News

Dear Dharma Brothers and Sisters,

We are pleased to inform that this year the Ullambana or Hungary Ghosts Festival falls on the 23rd August 2010. In accordance to tradition we will celebrate this festival by performing the Amitabha Jang Chok Puja for three full days beginning from 21st August 2010. This important ceremony will be led by our Resident Lama – Lama Lodro Thaye and assisted by other monks This Puja is a Tantric ritual to purify the deceased ‘s souls and to transfer merits to them and to liberate them from sufferings caused by their negative actions since beginingless times.

All sponsors and devotees are encouraged to participate in this meritorious ceremony of deliverance and repentance and to accumulate merits for themselves and to purify the souls of the departed loved ones.

The highlights of this auspicious Amitabha Jang Chok Puja are:

1. A continuous and comprehensive three day programme for Jang Chok will be performed;
2. Elaborate offerings and auspicious prayer chantings to ensure that the deceased will benefit greatly from the Jang Chok Puja;
3. A central plaque dedicated to the liberation of the unborn babies and karmic debtors of those who are not in a position to sponsor this Jang Chok and also to appease the wondering spirits;
4. Jang Chok for the Living to repay karmic debts accumulated since beginningless times and to remove all obstacles in this present life due to them;
5. Like in previous years, we will also be arranging the same three day Amitabha Jang Chok Puja to be performed by Lamas and Monks from V.V. Thrangu Rinpoche’s Namo Buddha Monastery in Nepal.

You may also sponsor this three day Puja conducted in Namo Buddha Monastery for your departed loved ones if you wish. Names sponsored will be sent to Namo Buddha Monastery for the merits derived from this three day said Puja to be transferred to your departed loved ones and to purify their souls. A plaque will also be place at the alter during the Jang Chok Puja performed at our centre.

The “Ullambana” Festival

Amitabha Jang Chok for “Ullambana” Festival Programme

阿弥陀佛超度法会时间表

Date日期	Time 時間	Puja 法會
21st August 2010 (Sat)   8月21日（星期六）	10:00am~11:30am     3:00pm~  6:00pm	Amitabha Jang Chok Puja 阿弥陀佛超度法会   Amitabha Jang Chok Puja 阿弥陀佛超度暨暨尽孝荐福供灯共修法会
22nd August 2010 (Sun)   8月22日（星期日）	10:00am~11:30am     3:00pm~  6:00pm	Amitabha Jang Chok Puja 阿弥陀佛超度法会   Amitabha Jang Chok Puja 阿弥陀佛超度暨暨尽孝荐福供灯共修法会
23st August 2010 (Mon)   8月23日（星期一）	10:00am~11:30am     3:00pm~  6:00pm	Amitabha Jang Chok Puja 阿弥陀佛超度法会   Amitabha Jang Chok Puja and Repayment of Karmic debts puja.. 阿弥陀佛超度暨暨尽孝荐福供灯共修法会

盂  蘭  盆  超  度  法 會

亲爱的佛友們，

农历７月１４日盂兰盆节洽好是阳历８月23日，创古佛教中心将于阳历8月21日〔星期六〕至23日〔星期一〕启建一個三天的《盂兰盆阿弥陀佛超度大法会》，以藉阿弥陀佛法会的大威力來超荐亡魂。 大法会将由本中心住持喇嘛洛卓达耶率领大马其他创古佛教中心的常住喇嘛一起主持。

这盂兰盆会是以金刚乘密续的仪轨启建，以超度及利益鬼道眾生、历代祖先、过世亲友、累劫怨亲债主、行善积德、尽孝荐福的一个冥阳两利的大法會。

今年盂兰盆节阿弥陀佛法会有以下特色:

1.)     连续三天的盂兰盆超度大法會；

2.)      连续三天的诵经和素餐鮮果施食，令彼往生淨土或得升至三善道。

3.)     设中央往生莲位于无缘夭折胎嬰，及累劫怨情債主，無主孤魂给予没法贊助法會的佛友也能受益，以示普渡眾生。

4.)     為阳上子孙及家人立长生祿位，以消累劫怨情债主的业障，使事业順利无阻,身体安康。

  5.)     赞助者可以选择参与在尼泊尔，南无布达创古佛学院同步启建的三天盂兰盆超度法会。南无布达山是佛陀前世捨身救虎的聖地，最尊贵的创古仁波切的数百位喇嘛和僧众在圣地启建超荐法会，当有其殊胜善缘，威猛超荐亡魂的法力。

盂蘭盆會

在华人社会的传统習俗里，每年农历七月十四日的盂兰盆節，往往也被称为饿鬼节。对佛弟子来说，盂兰节不仅是一个对自己过往亲人超荐功德回向的好日子，还是一个为在世人增长福慧，为自己祈福消災以及培养感恩、尽孝、反省、忏悔等美德的好节日。

据《盂兰盆经》載，佛陀弟子中，神通第一的目犍連，以天眼通看见母亲堕在饿鬼道中受苦，纵使他施展一切神通，仍然无法解救她於苦难中。目楗連见此情形，非常伤心，乃向佛陀请求解救之法。佛陀便指示目楗連在僧众结夏安居园滿时（每年结夏安居由四月十六日起至七月十五日止），以百味饮食供养僧众，仗此功德力，救度其先母以及其七世父母。目揵連依佛陀教化，在七月十五日设盆供養及斋僧，合各大德威神之力，使母亲得以脫离饿鬼之苦。

因此后世的佛弟子效法目犍連尊者孝感動天的楷模，在每年盂兰盆的季節裡虔诚供僧，行礼如仪中，合各大德威神之力，使吾人的现世父母增福延寿；七世父母、历代祖先，以及冤亲债主脱离三涂苦，往生淨土，福乐元無窮。同时也让吾人培养恭敬之心来淨化人我之间的不和协和增长福慧。实可谓冥阳两利。

我们衷心希望信众和赞助者可以亲自參与拜忏供灯、誦经頂礼诸佛菩萨，广修供养、施食、消业、迴向，来超荐往生的至情，夭折胎嬰，及累劫怨情债主，无主孤魂，令彼超脫三恶道。祖先因超度功德力，能消除子孙业障，福德智慧增长，福蔭子孙。供灯代表僧长智慧，驱散代表无明、破坏、邪恶、贪、嗔、痴、、慢、疑五毒的黑暗。

本中心诚邀善信踊跃參与 , 详情请联絡本中心查询。

Please click here to download the Sponsorship form.

Dear Dharma Brothers and Sisters,

Please be informed the 13^th Namo Buddha Retreat will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal. The dates are fixed on 1^st to 5^th November 2010. The Sadhana will be Guru Yoga. Those who are interested to join this Retreat are advised by V.V Thrangu Rinpoche to start the Ngondro Four Foundations Practice to achieve more benefits.  We have made reservations with Royal Nepal Airlines for 20 seats @RM1,725.00 (group fare bookings and subject to change) leaving on 28^th October 2010 and returning 8^th November 2010. The Retreat fees, as usual, is RM1,000.00 which will be used to cover food and lodging at Namo Buddha Monastery and travelling to and fro Boudha, Kathmandu to Namo Buddha Monastery. If time and circumstances permit, we will try to organize pilgrimage visits to some of the holy sites in and around Kathmandu. The detail programme and itinerary will be announced later to all confirmed participants shortly before departure.

The reservations are on a “first come first serve” basis. Those who are interested are requested to give your name and contact numbers (telephone/hand phone numbers) to John Leong (Mobile : 017-8716993; Office : 603 90589788; email : sothi88@streamyx.com). Kindly deposit RM300.00 for payment towards the bookings with the airline to the following account:-

Leong Khai Yan
EON Bank, Sri Petaling
0671-11-000099-6

Kindly fax your bank in slip to 03-90588566 for confirmation of reservation.

With Metta,
John Leong
(Organising Chairman Namo Buddha Retreat)
Secretary
TDSPJ  

As the volunteers in maroon uniform walked up the stage in unison amidst spontaneous applause from the floor, I realised no word could be more heartwarming and reassuring than the hard earned recognition for the work they did all so quietly but with concerted effort. I am extremely proud of them. Yet, I must apologise; I had almost denied them of that opportunity to receive the token of appreciation from our beloved Thrangu Rinpoche, being too concerned about keeping with the scheduled timetable, a serious career sickness residing in me.  In fact there were more volunteers than what met the eyes – not less than fifty, I am sure.

It all started about thirteen months ago, when we were entrusted by the International Kagyu Monlam to undertake the 3rd Malaysia Kagyu Monlam in Kuala Lumpur. I took up the challenge and became the Organising Chairman without even having the chance to consult Lama Chodrak, the CEO for International Kagyu Monlam.  Most of our getting-to-know-each-other was via e-mail. Despite my lack of good health at that point in time, I was urged on by our resident monk Lama Lodro and the TDSPJ President John Fam.

I had the pleasure to talk to many people who had given me much precious advice, among them the previous organisers from KKDS Negeri Sembilan and KKBS Johor Bharu and many others who had attended the previous Kagyu Monlam. I had also approached the ex-committee members of TDSPJ and many other people to lend their hands, in view of the possibility that His Holiness the Karmapa might accept our invitation to grace the event. That opportunity to host His Holiness did not materialise.

We convened on the average one meeting per month, not that many at the start but more frequently as we got closer to the occasion. I am glad that the TDSPJ CEO Lama Lodro and all the subcommittee group leaders attended all the meetings with very few absentees.   I have to admit this was the most difficult and challenging project I had ever handled. The uncertainties that bothered us right from the beginning prevailed until even a day before the Monlam. We had to be contented with some wild guesstimates.

Somehow, we found that they differed only slightly from the actual happenings, thanks to the blessings of the Triple Gem. The lodging problem was half solved when Chris Lim, a perpetual grand sponsor of Dharma activities, came forward to offer free accommodation at the Hotel Summer View for the Sangha members. I wish her all the best in her future undertakings.

My greatest worry was the proceeds, fearing we could run into deficit and incur losses for our centre.  The Venerable Lama Lodro was adamant that the Kagyu Monlam must be a success at all costs. Nevertheless, my worry was unfounded. I am truly regretful for casting even the slightest doubt over His Holiness the Karmapa’s promise to give His blessings to all the International Kagyu Monlam events.

I am grateful that I was not the busiest person and able to oversee things during the Kagyu Monlam, simply because all the group leaders were able to act on their own. They clearly knew their roles, functions and responsibilities and carried out their duties gracefully with assistance from volunteers. I notice some of these volunteers continue to forge lasting bonds among them even till today.

On the other hand, had I designated one person as the floor manager, I would not have had to liaise so often with Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CAH) concerning trivial matters, such as dealing with the technician and security guards in the operating of the air conditioning system, opening and shutting of the rear gate and maintenance of toilet cleanliness, etc. I certainly have more to learn.

We hope we have set a good bench mark for future organisers of Malaysia Kagyu Monlam. A few highlights worthy of mention are,
•      Minor hiccup in transport did not affect the orderly putting up and demobilization of the stage and floor decoration;
•      Overwhelming attendance – counted 86 Sangha members and close to 600 pax overall attendance on the last day;
•      Highest number of Sodjong retreatants;
•      Salute to the registration team that kept updating me on the status of registration and sponsorship in real time;
•      Highly appreciated vegetarian food catering (offered free for three days by Brother Lau);
•      Remarkable kitchen management in the face of practically no kitchen facility in CAH;
•      Biggest number of lamp offerings, exceeding the capacity of the two swastikas;
•      Managed the largest logistics for transport;
•      Commended for coming up with the most orderly check-in and check-out procedures for Sangha members at the hotel;
•      Highest quantum of total collection, including Puja, Qinghai Earthquake Relief Funds, New Centre Building Funds;
•      Thanks to various supporting centres for lending us thrones, tables, chairs, cover, cushions etc;

May I take this opportunity to thank the V. V. Thrangu Rinpoche and his entourage, our resident monk – Lama Lodro, Lama Chodrak and all the Sangha members for making this event an occasion to remember for many years to come.

May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with all those who participated in the aspiration prayers for world peace and all those lay persons who contributed in cash and kind to make this a very successful event.  I must also thank the various contact persons who assisted in the registration of participants.

We like to thank John Fam and Richard Lau for capturing and editing the highlights of the event in video and photograph respectively. To view the 3rd Kagyu Monlam photographs, please click here.

I wish to take this opportunity to apologise to the people whom I might have offended inadvertently in the course of carrying out my duties.

With Metta,
Lim Shu Yun
For and on behalf of
The Organising Committee
Thrangu Dharma Society Petaling Jaya

Medicine Buddha Dedication Retreat
Thrangu Dharma Society Petaling Jaya
4^th, 5^th and 6^th June 2010

As the days pass, information from Tibet becomes more clear and detailed: twenty-three monks were killed; nine with serious injuries are in the hospital; around forty have a range of injuries that are being treated on site as best as possible. Structural damage on all the remaining buildings has been confirmed, so they will have to be taken down before reconstruction can begin.

The monks continue to search through the ruins. Many of the clay and wooden statues have collapsed but the seven large metal Buddhas reveal only minor damage. Texts are being retrieved from the institute for higher Buddhist studies, and the large Buddha statue there has been pulled out. As they move across the land of their former home, the monks walk carefully to avoid the fissures that have opened up in the earth.

In Hong Kong, Thrangu Rinpoche is conducting a course on the transference of consciousness at death and also discussing with his senior monks the next steps to take in Tibet. Under consideration is moving the monastery to a new and safer site. Whatever decision is made, financial support will be needed to reconstruct the monastery and any donations toward the project will be greatly appreciated.