Seven Days of Diligent Practice · A Precious Dharma Connection · Auspicious Completion
From 26 September to 2 October 2026, in response to the sincere requests of the community, the venerable Khenpo Chagkhung Tsewang Rinpoche compassionately led a complete seven-day practice retreat on Dzogchen Longchen Nyingtik Phowa (Transference of Consciousness) at Ju De Academy in Melbourne.
Over these seven days, participants relied upon this precious lineage and, under the Rinpoche’s compassionate and meticulous guidance, gradually learned and practised the Longchen Nyingtik Phowa—from motivation and visualisation to the key points of practice and hands-on training.
This was not merely a Dharma gathering, but also a precious and rare period of shared practice.
Seven Days of Complete Practice — Cherishing a Precious Dharma Connection
This gathering placed particular emphasis on complete and continuous practice training.
Each day, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, everyone set aside the demands of work and daily life, gathered at the practice centre, followed the instructions, and applied themselves wholeheartedly to practice.
From the explanations and guidance on the first day through the progressively deeper contemplation and training that followed, Rinpoche continually reminded everyone that practice is not only about hearing and understanding the teachings. More importantly, the teachings must genuinely be integrated into one’s mindstream and actual practice.
Seven days of sustained diligence gave participants a fuller and deeper understanding of the stages of Phowa practice, its methods of visualisation, and its essential practical instructions.
Those who completed the full seven-day course were awarded a Seven-Day Phowa Practice Certificate. In accordance with tradition, auspicious kusha grass was placed at the crown as a special memento of completing the full practice retreat.
Amitayus Empowerment — Strengthening Auspicious Conditions
At the completion of the seven-day Phowa retreat, Khenpo Chagkhung Tsewang Rinpoche also compassionately bestowed the precious Amitayus Empowerment.
Phowa reminds us to recognise impermanence and cherish the present, while the Amitayus practice is undertaken to support longevity, merit, and favourable conditions for Dharma practice.
Receiving the Amitayus Empowerment as the seven days of intensive practice drew to a close brought especially auspicious interdependent conditions to this gathering.
With pure motivation, everyone prayed together:
May lifespan and merit increase. May obstacles to practice be dispelled. May all favourable conditions for hearing, contemplating, and practising the authentic Dharma be complete, and may all virtue be dedicated to limitless sentient beings.
Singing “The Song of Victory” — Remembering His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche
At the conclusion of the gathering, everyone sang The Song of Victory by H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche.
As the familiar melody filled the practice hall, the joy and gratitude of seven days of practice merged with remembrance of the lineage masters.
The wisdom and spirit of practice conveyed by The Song of Victory reminded us once again that the true completion of a Dharma gathering is not the moment the seven-day course ends. It lies in carrying the Dharma we have heard, contemplated, and practised back into everyday life, continuing to familiarise ourselves with it and to persevere on the path ahead.
One Cake — A Joy Shared by All
After the chanting, Rinpoche and the community shared a cake specially prepared to celebrate the successful completion of the seven-day gathering.
A simple cake carried the warmest joy born of seven days of practice together.
From entering the practice hall on the first day to chanting and sharing the cake together on the seventh, everyone encouraged and supported one another, jointly bringing this rare opportunity for practice to fruition.
Smiles, applause, and good wishes left warm and precious memories of the gathering.
Gratitude for Every Act of Support
The smooth, successful, and complete fulfilment of this seven-day Phowa retreat depended upon the coming together of many auspicious conditions.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to Khenpo Chagkhung Tsewang Rinpoche for tirelessly giving compassionate teachings and personally leading the practice throughout all seven days;
to the benefactors whose generosity supported the venue and the various expenses of the gathering;
to all volunteers who helped with venue preparation, registration, water, practice texts, lunchtime coordination, photography, cleaning, and organisation;
and to every Dharma friend who cherished this opportunity, attended the entire seven days, and practised earnestly according to the teachings.
It was through each person’s aspiration and contribution that this precious seven-day Dharma connection was successfully brought to fulfilment.
The Gathering Is Complete — The Practice Is Just Beginning
The seven-day Phowa retreat has concluded, but genuine practice has not ended.
May we cherish the teachings and transmission we have received, carry forward the confidence, concentration, and diligence established during these seven days, continually remember impermanence and cultivate bodhicitta in daily life, and persevere in accordance with the Rinpoche’s instructions.
May all the roots of virtue and merit from this seven-day practice retreat be dedicated to all mother sentient beings:
May they be free from all suffering and the causes of suffering. May they possess all happiness and the causes of happiness. At the time of death, may they be free from fear and confusion, compassionately gathered in by the Guru and the Three Jewels, ultimately reborn in a pure realm, and attain perfect awakening.
🙏 Gratitude for the Guru’s compassionate care
🙏 Gratitude for the blessings of the lineage masters
🙏 Gratitude to all benefactors, volunteers, and Dharma friends who attended
Seven days of diligent practice, sharing the joy of Dharma. A precious Dharma connection, auspiciously and perfectly completed.
We especially include the aspiration prayer shared by Khenpo Chagkhung Tsewang Rinpoche on the evening the gathering concluded:
“When my life comes to an end, You alone are the refuge to whom I pray; while I remain in this world, You alone are the protector from whom I seek blessings.
Life after life, the sole place of refuge is none other than You, the wish-fulfilling jewel.
For all disciples who place their faith and hope in me:
May their wishes in this life be fulfilled, with longevity, good health, and all endeavours brought to completion. At the time of death, may they be free from unbearable pain and sorrow.
In the very instant their minds remember You, may they immediately become inseparable from the Protector Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. I pray that You personally guide them to rebirth in the sublime and pure Realm of Great Bliss.”
Melbourne, 2 October 2026 — the twenty-first day of the eighth Tibetan lunar month