About Buddhism!

What is Buddhism

The founder of Buddhism was Buddha Shakyamuni who lived and taught in India some two and a half thousand years ago. Since then millions of people around the world have followed the pure spiritual path he revealed. The Buddhist way of life of peace, loving kindness and wisdom is just as relevant today as it was in ancient India. Buddha explained that all our problems and suffering arise from confused and negative states of mind, and that all our happiness and good fortune arise from peaceful and positive states of mind. He taught methods for gradually overcoming our negative minds such as anger, jealousy and ignorance, and developing our positive minds such as love, compassion and wisdom. Through this we will come to experience lasting peace and happiness. These methods work for anyone, in any country, in any age. Once we have gained experience of them for ourselves we can pass them on to others so they too can enjoy the same benefits.

Meditation

Meditation is at the heart of the Buddhist way of life. It is basically a method for understanding and working on our own mind. We first learn to identify our different negative mental states known as ‘delusions’, and learn how to develop peaceful and positive mental states or ‘virtuous minds’.

Then in meditation we overcome our delusions by becoming familiar with virtuous minds. Out of meditation we try to maintain the virtuous minds we have developed and use our wisdom to solve the problems of daily life. As our mind becomes more positive our actions become more constructive, and our experience of life becomes more satisfying and beneficial to others.

The 6th Kagyu Monlam Chenmo in Bhutan...

On 13th, 14th, and 15th of March 2016, (which are also the dates of 8th, 9th, and 10th of January 2016 in Tibetan calendar correspondingly); the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo was held in Bhutan for the 6th time. It was organized by Karma Thegsum Dhechenling Monastery. On those three days, there were more than two hundred Ani(s) and Lama(s) from Kuenga Rabten Ani Monastery and Nidey Monastery joined together at Karma Thegsum Dhechenling Monastery and participated at the pujas. The prayers that were used on the three days during the pujas were the same as the ones used in Bodhgaya, India, every year in Kagyu Monlam Chenmo.

On the 1st day of Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, Ven. Zuri Rinpoche led the others to carry out the offering of mandala of body, speech and mind to HH Karmapa’s throne to pray for HH’s long life. On the 2nd day of the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo during the lunch break, Ani(s), who had learned about the concept of environmental protection from HH Karmapa in Bodhgaya, India; taught the young Lama(s) on how to act out the concept of environmental protection in their daily lives. 

On the last day of the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, White Tara Empowerment was given by Ven. Zuri Rinpoche and there were more than three thousand people participated. Later during the day, the hanging of the large Karma Kagyu Refuge Tree Thangka was carried out. While hanging the thangka, a beautiful rainbow appeared around the sun. Likewise, there was another remarkable rainbow appeared around the moon during the butter lamp offering at night. On the last day of the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, White Tara Empowerment was given by Ven. Zuri Rinpoche and there were more than three thousand people participated. Later during the day, the hanging of the large Karma Kagyu Refuge Tree Thangka was carried out. While hanging the thangka, a beautiful rainbow appeared around the sun. Likewise, there was another remarkable rainbow appeared around the moon during the butter lamp offering at night.

The photos of 8th Zuri Rinpoche!

His Holiness The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Karmapa means "the one who carries out buddha-activity" or "the embodiment of all the activities of the buddhas." In the Tibetan tradition, great enlightened teachers are said to be able to consciously arrange to be reborn as a teacher who can carry on the teachings of a predecessor in a prior life. Pursuant to this tradition, the Karmapas have incarnated in this form of manifestation body (Skt.nirmanakaya), for seventeen lifetimes, as of the present, and all have played the most important role in preserving and propagating the Buddhist teachings of Tibet. In 1985 a male infant was born into a nomad family in the Lhatok region of Eastern Tibet. In the months prior to his birth, his mother had wonderful dreams during her pregnancy. On the day of his birth, a cuckoo landed on the tent in which he was born, and a mysterious conch-like sound was heard by many throughout the valley in which the family of the infant lived. In Tibet, such events are considered auspicious portents of the birth of an enlightened teacher. The young nomad was called Apo Gaga. While his early years seemed, to his family, full of blessing, Apo Gaga did not talk of any connection to the Karmapas. However, in 1992, he asked his family to move the location of their nomadic home to another valley, and told them to expect a visit from traveling monks. Soon after setting up their home in the new location, followers of the Sixteenth Karmapa came to that valley pursuant to the secret instructions of the Sixteenth Karmapa, contained in his letter of prediction. The birth and the other details of Apo Gaga's life matched the predictions of the letter. Apo Gaga was discovered to be the Seventeenth Karmapa, Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje. In addition to his letter of prediction, the Sixteenth Karmapa wrote many poems, or songs, predicting that though he would leave his traditional main seat in Tsurphu, Tibet, he would soon return to Tsurphu again, that his root teacher would be HE Situ Rinpoche, and that he would study in India. After the death of the 16th Karmapa, it became clear that these predictions applied to his successor. Furthermore, the 19th Century master Chogyur Lingpa made a number of predictions about the lives of the Karmapas, and for the 17th, Chogyur Lingpa's predictions matched the details of His Holiness's birth. Since these predictions were to be fulfilled in themselves without recognition by any other master, it is traditionally said that the Karmapa is "self-recognized."

Karma Thegsum Dechenling Monastery!

On 21 April 2004, Rinpoche revealed his aspirations of building a monastery in Bhutan to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa in India. His Holiness not only commended and supported the idea, but also conferred the name " Karma Thegsum Dhechenling" to the proposed monastery and blessed Rinpoche's future dharma activities both to Buddhism and the Karma Kagyu Lineage as a whole. This made an auspicious origination for the construction of Karma Thegsum Dhechenling.

To ensure proper management of the monastery upon its completion and to train up young monks as soon as possible, Rinpoche set about recruiting monks at the start of the project. The recruitment received overwhelming response and 27 young boys were recruited. At the same time, construction works also commenced on 29 April 2004.

To remove obstacles and assist in the success of the project, a three-storey high "Stupa of Victory" was constructed near the monastery site. The stupa consecration ceremony was held on 29 May 2006. Over the past few years, Rinpoche has worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition. The multifarious works included road construction, building huge water tanks, laying electric cables, planting trees, selecting construction materials, timber seasoning, design and construction of the monastery building, wood crafting, stupa construction, building monks' quarters and etc..

Unlike other monasteries which are usually built with concrete, Karma Thegsum Dhechenling is built in the traditional Bhutanese style, with a structure mainly of carved wood. All the timber used in the construction was painstakingly chosen by Rinpoche and then seasoned for a year before use. Exquitely designed in the traditional Bhutanese style, the monastery has beautifully carved beams and pillars with the mantras "Om Mani Padme Hung" and "Karmapa Chenno" inscribed on them. All the doors and window frames are also carved with auspicious patterns. The monks' quarters, which can accommodate up to several hundred monks, provides a favourable environment for their practice.

The main shrine hall houses the three large statues of Buddha Shakyamuni, Padmasambhava, and the 8th Karmapa. In the course of designing these statues, the renowned Bhutanese artist Lopon Karma took the maquettes to India to seek the advice of His Holiness the Karmapa. Within the nine-day period, the maquettes were placed in the Karmapa's room and were blessed by His Holiness. The Karmapa also gave valuable views on the modelling of the statues. He was very impressed with the design of the Padmasambhava statue with Bhutanese features. As for the Buddha statue, His Holiness suggested that it should be modelled upon the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni in Bodhgaya, India. The most wondrous statue of all is the 8th Karmapa statue is modelled on a statue which the 8th Karmapa had made of himself.

All the three large statues (the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is about three storeys in height, while the other two statues are two storeys high) in the main shrine hall is inlaid with gold. The other statues of Avalokiteshvara, Green Tara, Vajrapani, Medicine Buddha, Vajrasattva, Thousand- Armed Avalokiteshvara, Green Tara, Vajrakilaya, Guru Rinpoche, Zhabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal, Pema Lingpa, Vaishravana, etc. (each measuring six feet in height) are all beautifully made and inspire reverence in anyone who see them. The four walls of the main shrine is covered with huge frescoes measuring up to 25 feet in height, depicting Vajradhara; the lineage measters Tilpoa, Naropa, Milarepa; the 1st, 3rd, 8th and 16th Karmapas; Zhabdrung; Pema Lingpa and etc..

Karma Thegsum Dhechenling is the only monastery in Bhutan that adopts the Karma Ghadri painting style (one of the major schools of Tibetan thangka painting), which is a combination of the painting styles of the Tibet, ancient India and China. This style was also employed by the 10th Karmapa in many of his paintings. On the ceiling of the main shrine hall are 35 mandalas of the Karma Kagyu lineage, all exquitely and meticulously painted. Also, surrounding the monastery are 32 stupas built in the form of the eight great stupas of the Tathagata. Commemorative of the eight great events of the Buddha's life, the stupas will bring protection and prosperity to the monastery and its dharma activities.

Karma Thegsum Dhechenling brings together the artistic, cultural and religion. The fine materials employed, the exquite workmanship and the distinctive style have won numerous acclaim from the various sectors. To date, around HK$26 million was spent on the construction project and each dollar spent is well worth.

To help promote the dharma activities of the Karma Kagyu lineage, Rinpoche commissioned the production of a giant thangka of the Karma Kagyu Lineage Refuge Tree in Nepal on 4 April 2009. Measuring 50 feet on each side, it is by far the world's largest thangka of the Karma Kagyu Lineage Refuge Tree, with the figures of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Yidams, Dharma Protectors, Sanghas and Kagyu lineage masters all finely appliqued. This giant thangka will be displayed each year together with prayers, pujas and lama dances in the festival, thus create karmic connections between sentient beings and the Buddha.

On this auspicious occasion of the official consecration of Karma Thegsum Dhechenling, we extend our warmest welcome to everyone who are connected to us, in one way or another, to come and join in the celebrations.

About the 8th Zuri Rinpoche

The 1st Zuri Rinpoche was originally based in Tsurphu Monastery of Tibet. Knows as Lhasa, it has been the main seat of the Karma Kayyu Lingeage and residence of the successive incarnations of the Gyalwang Karmapas.

There are four Rinpoches knows as (The Karmapa's four heart sons) who have guided and benefited this magnificent monastery the Venerable Traleg Kyabgon Rinposhe, Thrangu Rinpoche, Zuri Rinpoche and Lodro Nyima Rinpoche. These masters have all taken rebirth at this monastery many times in order to uphold this sacred and holy place with the compassionate wish that beings in the future may continue to benefit from the Buddha Dharma.

The 7th Zuri Rinpoche, for example, have attained enlightenment by reciting the Vajrakilaya Mantra 1,300 million times in his small retreat hut overhanging the cliff of the Princess wencheng Temple in Qinghai. The 7th Zuri Rinpoche passed away in Bhutan, thus created the origination of his next incarnation in this Himalayan kingdom.

The 8th Zuri Rinpoche has carried on the powerful tradition of Vajrakilaya practice and Tsok offerings unceasingly for the benefit of sentient beings. The venerable 8th Zuri Rinpoche was born in Bhutan and recognized by HH 16th Karmapa at tow months old. He was bestowed the Dharma name Karma Migyur Tenpei Gyaltshen Jigme Gocha.

At a young age, The 8th Zuri Rinpoche entered Rumtek Monastery, Located near Sikkim, the karmapa's seat in Sikkim, India, to receive intensive tradtional Buddhist education. Zuri Rinpoche studied at the Karma Shri Nalanda Institute and performed brilliantly under the guidance of the Karmapa.

A qualified lineage teacher and a great reincarnation master, the Venerable 8th Zuri Rinpoche is highly commended by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Thinley Dorje. Rinpoche said in his teachings that being a Rinpoche( meaning the "precious one" in Tibetan), his mission is to benefit all sentient beings for them to attain true happiness. At the same time, being a member of the "Golden Rosary" of the Karma Kagyu lineage, he is obliged to contribute to the prosperity of the Karma Kagyu lineage, and Buddhism as a whole, committed in the Bodhisattva Path to spread the Dharma and liberate all sentient beings from samsara, and Taiwan, setting up Buddhist centers, giving teaching, conducting pujas, holding retreats and animal protection activities.