Boudhanath Experience

A Devotee of Shangpa Rinpoche, Goh Tze Chien, reflects on his Pilgrimage to Nepal last year.

We live in the most affluent period in human history. Yet, with all our material comfort, we still experience difficulties in coping with life's ups and downs. On a personal level, we constantly worry about money, health and relationship issues. On a bigger scale, the world is full of suffering and misery as a result of conflicts and natural disasters. We naturally become disillusioned and sometimes cannot help but wonder why we exist in this world only to suffer.

Tze Chien making the Mind Offering to Shangpa Rinpoche

The Great Stupa during the World Peace Grand Prayer

Like many people, I have been searching for the meaning of life. I have studied major religions and philosophies. While all religions teach people to do good, Buddhism stands out for two reasons. Firstly, its altruistic love for all beings, not selfish love for one's own kin or species. And, more importantly, its foundation is build on logic and reason, not blind faith and devotion alone.

We live in an intricately interconnected web of cause and effect. All the sufferings and happiness we experience are the results of our karma. Every single action or inaction has an effect, be it big or small, direct or indirect. As Buddhists, we should understand, upon careful reflection, that things cannot happen by chance - the enormous amount of negative emotion we generate causes conflicts, diseases, sufferings and ultimately our own unhappiness.

In these degenerate times, it is even more important that we abide by the teachings of the Buddha, the advice of our spiritual gurus and the principles of karmic cause and effect. Hit by this realisation, I was motivated to go before the Great Stupa, to make my own aspiration prayers, not just for myself or other human beings, but for the welfare of all living beings capable of feelings and therefore also of sufferings.

I am very fortunate to be a human being in this lifetime - to have the chance to come to this realisation and to be able to practice dharma. I am extremely fortunate to have met Rinpoche - without his compassion and skilful efforts to bring dharma to life, sometimes through very subtle hints, I may never have realised the importance of practice and certainly would not be at Boudhanath for this first ever World Peace Grand Puja.

Mysterious Orbs of Light

I felt an indescribable sense of joy on 7th December when we made our prostrations, aspiration prayers and lamp offerings at the Great Stupa. Everything just seemed so right, for the lack of a better description. I am certain many members felt that way. In fact, many photographs taken of the puja turned out with mysterious orbs of light and pattern. I do not know what these orbs signify. Whatever they may be, it would not surprise me if others were also rejoicing in this auspicious event!

I am deeply convinced that all our aspirations sincerely expressed with the noblest motivation will be fulfilled and the world will be a better place - free from conflicts, natural disasters and diseases. May our collective merits from this World Peace Grand Puja at the Great Stupa bring unsurpassed happiness and joy to all sentient beings. May the lights of our ten thousand butter lamp offering always shine forth in the hearts and the minds of each and every sentient being, burning away the negative karma, obstacles and defilement of Samsara.

Goh Tze Chien

Email : Shangpa Rinpoche

Devotees

Boudhanath Experience