To whom it may concern:

Transmission of Longchenpa’s Seven Treasuries
by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
November 4-13, 2023
Wanaka, Aotearoa / New Zealand

A letter from Rinpoche
about New Zealand and the Longchenpa Dzö Dün transmission

Dear Dharma Friends,

I am writing this letter because I understand you have decided to come to New Zealand to receive the Longchenpa Dzö Dün transmission.

While I cannot claim any qualification to give this transmission, the text itself is so profound and important that I believe it will benefit you and many others to receive this. Because it is a transmission, explanations and teachings will not be a priority at this time, and most of your time will be spent listening to the sound of the transmission. Whenever time allows, I might sometimes just talk a bit about the text.

I have chosen to do this in New Zealand not only because it is remote and distant for many of you but because it is such a pristine, beautiful, and friendly place. And so, I really want to request all participants fully and absolutely to respect the country’s laws, customs, and habits. Especially, I ask you to respect the program’s zero-waste policy, never to litter, and always to respect the sensitive ecology of New Zealand’s natural environment.

Many of us grew up and live in very chaotic and populous countries like India and China, where we have to be very pushy and demanding just to get what we need. New Zealand is not like that. It is a very warm, laid back and friendly place. So it is important not to push, rush, shout, or be impatient. We need to keep sounds low, to be constantly aware of our surroundings, and to respect the quiet and privacy of the inhabitants and of our kind hosts. It is really essential to keep all this in mind during our stay in New Zealand.

Beyond that, we must always remember that we are all visiting New Zealand as followers of Sakyamuni Buddha. And so, it is very, very important, for the sake of the dharma, that we create an inspiring image for each other, and especially for the local inhabitants who are really welcoming us there.

Thank you for keeping all this closely in mind during our time in New Zealand. I look forward to seeing you there.

Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse