Wesak in Malaysia, Singapore and Himalaya (TSUM)

This year Wesak was extremely meaningful. I had the opportunity to take 8 Mahayana Precept and various practices with the inspiration of so many people. At the same time I got the chance to travel to Amithabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore to attend Khen Rinpoche’s teachings joined by the large group from Malaysia to attend his long life puja which is very important practice for long and healthy life of both gurus as well as students.

The long life pujas was very well organized much to the delight of everyone. Although the journey from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore is quite long, everyone felt the trip was extremely fulfilling.

By the great merit of everyone in the group, we also had the opportunity to visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in China Town, Singapore. We were all greeted by Benny who’s one of the temple key personnel. He took us on a tour of the whole place including viewing the relics of the Buddhas, Tathagatas and holy beings. By viewing, these relics enable them to establish great connections with the holy beings. We were also fortunate to meet the Abbot of the temple. Everyone was very inspired and amazed with the size and how the temple was built.

Immediately after the long life puja, the Malaysian group had a private audience with Khen Rinpoche. With the permission of Khen Rinpoche and Ven Lhundup, we had the opportunity to view and receive great blessing of all the holy relics of the Great Mahasiddha Geshela Lama Konchog. This exhibition granted the opportunity to thousands of people in Singapore during the few days of Wesak hosted and organized by Amitabha Buddhist Centre. The director and members of both centres expressed great gratitude and rejoice in the great success of the exhibition. Through this exhibit, many people were introduced not only to Amitabha Buddhist Centre but in particularly to dharma and connection to the Buddha’s emanation body (the relics).

These holy relics were also placed for viewing and blessing in Thekchen Choeling Centre for one day.

By now, the holy relics have returned to Relic Shrine in Kopan Monastery. There are still a lot of invitation of hosting of relics to various parts of the world mainly Ladak in Himalaya, Taiwan as well as Australia. I would say all this depends on the sincerity and the merit of the people receiving the blessings.

So it is indeed really rejoicing and I hope that all the people from the different parts of the world had the most meaningful Wesak by accumulating extensive merits and purifying numerous obstacles.

On top of all that, one of the greatest satisfaction I had this Wesak is the opportunity to organize 1 million recitation of Guru Padmasambhava mantra and 1 million Compassionate Buddha mantra as well as many sets of the Compassionate Buddha Nyung Nya especially focussing on the practice of taking the 8 Mahayana Precept. These are conducted not only by sanghas but by the lay people of Tsum in Rachen Nunnery and Mu Monastery led by the founder Drukpa Rinpoche and the respected Geshe Tenzin Choklek. These practices are dedicated especially to the victim of the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and Earthquake in Sichuan, China and for whatever present and future natural and manmade disasters in the world to be completely purified caused by negative karma.

May whoever sees this message, able to accumulate great amount of merits by rejoicing on this practices and immediately dedicate the merits accumulated for the same purpose. This will definitely benefit the victims.

Many thanks also goes out to all the sincere, humble and dedicated lifelong practitioners monks and nuns in Rachen Nunnery and Mu Monastery in Tsum and specially heartfelt thanks to Rinpoche and Geshela. Of course the root cause is all due to the kindness of our root guru Kyabje Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche and the late Geshela Lama Konchog.

Long Life Puja in ABC - Tsog Offering

Extensive Offering

The beautiful light and flower offerings at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

The abbot welcoming us

One picture for the album

Smile Everyone

Benny giving the group a tour around the Temple

Everyone listening attentively

Another pose with our 2 anilas and Benny

Group Photo
Pictures taken by Candy.


Pictures courtesy of Keng Yong during Singapore Wesak at the CD counter.

Update On May 19th, 2008

Dear most kind, compassionate, most generous sponsors, volunteers and those who directly or indirectly support the progress of Tsum project.

On behalf of the Tsum sanghas and the villagers, I would like to wish everyone a happy, meritorious and meaningful Wesak 2008. The people here in both Tsum Nunnery and Monastery which consist of hundreds of sanghas and lay people are doing the extensive 8 sets of Nyung Nay, the Compassionate Buddha’s retreat and at the same time we have the privilege to invite the founder who are also the master of the 2 monasteries to Tsum to host teachings, initiations, advise, blessing, long life pujas, recitation of millions of Padmasambhava mantra and Om Mani Padme Hum. We dedicate them specially to all the goodness of compassionate benefactors, volunteers, friends and specially for the long and healthy life of all the gurus such as His Holiness Dalai Lama, Kyabe Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche, Phuntsok Rinpoche, Drupa Rinpoche..etc. Not forgetting to also dedicate in particularly to all the Myanmar cyclone and China earthquake victims and for world peace.

I am pleased to update everyone that we have already resume the constructions of rooms, schools and living facilities in Mu Monastery in TSUM after the few months of winter season. I very much hope the minor construction will be accomplished within this year and also wish and plan for these few major projects to come along and once the karma ripened I will inform all of you via this blog. I have full faith that all of you will again come together to actualize these marvelous benefiting projects. Thank you so much.

Update As At January 1st, 2008

On behalf of all the Tsum sanghas and other communities, we like to wish all the benefactors, volunteers, friends and direct or indirect supporters a very happy, healthy and successful meaningful 2008 year. In both Rachen Nunnery and Mu Monastery, they are performing extensive 4 Mandala Offerings, Tara Puja conjoined with Medicine Buddha practice, Incense Puja, Amitabha Pure Land Puja, Heart Sutra, Diamond Cutter Sutra and Long Life Deity practice everyday without any break through out the year especially dedicated to the long life of our guru His Holiness Dalai Lama, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khenrinpoche, Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche and to all the benefactors and supporters of this project. It will also be dedicated extensively for every good purpose of your life and I like to request you do the same from your side. These make things more effective and if you wish to add any specific dedication and name please e-mail to me and I will gladly forward them to our Tsum manager.

In end November 2007, Geshela Tenzin Choylay who is the resident teacher in Tsum Monastery and Nunnery, manager Ven Tenzin Lhundup, doctor Anila Dogra, the four other teachers and 50 over young nuns plus some senior nuns and monks from Rachen Nunnery and Mu Monastery came down to Kopan Monastery to spend winter for about two months during the heavy snow in Tsum. Their advantage was to learn philosophy from Khenrinpoche and with the ability to upgrade their studies by following the study program in Kopan. They also celebrated their new year there and receive profound teachings from the great masters followed by the annual great prayer festival. I was very delighted to see the joy of all the young nuns and monks with their faces glowing with much happiness. They were happy and felt contended as they had the opportunity to survey the progress of their study. They had done a good job!

The medical team, teachers and of course the manager and Geshela is doing a great job. Both the monastery and nunnery are really flourishing both in dharma as well as living condition and that is very pleasing and encouraging.

I was updated on the accountings by both the Kopan and Tsum Manager and I must say they did very clear and detailed accounts. I really thank them for that. At the same time it was extremely shocking to know we have spent a lot until the fund is below zero! Nevertheless I have full faith in the triple gem and I do not intend to stop any works.

We are almost at the completion stage of the sanghas room, living facilities, school and medical centre in the nunnery and we still need expenses for food and other administration.

Mu Monastery is half way through their constructions of rooms, school and other living conditions which started beginning of last year and will take at least another two years for completion. I also have in mind to build a big gompa like the one in the nunnery plus many other plans.

I am just waiting and praying for the miracle, the great bodhisattva benefactor to descend into this very poor, critical, needy and important project. Whoever great hearted being who wish to be part of this compassionate service to those urgent needy people in the Himalayas, big or small are most welcome and appreciated. You can directly contact me via my email tztzopa@yahoo.com or mobile +6017-2940399