Rinpoche's 45th Birthday

Events for Shangpa Rinpoche's 45th Birthday

5-13 Sept 2004

Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre, Singapore

This years celebration of Rinpoche's birthday at the Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre centred around the practice of Manjushri. There was a week long recitation of Manjusri's mantra by devotees, and Rinpoche entered retreat for that week whilst not leading Dharma events.

A Special Message from Rinpoche on the event is presented below. After that are 16 Images taken during the events, followed by the full schedule of activities.

For feedback and comments from Devotees, please visit the 'Devotees' section on this website.

A Special Message from Rinpoche on the Events

"Every year when September is close by, many of our members and disciples will be kept busy thinking of how to organize my birthday in a very special way. With many different ideas from everyone, they start to working on it shortly after that. I personally feel that every one of these celebrations have a very special significance to me as they are reminders to myself that I mustn't forget my commitment to assist every one of my disciples and devotees as well as friends and well-wishers. They are all so important to me because I feel all that they are an inseparable part of my life and my path. They are always encouraging me to work harder for the benefit of the liberation of all sentient beings.

This year's birthday was even more special to me that it was an event of spiritual significance. The happiest thing is that I managed to enter into a short retreat while the devotees did countless recitations and practices of Lord Manjushri. While I was in the retreat, reciting mantras and doing visualizations, I could hear the voices of the Lamas and the devotees chanting the very same mantra as I was. The entire atmosphere was filled with Manjushri and its Mantra. I felt the inner joy of this method of practice. I also had a time to share a little about Manjushri. During the lecture, the whole centre seemed to have transformed into Buddha fields, so harmonious and so peaceful. When I realized that last day was approaching, just started to feel a little sad as I knew that I am going miss this atmosphere. It was a great moment and I really felt so happy, I was lost for words.

I also had the opportunity to share my joy of celebration with a bunch of special children. The visit to the home was an excellent opportunity for me to share what I have with those less fortunate children. They joy on their faces, the smiles they wore was very heartwarming. I am happy to be able to share my joy with them. It also served as an important reminder to both the devotees and myself of the importance of the practice of loving-kindness and compassion alongside the practice of acquiring wisdom. Even though I may have just been able to share merely an afternoon of joy and happiness with them, they are constant reminders to me of my path and my mission.

Then during the birthday celebration itself, So many people came to greet me with well-wishes, both old and new faces, young and old, everyone left their whatever they were doing, came and greeted me with gifts and well-wished. It felt like I am one of their family members whom they love and care for so much. The entire days' activities made me feel and understand how deep the relationship of the Guru and the disciple we have established since long time ago. Every thing was so natural and spontaneous, no expectations and requirements. It is just the beauty of our practice of devotion and Bodhichitta.

The night ceremony was filled with inspiration. From the offering of mandala to the cake cutting it was a night of wonderfully inspiring events filled with very nice moments to me. I observed everyone present and saw that everyone was joyful. Like it was their own birthday celebration. It reminded me of teachings that always emphasized on inseparability of others and oneself.

This year I made a strong aspiration prayer to benefit every one by making special Lamp offerings. Letting everyone feel the darkness and listen the unspoken words of my gratitude and finally eradicating darkness by illumination of lights and dedicating the offering of the Lamps to all the Buddha's field.

I enjoyed seeing everyone focused one-pointedly with utmost devotion to the Buddha and the triple gems, feeling the responsibility of liberating all sentient beings. Reading the prayer in harmony it sounded like a soothing melody. It was a very important part of the birthday celebration to me.

The whole event of this birthday ceremony was spiritually meaningful to everyone especially to me.

I am just very impressed with organizers who organized the series of events so thoughtfully being mindful of a good balance of events with spiritual meaning and festive celebrations of my birthday.

The committee and members of Karma Kagyu Buddhist Centre together and Vicky Lim from Green Tara Pte Ltd worked hand in hand to organize this very meaningful event. I am very touched by your exemplary devotion and your care towards me and my work."

May all be auspicious!

Shangpa R.

Images from the Events

We are happy to present these images from the Retreat, which we've just received ...

The Lights of Unspoken Gratitude

by Shangpa Rinpoche

I remember an old folklore from ancient Tibet my teacher once told me. The story spoke of a tiny monastery in ancient Tibet. Once, this tiny monastery was faced with the danger of a powerful evil spirit which lurked nearby. One night, a wise old lama who rarely spoke, started to gather all the lamps in the monastery. He even gathered all the cups and containers or anything that was suitable. Thereafter, he began to light lamps as offerings to the Buddha.

Other lamas soon started to follow suit and in no time, the entire compound was filled with lights; tens of thousands of lights. The flames from the lamps danced in the darkness. The warmth from these lamps felt like the blessings of the Buddha because it filled the hearts of the lamas with hope, confidence, faith, compassion and wisdom. Their voices soon united in prayers. They wanted to evoke compassion and wisdom in the evil spirit so that no harm would come to anyone ...

Needless to say, the prayers of the lamas from that monastery succeeded.

I also remember being told that my previous life, I was known for giving one particular teaching: that in life, we have one very good friend. This good friend is Bodhicitta. In our lives, there is one important task that we need to accomplish daily. The task is to benefit all mother sentient beings.

There are many things that my teacher has taught me ... he has imparted me some of the most profound of tantric practices as well as the simplest of mantras. However, there is one practice which left a very deep impression on me. I remember every morning when I awake, I will always see my teacher carrying a kettle filled with oil and in an awkwardly bent position, my teacher would fill up the lamps one by one after which he will say a simple prayer as he lit those lamps. Filling these lamps with oil was like filling himself and all mother sentient beings with the blessings of the Buddha and the Bodhisattavas. In the evening when he cleans the dark and stained lamps, it was as if he was cleaning the defilements and the poisons of Samsara and all of our obstacle ... he did it with a smile on his face. He was very compassionate.

Watching the flames from these lamps dancing to the cold Nepalese winds never did fail to bring a special kind of warmth to my heart. I remember the feeling was as if the light from these lamps were the actual blessings of the Buddha. They shone forth brightly and fearlessly in the bitter cold darkness and they filled my heart with hope, aspirations, compassion and wisdom.

The ritual of lighting lamps as an offering to the Buddha started such a long time ago, I think no one can possibly remember when it had first started. It is believed that offering lamps to the Buddhas and Bodhisattavas is an effective way of beseeching the blessings of wisdom and compassion. Lamp offerings help to dispel darkness, ignorance, obstacles and evil. It brings forth warmth, hope, binding faith and aspirations.

It is my wish to share with everyone around me this warmth and immense blessing. On my 45th Birthday, I shall light lamps to give thanks to the selflessly dedicated disciples I have around me. There is nothing much that I could return for the selfless devotion that you have shown me. I can only say a sincere prayer and beseech for blessings from the Triple Gems and the Lineage Gurus for all of your wishes to come true and that each and every one of you will attain the supreme state of complete Enlightenment.

I have been in Singapore for over 20 years. I remember the time when I first arrived in Singapore. Anxiety greeted my arrival and my future then was just a big unknown to me. Through these years, there are many things that I am very proud of. How much my disciples have grown over the years and how much more spiritually matured they have become is one of the things I am most proud of as a teacher. Nothing brings more gratitude to a teacher than seeing his disciples make progress along their path towards enlightenment.

In these degenerate times, it is most important that we abide by the teachings of the Lord Buddha. The help sentient beings need from their teachers along their path towards enlightenment has never been greater. I have been very fortunate to have been able to take on the task on building the Kagyu Institute for Buddhist Studies and Retreat Centre. The Institute will play an important part in bringing up even more teachers so that even more sentient beings can benefit from the support and guidance these teachers can provide.

Each night before I retire to bed, I say a little prayer and give thanks for the blessings that I have received from the Lineage Gurus, the Buddhas and Bodhisattavas of the ten directions and of the three times but most importantly, I am thankful for the support and the dedication of the disciples I have around me because they have never failed me.

The projects that I have taken on over these years have been successful. With the blessings of the Triple Gems and of my Lineage Gurus, the obstacles have been cleared. However, it is the generosity and the dedication of my disciples that has made these projects a reality. Even in the worst of economic climates, these disciples have never failed me. This is probably something that I will never forget and something which I am very proud of.

The completion of Kagyu Institute for Buddhist Studies and Retreat Centre would not have been at all possible had it not been for selfless devotion and contributions of my followers. Witnessing the selfless devotion and generous contributions filled my heart with the warmth I had felt when I was young tulku watching butter lamps .

May the lights of wisdom always shine forth in the hearts and the minds of each and every one of you, fearless in the darkness of ignorance and courageously against the bitter cold winds of negative karma, obstacles, obscuration and the defilements of Samsara. May it always fill each and every one of your hearts with the warmth of boundless compassion and the bliss of infinite wisdom of The Completely Enlightened Ones! Thank you!

May all be auspicious!

Shangpa Rinpoche

Full Schedule

Sunday, 5 Sept 2004

10-12am	Auspicious prayers to Manjushri lead by lamas Devotees start a weeklong continuous recitation of the Mantra of Manjushri at the Centre. Participants can continue the recitation at home and record the number of recitation on the prescribed forms. Ullumbana Offering to Ven Shangpa Rinpoche
2.30-4.30pm	Empowerment for the practice of The Lord of Wisdom: Manjushri by Rinpoche
5-6.30pm	Mahakala Puja and continuous recitation of the Mantra of Manjushri.
8-10pm	Teaching by Rinpoche: Benefits of reciting the mantra of Manjushri, the Essence of Enlightened Wisdom.
10pm	Rinpoche start his short retreat. No consultations from 05 till 11 Sept noon.

Monday - Friday, 6-10 Sept 2004

10-12am	Auspicious prayers to Manjushri lead by lamas
2-4pm	Auspicious prayers to Manjushri lead by lamas and continuous recitation of the Mantra.
4.30-6.30pm	Mahakala puja, Auspicious prayers to Manjushri lead by lamas and continuous recitation of the Mantra.
8-10pm	Auspicious prayers to Manjushri lead by lamas and continuous recitation of the Mantra.

Tuesday and Thursday, 7 & 9 Sept 2004

8-10pm

Instruction on the practice of Lord Manjushri by Ven Shangpa Rinpoche

Saturday, 11 Sept 2004

10-11am	Auspicious prayers to Manjushri lead by lamas & continuous recitation of the Mantra.
12 noon	Invite Ven Shangpa Rinpoche to give blessings
2-4pm	Auspicious prayers to Manjushri lead by lamas and continuous recitation of the Mantra.
4.30-6.30pm	Mahakala puja, Auspicious prayers to Manjushri lead by lamas and continuous recitation of the Mantra.
8-10pm	Teaching on making effective aspiration prayers and the transference of merits by Rinpoche. Conclusion of the weeklong recitation of the Mantra of Manjushri. All completed forms to reach Center by hand, via fax or email by 10.00 pm. Individual participant who completed 150,000 times the recitation will be given a Manjushri Pill.
10-10.30pm	Dedication prayers and blessings.

Sunday, 12 Sept 2004

9.30-10am	Release lives
10.30-12pm	Ven Shangpa Rinpoche visit Moral Home for the Intellectually Disabled. (maximum of 30 adult visitors only).
6.30-7.45pm	Buffet dinner at KKBC with all the devotees.
8-10pm	Offering of the Lamps of Wisdom to Manjushri. Offering of Body, Speech and Mind by 5 representatives. Offering of Birthday present to Rinpoche by Chairman. Speech by Chairman. Dedication of merits for the longevity of HH17 Karmapa, Thaye Dorje, HH14 Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, Ven Shangpa Rinpoche and for the liberation of all sentient beings. Speech by Ven Shangpa Rinpoche Rinpoche present Manjushri gold pendants to sponsors. Birthday Celebration

Monday, 13 Sept 2004

8-10am	Grand Mahakala puja lead by Ven Shangpa Rinpoche
10.30am	Rinpoche present token of appreciation to all helpers.