elements

Brief History of the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu, BHUTAN

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

The Memorial chorten in Thimphu Bhutan was built in honor of third Druk Gyalpo (Third Dragon King).
The entire project was completed in 1972. It took about two and half years under the carefully supervision of Dungsey Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. Lama Sonam Zangpo, the accomplished master took responsibility of offering zungs and he was fully dedicated to the preparation of zungs for more than a hundred of the newly built statues contained in the stupa.

All of the wall paintings were completed by Lopen Ugyen Lhendup, the most regarded Thangka painter at the time, along with associates friends. The clay statues were made by statue master Lopen Palden and Damche from Hephu Gonpa in Paro and Lopen Omtong from Bidung in Trashigang.

After completion of the project, the consecration prayer was conducted by H.H. Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshey Dorje along with many accomplished masters, in the presence of Royal family members and high officials. It is told, at the time when H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche began the recitation of prayers to expel negative forces, a flame suddenly appeared from the main altar and exited via the west entrance of the stupa. Everyone presented there was shocked and some even screamed upon seeing the flame as they thought the stupa had somehow caught fire from the electrical circuits.

The then the Home Minister, Lyonpo Tamzhing Jagar, suddenly stood up and ordered the electricians and other officials from the power division to check and maintain or repair the circuits immediately. But following the through investigation of the electrical sockets and points, they found nothing.

The people present reported that the five colors of flame seemed to exist the west entrance, but H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche remained very relaxed all the while and looked at the people with a gentle smile as if to assure them that there was no danger and that this was only a sign of expelling the negative spirits.

Finally, everyone calmed down and the incident generated even more devotion toward HH Dudjom Rinpoche. They understood and recognized that this was all response to Rinpoche ‘s power.

At another point when H.H. and other ritual performers were purifying the stupa, they sprinkled sacred saffron water from a holy vase and received a rain of flowers falling gently from a rainbow arching above the stupa. When they began invoking the Buddhas and Boddhisattvas in order to bless the newly built stupa, the fragrance of perfume filled the entire surrounds of the stupa and permeated the interior space as well.

The miraculous rainbow encircled the sun all day long. Some devotees even said that the sun, moon and stars were visible in the sky-all at the same time, which is very unusual.
The stupa had been blessed with many auspicious signs due to the power of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoches’ prayer. The zungs inscriptions were perfectly placed inside the stupa in accordance with the instructions given in the religious texts and executed by the accomplished masters like Lama Sonam Zangpo and other tantric masters.

It is said that the Memorial Chorten is only stupa built in the whole Himalayan Region which contains three different tutelary deities including the deities of mind Gongdue, Kagyed, and the Vajrakila deities. The construction design was based on the spiritual treasures described in the Vajrakila section of a terma reveled by Tragthung Dudjom lingpa in the 19th century.

Before performing a consecration ceremony, his holiness Dungsey Thinley Norbu Rinpochey had a dream of Dakini who, came to offer a milk, thanking for him for construction a well accomplished valuable and precious Chorten in a country so, this is main reason why HH Thinley Norbu Rinpochey built next morning of what he have seen in his dream.

Thank you all.

Source: Sangay Jamtsho

📸sonam famarin @2011

It is our great pleasure to announce upcoming teachings with Lama Sonam Rinpoche entitled Stupas: Unsurpassed Benefit in this Turbulent Time. The teachings will take place on October 15th, 2020 at 10:30 am Pacific Time, and will be publicly broadcast live on YouTube at this link. Please take a moment to visit the Vajrayana Foundation Event Page or the Facebook Event Page, and continue reading for more information on the subject of Rinpoche’s Dharma talk.
The year of 2020 has been hallmarked by uncommon levels of instability throughout the world. The great masters of the past have forewarned of difficulties such as these arising as a result of the imbalances in the outer and inner elements in our present age of degeneration. Join Lama Sonam Rinpoche and find out what can be done to balance the elements and bring peace and stability to the world.

Restoring Balance to Inner and Outer Elements

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

A repost of the wisdom nectar from our heart teacher Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. I am sharing this post because it has a very good teaching about understanding the connection between inner and outer elements and about the connection of Treasure Vases.

In the Fall of 2012, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche gave a Khandro Norlha Empowerment at Orgyen Dorje Den, Alameda. Many of you may recall that day because it was so special and full of blessings.

Here are the wisdom words of my heart teacher,

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche inviting us to that empowerment:

“I wanted to teach on restoring balance to inner and outer elements because there is so much suffering due to the current imbalance and I think that maybe some people do not understand the connection between inner and outer. The inner elements in our body (flesh, blood, heat, breath and mind) are really the same as the outer elements. Flesh = earth, blood = water, heat= fire, breath = air, and mind = space/sky. Also, all the elements exist in three cyclic existences. Above the earth = deva, under the earth = naga, on the earth = human.

“These three realms have exactly the same inner and outer elements manifesting. When any of these realms have happiness or suffering it affects the other two. And especially the human realm! Without a true belief in interconnection, there is no respect. With our narrow minds, we each make pollution in different ways, both physical and mental, that damages outer and inner elements in all realms. Earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and fires are from the same imbalances that also cause poverty in the human realm. It works both ways too. For example, when the naga water element is healed, then rain and wealth come to the human realm.

“What causes wealth is positive virtue – physical, mental, verbal. Wealth is due to causes and conditions that are based on merit. Lack of generosity decreases merit and causes poverty. Generosity increases merit and causes wealth. With this empowerment and consecration, we are creating positive karma for all of you – anyone connected with these treasure vases. Don’t think that we are taking money to misuse or take advantage. These vases and your offerings will replant root causes and conditions. What we will do with this wealth is to support the three jewels activity. With this merit and inner wealth a little effort will produce a big effect! Sometimes we can work very hard and we have no more wealth. But with the right merit and inner wealth, a little work can produce a big outer result.

“Treasure vases balance and heal the outer environment. In degenerate times beings suffer from three durukas: sickness and disease, poverty and starvation, weapons and war. Guru Rinpoche gave us these profound instructions and details on healing each realm, particularly human and naga. Each realm has a different life essence and the treasure vases contain each substance – crystal for the deva realm, turquoise for the human realm, conch for the naga realm. Each vase contains yantras, mantras and inconceivable hidden treasure substances from realized beings, from Guru Rinpoche and other ancient lamas up to the present time with our own Lord of Refuge Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. Each vase contains mother essence medicine balls made with herbs and other blessed substances from Dudjom Rinpoche and other realized lamas. Also, these vases are extra special as the mother essence contains water from the very stream that Dungse Rinpoche opened with his own hand in Bhutan! There, people travel many miles to drink from and bathe in this stream and they are healed! It is hard to explain how special this is, especially for all of us who already have such a precious connection with Dungse Rinpoche.

“Every place you put one of these vases, whether to bury in the land or place in the water, a lake or ocean, it will heal the outer elements. If you place one on your shrine or in any clean, beautiful spot it will also balance the elements, especially those that affect inner and outer wealth. It is truly a holy object.

“I will tell you a story. I had a good experience in California some years ago during a big drought. I buried a treasure vase and then it started to rain right away. These vases truly have inconceivable power!

“Right now, there is unusual suffering, not only from physical disturbances around the world but from poverty everywhere. Even though this country is number one in the world in many ways, there is so much inner suffering and all of us are having financial struggles. I have received so much support from America and from the sangha that I want to repay this kindness. All I know in my life, and all I can offer, is dharma. I have complete faith that Guru Rinpoche manifested this century in the Dudjom father and son. My faith and devotion are unshakeable. My appreciation for this country and all of you is so great that I want to make this connection always stronger and I want to truly help all of you. I have confidence that these vases will really help – like a soothing eye drop as it goes right into the eye!

“What I am aiming to do with my life is to help spread buddha dharma teachings in the west according to my teacher’s advice. The vehicle I have always used and still use is the Vajrayana Foundation. Through this foundation, I have put my life focus. This is my life. I have no individual gain. This is for the doctrine – for all of you. Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche chose to give us a connection through the Vajrayana Foundation. And this keeps going through the good fortune of our strong connection to His Holiness Yangsi Rinpoche.

“Generally speaking, to make a buddha happy you can be kind to sentient beings. In that same way, however, you can connect and support our dharma family, the Vajrayana Foundation, that makes Lama Tharchin happy! These vases will help all of us, the sangha, the Vajrayana Foundation, the Three Jewels, this country and the world in so many ways.

“Please come to this empowerment and tsok if it is at all possible. If you absolutely cannot, you can make an offering for yourself and others and through this, we will all be connected. We can read your names and on that day, as I give the empowerment and consecrate these vases, you can recite the Concise Khandro Norlha prayer and mantra and we will all be connected through prayers and pure motivation and then also everywhere these vases go into the world. We can build wisdom cause and condition together, not only for short-term material benefit for all beings but for long term enlightenment.”

About photo:

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

Orgyen Dorje Den in Alameda

2000

By Sonam

About Treasure Vases: http://www.vajrayana.org/treasure-vases/