 Dearest Friends @ CAS,
So much, so much are being sown and with all your blessed wishes, these aspirations may yield years of ripe spiritual fruits, limitless joy and blessings into aeons over the far horizons....
We are barely one week away from the great Loseling Abbot's blessed programmes in Singapore from 16 to 19 May 2008, a rare and privileged visit by one of Tibet's seniormost monastic leaders.
Drepung Monastery and its Abbots:
The great Je Tzongkhapa prophesied thus to Jamyang Choje:
"Your founding and construction of Drepung Monastery shall surpass the Mother Monastery ( of Ganden ) and all its myriad branch monasteries in its spiritual glory and depth."
Drepung Monastery nurtues some of Tibet's greatest luminaries, including:
- The late Ling Rinpoche: Senior Tutor of HH the Dalai Lama /
- The 100th Ganden Trisur Rinpoche: Supreme Head Emeritus of the Gelugpa Tradition /
- Most Venerable Denma Locho Rinpoche: Seniormost Master of the Gelugpa Tradition /
- The two present successors to the Head of the Gelugpa Tradition: The Lord of Dharma of the Eastern Hall and The Lord of Dharma of the Northern Halls
The position of the Grand Abbot of Drepung Monastery was held by several of the previous Dalai Lamas. The Dalai Lamas are most intimately associated with Drepung Monastery and are in fact alternatively known as the "Drepung Tulkus" or "Reincarnated Masters of Drepung" !! Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Gyatso, the great Abbot of Drepung Loseling, is a deeply compassionate and accomplished Master who is greatly venerated for His spiritual attainmments, formidable scholastic acheivements and the unshakeable integrity with which He preserve and tramit the Buddha's holy Teachings.
The Programme:
The programme, this time, to be bestowed by Loseling Khen Rinpoche is blessed especially by the inconceivably "Lord of Aspirations"
For details of Khen Rinpoche's programme, see
The Inconceivable Lord Ksitigarbha
Then, we just cannot help sharing with all our Friends, below, excerpts from the holy Sutra of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.
[ NOT FORGETTING THAT THE COMPLETE INITIATION OF LORD KSITIGARBHA WILL BE BESTOWED BY LOSELING KHEN RINPOCHE ON 16 MAY 2008. ( For details: see www.casotac.
The Buddha responded to the Four Deva Kings, "Excellent, excellent! Now I am going to expound to you, to the present and future devas and human beings, the skilful-expediencie
The Buddha told Samantavipula, "If a good man or a good woman in the future should, on hearing the name of Bodhisattva- Or persuade even one person or many people to do likewise-such a person will have the protection and guardianship, day and night, of thousands of demons and deities, in the present as well as in the future, so that no evil will even reach his or her ears, much less that he, personally, should ever encounter any misfortune or evil. ( Chp. 6 ) ( More excerpts could be found below the beautiful laurels. )
 bb & all frens @ CAS belonging to Lord Ksitigarbha ( !! )____________
Thank you for all your support, service and well-wishes to the holy Dharma.
We are certain they shall blossom into inconceivable goodness and blessings for you and all mother sentient beings spanning limitless time and space.
All of us @ CAS owe our generous sponsors and friends much ....... "Thank you !!"
____________
A few garlands of beautiful laurels from you:
Dear Friend,
Thanks for your kindness in arranging such activities so that sentient beings such as us can benefit.
Cheers ST Thank you BB and friends of CAS for adding me into the group!
May all your events meet with success. J Dear Friends of CAS,
Thank you for organising yet another wonderful event for all of us. I look forward to attending the event and wish that all will be successful. Thank you CAS. Best Regards, J HI BB,
Great to have you inviting Rpch back to contiune on with the teaching.
Was really looking forward to it.
Many thanks and appreciation!
With Metta,
C
____________ The Great Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha
( Excerpts from the Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of Lord Ksitigarbha )
The Inconceivable Lord Ksitigarbha At that time, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha addressed the Buddha, saying, "O World Honored One, by virtue of Buddha's majestic, miraculous power I was able to divide myself into many, many forms throughout hundreds, thousands, myriads and millions of worlds to save and deliver all sentient beings who were suffering their karmic retribution without the Tathagata's great, merciful power; alone, I would not be able to perform such transformations. Now I have been commanded by the Buddha to deliver and liberate all the beings on the six paths of existence until that time when Ajita will achieve Buddhahood. Yes, indeed, O World Honored One, please do not worry." ( Chp 4 ) As these words were being said, a Bodhisattva- Sentient Beings of Samsaric Existence The Buddha explained to Deva Yamaraja as follows: "The sentient beings in southern Jambudvipa are stubborn and adamant by nature. They are difficult to tame and control. This great Bodhisattva has, during hundreds of thousands of kalpas, saved and delivered such beings in every way and from all angles and has led them to early liberation. ( Chp. 8 ) ".....Sentient beings in southern Jambudvipa create karma and commit sins whenever they move, rest or cogitate, then how much worse are the sins committed and the karma created by those who indulge in killing, destroying, stealing, robbery, lust, lying and hundreds of thousands of other such sinful acts!" ( Chp. 6 ) Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, explaining further, said to Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, " Sir, these are the places and manners in which sentient beings in The Inconceivable Benefits of the Practice of Lord Ksitigarbha Protection and mindfulness of devas and nagas: 1) Daily increase of virtuous fruition; 2) Accumulation of elevated and sacred causes; 3) Nonretrogression from the path of Bodhi; 4) Affluence and abundant clothing and food; 5) Non-occurrence of diseases; 6) Non-occurrence of the calamities of flood or fire; 7) No harassment by robbery or thievery; 8) Admiration and respect of all persons one encounters; 9) Aid and support of both deities and demons; 10) Transformation of the female body into the male body at rebirth; 11) Being a royal minister's daughter if reborn as a female; 12) Possession of a dignified and graceful form; 13) Frequent rebirth in the heaven-realms; 14) Sometimes becoming an emperor or a king; 15) Possession of the miraculous power of knowing one's previous lives; 16) All prayers will be answered; 17) Delight and happiness for the members of one's family; 18) Elimination of all unexpected and unpleasant happenings; 19) Permanent eradication of the karmic ways of life; 20) Always passing through safely wherever one travels; 21) Always feeling safety and delight in one's dreams; 22) Elimination of suffering for one's departed ones; 23) Rebirth on the strength of previous bliss; 24) Praises by the Holy Ones; 25) Possession of clever wit and healthy organs; 26) Fullness of mercy, pity and compassion; 27) Ultimate attainment of Buddhahood. "Furthermore, Bodhisattva Akasagarbha, in the present or in the future, if any devas, nagas, deities or demons should hear Ksitigarbha' 1) Rapid progress in the holy, sacred stages of achievement; 2) Elimination and disappearance of all evil karma; 3) Protection and attendance of the Buddhas; 4) Nonretrogression from the path of Bodhi; 5) Great increase of one's own powers; 6) Complete awareness and knowledge of one's previous lives; 7) Final achievement of Buddhahood." Accomplishment of Dharma-Practices "Furthermore, O Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, in future times, if good men and good women should wish to generate the mind of great, widespread compassion and mercy to deliver all sentient beings, wish to cultivate the unexcelled Bodhi, yearning to escape from and leave forever the three realms, and if these people, on seeing Ksitigarbha' Fulfillment of Wishes "Furthermore, O Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, in future times, if any good man or good woman prays that in the present or the future hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of wishes for hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of things be fulfilled, he should just take refuge in, worship, make offerings to and praise Bodhisattba Ksitigarbha' Lord Ksitigarbha' "Therefore, O Samantavipula, you should be aware that such inconceivable hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of beneficial things are accomplished by virtue of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha' The Buddha, then, in conclusion, said to Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, "This Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha has tremendous intimate karmic connections with the beings of Jambudvipa. The beneficial activities of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha - and which have been both seen and heard by sentient beings - could not be exhausted even though one were to talk about them for hundreds of thousands of kalpas. Therefore, O Avalokitesvara, by means of your miraculous power publish and circulate this Sutra so that all sentient beings in the Saha World will continuously enjoy peace and happiness for hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of kalpas." ( Chp. 12 ) At that time, the World Honored One raised his golden-hued arms, and, touching Bodhisattva- "O Ksitigarbha, O Ksitigarbha, remember that today in Trayastrimsas Palace, amidst the congregation of all the hundreds of myriads of millions of inexpressible, inexpressible numbers of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, together with the eight categories of beings, including devas and nagas, I, once again, commend to you those sentient beings-such as human beings and devas-who have not yet escaped from or transcended the Three Realms and are still caught in the burning mansion. Do not let those sentient beings ever fall onto evil paths of existence even for only one day or one night, much less let them commit the five unpardonable sins and fall into Avici Hell, justly remaining there for thousands of myriads of millions of kalpas without a date of acquittal. "O Ksitigarbha, all the sentient beings in southern Jambudvipa Realm are unpredictable in their wills and dispositions. Most of them are accustomed to evildoing. Even if they decide to do good, they may retreat from their good intentions in an instant. Surrounded by evil environmental conditions, their evil wills increase and intensify moment by moment. For this reason, I transform myself into hundreds of thousands of millions of other forms to convert, deliver, release and liberate them in accordance with their respective roots and dispositions. "O Ksitigarbha, at this time I most sincerely commend to you the multitudes of devas and human beings. In future times, should any deva or human being plant even a tiny root in the context of the Buddhadharma_ "Furthermore, O Ksitigarbha, in future times, should any deva or human being fall onto an evil path of existence in accordance with his karmic retribution, but also should he, as he is about to fall onto that evil path or is about to approach the entrance to any hell, be able to recite the Buddha's name or a Bodhisattva' The Buddha spoke, "O Samadhisvararaja, such is the inconceivable, great, majestic power that Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha possesses to render extensive benefits to all sentient beings. You Bodhisattvas ought, therefore, to commit this sutra to memory and extensively circulate, spread and relate it." Samadhisvararaja addressed the Buddha, saying, "World Honored One, please do not worry. We thousands of myriads of millions of Bodhisattva- "Furthermore, O Ksitigarbha, in future times, should any good men and good women plant even a small good root of Buddhadharma, even if it is as tiny as a grain of sand or a hairtip, or even tinier, then the bliss gained by them will be indescribable and beyond compare. "Furthermore, O Ksitigarbha, in future times, if any good men and good women, on seeing Buddhas' images, Bodhisattvas' images, Pratyekabuddhas' images or Cakravartins' images, should make donations and offerings, then they will gain immeasurable bliss and always dwell among human beings and devas, enjoying extraordinarily wonderful happiness. Moreover, if they should be able to dedicate rewards thus gained for the benefit of the entire Dharmadhatu, then their bliss will defy comparison. ( Chp 10 ) At that time, the World Honored One emitted from his entire body great, brilliant lights, which shone throughout all the hundreds of thousands of myriads of millions of Buddha-Lands-
"All of you, listen! For today I shall praise the deeds of Bodhisattva-
( Chp. 6 )
____________ A special highlight on a Dharma programme with the great terton, Dzogchen Ganor Rinpoche, this weekend: Ngee Ann Cultural Centre ( Auditorium - 97, Tank Road. ) 10 May 2008
5 pm - Vajrasattva Empowerment
7 pm - Dorje Lekpa, White Dzambala Puja and Yamantaka Empowerment
11 May 2008
10 am - Guru Drakpo Empowerment
2 pm - Vajrakilaya Puja
For enquiries: call 9640 2802 / 9384 8181 / 9337 8138.
____________ Technical Clarification on Loseling Khen Rinpoche's Dharma Programme - Initiation of Lord Ksitigarbha: - No pre-requisites required ( But students encouraged to think he or she is receiving the initiation to be Buddha for all mother beings !! ) - No subsequent commitment-practice ( but serious students may receive the 5 Precepts / Bodhisattva and certain sections of the Tantric Vows from this initiation ) - No pre-requisites required ( But students encouraged to think he or she is receiving the initiation to be Buddha for all mother beings !! ) - No subsequent commitment-practice ( but serious students may receive the 5 Precepts / Bodhisattva and certain sections of the Tantric Vows from this initiation ) ____________ | |||
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