2026 Zhitro
Hearing Liberation Empowerment and Puja
Zhitro Hearing Liberation Empowerment and Puja
This event is available both In-person and online. Khentrul Rinpoche will bestow the rare Karma Lingpa Zhitro Empowerment (Liberation Upon Hearing) and lead a Nyedren Purification Puja. This Highest Yoga Tantra practice is a profound way to honor ancestors, support the living, and prepare for our own transition.
A Rare Blessing: Rinpoche holds a deep, personal connection to this lineage, having received the empowerment many times.
The Nyedren Puja: This specific purification ritual guides the deceased—whether they passed recently or generations ago—through the bardo and beyond the six realms of samsara.
Spiritual Fusion: Through sacred prayers and offerings, the consciousness of the deceased is invited to merge with the enlightened wisdom of the 100 deities, leading them toward the awakened state of Samantabhadra.
A Final Act of Merit: To conclude the ceremony, we will burn name tablets for both the living and the departed. This acts as a powerful dedication, clearing karmic obstacles and expressing heartfelt gratitude to our parents and lineage.
In an uncertain life, these "Hearing Liberation" teachings provide an immense anchor of support for the transition of death, the bardo journey, and a fortunate rebirth.
Understanding Zhitro and the Bardo
Zhitro (literally “Peaceful and Wrathful”) refers to the assembly of 100 Bardo Deities: 42 peaceful and 58 wrathful. This profound teaching was hidden as a terma (spiritual treasure) by Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century and later revealed by the terton Karma Lingpa in the 14th century.
The term Bardo signifies an "intermediate state." In this context, it refers to the 49-day transitional phase between death and your next rebirth.
The Manifestation: During these 49 days, the 100 Zhitro deities appear to the consciousness of the deceased.
The Process: * Peaceful Deities manifest first, offering an immediate opportunity for liberation through recognition.
Wrathful Deities appear later for those who require a more powerful, transformative energy to awaken.
The Goal: If the deceased recognizes these deities as their own enlightened nature, they achieve liberation. If no connection is made during this 49-day window, the consciousness is drawn back into the cycle of rebirth within the six realms.
By receiving the Zhitro empowerment now, you establish a direct conduit to these deities while living. This "pre-acquaintance" prepares you to recognize them with confidence during the bardo, transforming the terrifying or confusing experiences of death into a clear path toward awakening.