Shangpa Rinpoche's 48th Birthday

12 September 2007

One of Shangpa Rinpoche's devotees penned the following text on the events for Rinpoche's birthday:

"Varied ways through a series of events were held to celebrate Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche's birthday this year. The Tsa Tsa event held at East Coast Parkway was not merely an opportunity for the family to get together for a day of family togetherness. The creation and offering of 400,000 Tsa Tsas of the 4 activities of the Enlightened Ones dedicated to the longevity of Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche and for the liberation of all mother sentient beings was another activity held showing the fervent dedication followers of Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche have towards their precious teacher. A special Naga Puja was also performed under the arrangement of Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche owing to the auspicious occasion on the 9th Sep 2007.

Images from the Naga Puja - 9 Sept 2007

Shangpa Rinpoche checking the Tsa Tsa mounds

Shangpa Rinpoche checking the Tsa Tsa moulds

Ven Shangpa Rinpoche explaining how to construct the Tsa Tsa's

Blessed Water for the Tsa Tsa's

Devotees watching patiently whilst Rinpoche demonstrates the Purification of the new Tsa Tsa moulds

Shangpa Rinpoche with texts for the Naga Puja

Shangpa Rinpoche making prayers before the start of constructing the Tsa Tsa's

Ven Shangpa Rinpoche explaining the meaning and merit of constructing Tsa Tsa's

Prayer for Tsa Tsa Offering

Preparing the Tsa Tsa's at the Naga Puja

Shangpa Rinpoche and his Lamas doing prayers (Tsa Tsa Program)

Shangpa Rinpoche demonstrating how to construct the sand Tsa Tsa's

Devotees making sand Tsa Tsa's at the Beach

Preparing the Tsa Tsa's at the Naga Puja

Lama with Smoke Offering at the Naga Puja

Shangpa Rinpoche deep in Prayer

Lamas making Prayers

Chanting mantras and making sand Tsa Tsa offerings with Aspirations

Shangpa Rinpoche leading Prayers

Devotees offering fire tse tse

Releasing Blessed Water into the Sea

Shangpa Rinpoche at the Naga Puja

Shangpa Rinpoche and Lamas at the Naga Puja

The releasing of fishes on the 11 Sept 2007 was another auspicious activity held outdoors dedicated to celebrate the birthday of Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche. The release of life is believed to generate immeasurable merits. Followers dedicated the immeasurable merits generated form the release of life to the longevity of Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche, that his Dharma activities may shine forth like the morning sun, bringing liberation to all mother sentient beings.

On the actual day of Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche's birthday, 12th Sept 2007, Longevity prayers were recited and as night fell, 7 elderly followers blessed with the merits of longevity made offerings of their body, speech and mind to Rinpoche. The highlight of that night's programme was the offering of lamps. Lamp offerings glowing in darkness was accompanied by the singing of the mantra of White Tara by Mr Goh and his daughter, Goh Ren Hui. A longevity prayer with music accompaniment specially composed for Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche. The beautiful voice of Goh Ren Hui touched many who attended the event making the night all the more special. Cake cutting and the autographing of the 7 point mind training wrapped the evening's celebrations to perfection.

Special gratitude has to be extended to a small group of devotees fervent enough to dedicate a million recitations of the Green Tara Mantra dedicated to the longevity of Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche within a short period of time."