March - FPMT Losang Dragpa Centre

Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
Shabda
1
Monthly Newsletter of Losang Dragpa Center
Dealing with
failure in
business
March 2006
Rinpoche’s letter of advice to a student
on dealing with failure of a business deal.
My most dear beloved Jimmy,
I hope you are well. I wanted to send
this message to you quickly. We will try
what we can. It might be a little late.
We should have done some pujas and
prayers dedicated for you and your
success earlier. It seems that making a
four-foot high statue of Kurukulla can
make a difference, especially if the
statue is completed within two weeks. It
seems that work and business can then
become positive and successful.
If things don’t succeed, you shouldn’t
let this make your mind unhappy
and depressed, feeling great shame.
From the Dharma point of view, it’s
nothing. Even if you don’t succeed,
this is nothing to worry about or feel
concerned about. If it were something
non-virtuous, like killing, stealing, and
the other ten non-virtues, it would be
something to worry about. It’s just work,
and you didn’t succeed because
people don’t want to invest money. It’s
nothing to worry about from a Dharma
point of view. Only from a worldly
person’s point of view it is something
shameful.
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Try as much as possible, but if it doesn’t
happen, then you shouldn’t worry.
Don’t make your mind down. It’s
unnecessary and also causes you to
be physically unhealthy. The important
thing is that in your life you have
collected so much merit and offered
so much service to His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and the FPMT organization,
because of me, our relationship in the
Dharma.
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
A business failure would be shameful
according to a worldly person’s point
of view, those with attachment clinging
to this life, but it is not shameful. From
a worldly person’s view, if one is able
to kill one’s enemy, one rejoices. In
Dharma, this is wrong rejoicing, and
is very harmful to oneself and others.
Why is it harmful to others? Because it
becomes heavy negative karma, which
means you can’t have realizations, and
you can’t benefit others.
Also, from a worldly person’s view, to
defeat others and win is regarded as
the best thing. But from a Dharma point
of view, from the Mahayana view, or
in reality, to offer the victory to others
and take the loss upon oneself is the
most profitable, because by doing
this sincerely you create the karma to
win in all your future lives. You always
create the cause for victory and no
defeat. From a worldly point of view,
you take the victory and give the loss
to others, but that negative karma
brings loss in so many future lives, so
much unhappiness. With Mahayana
Buddhism, with Dharma, you have
happiness in all future lives, you
achieve the victory, and because
of that and because your practice
is to benefit others, you take others’
sufferings and experience them and
give others all happiness, temporary
and ultimate, including enlightenment.
So, because of that, being able to
offer the victory and take the loss, you
are happy. It is very satisfying, very
fulfilling.
As I have mentioned to you before,
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
your victory is something that causes
happiness to many sentient beings,
offering great benefit to them. Taking
the victory is not for you, but for all
sentient beings. It is like His Holiness the
Dalai Lama not creating violence but
fighting for the truth, for the Tibetan
people to have their own country and
total religious freedom, to preserve
and spread the Dharma in Tibet and
in the rest of the world, for the Dharma
to exist for a long time, and for it to
flourish and spread all over the world.
His Holiness is fighting for this because
people are not happy. In China, there
is no religious freedom and people
are unhappy. One has to think of
the benefit for sentient beings in the
decisions we take. Which, taking the
victory or the loss, has most benefit
for sentient beings – you make your
decision from that basis.
From the Dharma point of view, bearing
hardships to create negative karma
or to harm others is not perseverance.
It is wrong perseverance. However,
those who bear hardships to practice
Dharma, for realizations, to achieve
liberation and enlightenment so
that they can liberate and enlighten
other sentient beings, are practicing
perseverance, one of the six paramitas,
because the object is virtue.
Another example is a person living an
ascetic life of renunciation in a cave, to
achieve liberation and enlightenment
so as to be able to enlighten all sentient
beings. From a worldly person’s point
of view, they think this person living in
a cave is an object of compassion;
they see this life as suffering – having
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~ March 2006 ~
no material possessions and living in a
cave instead of a luxury house. From
the Dharma point of view, thinking that
this person is pitiful is wrong compassion.
This is the view of the worldly mind.
Sentient beings not practicing Dharma
and engaging in negative karma,
creating the sufferings of samsara
and the lower realms, are objects of
compassion. That is unbearable.
It is good to think that in emptiness,
there is no gain and no loss. It is very
good to think in this way in case you
don’t achieve your aim in business.
You must think like this over and over.
As I mentioned one morning, when I
talked about emptiness to you, think
of a truly existent “I,” truly existent
company, truly existent business, and
truly existent funds. In reality, these
things have no such true existence, the
true existence that appears and that
we believe in, such as a real company
and business.
Look at this situation as like a dream.
Then, all this loss and gain is like a
dream. Then, you get the feeling that it
isn’t important, that it’s nothing. That’s
Shabda
3
what we should do. Try those methods
in meditation. Don’t bring yourself
down and make yourself unhappy. I
want you to have a very, very long life.
Remember that the appearance of this
life is very short; it can stop any minute,
hour, or day. Think about this business
loss as like a water bubble. Also, even
if the whole world criticizes you, it’s
nothing. Even if people give you a bad
reputation, it’s nothing when you think
of impermanence and death.
Overall, in this case, what seems to
be needed is merit. My suggestion to
you is to make many offerings. I have
asked two people to buy prayer wheels
turned by candles for you. It’s important
to replace the old candle when it burns
down so that the prayer wheel is always
turning. This is a very special method.
I also have special dakini mantras
and prayers and requests to help to
eliminate obstacles.
So for now, thank you very much for all
your generosity and support for me and
the organization. It’s wonderful.
With much love and prayer...
Word s of Wisdo m
for Marc h
“When a person is generous and kind to others and good hearted, then all the
good things in life come from that: prosperity, health, and long life. Such a person
will receive all of those things. If those good qualities are within a person’s mind,
even if they live in poverty they will experience peace and happiness, and there
will be satisfaction and fulfillment in the heart of that person.”
~By Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche~
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
LDC NEWS
Best news for the year!
Our most precious guru Kyabje Lama
Zopa Rinpoche has confirmed coming
to LDC from 11th - 22nd May 2006!
Rinpoche will be opening our new
Center premises on Jalan 17/21 while
celebrating Wesak with us on the same
day, programs such as cutting ribbon,
releasing mantra balloons, bathing the
Buddha ceremony, lion dance and
a long life puja has been planned.
Rinpoche will also be giving teaching
and conferring Medicine Buddha
initiation to those wishing to obtain
this initiation at the Center. Details
of the program will be posted to you
in next issue of the Shabda, please
mark these dates in your diary to meet
our precious guru again in May 2006.
Those of you who are interested to
help in preparation of this mega event,
please call Ven. Osel or Elsie join in the
merit making.
LDC Grand Opening
dinner May 12th
LDC will also be hosting a dinner to
celebrate the opening of the center
by our precious guru. The date for the
dinner is May 12th and it will be held at
the new Center. Please also keep this
date free.
LDC new premise under renovation
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
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~ March 2006 ~
Moving date from
Damansara heights to
Section 17
28th March (Tuesday) has been
marked as the auspicious date for LDC
to move to its very own premises at
No.1 Jalan 17/21, 46400 PJ Selangor.
By then the Center will have been
renovated under the wonderful care
and supervision of our EXCO member
Mr Chip Lim who has also arranged to
underwrite the costs of the renovations.
Let us all jointly rejoice and wish Chip
a long life for his incredible kindness.
In addition the interiors of the gompa
and altar furniture are being organized
by Juanita, Ming Tsuan and David and
a monk from Kopan skilled in painting
will be coming to the Center to help
decorate the gompa.
The holy statues, which are currently
being made in Kathmandu in the
meanwhile, will be arriving in Kuala
Lumpur at the end of March 2006.
Those wishing to participate in the
sponsorship of these holy statues can
still do so as the life size statue of the
White Mahakala and Namtosey have
not been completely sponsored yet.
Those keen on creating the karmic
link to the center and to both Wealth
deities please do call up the center
and speak with Elsie or Shirley.
For the move over we will require lots
of manpower and transport to help
moving the Center. Please do call up
LDC office to offer your help.
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5
March, if you have empty boxes (in
good condition) at your office or home,
you are most welcome to send some to
LDC for our packing.
Please allow LDC to have at least 10
days to settle down after the move,
there will be no activities from 25th
March - 4th April at LDC.
Publication
This year LDC has the honor to
print 4,000 copies of book (English
& Chinese) about the story of the
search for the reincarnation of
the late Geshe Lama Konchog!
We are also planning to print
practices on Tara & Medicine
Buddha in both English and
Chinese, also golden light sutra
in preparation for our Wesak
celebration, and many more
free books on the teaching from
Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
We are looking for a willing person
to help us to coordinate on the
printing and distribution. Please
contact Ven. Osel at 019-3022 369
if you are interested to help.
We are also looking for sponsors
to help on printing these dharma
materials. Please contact LDC
office if you wish to make any
donation. Thank you very much.
Packing will be starting from 25th - 27th
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
Update on Jangsem Ling
On 16th feb 2006, a visit to
Jangsemling(JSL) was undertaken by
our Exco members, MK Sen and M
Jayabalan together with the Architects
Mel Soong and Selina Foong, the
Contractor Mr Tan, Ven. Ang Losang
and William Fong, to assess the latest
state of affairs of the building. From
their positive visit, the followings were
noted :1) Leakages on the flat roof over
Gompa, the corridors, Rinpoche’s
room and kitchen area due to heavy
rain. As a result the ceiling has been
badly stained in specified areas.
There are also leakages over glass
skylight at the front entrance.
2) Hairline cracks observed on the
external wall of corridor facing the
bodhi tree.
3) Door at Rinpoche’s room is defective
4) Main sliding door at Gompa facing
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
the Altar cannot be closed.
5) All slopes on the perimeter of the
property especially on the right, front
and left sides as you face the front
entrance have been eroded.
6) Noted that there is no direct water
supply availability.
Arrangements are being made to
redress the aforesaid problems with the
contractor and Mel Soong has kindly
agreed to oversee
the repair works.
The contractor has
also made certain
proposals to alleviate
the water problem
which would be
formally submitted
for Exco’s approval.
Once we have
resolved the water
problem and those
mentioned above at
JSL, we hope to be
able to open JSL as a
retreat center again.
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~ March 2006 ~
Shabda
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FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS & MERIT 2006 @
The Great Stupa of Enlightenment, Bodhgaya
Celebrating the Four Great
Buddhist Festival Days
Join us as we offer lights, prayer flags
and pujas at the holiest site in the
universe. Commemorating the most
significant events of Guru Shakyamuni
Buddhas life, these four Festival Days are:
15 Days of Miracles
28th Feb. to 14th March
Birth, Enlightenment & Parinirvana
11th June
Lord Buddhas First Teaching
29th July
Descent from the God Realm of
the Thirty Three
12th November
• 100,000 colored electric lights are
actually offered every night on these
four auspicious festival days. The
sponsor’s lights are offered according
to Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s
instructions for multiplying the offerings
with Rinpoche’s extensive offering
practice.
• The monks of Namgyal Monastery
perform puja’s around the sacred
Bodhi tree and at Namgyal Monastery
in Bodhgaya.
• Prayer flags are offered to adorn the
stupa grounds.
• The lights are offered with the
profound light offering prayer written
by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
All sponsors’ names and personal
dedications are recited under the
Bodhi Tree. The offerings are dedicated
to the benefit of all sentient beings,
world peace, preservation and spread
of the pure dharma and especially
for the long lives of our holy gurus, His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa
Rinpoche, Lama Osel Rinpoche and
all FPMT teachers and lamas, for the
temporal and ultimate happiness of
the sponsors and their loved ones, for
the obstacles of all FPMT projects to be
removed and for the success of all the
projects.
Offerings made in Bodhgaya are said to
be eight times more powerful
Suggested donations include offerings
on all four auspicious occasions are as
follows:
350 Lights
RM100.00
1,000 Lights
RM195.00
3,000 Lights
RM385.00
7,000 Lights
RM765.00
21,000 Lights
RM1,900.00
100,000 Lights
RM7,650.00
Tara Puja
Protector Puja
Guru Puja
One set of prayer flags
RM135.00
RM135.00
RM135.00
RM115.00
Please call LDC at (03) 2093-8189 to
make your donation.
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
KALACHAKRA REPORT
By Selina Foong
His Holiness the Dalai Lama says of the
Kalachakra, “I announce that there is
a Kalachakra initiation, and everybody
rushes here. I do the Kalachakra
ceremony last as I spend more time
explaining the key elements and a
general overview of the Buddhist path.
That way they have to sit and listen.
That is my skillful means! (But) although I
thought I was rather smart, some of the
students are even smarter. They make
sure to arrive exactly on Kalachakra
initiation day!”
What a good thing it was that our
group of 30-odd LDC members and
friends from other countries did not
try to “outsmart” His Holiness; it would
surely have been our loss! For two
weeks in January 2006, we not only
soaked up the glorious Kalachakra
teachings & initiation, but listened to
His Holiness elucidate on the Nagarjuna
classic, “The Fundamental Wisdom
of the Middle Way”; participating in
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
the largest event most of us had ever
attended (by most reports exceeding
100,000 people), in one of India’s holiest
sites, with great camaraderie and
enthusiasm.
IT STARTED SLUGGISHLY
Struggling to leave KL was half the
battle, with many of us encountering
last minute obstacles. Until I reached
the airport, this India trip still hadn’t
felt quite real, so distracted was my
mind. Coupled with the night flight
to Hydrabad and a whirlwind next
few days of sightseeing, our stamina
and patience were put sorely to the
test. Luckily, we survived. Our ordeals
included a 4 ½-hour wait for the bus
and another 3 ½-hour wait in the
burning sun for the ferry back from
Nagarjuna Konda. The good news?
Not only did we emerge in one piece
from those early, blurry days of the trip,
we felt our minds and hearts soften
as our surroundings settled into our
consciousness, and the purpose of
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~ March 2006 ~
our trip became focused. This served
as the prelude to what was truly an
unforgettable time.
AT FIRST WE WERE TOURISTS
Day One saw us being dutiful tourists
and visiting Golkonda Fort, one of the
biggest forts of the Deccan plateau.
Built on a hill west of Hyderabad city,
it was strikingly picturesque on that
beautiful clear day. We overcame
initial sleepiness and disinterest, and
got fired up to spend the next 3 hours
exploring and taking photos. Our
guide had a tougher time of it, trying
his best to project his voice, speak
comprehensible English, and round
us disobedient tourists at every turn!
Despite largely failing on all three
counts, we applauded his valiant
efforts. A late lunch and more
sightseeing later, we returned to the
hotel, and most of us crashed early into
bed.
Day Two started with the 2:45am
bottom-numbing wait for the bus. By
the time it arrived, it was close to 8am.
The only consolation was that the bus
was in absolutely luxurious condition,
which we took advantage of by
immediately falling asleep. Not that we
could actually sleep! Unfortunately, our
bus driver got progressively “hornier” as
our long journey wore on … not only did
he enjoy sounding his bus horn, he also
had several horning tunes. Barely three
seconds would pass before his next
shrill melodic blast, which in a half-sleep
state sounded really deafening.
The highlight of the day however,
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
Shabda
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was well worth the waiting and
honking…. Nagarjuna Sagar, a famed
archeological site in the middle of
an island accessible only by ferry. His
Holiness had visited that very site for
the first time a few days earlier, and
it was teeming with visitors when we
arrived. Not only did we pay homage
at the various stupas, Buddha statues
and a museum which housed priceless
artifacts, we ran into many familiar
faces from Kopan Monastery including
LDC’s previous Resident Teacher Geshe
Losang Sherab. Meeting up with dear
ones is always a happy occasion, and
this was no different.....
Another long drive later and way
after nightfall, we arrived at our hotel.
Situated in the town of Guntur, which
was to be our home for the next 13
days.
TEACHINGS STARTED ON
SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY.
Highlights from this time include a very
eventful toilet stop made at a high
school in the middle of nowhere. Little
did we suspect when we trooped in
to use the facilities that all 1,000 of the
school kids would assemble in the field
for a photo shoot and speech session
with us! A representative from each
country was asked to address the
students on the loudspeaker, and we
had speakers from Malaysia (Dr Lai May
Ling), Brunei, Indonesia, Holland and
Australia. The students reciprocated
by singing us the Indian national
anthem. The pure joy and curiosity on
their faces was a marvel…an amazing
experience that moved us all.
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
By the time His Holiness’ teaching on
Nagarjuna’s “Fundamental Wisdom
of the Middle Way” commenced on
Sunday, our minds had settled a little
more. Even though our seats were
not close enough to His Holiness to
see Him clearly, it was wonderful to
be surrounded by so many devotees,
all wanting to improve themselves
and learn the Dharma, and to hear
His voice, resonant and warm like no
other, teaching on matters extending
far beyond our ordinary petty concerns
and small lives. His Holiness is lucid,
concise and does not mince words,
and speaks to us as a father does.
Even with so many others present, one
feels His love and care so strongly; it is
really quite extraordinary.
The power of being in the presence of
His Holiness is amplified further by the
sheer magnificence of this holy site,
Amaravati.
At one time, the grandest stupa in
southern India stood here, and its
foundations remain to this day. It is said
that this was the site where Buddha
Shakyamuni emanated to teach
the Kalachakra, at the same time
that another emanation of Buddha
Shakyamuni taught the Perfection of
Wisdom at Vulture’s Peak in Rajagriha.
Stupendous sculptures, carvings and
reliefs from this stupa, which fell into
oblivion and disrepair sometime after
1344, are exhibited at, amongst others,
a special Amaravati Gallery in the
British Museum as well as the local
Archeological Museum at Amaravati.
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
The stupa would surely have been
jaw-dropping in its heyday, as even its
remains are so magnificent. We were
fortunate enough to hold a Guru Puja
here on Monday 9th Jan (a tsog day).
Sitting under the cool shade of a tree
with Geshe Losang Sherab leading the
prayers and the stupa directly in front
of us, few would have been unaffected
by these incredible conditions. How
fortunate we are and how precious this
human rebirth!
GETTING UP CLOSE WITH HH
DALAI LAMA
One day we missed a group audience
with His Holiness. Bungle after bungle
cost us valuable time, and then even
our normally reliable bus failed to show
up. Which explains how we came to
be crammed within an inch of our lives
into the local Guntur to Amaravati bus
- our attempts in emulating a tightlypacked box of sardines providing
the other passengers with some
unexpected entertainment!
Our efforts only led to strained forearms,
flattened bottoms, and our being 15
minutes late. So tight was His Holiness’
schedule we had missed most of the
appointed time, and were denied
entry.
Despondent, we consoled ourselves
with the knowledge that while it would
of course have been great, it was not
the sole purpose of our trip which was
already going better than our wildest
expectations. A delicious buffet lunch
in the neighboring town of Vijayawada
perked us up, as did our audience with
His Eminence Ling Rinpoche who was
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Shabda
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Hotel in Guntur
Group picture in Golkonda Fort
Golkonda Fort
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
Nagarjuna Sagar
Kalachakra Teaching site
Lunch area near teaching site
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
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Shabda
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Meeting Rinpoche in Hotel Sinduri
Shakyamuni Buddha gave 1st Kalachakra
Initiation at this Stupa
Hydrabad trademark - Hydrabad Gate
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
Tenzin Ngodrup with
Khenrinpoche Lama
Lhundrup in Amaravati, India
Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche
Tenzin Ngodrup with family members
Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche prostrate
to holy object at Ajanta Cave
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
Tenzin Zopa with
Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok
Rinpoche
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~ March 2006 ~
also dining there.
A few days later … a bonus ! We DID
make it, mishap free, to an audience
with His Holiness! Together with other
foreigners, we saw His Holiness up close
and received valuable advice. What
icing to an already delicious Dharma
cake!
DINNER WITH RINPOCHE
The day ended on a high note with
a dinner reception hosted by our
precious guru Kyabje Lama Zopa
Rinpoche, at His Guntur hotel. Several
hundred people crammed into the
lovely rooftop garden which had been
converted into an alfresco dining
venue, and not only met Rinpoche
but also Charok Lama, Kopan
Khenrinpoche Lama Lhundrup, and
many other Dharma friends from all
over the world. The bonus?
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THE KALACHAKRA PRELIMINARY
EMPOWERMENT commenced on
Thursday 12th January, opening up
this powerful practice to us fortunate
beings living in an age of degeneration.
May it contribute to lasting peace
in the world! We absorbed all the
teachings gratefully, moved by the
gravity of such a rare event.
All too soon it was over, and a Long Life
Puja was offered to His Holiness on the
final day. With joy, LDC members and
friends made an offering of 6.4 million
“Om Mani Padme Hum” mantras to His
Holiness. Even though this fell short of
our targeted 10 million mantras, it was
inspiring to see how hard everyone
practiced, in order to dedicate for
Mighty Chenresig Tenzin Gyatso to
remain and teach us until samsara
ends.
GENERATING
FEELINGS
OF WARMTH
With each passing day,
we felt growing warmth
and fondness for each
other. Everyone had
their endearing quirks,
which only added to
the camaraderie.
Mel became famous
for his “kitchen” on
a makeshift bed
base, churning out
unbelievably delicious
meals once the
Indian curries got too
repetitive. Most of the
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
ladies developed a sudden fetish for
Punjabi suits, fuelled by the presence of
a tailor only 1-minute’s walk away from
our hotel.
Others went straight for Himalayan
Herbal toiletries, promptly sweeping
the Nilgiri supermarket shelves clean
of products. Sally, Mel & Selina went
ga-ga over the galub jamuns; everyone
else gagged about how sickly sweet
they were. And Margaret related a
hilarious story about her encounter with
a certain tuk-tuk driver, leaving us in no
doubt about her desirability!!!
All this samsaric craziness played out
against a backdrop of profound and
precious Dharma teachings each day,
making up the weird and wonderful
collage of our Indian trip. To my
dearest fellow trippers, may this short
article remind you of the joys and
tribulations we shared, and spur you on
to great realizations.
May the merits generated by all of us
during this wonderful trip be dedicated
to our holy gurus, and may we be
quickly enlightened for the sake of all
mother sentient beings.
Cremation relics on Rilbur Rinpoche’s photo
Nine water bowls of relics were discovered after Kyabje Ribur Rinpoche’s holy
body was offered to the fire .. we rejoice hugely and pray for the swift return of our
precious guru…
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Shabda
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Mantra for March
To help in the cure of leprosy, AIDS, cancer & strokes…
Reciting the name of the Naga King,
De-zhin sheg-pa lu-wang gyi gyalpo, has many benefits. If you recite
it 21 times, it has the power to purify
even the heavy negative karma that
definitely bring their results in this life.
Also, you don’t receive harm from
nagas and landlords through diseases
such as leprosy, arthritis or cancer. I
haven’t heard Tibetan doctors link AIDS
to nagas, but they normally explain that
cancer is related to harm from nagas.
Cancer is called nyen in Tibetan,
which indicates that some other being
becomes a condition for that sickness.
I think that coma is connected to harm
from spirits. I’m not sure exactly which
type of being is involved, but in the
past, the divinations of high lamas have
usually indicated that Medicine Buddha
practice should be done for someone
in a coma.
Reciting the name of the Naga King
also purifies the negative karma of
having broken or degenerated vows of
morality. You are protected from being
harmed by lightning, sickness or thieves.
It increases your wealth. If you recite
this Buddha’s name 100,000 times, you
can be healed of leprosy; the negative
karma that results in your contracting
leprosy will be completely purified.
Cancer is definitely related to nagas,
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
and the proof of this is that practicing
deities that protect sentient beings
from naga harm, such as VajrapaniHayagriva-Garuda, can cure cancer.
These particular deitis provide
protection. Vajrapani acts against the
spirits of the upper reaches of space,
which cause epilepsy and other
diseases. Hayagriva, the deity adorned
with a horse’s head, protects sentient
beings from naga harm and the spirit
called tsen gyal-don in Tibetan. Garuda
top protects sentient beings from naga
and landlord harm.
The main function of VajrapaniHayagriva-Garuda is to liberate sentient
beings by pacifying their delusions of
ignorance, anger and attachment,
from which they receive all their
sicknesses and spirit harm. The basic
aim of the practice of this deity is to
purify and cease, these defilements.
This is why people who have practiced
the meditation-recitation of VajrapaniHayagriva-Garuda are able to heal
themselves of cancer.
I would like to suggest that if their mind
is open to the idea, people with AIDS
recite the name of this Buddha, the
Naga King, Lu-wang gyi gyal-po. It is
not that I have had the experience of
someone reciting this name mantra
and healing themselves of AIDS,
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
but according to my divination it is
beneficial to recite this mantra. If
someone with AIDS has an open mind
and would like to do some meditation
practice, they can be given a picture
of this Buddha and recite this Buddha’s
name and mantra.
I will give the oral transmission of this
mantra, because I have received
it from both His Holisness Serkong
Rinpoche and Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche
when they gave the sets of hundreds of
initiations [Rin-jung gya-tsa etc].
The mantra is
TAYATHA OM TATHAGATA
BHAGAVAN NAGA RANDZE SHORA
ADHISHTHANA ADHISHTITE SOHA.
I don’t remember whether I have
received the oral transmission of this
next mantra,
OM CHITTA HUM PHE SOHA,
OM SHRI MATI ASHU SOHA.
If you recite this mantra and the mantra
of the Naga King every day, you won’t
receive harm from the spirits of the
upper realms, so you won’t get a stroke.
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
This practice gives good possibility
of recovery. If you recite these two
mantras every day, you will avoid
getting a stroke. There is also another
Buddha whose particular function is to
help to prevent strokes.
The mantra of this Buddha is
SANGYE OTZY TIN GYI GYALPO
DRIME MEPA DAWE TOMA
(LA CHAG TSAL LO).
There are also many different practices
that can be done by lamas or other
practitioners for someone who has
already had a stroke - purification
with blessed water, for example. If
the person who has already had a
stroke can recite OM TUMBURI TUMBURI
SUKSHU MEME SHIKSHI SOHA seven
times each day, they will be protected
from further strokes. Recovery from
subsequent strokes is very difficult, but
if you are able to recite this mantra
seven times every day after the initial
stroke, you will never get another
stroke. Not only does this practice
protect you from further strokes, but it
also makes it easy for you to recover
from the first stroke.
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~ March 2006 ~
Shabda
19
MARCH HIGHLIGHTS
LDC program at night will all
start at 7:30pm
Many people put in their request for
LDC programs on weekday nights to
start at the time that suit their schedule
i.e. after office hour. In order to
compromise everyone’s request, we
decided 7:30pm is the best time to start
all our weekday night programs such as
the monthly Guru, Tara and Medicine
Buddha pujas.
What is happening
on March at LDC
March is a very special month for
many of us. We have about 47
people going to Kopan Monastery
to participate in the enthronement
ceremony of Venerable Tulku Tenzin
Puntsok Rinpoche from 3rd - 5th March,
receiving teaching and initiation from
our precious Guru Kyabje Lama Zopa
Rinpoche, followed by pilgrimage to
the holy sites in Kathmandu valley led
by Ven.Tenzin Zopa la.
The first 2 weeks of March is also the 15
days of Tibetan New Year which are the
very powerful days for merit multiplying
100,000 million times as cited by Kyabje
Lama Zopa Rinpoche. On 14th March is
the last day of Tibetan New Year which
is the Day of Miracles. Lord Buddha
performed many miracles on this day
to subdue externalism. It is also the
period for all Tibetan Buddhism to held
the Great Prayer Festival in which all
monks and nuns gather in identified
monastery to perform extensive prayers
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
from morning to night continuously
for several days. LDC is organizing
Medicine Buddha Puja with extensive
offering and additional prayers on this
day to celebrate the last day of Tibetan
New Year. Please come along to
participate with your personal offering,
flower, etc.......
Geshe la’s class will be on hold until
he returns from India. Meanwhile, we’ll
procees with applying a long term visa
for Geshe la. We aim to resume his class
in April at LDC new premise.
Then we come to the most exciting
time of this month which is to move LDC
to our new premises on 28th March.
We welcome the following
new member who joined us in
February 2006.
1.)
Chan Eng Heng
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
Kasih Hospice
Kasih Hospice Care Society (0291-05-5)
…… With compassion, we serve
Family participation in nursing care for
the patients
Madam HY is a 60+ lady, full of love
and joy. She was diagnosed with
breast cancer and was referred to
Kasih hospice Care in October 2005.
The care provided by Kasih Hospice
center included medical advice,
wound dressing, physiotherapy for her
swollen arm and just being with her.
We taught her children basic nursing
care and wound dressing. Though they
have 4 maids, the children attended
to all her needs. The son was the main
person who did the dressing of wound
on the chest, while her grandchildren
were the assistants.
Madam HY passed away peacefully,
surrounded by her children and
grandchildren. Her son thanked KHC
for teaching them the skills needed
in caring for his mother. He said those
moments he did the wound dressing
were very special and intimate times
he spent with his mother, cleaning the
wound and ensuring his mother did
not have pain. Having a son attending
to this special need of an aging sick
mother is indeed a rare encounter.
Mr. Yap has cancer of the liver. He is
weak and unable to bathe on his own.
His skin is dry. He feels uncomfortable.
His wife suffers from rheumatism and
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
cannot take him to the bathroom.
The KHC team taught the wife how
to do “dry cleaning” on her husband
and also to apply aqueous cream
to the skin together with a little body
massage. Then wiping the cream with a
warm wet towel to complete the simple
process. After our nurse demonstrated
the steps we asked the wife to repeat
the actions. The husband felt ‘clean’
and refreshed so we prescribed the
‘treatment’ of ‘ dry cleaning’ with
aqueous cream, with tenderness and
love twice a day..
Encounters such as these two examples
demonstrate KHC principles of care
involving ‘the whole family’. We get
this message across to family members,
as their nursing care is usually given
with love and tenderness. During first
visits to patients, we often note family
members’ sense of helplessness. They
see their loved ones in pain and distress,
yet do not know how to relieve the
physical suffering. They often wonder if
anything can be done. We thus try to
involve them in the care process.
The KHC medical team always
explains the patient’s condition to
family members, before discussing
the treatment plan. Family members
usually participate in the decision on
the treatment options. We encourage
family members’ participation as much
as possible and even teach them
to assess the physical responses to
treatment, which are then reported
back to us. This builds confidence and
rapport. Relatives can also contact
us any time as this is the support we
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~ March 2006 ~
provide for patients and
families.
Principles of Buddhist Hospice
Ultimately, in Buddhist hospice,
what we hope to achieve is
that patients have a positive
state of mind when they are
dying thereby achieving a
peaceful death. For family
members, they should have
a sense of relief and mental
satisfaction without any guilt,
that what they have done
for the patient is the best
they could and the best the
situation allowed. When we
care without expectations,
there are no restrictions; when
we care with kindness and
compassion, the mental state
is clear, allowing the mind
to have greater impact on
others.
Second Public Hospice
Seminar:
The Power of Compassion on
May 14, 2006
Good News! Kyabje Lama
Zopa Rinpoche will be giving
a talk at the second public
hospice seminar planed after
Wesak celebration at LDC.
The tentative programme of
the Seminar is presented here.
Lectures will be translated
into Mandarin. Anybody,
regardless of faith and culture
are welcome. Even children
can attend. Please register
early by calling William at LDC.
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
Shabda
21
Hospice Seminar on
THE POWER OF COMPASSION
Date 14 May 2006 (Sunday)
Time: 0800 am to –1740 pm
Venue: Kuala Lumpur ( to be announced later)
About the workshop
(Please contact LDC for further details.)
This will be the second public seminar organized
by Kasih Hospice Care Society, (KHC), a charitable
organization that provides emotional, spiritual and
nursing support for people afflicted by chronic
progressive diseases, and their families. KHC has
a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and
volunteers who offer their services based on the
principles of loving kindness, compassion, trust,
respect and universal responsibility. This seminar
aims to create public awareness on hospice care
and to inspire the power of compassion at the
time of good health and sickness.
Topics to be covered at the Hospice Seminar:
• The Buddhist hospice service- compassion
through universal approach
• Compassion vs. Kindness
• The Power of compassion
• Combining wisdom with compassion
All talks will be translated into Mandarin
SPEAKERS
Kyabje Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche
Spiritual Advisor to Kasih Hospice Care Society
Dr. Rosalie Shaw
Executive Director of Asia Pacific Palliative and
Hospice Care Network
Medical Advisor to Kasih Hospice Care Society
Dr. Loh Ee Chin
Palliative Care Physician, Volunteer Doctor of Kasih
Hospice Care Society
Dr. Goh Pik Pin
President of Kasih Hospice Care Society
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Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
LDC Dharma Program for March 2006
P - Precepts
Monday
BP - Special Days of Lord Buddha
Tuesday
Wednesday
1 BP
Full Moon
New Moon
Thursday
2 BP
Friday
3 BP
Enthronement of
Tenzin Puntsok
Rinpoche at Kopan
Monastery, Nepal
6 BP
7 BP
8 BP
9P
9 BP
10 BP
Guru Puja 7:30pm
Tara Puja 7:30pm
TSOG OFFERINGS
13 BP
14 BP
15
16
17
22
23
24
Medicine Buddha
Puja & other
prayers 7:30pm
Day of Miracle
20
21
24
Guru Puja 7:30pm
TSOG OFFERINGS
27
28
29 P
30
31
Moving LDC to
Jalan 17/21 PJ
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
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~ March 2006 ~
Shabda
23
The Precious Holy Child
Of Kopan
Saturday
Sunday
4 BP
5 BP
11 BP
12 BP
Hospice Workshop
Hospice Workshop
18
Animal
19
Liberation
11am - 12noon
25
26
Hospice Debriefing
Session at Kasih Center
3pm - 6pm
Relocation Packing
at LDC
Relocation Packing
at LDC
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
New Release
This book chronicles the search for the holy
child, a search fraught with excitement and joy
as every sign left behind by the Mahasiddha
played out over the four years since his passing.
It is written by Ven. Tenzin Zopa whose intense
devotion and love for his old Master makes the
story of the search come alive. We can feel his
pure joy as the tale is told against a background
of Tibetan cultural and religious protocol. Inputs
from many high masters of the Tibetan lineage
are included and the readers will be charmed
by his account of the signs, the dreams and
the incidents that ultimately point to the holy
child’s discovery in the Tsum valley of the
Himalayas. This was followed by many special
tests and scrutiny conducted by Kyabje Lama
Zopa Rinpoche which then led to the joyous
conclusion that the search is finally over and the
holy child is found...
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24
Shabda
~ March 2006 ~
CENTER OPERATING HOURS :
Monday-Friday :
10:00am - 6:00pm
For donations, please make
all crossed cheques payable to
Losang Dragpa Buddhist Society.
Your donation is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER’S :
Address: No.11A Jalan Birah,
Bukit Damansara,
50490, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.
Tel: (03) 2093 8189
Fax: (03) 2095 6113
Email: ldc01@streamyx.com
Website: www.fpmt-ldc.org
LDC’S GURU & SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR :
Kyabje Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche
Website dedicated to Rinpoche:
www.fpmt.org (look for Spiritual Director)
& www.lamazopa.com
© LOSANG DRAGPA CENTER
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