On Thursday August 19th, the Mindrolling International sangha from around the world all joined together to celebrate the birthday of our incomparable guru, Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche. Sangha members gathered in groups and went out individually to engage in the practice of Tshe Thar, or Life Release, where live animals are purchased from markets or places where they are about to be killed and released back into their natural habitat. Great care was taken to ensure the practice was done properly and the animals were released where they would not harm the eco system and had the best chance for survival.
This practice was done by hundreds of students from over 20 countries and dedicated with heartfelt aspirations for the long life and the flourishing of Rinpoche’s activities that are the genuine source of benefit for beings in this world. With great joy and celebration, a total of 1,024,543 lives were saved in this practice worldwide. The Mindrolling International sangha donated $33,008 to the Same Aspiration Life Release organization in China where over one million lives were saved. This was particularly auspicious because it is the season there when much of the sea life is pregnant and to protect the aquatic animal population, China enforces a strict fishing ban in much of the area. This was a doubly auspicious circumstance because so many of the beings released were pregnant and they were released into waters where fishing is currently banned. In addition, sangha members donated over $10,000 to animal sanctuaries, rescue organizations, and animal care and rehabilitation groups.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Minling Jetsün Dechen Paldrön, whose vision and direction made the entire practice possible. Deepest thanks to the numerous sangha members who helped to organize life releases all over the world. We would particularly like to thank our Mindrolling International Sangha member, Aileen Yu, who organized and oversaw in person the release of over one million lives in Dalian, China.
We hope all will rejoice in the release from suffering for so many beings and dedicate whatever merit has been accumulated so that Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche will remain with us for a long time and that Rinpoche’s vision of true benefit and happiness for all sentient beings will be fulfilled. May Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche’s activities continue to flourish throughout the ten directions!
Life Release – Dalian, China
Life Release – Czech Sangha and Baltimore Study Group
