Many profound and sacred mahasadhanas are held throughout the year. Some of the drubchens and drubchös held annually are listed below.
Thugje Chenpo Desheg Kündü Drubchen
This drubchen of Thug Je Chenpo, the Great Compassionate is held annually during the 1st lunar month of the year, at the time of Chötrul Duchen, the Buddha’s Month of Miracles, to mark the parinirvana of Kyabje the 11th Minling Trichen.
This profound and extensive mahasadhana was discovered as a terma by Rigdzin Terdag Lingpa in 1680 and it has been kept as one of the most sacred and important practices in the Mindrolling tradition. It is said to be of incalculable benefit to beings in the degenerate age.
Kagyed Drubchen
This mahasadhana is one of the most important and extensive accomplishment practices of the Nyingma tradition. Beginning the 24th day of the first lunar month, this Drubchen is a ten-day ceremony, based on the Kagyed De-Sheg Du Pa terma, one of the treasure teachings discovered by the renowned Terton Nyang Ral Nyima Özer and later revived by Terdag Lingpa.
When asked by his students what they should do upon his passing into parinirvana, Terdag Lingpa instructed that they should not mourn his passing but instead recognize the truth of impermanence and perform the 10-day Kagyed drubchen, which would bring infinite blessings and benefit to all sentient beings. Thus, every year since the passing of this great master, Mindrolling has performed this most extensive and profound drubchen.
Each evening, the local community gathers to receive the blessings of the practice as the Cham (ritual dance) is performed. On the second day of the second lunar month, the anniversary of the Parinirvana of Terdag Lingpa, extensive prayers and offerings of light are made throughout Mindrolling Monastery and the Great Peace Stupa. The drubchen concludes with the concluding rituals on the next day.
Tsechu Drubchö – the Great Cham Ceremony
Since the heat in India makes it impossible for the dances in this ceremony to be performed in the 5th lunar month as they were in Tibet, this Drubchö is held for three days beginning on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month. The Tsechu Drubchö celebrates the wondrous life of Guru Padmasambhava and is done in accordance with the Terma Lama Sangdu, which was discovered by the great treasure master Guru Chöwang and later revived by Terdag Lingpa.
On the 10th day of the 2nd lunar month, a full day’s cham ritual dances ceremony is performed. These are renowned for their blessings and are the foremost examples of the cham of Tibet in their original form. Many people come from all over to receive the blessings of this great ritual.
The Vajrasattva Drubchö
The Vajrasattva Drubchö is a seven-day ceremony based on the Minling Dorsem or Mindrolling Vajrasattva ritual. Minling Dorsem is part of the Vajrasattva cycle discovered by Chögyal Terdag Lingpa. The Drubchö is held every year for seven days beginning on the 10th day of the first lunar month. This grand ceremony is performed to purify the negativities of all sentient beings, particularly of the deceased. On the 15th day of the first lunar month (the sixth day of the Drubchö), a special ceremony for those who have died within the previous year is perfromed.
Tel-da Tse Chu
This 10th day of the 5th lunar month is the yearly anniversary of the spontaneous arising of Guru Rinpoche from the lotus to limitlessly benefit sentient beings. To observe this profound, auspicious, and joyful occasion, Mindrolling Monastery performs the 3-day drubchö of Lama Sangdü.
This sadhana was revealed as a treasure teaching by the great Tertön, Guru Chöwang, and is one of the most profound practices of Guru Rinpoche. The Drubchö is accomplished from the 8th to the 10th day of the 5th lunar month, during which feast practices are done and the tshog (feast offering) is distributed to the general community.
Yarne Rain Retreat
The rain retreat lasts for one and a half months, from the 15th day of the 6th lunar month to the 30th day of the 7th lunar month. The retreat is held in accordance with the instructions of the Buddha in the Vinaya Sutra directing all monks to observe certain restrictions and engage themselves in meditation and practices for the period. Khenpos and Lonpons give teachings regularly during this time and ‘Sojong’ or confessions are offered by the sangha on two occasions during this retreat. On the evening of the 30th, the last day of the retreat, selected monks give teachings and expound the Dharma to the community.
Drubchö for the Nine Dharmapalas
This Drubchö is held for three days beginning from the 27th of the seventh lunar month. During this ceremony, prayers and various offerings are made to the nine Dharmapalas and other protectors in order to dispel obstacles to the Dharma and sangha.
Kama’i Tsogchen Düpa Drubchö
The great Kama’i Drubpa consists of the great sadhanas of Gyutrul Zhiwa, Gyutrul Throwo, Tshogchen Düpa, Lung Lug Tshedrub and Yangdag Lhagu. These sacred and profound sadhanas are performed simultaneously in five different shrine rooms at the monastery. This profound practice brings an inconceivable shower of blessings and dispels obstacles for practitioners and the world. The practice culminates on the auspicious day of Lhabab Düchen.
One of the most sacred Lama Dances, the Kamei Tsa Cham, is performed on the 13th day of the 9th lunar month. It is a full day of ritual dances wherein the dancers depict the pacifying of the land and building the mandala for the ceremony. Thereafter, the main Drubchö is held for five days beginning from the 17th day of the 9th lunar month. This ceremony is held in accordance with the Dupa Do in the Kama oral tradition from the Lochen Kabum and represents the entire mandala of peaceful and wrathful deities in accordance with the Anuyoga tantra.
Tsimar Kangsol Puja
This special puja is performed for six days from the 6th day of the 10th lunar month. It is held to dispel obstacles to the Dharma and sangha by offering prayers to Tsimar who is one of the main protectors within the Nyingma school.
Saga Dawa Drubchö
This Drubchö held on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month marks the birth, enlightenment and mahaparinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha, one of the most important occasions throughout the Buddhist world. Special prayers, rituals and butter lamp offerings are made during this ceremony.
Vajrakilaya Tordok
This ceremony is performed from the 27th day of the 10th lunar month for three days in order to dispel the obstacles of all sentient beings. It is done in accordance with the Vajrakilaya ritual of Yang Sang Pudi, which is a terma, discovered by the great treasure master Guru Chöwang and later revived by Terdag Lingpa.
Guru Drakpo Tordok
This ceremony is held for three days from the 27th day of the 11th lunar month as a special ritual to dispel the different obstacles caused by the eight classes of spirits and other adversities such as war, famine and epidemic. It is performed in accordance with the ritual of Minling Gudrak from the Guru Drakpo terma discovered by Chögyal Terdag Lingpa.
The Yamantaka Tordok – Shinje Dregjom
This important Drubchö is held at Mindrolling at the end of every lunar year to invoke the blessings and power of the great Yamantaka in order to dispel all obstacles for the coming year. It is held from the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month to the last day of the year. It is performed in accordance with the ritual of Yamantaka of the treasure teaching terma of Shinje Dregjom discovered by Chögyal Terdag Lingpa in 1667.
On the 28th lunar day, the Gutor ritual is performed to dispels all obstacles, during the 28th day and 29th day gar cham the ritual dances are performed and on the 30th lunar day, the drubchö concludes with vast offerings and the dedication of numerous aspiration prayers.
This ceremony is considered a very important ritual for the peace and welfare of all the sentient beings. It is renowned for its power to dispel obstacles to the sacred Dharma and the entire world and to bring blessings and protection to all sentient beings.