Our Wish Fulfilling Trip to Nepal - 2005

Two Devotees of Shangpa Rinpoche reflect on their Pilgrimage to Nepal.

My husband and I were so inspired and awed by the picture of the Boudanath Stupa that was pasted on the glass window of the Green Tara Shop in Geylang that we immediately wanted to get involved in the fund raising event and signed up for the trip after some precious sharing with Vicky, the lady boss.

Lizzie and Husband
- at the Stupa

Without any doubt, it was the catalyst for our first pilgrimage to Nepal to visit many precious, holy places. At the same time, we were sure that it would be helpful to enhance and reinforce our spiritual practice in the BuddhaDharma and purification of our body, speech and mind that has created countless negative karmas in this lifetime and many previous lives. We also hoped to do this on behalf of all our benefactors, friends and family that have donated to this Wish fulfilling cause and were not able to join us on this trip.

This was our first time doing full prostrations around the entire Boudanath Stupa and compared to my fit husband, I was not sure if I could manage the physical challenge. Well, I first thought to myself that if I could not complete the prostrations, then at least, I could have a good laugh at myself and perhaps also bring some laughter to others too ... heheeee ... However, I surprised myself that my stick-like body could withstand the pressure of bending, sliding, kneeling, pushing and standing in a continuous, clock-like fashion similar to our limitless rebirths in the Wheel of Life. Although, I must admit that my arms and legs did go shaky after a while and my poor, knobbly knees hit the ground many times.

Personally for me, it was a very powerful awakening for my own practice. Visualizing our Guru Rinpoche above my head, reciting the prayer, and at the same time, visualizing that I was doing the prostrations, purifying all negative karmas committed in limitless lifetimes not only for myself but for all sentient beings brought tears of Compassion, altruistic joy and gratitude to my eyes which made every step that I took more powerful and meaningful.

A very amazing moment for me was that my usual, frequent motion sickness that have been with me for the longest time, totally disappeared during this entire trip and I have never been so well in all my other trips. Even when I had to sit in a small bus with a full bladder that rocked its way up on an arduous one and a half journey to top of the holy Nagarjuna Hill, I was in incredible tip top condition. My deepest gratitude to the blessings of the 3 Jewels, the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, the Dharma protectors, Dakas and Dakinis and our gurus.

We are grateful to Shangpa Rinpoche, Vicky of Green Tara Shop and the co-hosts for trying their best to make the group's entire trip as comfortable, safe and meaningful as it could be. We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to all the Anis for helping all of us to look after our belongings so that we could fully concentrate on our prostrations around the Boudanath Stupa.

A Great Big Thank you to all the Sponsors who have donated to this Wish fullfilling event at the Boudanath Stupa.

"May All of You Always Be Blessed and Guided by the Power of the 3 Jewels."

Lizzie Woon

'My Healing Hands'

www.myhealinghands.com.sg

Email : Shangpa Rinpoche