Rashi Gempil-Ling Buddhist Temple

• Rashi Gempil Ling, First Kalmyk Buddhist Temple in the USA
• Rashi Gempil Ling is a non-profit Buddhist temple based in New Jersey. We are the first Kalmyk Buddhist Temple in the USA, and the first Tibetan Buddhist worship center ever established in the Western hemisphere.
• We support our monks; the upkeep of our temple.

🌸 Vesak Celebration at Rashi Gempil-Ling

Please join us this Sunday, May 31st at 7:00 PM for a special Vesak service.

Vesak, also known as Buddha Day, is one of the most important holidays in Buddhism. It commemorates three major events in the life of Siddhartha Gautama — the Buddha: his birth, his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and his final passing into Parinirvana.

Observed by millions worldwide, Vesak is a time of deep reflection, gratitude, and renewal. Many traditions include:

• Lighting candles and lanterns (symbolizing the light of wisdom)
• Offering flowers and incense
• Meditation and chanting
• Acts of generosity and kindness

While customs vary across cultures — from colorful processions in Asia to quiet temple gatherings — the core message remains the same: to honor the Buddha’s teachings and awaken the qualities of compassion, mindfulness, and wisdom in ourselves.

The Meaning of Vesak

Vesak is not only about celebrating the Buddha’s life — it is an invitation to walk the path he taught. It encourages us to reflect on our own minds and actions, and to live with greater awareness and loving-kindness in daily life.

Whether you are new to Buddhism or a longtime practitioner, all are warmly welcome.

📍 Rashi Gempil Ling
🕖 Sunday, May 31st, 7:00 PM

We look forward to sharing this meaningful evening with you.

Dear Dharma friends,

The Mahayana Sutra and Tantra Center of New Jersey is extremely pleased to announce that we will be hosting Gyume Khensur Lobsang Pendha Rinpoche at Rashi Gempil Ling Temple, located at 47 East 5th Street in Howell, New Jersey, for an extraordinary teaching on Green Tārā. Khensur Rinpoche is from Sera Mey Monastery (please see the brief bio below) and is currently leading the Sera Mey Medicine Buddha tour that has been holding events around the U.S. The Tārā teaching at Rashi Gempil Ling will be held on the weekend of Saturday, November 22, and Sunday, November 23, and will include a morning and afternoon session on both days. The morning sessions are expected to begin at 10:00 a.m. and the afternoon sessions at 2:00 p.m. Vegetarian lunch will be served at the temple on both days for all those who are in attendance, following the morning session.

The event will include a Green Tārā Jenang (S: pratijñā, T: rjes gnang) or Permission Blessing that will be held during the morning session on Saturday. This ceremony confers the right of a practitioner to engage in the spiritual practices associated with Green Tārā, including reciting the deity's mantra, carrying out related meditations, and performing prayer rituals. The remaining sessions will mainly be devoted to oral commentary on the illustrious series of verses of homage and praise to twenty-one forms of Tārā. These verses appear in the third chapter of the main Tārā Tantra scripture that was brought from India to Tibet, a translation of which is contained in the Tibetan Kangyur canon. The verses are known and recited regularly from memory by virtually all Tibetans, both ordained clergy and laypeople alike. They are also included in many liturgical texts. In addition, we have requested that Khensur Lobsang Pendha Rinpoche confer an oral transmission of a brief sādhana recitation text that can be used for carrying out a regular Green Tārā practice.

The deity's name, Tārā, literally means “Savioress.” She is recognized as the embodiment of all Buddhas' enlightened activities and is also highly regarded for the swiftness with which she answers the prayers of those who invoke her. She is especially known for her ability to free individuals from illnesses, dangers, and obstacles. She is associated with the Kriya Tantra class of Buddhist tantra systems, which places an emphasis on outer forms of conduct, such as ritual cleansing and observance of dietary rules that include vegetarianism. For this reason, attendees should not eat meat during the two days of this event. Registration is not required to attend this event, but we ask that anyone who would like to come please RSVP and let us know of their intention to do so. This will allow us to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate everyone, especially with regard to the meals. Please respond by email to me at artemusengle@gmail.com or by phone at (732) 757 7587.

Those who wish to attend should have faith in the Three Jewels of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, consider themselves to be Buddhist, and be committed to seeking the Mahāyāna goal of unsurpassed Buddhahood, in order to gain the ability to lead all sentient beings to their own attainment of supreme spiritual wellbeing and happiness.

Brief Highlights of the Spiritual Life of Gyume Khensur Lobsang Pendha Rinpoche

Gyume Khensur Lobsang Pendha Rinpoche was born in 1941 near Lhasa, Tibet. At the age of nine, he entered Sera Mey Monastery, where he studied until 1959, when he fled to India following the Chinese invasion. He continued his monastic training in the challenging circumstances of a refugee camp for monks that was established at the site of an abandoned prison camp called Buxa Duar, located in the state of West Bengal until 1970. Following that, at the age of 28, he relocated to South India in the Mysore district of Karnataka State, when Sera Mey Monastery was reestablished there in one of the newly formed Tibetan settlement camps.

In 1985, at the age of 43, Khensur Rinpoche was awarded the highest scholastic degree of Geshe Lharampa. Two years later, in 1987, he entered Gyume Tantric College, and the following year served as administrator of Sera Mey, a position that he held for three years. In 1991, he successfully completed the Gyume Tantric College examinations and was awarded the Ngakrampa degree. The following year, 1992, he was appointed to the position of Gekö or Head Disciplinarian at Gyume Tantric College. In 1994, he assumed the same position at Sera Mey Monastery.

In 2011, Khensur Rinpoche served as Lama Umdze (Vice Abbot) for a term of three years, and then, in 2014, was appointed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to the position of Khenpo of Abbot of Gyume Tantric College, a position which he also held for three years.

At present, Khensur Rinpoche travels the world fulfilling the spiritual requests of his Dharma students. He bestows empowerments, transmissions, and teachings. He also continues to offer regular guidance at his main residence, Khyentse Choeling Center, located in Italy in the town of Udine, near Martignacco.