September Events

Dharma Activities in Celebration of Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche's 44th Birthday

The 12th of September 2003. This special day marks the auspicious occasion of the 44th birthday of our most precious guru, Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche. As in previous years, Rinpoche's disciples in Singapore organised various Dharma activities to celebrate this special day and to show their devotion, love and respect for Rinpoche and to wish him Happy Birthday in a variety of ways. To thank Rinpoche for his Great Compassion to be amongst us, guiding and teaching us the True Path in these degenerate times.

In gratitude of Rinpoche's unceasing and untiring efforts in Dharma activities to benefit all sentient beings. To express our gratefulness to Rinpoche for inspiring us through his shining example of Compassion and Wisdom; a living example of the Bodhisattva Ideal of service to others.

Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche making his way to the gompa to give Green Tara Initiation

Rinpoche on the throne performing the initiation rituals

Green Tara Initiation

Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche kindly consented to give a Green Tara Initiation at Karma Kagyu Buddhist Centre (Singapore) on the evening of 7th September 2003. A Peaceful Deity Fire Puja was held on that Sunday morning to clear obstacles in preparation for the actual initiation later in the evening. Both the Fire Puja and the Green Tara Initiation were well attended by Rinpoche's disciples and devotees. At the successful conclusion of the initiation ceremony amidst melodious chants of Mother Tara's mantra, Rinpoche kindly distributed precious Nectar Pills to all present and reminded us to share the precious Nectar Pills with as many sentient beings as possible as this was his heart wish, to benefit as many beings as possible. Such is Rinpoche's boundless Compassion for all of us.

Rinpoche giving the teachings on Green Tara
Practice to a packed gompa of disciples.

Lama Tenrab building the mandala during
part of the initiation rituals.

Rinpoche giving Green Tara empowerment
and guiding disciples through the visualizations

Disciples getting blessings from Rinpoche.

Lamp of Love

Lamps of Love charity
fund-raising event

Weeks ago, Shangpa Rinpoche had indicated to his disciples that he wished to do charity to benefit others on his birthday. In accordance with our precious guru's Dharma wishes, a charity fund raising drive; aptly named Lamp of Love was organised as part of the Dharma activities held to celebrate Rinpoche's birthday.

Taking of 8 Mahayana Precepts and Chenrezig Retreat

A one day Chenrezig Retreat with taking of the 8 Mahayana Precepts was also held on the same day. Although it was a weekday, quite a number of disciples and devotees took time off from their usual work to attend the retreat.

Disciples of Rinpoche deep in concentration during 1 day Chenrezig retreat

Meditation

Offering of Body, Speech and Mind and 1000 lamp offerings on Rinpoche's Birthday

Rinpoche completed his 3 day Green Tara Retreat at 12 noon on the auspicious occasion of his 44th birthday. One of Rinpoche's disciples organised a special and fitting tribute to Rinpoche on this special day. A group of Rinpoche's disciples made various beautiful and intricate food offerings in the traditional OM AH HUM colours representing offerings of Body, Speech and Mind to their precious guru on the auspicious occasion of his 44th birthday. The offerings were placed at the main gompa of the Centre to ask all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and illustrious lineage masters of the Karma Kagyu to bless Rinpoche with a stable and long life and success in all Rinpoche's Dharma activities.

1000 lamp offerings were put up by Rinpoche's disciples at KKBC to mark this special day. In the evening, many disciples and devotees came to offer birthday good wishes to Rinpoche. Rinpoche was invited to light up the 1000th lamp, symbolising 1000 wishes from us as Rinpoche's disciples for his longevity and success in all his Dharma work to benefit all sentient beings.

A very special guest joined us in celebrating Rinpoche's birthday. Centenarian Sister Teresa Hsu (also known as Sister Prema), Singapore's own "Mother Teresa of Calcutta". Sister Hsu is well-known in Buddhist circles for her untiring charity and welfare work in aid of the aged destitute and was specially invited to join us for this joyous occasion of Rinpoche's 44th birthday. Sister Hsu who is 105 years old this year has been helping the poor and sick elderly for more than 70 years! Master Venerable Chin Kong of Pure Land School who met Sister Hsu during his visit to Singapore had remarked that Sister Hsu is truly a practicing Boddhisattva. In accordance with Tibetan tradition, Sister presented a Khata to Rinpoche wishing him Happy Birthday. In turn, Rinpoche presented Sister with the proceeds from the Lamp of Love fund-raising event to help towards Sister's charity work amongst the poor and sick elderly. Rinpoche also wished Sister Hsu good health, longevity and success in her charity work.

A Long Life Puja was held and thereafter, Resident Sangha and the executive committee of KKBC made the traditional offerings of Body, Speech, Mind, Knowledge and Activity to Rinpoche. Disciples and devotees also took turns to offer Khata and other offerings to Rinpoche and to receive his blessings. 1000 VCDs of Vision 3, specially prepared as a tribute to Rinpoche were also distributed to all present. Vision 3 captures all the Dharma events held in conjunction with Rinpoche's 43rd birthday last year and the latest progress construction on Kirtipur monastery.

Distribution of precious Green Tara herbal Pendant at Green Tara Shop

Kind sponsors collected the precious Green Tara herbal Pendants they had earlier sponsored from Green Tara Shop in Geylang East on the afternoon of 13.9.2003. Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche kindly consented to be present to personally thank the kind sponsors.

Hundreds of sponsors and well-wishers turned up to meet Rinpoche. Many of the sponsors who turned up also asked Rinpoche to autograph on the Certificates of Authenticity that came with the Green Tara Pendants! Rinpoche kindly gave blessings to all present and distributed special Nectar Pills and VCDs of Vision 3. Everyone rejoiced in Rinpoche's Compassionate Presence.

(This Writer was very moved to see Rinpoche in action up close; individually giving blessings to each person present, giving kind words of advice and skillfully planting the seeds of Bodhi in the mindstream of all present. Truly a living Bodhisattva amongst us. Rejoice!)

Karmapa Khyenno!

Images to follow ...

Email : Shangpa Rinpoche