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My Dear Friends and Dharma-Sangha
Disciples,
Happy New Year!
I am happy that together, we have walk through
a significant 2017. During this year, I am delighted to see that
more and more of my disciples are practicing the Dharma with
advancement. I deeply believe that compassion and bodhicitta are
the foundation and method of all practices. I sincerely hope that
every one of you, through long-term practice and accumulation of
merit, that you will be able to integrate Dharma more and more into
your daily life and workplace. And that your spiritual practices
and Dharma are capable of nourishing your mind and soul more
deeply, benefiting each and every one of you.
I also want to thank you all dearly for your
hard works and selfless supports in the Inauguration and Opening of
our Dechen Choekhor this year. I am thanking not just for your
support in the construction of the monastery, but also your
invaluable contributions to our yearly prayers which are
fundamental to the continuation and thriving of our lineage
practices.
In the past twenty-five years, the
construction of this monastery was my foremost responsibility and
task. In these twenty-five years, there were countless wakeful and
restless nights, incalculable hardships and challenges, innumerable
difficulties and setbacks ... but that have never shaken my
determination to rebuild the monastery. Until now, I could still
recall clearly my root guru - Adeu Rinpoche's words: "You must
rebuild Dechen Choekhor; it is the head of Drukpa Kargyu. Without
the head, Drukpa Kargyu only left with mere body. Without a leader,
it has no life force."
I strive over two decades to fulfill the
aspirations and instructions of my root guru. I spent more than
twenty years to rebuild the monastery of great importance to Drukpa
Kargyu. I suppose this is one of the highest offering of my faith
and devotion to my guru. It is the unsurpassed path of my spiritual
practice. Here, I hope my disciples too, like myself, could
profoundly realize the quintessence of Vajrayana practice. Through
completely relying trusting your guru, one enters into the correct
unmistaken path of practice.
Well, now, the rebuilding of Dechen Choekhor
monastery has finally completed. She is like a kind beautiful
mother, always waiting and welcoming the returns of her children
with open arms. As the New Year begins, let us share the joy of
spiritual practices, soothes each other worries, and enjoys the
warmth like a big family.
Last but not least, I want to thanks Lily,
whom with tremendous courage and devotion, dedicated her body,
speech and mind into serving and fulfilling the guru's wishes. And
to my team and all of you, my dear friends and students across the
globe, who have for many years, worked tirelessly and selflessly to
assist my Dharma activities. In the future, this team will take on
more dharma works and responsibilities to serve our big
Dharma-Sangha family. Please have faith in your spiritual journey,
trust your crew and support their works.
May each of us have a meaningful
2018. May the Dharma be with us. My blessings and protection
are with you all, always! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Choekyi Gonpo
2018-01-01
Photo caption: The 9th
Jetsun Choekyi Gonpo posted with the statue of The 1st Jetsun
Choekyi Gonpo, whom are widely known as the Lord of all vajra
holders of Tsari, the sacred meditation place to the Drukpa Kargyu
for centuries.
My Dear Dharma Friends,
I hope you all are doing well. Here are the
few words I want you all to keep at heart.
Don't expect too much when you practice the
dharma. In Vajrayana, your practice itself is the result, the
fruit. Thus, practice diligently.
Hoping to achieve any results too fast or too
desperately can be an obstacle on the path of Vajrayana. No one can
realize the nature of mind too easily, but everyone may have a
glimpse of it through the Guru's blessings. Thus, just continue to
meditate. The great wise ones say, "It is not meditation, but to
get used to or to familiarize with." This means you have to
maintain awareness always - that is mediation.
If you can't do this in the beginning, then
try to meditate whenever your time permits. But, don't chase for
immediate results or expect things to change dramatically. If you
do, the Mara will enter. We should not be trapped in hope. If we
are trapped in hope, then naturally we will be trapped in fear as
well.
Practice the Middle Path. This is especially
true for those who have a decent job or career. They should not
simply give up their jobs or quit working. Keep the jobs or works,
and offer your best to serve mankind and humanity. Just ensure that
Dharma is part of your everyday life, your way of life. Be kind and
always cheerful and helpful at the workplace. Maintain a joyful
heart and treat all with kindness. Find time to practice whenever
and wherever you can. Live a healthy life. Be responsible; take
care of the people around you. Be skillful; do not project the
image of a religious fanatic. Focus on the devotion to your guru.
This is the only way to attain realization. According to Vajrayana,
if you lose devotion to your guru, it is the sign that the biggest
Mara has entered into your heart. Be aware of it!
I want all my students to learn this and take
this as their way of lives to cultivate a healthy Dharma-Sangha
community. MARA IS EGO. DHARMA IS EGOLESSNESS. That's why we all
can be bodhisattvas.
With much love and blessings,
CHOEkyi GONpo
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Kyabje
Drubwang Dorzong Rinpoche, whom I have known for over 40 years - an
eminent and truly symbolic master of the Drukpa Kargyu. It is a
profound loss to Tibetan Buddhism, especially to our lineage of
Drukpa.
Rinpoche was widely revered as one of the most
learned, practiced and respected masters of Vajrayana. Undaunted by
hardships and challenges, with great courage and conviction, he
endeavoured to preserve and propagate the authentic teachings of
Drukpa Kargyu. His lineage has been closely bound to our monastery
for over four hundred years.
During these important moments, while he is
resting in the state of Dharmakaya, it is crucial that all his
followers and friends strive to unite with his enlightened mind,
remembering his kindness and noble intentions, and pray
single-mindedly with fervent devotion for his swift reincarnation.
May his enlightened activities and vast aspirations to benefit
beings continue to unfold, without impediment and quickly attain
fruition.
With heartfelt devotion and prayers,
Choekyi Gonpo
February 18th, 2017
Happy New Year to all my dear friends and
students across the globe!
New Year sprouts new hope, new beginning and
new quest. It is like a clean, unblemished diary waiting for
you to pen your own new goals and new chapters in life. This is the
best time of the year and the most hopeful moment to pledge for new
resolutions. It all begins with our willingness and determination
to a positive change.
Free your heart from the dragging past, and
prepare to embrace the fresh year with an open and a joyful heart.
Start afresh with new confidence, new aspirations, and positive
approaches. Make your present count by engaging in the meaningful
and virtuous endeavours that make yourself and those around you
happy and healthy.
I wish you all good health, happiness, and
success in the upcoming 2017. And I encourage all dear students who
are currently doing Preliminaries to complete it in this year. And
for those who have not yet begun, to make a firm resolution to kick
start this year.
I am looking forward to seeing your progress
and advancement in your practice, and to further bestowing you all
with higher and more advance teachings. Wishing you all a bright
and prosperous year ahead!
With much love and blessings,
CHOEkyi GONpo
December 31st, 2016
My Dear Friends & Students,
Happy Saga Dawa! I am sure all of you are
going the extra miles to perfect the Two Accumulations in this
sacred month of Lord Buddha. On top of your virtuous endeavours, I
would like to encourage all my students to engage in life-release
activities on the upcoming Saga Dawa Düchen (21st May, 2016).
It needs not be a massive release, but every
release, from acquiring the animals to the final release, should be
embraced with the skillful means of the bodhichitta resolve and
sincere dedications and aspirations.
Maintain low profile while purchasing the
animals to prevent the supposedly kind deeds from turning into
massive trading opportunities that cause more harm to them in the
future. While releasing, ensure that the place to be is a safe
sanctuary for the animals to thrive on, and perform the release
cautiously and gently with compassion and patience.
Dedicate the merits to all mother-beings,
particularly to the Dharma friends who need our love and prayer
most at this very moment. Pray for their wellbeing, happiness and
for the advancement in their spiritual path. The life releasing
deeds would also be very beneficial to all those who have been
eating meat almost their entire life.
Choekyi Gonpo
Dear Friends & Students,
These are the greetings I composed for 2016
Tibetan New Year. It's not very poetic nor beautiful, but it
contains the essential message of the Eightfold Noble Path taught
by Lord Buddha.
Everyone who practices the Eightfold Noble
Path - Right View; Right Intention; Right Speech; Right Action;
Right Livelihood; Right Effort; Right Mindfulness; Right
Concentration - with all these course of virtue, one's life will
always be auspicious.
Our life become auspicious when we do
everything right, not wrong. Then, the physical manifestations, the
surroundings, the environment, the planet, the universe …
everything will be right. How can we be right? It is only
achievable through following the Eightfold Noble Path - the path
that ends suffering, leading to ultimate happiness.
Druk Choekyi Gonpo
Dear Dharma
friends and students,
Once again, we
are approaching the end of the year. It's a perfect time to reflect
and reconcile upon one's accomplishments and downfalls to better
prepare oneself to seize the new opportunities and to brave the
fresh challenges in the coming year.
The harshness of
everyday reality has disenchanted many of their idealistic hopes
and plans. However, you shouldn't allow it to shatter your faith
and trust in the Dharma and your practices. The teachings of Lord
Buddha are the only unfailing pillar for you to rely upon, in this
life and all lives to come. Following his guidance and persevere in
the path set forth by him, you shall reap the imperishable fruit of
enlightenment and cease the endless circling between pain and joy,
happiness and disappointments in this tricky and deceitful cyclic
existence.
May this fresh
New Beginning:
- Be a messenger of joy, love, happiness,
peace and abundance;
- Rekindle your pledges of altruism and
loving kindness;
- Heighten your resolution to take
actions and embrace virtues;
- Endow you with the courage and strength
to triumph over all challenges.
Happy New
Year and have a great 2016!
With my blessings
and best wishes,
Choegon Rinpoche, Dec. 2015
Saga Dawa,
observe on the fourth Tibetan lunar calendar, is an extremely
auspicious four-fold celebration month, commemorating Lord Buddha's
miraculous conception, birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana.
It's another precious opportunity for us to rekindle, renew or
strengthen our resolutions, particularly those related to Dharma
practices. Keep well and be happy, for nothing is more fortunate
than being alive, meeting and practicing the sublime Dharma!
Happy Saga Dawa, my dear friends and
students!
With my blessings and best wishes,
Choegon Rinpoche. 19th May, 2015
Mother's Day is a
good reminder for us to think and repay our mothers kindness. We
must always recall the love and care we received from our mother
since the time we were first conceived in her womb until now.
Mother's care is immeasurable and beyond our imagination.
In Buddhist
perspective, this precious human life is provided by our kind
mother. Without them, we won't have the opportunity to practice
Dharma and to hear this teaching. Mother should be the first person
to think of and to thank. As Abraham Lincoln said, "All that I am,
or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
It's truly very
difficult to repay a mother's kindness. In Nepal recently, a young
mother and her baby were rescued from the rubbles after being
buried for days. While lying on the hospital bed, the extremely
weak mother asking for her baby. Despite her physical frailness,
she strives very hard to breastfeed her baby … and while the baby
still sucking her milk, the mother passed away … It's very very sad
to read the news. That's the kind of love a mother hold for their
children. This is the kind of love we all receiving from our dear
mother, knowingly or unknowingly - the mother's selfless
unconditional love!
Today is the once
a year opportunity to shower her with extra love and care. However,
caring for our parents is not just a one-day event. We should
continue to care for them as much as possible. In fact, every day
is mother's day as their love for us does not limit to just one
day.
When we think of
our mother, we should try to expand it to cover all beings. Every
being has their own mother, and every mother is kind. They have
this mother's kindness. Not necessary they are kind to all people,
but at least they love and care for their own children selflessly.
Thus, do not forget the countless beings that are suffering across
the world from illnesses, warfare, natural disasters, etc. For
them, are once too, our dear mothers. Remember and keep them in our
prayers!
Happy mother's day!
Choegon Rinpoche. May 9th, 2015
Nepal, the holy
sacred birthplace of Lord Buddha, is a peaceful abode to many
Buddhist and Hindus, where they co-existed like nowhere else in the
world, living harmoniously and lovingly together for centuries.
It's a beautiful country that has captured the hearts of many. When
you stepped in here, your minds will naturally feel calm and
serene; a joyful gladdened warmth permeates your very being.
Nonetheless, this
divine land is still not spared from the attacks of the four great
nature catastrophes. This sudden unprecedented powerful earthquake
has already taken more than 3000 precious lives, flattened the
monasteries, temples, shrines and stupas of many major holy places,
and toppled countless homes and villages. Incalculable mud and
brick houses, once called home, were leveled to piles of dirt and
rubbles. Looking at their situations broke my heart.
For this purpose,
my monastery, Dechen Choekhor near Manali, have initiated a
five-day Grand Buddha Vajrasattva Puja, to pray and dedicate merits
for the deceased; forming aspiration prayers for the survivors and
all those who were affected by this quake, to pacify all obstacles
and harms. I, myself will continue making aspiration prayers and
supplications to the unsurpassed field of merit - the supreme
Three-Jewels, earnestly and resolutely!!
Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
April 27th,
2015
Losar is more than just an ordinary new year, but
a special occasion that carries exceptional blessings for one to
set forward the year with virtuous and meaningful deeds that
benefit self and other! Every new beginning brings new hope, new
opportunity and new challenges! Whatever may come their way, our
state of mind and the subsequent reactions define its outcomes.
Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to
resolve them. Victory never comes without opponents. Strength is
developed through enduring hardships. Thus, embrace each challenge
as an opportunity for self-transformation and advancement.
May all my
friends and students be endowed with a bold heart that takes every
challenge at stride; the courage of honoring defeat; the humbleness
while celebrating successes; the strength to love impartially, and
the grace of generosity to reach out for the needy.
Wishing you all
an auspicious LOSAR, and a New Year of health, peace, love, joy,
prosperity, success and abundance! Happy New Year!
Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche, 19th Feb. 2015
Here we are again
with another year passing and another annual event unfolding -
counting down for the dawn of a New Year, while reflecting on the
past and making resolutions for tomorrow.
The end of one
year and beginning of another is a good occasion to pledge for
positive changes. Willing to make and take change are the key to
accomplishments, for both spiritual and mundane endeavors.
Thinking, aiming and wishing for betterment will never work, until
we take the right change and embark on the right path!
Procrastination is a dream crusher, while impermanence is the
magical creator and destroyer.
Let's look
inwardly to our own body, speech, and mind. Reflect upon our
actions, speeches and thoughts. Make and commit to one positive
change that mattered to you most; and harvest your fruits of
fulfillment at this time of next year. Wishing all my dear friends
and students a fulfilling and contented year with abundance of
blessings, happiness and wisdom.
Happy New Year
2015!
Choegon
Rinpoche, 29th December, 2014
Mother's love is
said to be one of the closest to the unconditional or universal
love. There are numerous Sutras expounded by Lord Buddha on the
deep kindness of parents and how to repay their kindness. All these
teachings highlight the importance of honoring and repaying the
kindness of one's parents. In Vajrayana particularly,
disrespecting, disregarding or not repaying the kindness of one's
parents, is considered a severe transgression of samayas.
Soon after Buddha
was born, his mother passed away. After attaining enlightenment, in
order to repay his mother's kindness and to liberate her from the
cyclic existence, Buddha went to Tushita heaven for three months to
teach the holy Dharma to his mother. Even Lord Buddha has to carry
out the actions on repaying the kindness of his mother. Thus, it's
extremely important for each and every one of us, every humankind,
particularly the Dharma practitioners, to remember, to appreciate
and to repay the kindness of their mothers.
In the practice
of bodhichitta, we always begin with remembering the kindness of
our mothers, and with that examples, we develop our bodhicitta
mind. Then, extending it to seeing that every living being had been
our mothers in the past, to deepen and broaden our love and
compassion.
The kindness of
mother is boundless and limitless. Owing to her kindness, we were
given this precious human life, and gotten the opportunities to do
whatever we are doing now, specifically in meeting and practicing
the sublime Dharma.
Someone like us,
being born by them, and becoming a source of virtues. The sons or
daughters, breathing a live of virtuous, and are pursuing the noble
path of Lord Buddha. The causes and conditions of all the good
things that we are engaging now through Dharma, are wholly due to
the kindness of our mothers. That's why our mothers shall be
benefited the most from the virtues and merits we have accumulated
through Dharma.
Mother's Day is a
special day to remember and to repay our mother's kindness. Shower
her with much love, respect and appreciation. This is the special
occasion to make them happy and offer them the finest treatment.
However, from the Buddhist perspective, the best way of repaying
their kindness, is through Dharma. Bringing them Dharma, sharing
with them the teachings of Lord Buddha, gently and skillfully.
Nevertheless, if our parents are not yet into the Dharma, do not
force them to practice Dharma. But, start with ourselves. Live our
lives in accord to the Dharma, behave and act according to the
Dharma. Inspire them through our practices, our attitudes. We
should be kind; we should be good. The changes should be first seen
in ourselves. When they see the positive changes in us, they will
start appreciating the path that we followed, and naturally, their
mind will turn toward the Dharma. Even if they do not practice the
Dharma as we did, simply living their lives the Dharma way, is much
more practical and meaningful than forcing them to be a serious
practitioner.
Forcing them is
not good. If you force them too much, they may get offended,
agitated, and turned against or walked further away from the
Dharma. Then, we became the source of their negative karma. It's
because of our unskillfulness or incompetency, they rejected the
Dharma. We should never force other to do what we do. If we truly
love somebody, we should be the leading examples, the models of
what they are yearning to see. Maybe, we can persuade them a
little, but not too much.
One of the most
important aspects of Bodhisattva is skilfulness. We have to be more
mentally pure than being physically or verbally pure. Words and
actions that may seem inappropriate, but was done with a pure mind
and intention that give rise to positive results or virtues, is far
more important than speaking the perfect words or performing the
noblest acts, which later become the cause of someone else negative
karma. Thus, maintaining a pure mind, pure motivation is
incomparably more vital than striving rigidly to conform one's
speech or action with the Dharma. Every word or deed of the
Bodhisattvas, is done with the purest intention -- to benefit
beings. Sometimes, what they utter or do, may not seem perfect, but
their minds are always pure with their intention and motivation,
solely for the benefits of beings.
Wishing all, a
happy, meaningful and inspiring Mother's Day. Happy Mother's
Day!
With all my
Warmth and Loving Care,
Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
11th May 2014
On this, the
occasion of the Lunar New Year, the year of the Wood Horse, I would
like to take the opportunity to offer you my very best wishes for
the year to come.
We are all entering a New Year: a fresh beginning. As we advance
into a new chapter of our lives, having learned from the
experiences of the past, we must now move on with a renewed
perspective, to fulfill our unfinished commitments and set our
sights high so as to enjoy an enriching life.
The New Year is,
generally speaking, a time of great celebration, festivity, and
enjoyment. However, from the Buddhist perspective, it is also a
time to reflect upon change, upon the impermanence of things.
Another year has passed and another begun. The cycles of birth and
death, growth and decay, accumulation and depletion, friendship and
enmity, union and separation, joy and sorrow, rising and falling,
comfort and hardship, positivity and negativity all continue
unabated.
The passing of
another year should be used as a reminder of our commitment to
practice. Did we use the past year to practice the Dharma to the
best of our ability, or did we procrastinate and put our practice
on hold until the ever elusive 'perfect time' is made
manifest?
'Oh, I have time…. Later on.' Is the greatest deception and
obstacle to Dharma practice. For once familiarity with
procrastination has set in, our lives, from the cradle to the
grave, will be spent in distraction and we will never get to
experience the authentic Buddha Dharma.
The blessings of the Three-Jewels and Three-Roots may, on
occasion, cause us to have an intense feeling for practice, but
this is also impermanent and subject to change.
As such, now, at the beginning of the New Year, it is extremely
useful to take the opportunity and make a firm resolve and
commitment to practice the Dharma: to live according to the
karmic law of cause and effect, to continually reflect upon the
nature of samsara, to develop a genuine renunciation and desire for
liberation, and to devote yourself to the wholehearted practice of
the Buddha Dharma.
Resolve that whilst you have the opportunity you will practice at
all times and in all situations. Understanding how your practice is
the strongest protection against all harm, danger, and even against
birth in the lower realms, whilst, at the same time, being the
source of all happiness in this and all future
lives.
Wishing all of you, my Dharma friends and students, a meaningful,
promising, and fulfilling New Year of the Wood Horse. May your
every resolution bear fruit, and may all your wishes be
fulfilled.
Happy Lunar New Year!
Choegon Rinpoche
31st January 2014 |