Sacred Tara Pendant

Production of the Sacred Tara Pendant for the Kirtipur International Buddhist Institute and Retreat Centre - Sept 2003

Homage to the Three Jewels,
Homage to the illustrious lineage Masters of the great Karma Kargyu Tradition,
Homage to His Holiness, the glorious 17th Karmapa, Thaye Dorje.

As you all are aware, our most precious guru, Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche has been working tirelessly to actualise his vision of completing the building of Kirtipur International Buddhist Institute and Retreat Centre these last few years so as to benefit more sentient beings. Much work has been accomplished during the past year towards the completion of this most worthy Dharma project but we still have some way to go. In view of this and to fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes to benefit more sentient beings through this worthy Dharma project, a small group of Rinpoche’s students decided to try and make an effort to help Rinpoche raise funds for the completion of Kirtipur Institute. After consultations with Rinpoche, it was decided that 1000 Pieces of a very special and sacred Tara Pendant would be made available to benefactors who make donations to this worthy cause. This is Rinpoche’s wish and way to thank those kind benefactors who contribute and help make Kirtipur International Buddhist Institute and Retreat Centre a reality.

The Very Precious and Sacred Tara Pendant

You are witnessing the dawn of a new era in spiritual devotion, a devotion from the teacher to his disciples. This very precious and sacred Tara Pendant is one of the most precious items in the entire pantheon of Vajrayana Buddhism. It is a wish-fulfilling gem so precious to Rinpoche that words cannot begin to describe its priceless spiritual value. But for the sake of the liberation of sentient beings, out of Rinpoche’s great compassion; this precious relic is now being presented to those fortunate students of Rinpoche and well-wishers from around the world.

In our time of spiritual degeneration and worldly hardships, Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche has ventured on a special spiritual journey to bring the blessings of hope, compassion and wisdom to all of his disciples. This spiritual journey that he had embarked on some months ago has taken fruit in the form of this very precious and sacred Tara Pendant.

The sacred items that have gone into the creation of this precious Tara Pendant have been the personal source of inspiration and unimaginable blessings to Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche over the years and all of these sacred items that Rinpoche has kept so dear to himself have now been
used to benefit us all. The great devotion and the great compassion that Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche has for all is embodied in this Pendant whose spiritual value is something one can hardly even begin to fathom.

This Tara Pendant possesses immense powers to purify negative karma, accumulate merits and is a source of unimaginable blessings and it is requested that it should be treated with utmost respect at all times and kept in high places when it is not worn.

All donations received will be used to further propagate Buddha Dharma and to benefit countless people from all over the world through the building of the Kirtipur International Buddhist Institute and Retreat Centre.

Pendant Materials

The Very Precious and Sacred Tara Pendant contains and is made up entirely of the following relics:

1) The robe of Yonge Migyur Dorje

2) The robe of Guru Rinpoche

3) The robe of Shanta Rakshita
(A great preceptor who was invited by the Tibetan King to propagate Buddha Dharma in Tibet but due to the evil forces that existed then, he advised the Tibetan King that Guru Rinpoche should be invited to Tibet)

4) The robe of Phakmo Drupa {(1110 - 1170) One of Lord Gampopa's 4 supreme disciples}
5) The robe of the 1st Karmapa
6) The robe of the 3rd Karmapa
7) The robe of the 7th Karmapa
8) The robe of the 13th Karmapa
9) The robes of the 15th Karmapa (Rinpoche was presented on 2 different occasions the robes of the 15th Karmapa and both have been included)
10) The robe of Jatson Nyingpa (Ordained as a monk in 1585, he was a treasure revealer in the closed lineage of treasures)
11) The robe of Drime Lingpa
12) The shirt button of Marpa Lotsawa
13) The robe pill of Milerapa
14) The bone relics of the 16th Karmapa
15) Black Nectar Pills
16) The bone relics of Lord Gampopa.
17) Material from the Damaru of Tashi Nagyal
18) Rice blessed by the 16th Karmapa
19) The hair of the 14th Karmapa
20) The hair of the 16th Karmapa
21) The Crown of Guru Rinpoche made by 100,000 Dakinis
22) Nectar Pills made by Guru Rinpoche and his 25 Disciples
23) The relics of Tsurphu Buddha
24) A collection of relics from the Blessing Box of Karmapa from Tsurphu.
25) The hat pills of the 2nd Sharmapa, Khacho Wangpo
26) The meditation belt of Lord Gotsangpa
(One of the great lineage masters of the Kagyud Tradition)
27) A collection of blessing pills, both old and new.
28) Namjom Pill
29) A collection of 64 precious items presented by Sang Sang Rinpoche
30) A collection of relics from Buddha Shakyamuni and other accomplished masters
31) The relics of the 10th Sharmapa
32) Material from the hat of Yeshe Tsogyal
33) A collection of sacred pills
34) Manjushri wisdom pills
35) Vajrayogini nectar pills
36) Mani pills
37) The essence of Mani Pills
38) Special nectar pills
39) Longevity Pills
40) The essence of nectar pills
41) A collection of different Mani pills presented to Rinpoche on different occasions

Sponsorship Response

All the 1000 pieces are individually serial numbered and come with a Certificate of Authenticity bearing Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche’s signature.

As Rinpoche’s birthday falls on 12th September, it was our earnest wish that all 1000 pieces of this precious Tara Pendant would be sponsored before Rinpoche’s birthday.

As it turned out, the response to this very precious and sacred Tara Pendant has been overwhelming. No, more precisely, it has been phenomenal! All 1000 Pieces have been kindly sponsored within an incredibly short time. To us as Rinpoche’s students, this auspicious sign of having all 1000 pieces of precious Tara Pendant sponsored before Rinpoche’s birthday) represents 1000 wishes to Rinpoche’s long life and continued success in Dharma activities to benefit all sentient beings!

Rinpoche was very much heartened and touched by the overwhelmingly generous response from all even during these difficult times.

Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche would like to express his heart-felt thanks to all sponsors, benefactors and well-wishers for their kindness and generosity. May you all attain success in both spiritual and temporal matters and may all your wishes come true in accordance with the Dharma.

Karmapa Khyenno!

Shangpa Rinpoche enters Tara Retreat to pray for World Peace

On the 9th of September 2003, Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche went into a 3 day Green Tara Retreat to pray for world peace and the success of the Karma Kargyud School's Dharma activities. Rinpoche also dedicated merits to all sentient beings; that their worldly obstacles can be removed and ultimately to invoke their wisdom nature minds to the state of Enlightenment. During this period, Rinpoche also consecreted the 1000 pieces of the precious Green Tara herbal Pendant made from more than 40 sacred relics and many types of precious Dharma Pills selflessly donated by Rinpoche for the benefit of all. All 1000 pieces were sponsored within an incredibly short time.

To us as Rinpoche’s disciples, this auspicious sign (of having all 1000 pieces of precious Green Tara Pendant sponsored before Rinpoche’s birthday) represents 1000 wishes to Rinpoche’s long life and continued success in Dharma activities to benefit all sentient beings!

All donations received from the sponsorship of the precious Green Tara Pendant will be used to further propagate Buddha Dharma and to benefit countless people from all over the world through the building of the Kirtipur International Buddhist Institute and Retreat Centre.

Tibetan Buddhist Masters Praise for the Tara Pendant

H.H. Dzogchen Gemang Rinpoche

- interviewed and recorded by Grace Chok in Singapore, 17/10/03.

"The precious Tara Herbal Pendant is indeed very unique. I've never seen one like that produced in any part of the world before - not even in Tibet. It's probably the first of its kind in the world. Most of the pendants are either made of brass or copper. It is very unusual to see this one made entirely of herbal ingredients and holy relics; especially made up of so many precious ingredients. I feel that the one that was made in gold was especially beautiful. I'm impressed. "

Ven. Khensur Rinpoche

- recorded by Grace Chok during an interview in Singapore.

" ...Even if one were to make a Tara statue out of mud, it is still considered very precious and auspicious. This Tara pendant is even more precious as it contains so many precious ingredients."

" ...Often we consider gold or silver as precious. But this Tara pendant is even more precious as it contains so many precious ingredients."

" ...The motivation to help raise funds through these Tara pendants to build the gompa and retreat centre in Kirtipur is very good. On the contrary, if it is sold for a living or profit, then it is no good."

" ...This Tara pendant is indeed very beautiful..."

Khenpo Ramesh

- recorded by Victor Ang on 26/10/2003

" ...Tara is a special deity and this precious Tara Herbal Pendant is special. Why? In my humble understanding, Mother Tara is the source of all the Buddhas' enlightened activities. There is no doubt that if we encounter problems or obstacles and if we earnestly pray to Mother Tara with strong faith and devotion; all problems and obstacles can and will be overcomed. Tara is a special deity who can help us release our temporal obstacles and help us in our practice so that we can ultimately attain Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings."

" ...Throughout Buddhist history, many great Siddhas and Lamas have prayed to Tara to clear obstacles to their practice and eventually gained realisations. Tara in Sanskrit means the One with the special potential to help us cross the Ocean Of Suffering, to get beyond all suffering. So in short, Mother Tara and this precious herbal Tara Pendant is definite goodness. "

3 Interviews on the Sacred Tara Pendant

Images to follow ...

Email : Shangpa Rinpoche

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