On Friday, August 19, 2023, the worldwide Mindrolling International sangha joyfully marked the occasion of Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche’s birthday.  The entire sangha made sincere prayers and aspirations for Rinpoche’s long life and continued Dharma activities. In particular, a vast Tshe Thar, or life release, was offered and dedicated to the long life of Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche. Sangha members from around the world contributed to the life release and funds were donated to the One Aspiration Life Saving Center.

Early on the morning of August 19, 2023, the team at One Aspiration Life Saving Center went to the live fish market and began purchasing many filefish, Japanese black porgy, red sea breams/genuine porgy, eelpout fish, white-spotted conger eel, greenling fish/Hexagrammos otakii, rockfish/Sebastes schlegelii, turritella snail/shell, octopus variabilis saski, spotted halibut, tiger puffer/fugu, swimming crab, perigone crab/charybdis japonica, and mantis shrimp. In total, more than 4 million aquatic animals were saved from the market and released back into their natural habitat in areas where fishing is forbidden. Many of these fish are pregnant this time of year, such as the filefish who carry 60,000 eggs, and so even more lives were saved.  The worldwide sangha donated more than US $30,000 that funded this life release.

The entire sangha would like to express sincere gratitude to Minling Jetsun Dechen Paldrön, whose guidance and vision made this wonderful tshe thar possible.  We would like to thank all the study groups and sangha members around the world who donated to this vast life release, did their own life releases, and donated to other animal welfare organizations.  We are very grateful to our Mindrolling International sangha members, Anila Choying Choedron and Aileen Yu, who worked directly with One Aspiration Life Saving Center to help organize and assist with the life-release.

Giving and protecting lives and sending forth beings with the seed of Dharma and liberation is an unparalleled Bodhisattva activity.  May whatever merit has been accumulated be dedicated to the long life and continued activities of our Glorious Guru, Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche. Just as the animals were freed from captivity and joyfully released, may Rinpoche’s limitless activities be the cause of liberation for all sentient beings throughout the ten directions!