All posts by KL Lau

Announcement 26-June-2015

Dear Friends,

Namaste. Hope you all are doing fine, today is HH 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley’s birthday, a very auspicious day for HH. Most of the Karma Kagyu Monasteries and Centres are doing pujas and making offerings on this auspicious day. On the home front, the Karma Kagyu Centre in Seremban is also hosting the Karma Kagyu monlam (world peace prayers), which is much needed at this degeneration age.

Just a short update, Ven Tana Tulku Pema Rinpoche was here in April/May and we managed to have some teachings on Chenresiq, did the 100 Dieties pujas etc. On Wesak Day, Rinpoche did special prayers for the Nepali earthquake victims, lamp lighting and bathing of the Buddha. All the proceeds obtained from the Wesak Day was donated to the Nepal earthquake fund to help some villagers in a remote, mountain area. Some pictures of these events are posted on Tana’s website, www.tanamonastery.org. Please view them if you have time.

We are holding a third Charity Dinner for the monks of Tana Monastery on 13th September, 2015 at Sime Darby Convention Hall, donation for the tables are priced at RM2,000, RM3,800 and RM8000. The focus of this charity dinner to build the Shedra (institute of Higher Learning) and the retreat centre. This plan was hatched 12 years ago when we held the first charity, unfortunately during that time, the priority was the monks quarters. The monks have now grown and we are not able to put off this project any longer, the Sangha have to move on with higher studies. The present and small shrine and make do classrooms are not able to accommodate them anymore. We thank you sincerely and appreciate the help you have given us through this journey, and once again we ask for your help to sponsor this Charity dinner, the details are in the leaflet attached.

As Rinpoche is here for this Charity, we have taken the opportunity and requested Rinpoche to conduct an Amitabha Retreat, the details are also attached. Very little literature or teachings are given on this topic and if one suffers a death in the family like I did, is good to know and practice with confidence.

We look forward hearing from you.

Always in our Prayers,
Tana Dharma Society,
Kathryn

Saka Dawa Lamplighting and100 Dieties Puja

The Tana Monastery India will be doing the lamp lighting and 100 Dieties Jang Chog Puja on this auspicious Saka Dawa full moon day on 2nd June, 2015.  Prayers for Nepal earthquake victims will also be done.

Brief on Saka Dawa month

 

The fourth month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar is called “Saka Dawa.” “Dawa” means “month” in Tibetan.  The ‘Saka Dawa Festival’ commemorates Shakyamuni’s Buddhahood and the death of his mortal body.
 It is the special month in which the Buddha’s conception, birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (Death) all occur. In particular, the full moon day, or 15th day, of the fourth month marks the holiest day in Tibetan Buddhism. It is the day of the Buddha’s Conception, Enlightenment, and parting into Nirvana. It is auspicious to perform meritorious activities on this specific day. It is believed that any merit generated from virtuous activities increases 100,000-fold on this day in Saka Dawa and Gods in the heavens are believed to descend to the mortal world on this day. This year, that day comes on Tuesday, June 2, 2015.  (In Indian tradition, this month is called Vaisakhi and the full-moon day called Buddha Purnima. Sometimes, due to a discrepancy in the solar and lunar calendar, the celebration of the Buddha Purnima and Saka Dawa can differ as much as one month.)
 
It is an opportunity to do something for the deceased and karmic debtors during this very auspicious period. Prayers and lamp lighting will be held for the Nepal earthquake victims as well.  If you wish to participate in the 100 Dieties prayers, please submit the name of the deceased or the living donor’s name for karmic debtor.  The donation for the puja of any amount is welcome.


100 Dieties Puja 

 

No

Name of Donor

100 Dieties Puja

Deceased Name (IMO)  or just indicate ‘karmic debtors’ 

Amount  (RM)

E.g. 

Annie Lim  IMO Paul Lim 50.00

 E.g.


Annie Lim
 Karmic Debtors 

30.00

 

         Maybank Account:   0143-5650-6977  (for easy online checking of remittance)

Account:   Leong Poh Chwee

Once you have made your remittance, please don’t forget to inform Poh Chwee (at pohchwee@hotmail.com) the remittance details by Sunday31 May 2015.  Most importantly due to time constraint, please let Poh Chwee have all the donors names first so that she can viber/email them over to India latest by this Sunday evening.

Amitabha Retreat

JANG TANA THEGCHOG NORBU CHOSLING (TANA MONASTERY)

AMITABHA RETREAT

(Teaching on BARDO and on AMITABHA and its PURELAND based on DEMON PRAYER TEXT by KARMA CHAGMED with Eight (8) Precepts Vow)

Date : 15 to 18 September 2015

Venue :  Meeting Room 1, Level 11,
Chin Swee Cave Temple, Genting Highlands

Click here to download the registration form.

Led by Venerable Tana Tulku Pema Rinpoche, the Abbot of Tana Monastery, South India

tulkuVenerable Tana Tulku Pema Rinpoche is the present Abbot and lineage holder of Tana Monastery India, He was born in Hung Kara Saint lineage, one of the master of Guru Rinpoche. Not long after he was born the late 16th Karmapa, His Holiness Rangjung Rigpe Dorjee recognized him as a Tulku and gave him the name, Karma Ngawang Chokyi Wangchuk Palsangpo. During his earlier years he received most of the empowerments, transmissions and explanation of the Nyingma tradition from the late Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche, late Penor Rinpoche and Abbots in Nyagyur Shedra. Rinpoche has received the Kagyu teachings and empowerments, transmissions from the Four Regents and studied at the Karma Shri Nalanda Buddhist Institute under the guidance of Kagyu Khenpos in Rumtek. Rinpoche resides in Tana Monastery, India and tirelessly travels widely and teaches abroad. Rinpoche underwent his permanent retreat at Sherabling retreat centre ‘Tingzin Gephel Ling’ under the tutelage of HH Tai Situpa Rinpoche, Venerable Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and retreat master and returned to the Tana Monastery in March 2014.

A brief write-up on  Amitabha and its Pureland

scrollAmitabha Buddha is also known as the Buddha of Boundless Light. There are many purelands. The Pureland of Great Bliss of the Buddha of Boundless Light, Amitabha, is a very unique place. Among all the purelands, the Pureland of Amitabha is the easiest to get to and is therefore very special. This is due to the power of Amitabha Buddha’s great powerful prayers and aspiration. In essence the vows, prayers and aspirations made by Amitabha Buddha are as follows:-

“May a Pureland be established that is reachable by ordinary sentient beings of impure karma, beings of karmic evil, who have not abandoned non-virtue”.

As opposed to other purelands, the process of accumulating merit and wisdom is very rapid in Amitabha Pureland. Buddha Shakyamuni himself said: “Therefore to pray to be reborn in Dewachen accumulates as much merit as if you were to offer the 7 types of jewels and other precious substances filling the 3,000 fold world systems.” The practice of Amitabha Buddha and its Pureland is geared to ordinary people. Anyone can engage in this practice due to the vows of Amitabha Buddha. Even for great sinners, if they practice strongly, it is possible for them to even attain rebirth in Amitabha Pureland. The way to take rebirth in Amitabha Pureland is to formulate a great faith and aspiration concerning the Pureland and have a desire to be born there. By so doing, one can accomplish the transference of one’s own consciousness to Amitabha Pureland.

RETREAT SCHEDULE  

Date Time Activity
15.9.2015  (Tuesday ) 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm Empowerment/Initiation  followed by  Teaching
 16.9.2015  (Wednesday )to18.9.2015 (Friday ) 6.00 am – 9.00 am10.00 am – 12.00 noon12 .00 noon2.00 pm – 4.00 pm5.00 pm – 8.00 pm8.00 pm – 10.00 pm Taking of Eight (8) Precepts Vow  followed by Practice SessionTeaching  Session Lunch BreakPractice SessionTeaching Session (Last Session) Question and answer Session
19.9.2015 (Saturday) 6.00 am Breakfast  and  Check out


Cost of Retreat

The cost per person: RM580 (twin sharing basis)
RM675 (single room basis)

(The cost is inclusive of accommodation, breakfast, lunch and tea, translator’s costs and printing of texts and offerings to Main shrine).

Things to bring

1) Mala
2) Foldable table for placing text
3) Personal toiletries, (only toilet paper is provided in the rooms) towels, warm clothing, light sweater, flash light and socks.

4) Flask for hot water available from the hot water dispenser on every floor.

5) Sitting cushions are available and you need not bring any unless you are used to your own. The sitting cushions available are the step up types and made from coconut husk. So, they are a bit firm compared to the foam cushions.

6) Chin Swee Temple is quite cold during early morning and night. Those who are afraid of the cold should bring extra warm clothing. Under normal conditions, the weather is pleasantly cool.

Transport

Please arrange your own transport to Genting Highlands. Suggest car pooling, although there are ample under-ground parking available at Chin Swee Caves Temple.

For more information please contact:-

1) Kathryn Leong @ 012-201 6485 (kathryntana@gmail.com)
2) Leong Poh Chwee @ 012-323 6553 (pohchwee@hotmail.com)

For JB region

3) Rozan Soh (to register JB participants) @ 017-779 2238 (dechen_dolkar@hotmail.com)

For Melaka region

3) Maureen Leong@ 012-602 1686
4) Tammy Teoh @ 012-628 5533 (yeshesogyal5496@gmail.com)

If you wish to participate in the Retreat, please contact the relevant abovenamed to register or you may e-mail your registration form to:

1) Leong Poh Chwee (pohchwee@hotmail.com)
2) Rozan Soh (rozansoh@gmail.com)
3) Tammy Teoh (yeshesogyal5496@gmail.com)

Please complete registration form and indicate who you want for your roommate. Payment is to be made only when registration is accepted. For payment of the Retreat cost, please make your cheque payable to:-

Tana Dharma Society and bank into the following account:-

Bank: Hong Leong Bank
Acc No: 045 0100 3887
Acc Name: Tana Dharma Society

Full payment to be made latest by 20 August 2015.

Click here to download the registration form.

MERCY MISSION FOR THE NEPAL EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS – 16 MAY 2015

Update 25-May-2015


Following the donation collected for the Nepal Earthquake victims, our representative in Nepal managed to distribute food ration to the starving earthquake victims in two very remote places in Sindhupalchowk districtMankha V.D,C, ward and 6 Dumrichour, both these places are up in the mountains and can only be reached by 5 hours drive by road. All their houses have been destroyed, and the victims had requested for food. Pictures above show the distribution. The victims are very happy and grateful for the help.


IMG_0033This morning 16/5/2015 @6.30am we sent our volunteer Brother Chow Yoon Khen to the airport destined for Kathmandu with 4 Coleman tents, medical supplies and all the donation we collected over the recent IMG_0035Wesak which was held at TDS centre, to help the Nepali people affected by the earthquake. Our representative in Kathmandu have requested for tents and medical supplies which are badly needed.

May this good deed of yours go a long way to help those who are badly affected. May there be a cessation of suffering and live without fear.

TDS committee

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