Special Report: Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche marks Vesak with first phase of consecration of new Lumbini Monastery

Esteemed Tibetan Buddhist teacher and Dzogchen devotee Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche marked the birth, enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni this month by leading the first phase of inauguration of a new monastery, Pal Thubten Shedrub Ling, in Lumbini, Nepal, birthplace of the Buddha. . New Shedra was founded to support a monastic community at the site of the Buddha's birth and to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of international pilgrims who visit the sacred site each year.

Rinpoche presided over the May 23 dedication ceremony of Pal Thubten Shedrub Ling, also known as the Temple of a Thousand Buddhas. The festive event began early in the morning at the Maya Devi Temple, which marks the birthplace of the Buddha. Male and female monks from Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery and Nagi Gompa, as well as staff, students and alumni of Rinpoche's Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Kathmandu, as well as devotees and well-wishers from around the world, go in procession to the new temple, carrying statues of Buddha and volumes of the collected sayings of the Buddha.

Rinpoche, with Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche and Phagchok Rinpoche at his side, presided over the purification and consecration. The revelation of the three central images of the Buddha took place graciously in the presence of the Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who expressed his deep gratitude and warm wishes.

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche graciously shared his insights with BDG today, following this historic event.

“In Buddhism, there are stages of faith that begin with inspired faith, then with aspiration to faith, and finally with trusting faith or trusting faith, and finally with unchanging faith,” a observed Rinpoche. “Inspired faith is when we come face to face with something beautiful and inspiring; there is just an immediate feeling of joy, of deep appreciation for what you see. The mind is simply captivated by witnessing something so beautiful and delicious. This experience can then also lead to a desire to approach the qualities of what we have just witnessed; becoming more and more capable of experiencing what lies behind this manifestation – this is therefore the aspiration to faith.

“On this basis, one can then study and contemplate more deeply and experience the faith of confidence that one has understood the reasons for the way the Dharma is. Finally, by taking to heart what one has learned and come to understand, by coming to trust, without doubt, through an authentic and immediate experience of the nature of the teachings, one will then gain an immutable and unshakeable faith.

“Generally in Buddhism there is a distinction between following faith-based teachings and following reasoning-based teachings. In general, religion is based on faith, and in Buddhism this is also a very important factor: having faith, in the right way.

“And what does it mean to have faith and trust as a Buddhist? Basically, this means having a clear understanding of cause and effect, as well as the existence of past and future lives, how to make informed choices about what to do and what not to do, and having confidence in this knowledge; in other words, cultivate virtue and renounce negative actions. To do this with confidence is to follow faith-based teachings.

“And what then does it mean to do what is virtuous and renounce what is unhealthy? It really comes down to doing things that benefit others, while refraining from harming others. . . . To do this continuously and with confidence is to follow the teachings with faith.

“But it is also possible to follow the teachings based on inquiry, going beyond the immediate acceptance and rejection of the actions of body, speech and mind, to also investigating the teachings in depth and achieve increasing understanding, using text analysis. combined with reasoning, and thus becomes free from all doubt regarding the teachings.

“And so one will grow through the stages of faith. . . and finally, as one learns and understands more and more. . . this becomes the basis of contemplative practice and, as the experience begins to dawn, one enters the fourth dimension of faith, which is faith beyond change.

“Recognizing these states provides the basis for understanding why Pal Thubten Shedrub Ling was built: to provide for those in need of the teachings and to create an environment in which this display of faith can take place!

After the first phase of the consecration and purification ritual of this ambitious project, launched in September 2011, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and the monastic community devoted themselves to reciting the collected words of the Buddha (Kangyur Dakdrok).

The day after the Dawa Duchen Saga, Rinpoche generously gave his first teaching in the main hall of the shrine, sitting directly in front of the three newly consecrated golden statues of the Buddhas of the past, present and future, as well as the statues of the Buddha. 1 Buddhas of the Good Eon. Rinpoche held a refuge ceremony for the participants of the Rangjung Yeshe Institute, from Austria, Bhutan, China, Denmark, India, Nepal, Mexico, Russia, Thailand, United Kingdom United and United States.

The consecration program was concluded by the nuns of Nagi Gompa, who practiced the Treasury of Blessings, Offerings to the Sixteen Elders, Concise Daily Practice, Sung Offering, and the Liturgy of the Fourfold Mandala Offering to Tara.

“We sincerely hope that this majestic temple will be a sanctuary for Buddhist practitioners of all traditions, as well as a source of joy and peace for all who visit it, now and for generations to come,” Rinpoche emphasized in a official statement issued by Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling in April. “Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that belongs to all of us.

“Everyone is welcome, Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, to visit the temple and enjoy the beautiful and peaceful environment of the flower gardens outside, as well as the extraordinary artwork of the sacred statues and wall paintings complex inside. May the Temple of a Thousand Buddhas be an oasis of perfect tranquility, radiating peace, happiness and well-being throughout all the worlds!

Saga Dawa (Skt: Vaishakha), the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, is the most important Buddhist religious and cultural event of the year. The name is derived from the clan name of Shakyamuni Buddha. This event is also known in Tibetan as Bumgyur Dawa, "the month that multiplies by 100", because the karma of all actions, skillful or unskillful, is believed to be multiplied by 000. This year, Saga Dawa runs from May 100 to June 000, with Saga Dawa Duchen, the most important day of the year for Tibetan Buddhists, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and final passage to parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha, falling on May 12. on the day of the full moon. The occasion is also known worldwide as Buddha Purnima and Vesak in other Buddhist traditions and according to different calendars.

See more

The Temple of a Thousand Buddhas: Pal Thubten Shedrub Ling
Shedrub
DharmaSun
Rangjung Yeshe Institute

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The article Special Report: Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche Marks Vesak with First Phase of Consecration of New Lumbini Monastery appeared first on Buddhadoor Global.