessed Penchen Woetul Rinpoche's Dharma Center, and was offered a traditional music and dance performance by the internationally recognized ‘National Song and Dance Academic Ensemble of Mongolia'. During Rinpoche's visit in Ulaanbaatar, Rinpoche enjoyed a productive meeting and conversation with Mongolia's President Battulga.

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche also visited Sukhbaatar province in Mongolia, where Rinpoche was offered a Long-Life ceremony at Erdene Manal Monastery and gave teachings on the "Three Principal Aspects of the Path". Rinpoche visited nomad communities in the province, blessed an area that had not received rain for a long time, and performed an animal liberation by releasing horses and sheep. The people of the region later reported that a large lake (an important source of water for many people and animals) that had been drying up over several years of drought, received abundant rainfall following Rinpoche's visit and the lake became full again.

On 17th June, His Eminence Ling Rinpoche gave a teaching on the "Eight Verses of Thought Transformation" at Tushita Meditation Centre (FPMT) in Dharamsala, India.

Teaching Video

Daniel Aitken of Wisdom Publications visited His Eminence Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala to present him with a copy of The Life of My Teacher, a biography of His Holiness the 6th Kyabjé Yongzin Ling Rinpoche. It was written in the traditional style of a Tibetan spiritual biography by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and translated into English by Gavin Kilty for the Wisdom Publications edition (published this month). This is the only biography His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written himself. It tells the story of H.H. the Dalai Lama's Principal Teacher, H.H. the 6th Kyabjé Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, whom His Holiness describes as "the greatest influence of my life". More information from the publisher here.

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche consulted with the Nechung Oracle in trance and made offerings to the monks at Nechung Monastery in Dharamsala.

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche enrolled at Gyuto Tantric Monastery in Dharamsala, India on 9th April 2017, to commence the year of tantric studies that traditionally follows the completion of a Geshe degree. His Eminence received a warm welcome from the Abbot, Disciplinarian, Chanting Master, Administrators, Khangtsen Heads and assembly of monks. The Ling Rinpoche lineage has a strong connection to Gyuto Monastery with the 4th, 5th, and 6th incarnations serving as the Monastery's Abbot. Rinpoche participated in a debate in the presence of the Abbot and was later joined by other Geshes. A traditional tea and rice ceremony and extensive Heruka Puja were performed.

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche joined His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist leaders at the 3-day International Buddhist Conference in Ragjir, Bihar, India. The Indian Government Ministry of Culture and the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara organized this conference on "The Relevance of Buddhism in the 21st Century". Participants came from many countries, including Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia and others. Rinpoche offered prayers at the holy sites of Nalanda and Bodhgaya during this visit to Bihar.

Israel Visit

His Eminence Ling Rinpoche visited Israel for the first time in March 2017. Rinpoche gave a public talk in Tel Aviv on "How to Have a Peaceful Mind in a Turbulent World" and two days of teachings on "The Eight Verses on Thought Transformation" at Neve Shalom. Rinpoche also gave a three-day teaching on Lama Tsongkhapa's "Songs of Experience" at the Kibbutz Yehiam, which was followed by Manjushri and Green Tara initiations on Chotrul Duchen, the auspicious holy "Day of Miracles".

Teaching Video

Rinpoche enjoyed visiting the old city of Jerusalem and offered prayers at the holy sites, including the Wailing Wall. During an interview on Israel's Channel 1, Rinpoche spoke of love, compassion and peace in this region of the world.

Interview Video

Rinpoche visited the Dead Sea, the canyons in the Judean desert surrounding Masada, and Qasar El Yahud - the holy place of Jesus' Baptism, in the south of Israel near the Jordan border.