Friday, January 16, 2015

Visiting Tibetan Monastery Scotland UK Part 2

Samye Ling Monastery is the Karma Kagyu School located remotely at Eskdalemuir near Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway Scotland UK. One of the best kept secrets in Scotland despite having been here for three times in 2006, 2008 and 2012. The Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Center is well worth a visit ,and regardless of your religions or spiritual beliefs. 

I will consider it is a pilgrimage. Samye Ling Monastery is a holy place that I am always called it a "little Tibetan Plateau of the west"  Since it is remotely located at the countryside and you must equip yourself with the GPS guide and perhaps invite some local friends to join with you, otherwise you will be ended up to no where but in the middle of the jungles or unknown countryside. Sometime the GPS failed to pinpoint you to a correct location and what scary thing is, you will hardly see many vehicle along the countryside. We rent a jeep wrangler and drove by my Scottish friends and somehow lost their way in the middle of the woods and it was totally quiet, sound so adventures, but with many laughter and indeed what a challenging journey to the west.

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Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Auspicious Dakini Day

According to the Tibetan calendar, today is the auspicious Dakini prayer day. In Vajrayana traditions, there are certain days are considered auspicious day for certain practices, and on these particular days of the practices, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 100 times. 

The Dakini auspicious day will be scheduled on every 25th of the Tibetan lunar month.and traditionally the Dakini practice will be in the pre-dawn session and when evening approaching.

Dakini literary means enlightened female sky travelers (空行母An enlightened female Dakinis she can be a very wrathful and peaceful deities and as well functioning as practitioner's Yidam. 

A wrathful Dakini is having its special purposes for purification, removing obstacles, egoistic, ignorant and etc. The wrathful and peaceful deities both can be functioning as our personal Yidam.

This is a unique and profound practice for Vajrayana practitioners, one who needs to have received the blessing and guidance, empowerment and transmissions from their Guru. A Guru with his wisdoms will then choose a particular deity or Buddha, Bodhisattva as Yidam for his or her student spiritual developments.
Green Tara she is the manifestation of the Avalokitesvara, (Chenrizig in Tibetan) (Kuan Yin Pusa in Chinese) she can be practiced as the Yidam or Dakini. Whoever came to know and have seen her statue or Tangka printing will certainly be connected with her tranquility and her very unique quality of love and compassion
Kurukulle Dakini 咕汝咕列佛母 or 作明空行母 Kurukulle, she is known as the wrathful standing Red Tara, she is signifies and magnetizing love, wealth and power with compassionate splendor. Kurukulle  she is portraits as a sixteen years old teenage girl and her color is red for her magical functions of enchantment and magnetism. She is always appeared in a single faced because she is embodies non dual wisdom that is beyond conventional distinction of good and evil. 

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta
May the precious Bodhichitta arise
Where it has not arisen
And where it has arisen may it not decrease
But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.


Saturday, January 10, 2015

Meeting with His Holiness Drodrupchen Rinpoche in Bangkok

I am truly honored and as well feeling emotional and excited. I had a very rare opportunity and  to be granted for a private audience  with His Holiness the 4th Drodrupchen Rinpoche. I had been invited by a group of Buddhist committee and scheduled to flight to Sikkim India to meet up with His Holiness for his blessing and oral transmissions, but unfortunately as I was unable to join the Malaysia Buddhist group.
  Photo is credited to Dzogchen Monastery Sikkim.
  For more details of His Holiness, please visit :-             Dzogchen.org.in
His Holiness he is 87 years old now and was born in 1927 in Tibet. If there is a chance to meet him , it will be considered a true blessing and a very meritorious in our lifetime. How often do we have a chance to meet up and get blessing by an enlightened master such as; His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Karmapa, His Holiness the Sakya Trinzin Rinpoche ? His Holiness was in Bangkok recently for a private matter and not on an official trip. 
His Holiness personal attendance he was guiding us for receiving His Holiness blessing and oral transmission. His Holiness has left Bangkok and returned to Sikkim India at the end of December 2014.
Many of us were emotional broke down because of His Holiness compassion and loving kindness. So we were having our tears of Dharma joys and also we are going to miss our amazing Bangkok tours, your delicious spicy food , Tom Yum soup and a wonderful stayed in Bangkok.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world. Kindly support to sign up a free 123Rf.com subscription and Agoda.com for your booking hotel destinations at the advertising sponsor banners to enable us to grow better and stronger. 

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

700 years old relics preserved in Mahayana Buddhist temple in Bangkok

I was with some Buddhist friends at the Center plaza in Bangkok, we were approached by a tuk-tuk driver and drove us to a beautiful Buddha temple and charged us for 30/- Thai bath. When we arrived , we saw a traditional Mahayana Buddhist temple , but combination with the Taoism elements such as the flying dragons were crafted on top of the temple. At the main entrance, you will be greeted by the giant Laughing Buddha and a very compassionate 1000 hands and 1000 eyes Avalokestisvara Bodhisattva. In site the main shrine, you will see a very beautiful and holy Sakyamurni Buddha and Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva respectively. (unfortunately I had forgotten to take some pictures) 
                                              
You may find countless of San Phra Phrom or Brahma Sahampati holy statue almost in every corner of Bangkok Thailand for worshipping for his blessing and blissful state. This is not exceptional with an amazing and beautiful San Phra Phrom or Brahma Sahampati shrine built in the temple and the holy statue is facing directly to the main entrance of the temple.
After I  had paid my respects to the Majestic San Phra Phrom or Brahma Sahampati holy shrine , and I took a picture of the passing clouds in the sky and it looks amazing, but some said it looks like some kinds of formation or appearance ? But I see nothing, but just a passing clouds.
This is a Chinese architecture of the Pagoda and it is distinctively designed with surrounded by the protecting flying Dragons. This is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment and often spiritually significant structures with elements influenced. 
This holy Buddhas statues are located on top of the Pagoda,  and with his tranquility and peaceful energies it will certainly will make you  so calming,  peace of minds and blissful state of minds.
According to the guard, this Pagoda only open with certain occasion or event. A very rare Buddha amulet or relics that has been unearthed and believed to be dated back to 700 years old and you can see the Buddha amulet had been crafted with precious gem stones.


Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world. Kindly support to sign up a free 123Rf.com subscription and Agoda.com for your booking hotel destinations at the advertising sponsor banners to enable us to grow better and stronger. 

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

The Majestic and Powerful Lord Ganesha In Bangkok

Today my journey continues in an unknown direction as I have not planned my journey specifically. I spent another free and easy around Bangkok by using an MRT unlimited daily travelling pass since morning. As I had paid my respects to the Majestic and compassionate 4 Faced-God Brahma yesterday. 

Today, I was thinking where to I find and to visit and pay a respect to Lord Ganesha?  According to Tibetan Buddhism, the Lord Ganesha is compassionately to be known as Arya Ganapati, Maha Rakta (The great red Lord of host or Ganas).

As I have decided to try another MRT station before I call off my day as it is approaching evening 7pm. My instinct guided me to stop at Huai Khwang M11 station. 


From this station, several entertainment complexes are within walking distance. As I was walking towards to my right direction but i only could see another shopping mall , instead of walking towards,  I turned and walked towards to the opposite direction and "pingo" , it is unbelievable that  Majestic Lord Ganesha is about 100 metres away.


This is the entrance of the Lord Ganesha Shrine and it is being guided by one of the deity or a protector, and many devotees were praying and offering flowers, yellow candles and incense. 

Devotees were praying with their faiths, devotions and respects to Lord Ganesha for receiving His divine Blessing to overcome their problems or obstacles in life. This is according to the Tibetan Buddhism of Lord Ganesha:-


Arya Ganapati Mantra
Om Ah Gah Hum Phat Svaha
Lord Ganesha is compassionately and famously depicted in Hinduism, He is revered as the Remover of obstacles and a Bringer of Wealth. Lord Ganesha is the son of the Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. 

MLord Ganesha he was born with a human head, but beheaded by Lord Shiva during a misunderstood clash. His father Lord Shiva placed an elephant head in place of the human head, which was lost during the fight. 

Lord Ganesha is compassionately to be known as Arya Ganapati, Maha Rakta (The great red Lord of host or Ganas). According to Tibetan Buddhism, he is an emanation of Avalokitesvara ( In Sanskrit) Chenrezig (In Tibetan) Goddess Of Mercy Kuan Yin (In Chinese). 

Above the Arya Ganapati is Amithabha Buddha as printed in this Tangka. Amithabha Buddha, the Buddha of infinite Light. Lord Ganesha is most widely worshipped in Hinduism, but is also revered in Buddhism and Jainism.

"Ganapati, who is in essence Chenrezig, manifested in this aspect to relieve the poverty of sentient beings. May I be able to obtain wealth and be able to eliminate all sentient beings' poverty, according to Dharma and poverty of the means of living, and the enjoyments, immediately. 

My kind root guru manifested in this aspect".
"I shall prostrate, offer incense, and generate infinite bliss".  This is guided and praised by H.E. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world. Kindly support to sign up a free 123Rf.com subscription at the advertising sponsor banners to enable us to grow better and stronger.

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.


Monday, January 5, 2015

The Majestic Four- Faced Brahma San Phra Phrom in Bangkok

   
                 
           
The Erawan shrine ศาลพระพรหม, San Phra Phrom is a Hindu shrine in Bangkok, and this is one of the most recognizable and influential of  Thai representation of the Hindu creation God,  in Sanskrit called the Brahma Sahampati.  In Thailand is nearly 94%-95% Theravada Buddhist but surprising that it has strongly influenced by Hinduism and you may find countless of San Phra Phrom or Brahma Sahampati holy statue almost in every corner of Bangkok Thailand for worshipping for his blessing and blissful state. There are too many miraculous events and stories had been reported by countless of devotees that their wishes had been miraculously answered and fulfilled. Many devotees had returned to the Erawan shrine to pay their respects and some by offering the traditional Thai dancing to honor and to fulfill their promises to His Majestic and powerful Brahma Sahampati.
San Phra Phrom or  Brahma Sahampati (大梵天人) or Maha-Brahma appears as the powerful creator of the universe according to the Hinduism,  the deity Brahma is known as the Creator, and is a member of a trinity of gods. The other two are Shiva the Destroyer and Vishnu the Preserver. Brahma is credited to be the source of the Vedas, hence you might have noticed Him carrying a book representing the Vedas on one of his hands. But in Buddhism are quite the different. In Buddhism though, the Brahma Sahampati have been described as a higher level gods, and as opposed to Hindu beliefs there are many individual Brahma gods. 
In my earlier post dated December 15, 2014, Sarnath , the place of the Buddha's first sermon, after spending seven weeks at the seven places in Bodhgaya following his enlightenment , The Buddha was undecided about teaching the Dharma to others as he realized that it was profound and hard to discover, and others would not understand Him. According to the Buddhist scripture, it was Brahma Sahampati (大梵天人) who entreated the Buddha to teach the world about Dharma. Initially  Buddha hesitated to preach the principal of Dharma teaching that as He realized that it was profound and hard to discover, and others would not understand Him.  But Brahma Sahampati insisted as in this way the doctrine of Dharma will spread amongst the lay peoples, and pleaded with Him to teach the Dharma otherwise the world would be lost.

The Blessed one listened to Brahma Sahampati's pleading and decided to go to Benares to peach to the five Ascetics, namely: Kondanna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji, who had served him for 6 years but left Buddha abandoned the path of self-mortification and ffinally Buddha agreed to spread the Dharma.


Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world. Kindly support to sign up a free 123Rf.com subscription at the advertising sponsor banners to enable us to grow better and stronger. 


Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

A beautiful Lumpini Park of Bangkok Thailand

                    
A beautiful green lung within a concrete jungle of a busy city nearby MRT Lumphini Station and Si Lom Station Bangkok. I bought an MRT traveler card that cost 120/-Thai bath. My intention is going around and searching for what Bangkok has to offer rather than the commercial shopping districts or those places that crowded with people with special needs or interests.
I came to know this place mainly by the name of "Lumbini"at the Shukhumvit MRT station and its sound similarly to the birthplace of the Lord Buddha in Nepal. Lumpini Park is a multi-purpose park. Many activities are provided for citizens and tourists. The park is a green area. There are a lot of trees, beautiful flowers, large lakes, and various types of animals.

There are not many tourists today and surprisingly the park is full of welcoming energy, with its natural beauty, fresh and clean air and most importantly is surrounded by many trees. I was amazed that I had encountered of a "surprised" visitor , the monitor Lizard.

Lumpini Park was created in the 1920s by King Rama VI on royal property.This place was a museum, where many products and natural resources were shown, then after World War 1 , it was rebuilt into the first park in Bangkok. A statue of the king stands at the southwestern entrance to the park. It was named after Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal,and at the time of its creation stood on the outskirts of the city.