New Journey

Today is the last day I went to Chulalongkorn University as a full-time lecturer. It's the 14 years of happy memories, accomplishments, stresses, tears, and friendships. The office that was decorated with thangkas and served as a little Tibet enclave is now an empty room reminding us of change that occurs as a common fact. From tomorrow I will begin my life anew on the path less trodden. But on this path it's a comfort to know that I'm not traveling alone. Day in, day out friends come from every direction, both far and near.

White Tara Retreat in a New Mantra Stupa

Anyone who is interested in staying in a White Tara retreat on November 4 at Khadiravana, please contact Khun Areerat (areeratana@cpbequity.co.th). Vegetarian meals will be provided.

We suggest that you travel by a public van from the Victory Moment at 5 am. Khun Prachum will meet you at the van station in Hua-Hin at 8 am. Alternatively, you can come and spend a night with us on November 3. In that case, please leave Bangkok at 1 pm for a pick up at 4 pm. We will gather first at Areerat's Rai Rak Dharma-chart.

Khadiravana at this time will be cool at night. Please bring a jacket and/or a sweater. If you drive your own car, kindly bring extra blankets and pillows.

It seems we'll have an international group - Thais, Tibetans, Americans, Hungarians and Vietnamese. This will be the first prayer and meditation in the new Mantra Stupa. The Mantra Stupa is facing the site where the Tara Great Stupa will be built. I will prepare copies of prayer book in English for all of us.

Stupa Site & Consecration Date

Rick sent me these pictures of the stupa site. We are preparing the land for the consecration ceremony on Thursday January 10, 2008. Lhasray Rinpoche, his son (Tulku of Sang-ngag Lingpa Rinpoche) and his daughter will arrive in Bangkok on January 6. Rinpoche will bless the site and the construction work. Everyone is welcome to join this special and auspicious ceremony.

I'm grateful to Khamnuanwit Woraphu for helping with the stupa foundation plans.

I also would like to thank Sanan of the Forestry Department for giving us 4,000 Khadira plants. 6,000 more will be transported to Khadiravana soon. These Khadiras will be watered with loving kindness and fertilized with great compassion.

It's hard to believe that after a year and a half Khadiravana has progressed this far. We now have Rick as a volunteer local manager who will help us take care of the trees, the plants, the land, the water and in the future the animals. Thanks, Rick for adopting Khadiravana your home. You have brought rainbows from Hawaii!

Lhasray Rinpoche's Teachers

Before his imprisonment, Rinpoche received many transmissions and empowerments from many non-sectarian great masters of Tibet both in the Bon and Nyingma traditions. These masters except one have already passed away.

He said before he got imprisoned, there was a way for him to leave Tibet. But he didn't want to do it. As his father passed away two years before, he couldn't leave his monastery and his people. 21 years in prison is not a short time. Thinking about Rinpoche's experiences and the suffering he went through, I got encouraged and inspired to do the best I can for the Stupa and other dharma activities. The hardship I have experienced is just tiny and insignificant.

Among Rinpoche's teachers include:

BON TRADITION

1. Kundrol Dragpa Hungchen Drotu Lingpa Rinpoche. He was Rinpoche's father and root guru. Hungchen Rinpoche was one of Rainbow Body Achiever Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche's main students. Hence, Rinpoche often said that Shardza Rinpoche was his root guru too. Rinpoche is a holder of Hungchen Rinpoche lineage which belongs to the New Bon tradition. In this tradition Guru Rinpoche and his family consisting of his father Trenpa Namkhar and his elder brother Tsewang Rigzin from Zhang Zhung are regarded as the most important deities. There's a saying: Sangje kyi thugkyi tempe nyerbon chempo meaning "(Both father and sons are) the owners of the teaching derived from the Buddha's mind".

There's a prediction that Hungchen Rinpoche was tulku or reincarnation of Trenpa Namkhar. His lineage came from Kundrol Dragpa who is derived directly from Buddha Tempa Sherab.

2. Thutop Namgyal Rinpoche (still alive). He taught Rinpoche to recite Tibetan texts when Rinpoche was 11 years old. Presently, Thutop Rinpoche is representative of Shadza Rinpoche at Shadza Hermitage. He's 80 some years old.

3. Lodro Gyatso Rinpoche (another main teacher). He was Shadza Rinpoche's former representative. He taught Tibtan to Rinpoche as well as led him on ngondro practice. He gave Rinpoche the teaching of Shadza Rinpoche's scriptures, the Yidam Sekha Chognga, Magyud, and Athrid as well as the teaching of the Thab drug "Six Liberation Ways" such as tunmo or inner heat practice, dream practice, bardo practice, phowa or transference of consciousness practice, illusory body practice and clear light practice. He also taught Rinpoche on Dzogchen, namely Zhang Zhung Nyangyud, Yangtse Longchen, Dragpa Kor Sum, Manngag Kunzang Nyingthig. He also taught Rinpoche on Rigzin and Kandro Sadhanas as well as various sadhanas on outer, inner and innermost practices. Among these practices the special ones include inner yoga and Kandro Sangdzod's Oser dark retreat. After the teachings, Rinpoche stayed in a dark retreat and many auspicious signs happened.

4. Geshe Tshutrim Wanggyal Rinpoche. He gave Rinpoche transmissions on the Bonpo tripitaka scriptures and commentaries. In particular, he gave Rinpoche transmissions, empowerments, and teachings on Dechen Lingpa's scriptures of around 100 volumes, Rigzin Kundrol Rimchon's scriptures and terma texts as well as the complete Kundrol lineage teaching. He also gave Rinpoche transmissions, empowerments and teachings on the Tantra of Six Wrathful Deities Chipung Drowo Gyud Drug, the Tantra of Three Buddhas, and the teachings of Athrid, Dzogchen, and Nyangyud.

For 5 to 10 below, I'll write about their teachings tomorrow.

5. Shungsray Yundrung Dudul Rinpoche.

6. Drangsong Senge Nyima Rinpoche.

7. Lathri Gyalwa Yungdrung Rinpoche.

8. Dratrul Drimed Oser Rinpoche.

9. Drotrul Rangzhin Thogmed Rinpoche.

10. Jangtrul Khewang Rinpoche.

NYINGMA TRADITION

11. Shezhen Kongtrul Yonten Gyatso Rinpoche. He gave Rinpoche oral transmissions, empowerments and gave instructions on Ju Mipham Rinpoche's sungbum (scriptures), Longchen Nyingthig, and the teachings by Jigme Lingpa, Tetak Lingpa, Pema Lingpa, Karma Lingpa and Chogjur Lingpa.

12. Shezhen Rabchampa Rinpoche. He taught Rinpoche on the Rinchen Terdzod, important scriptures which include all the practices in the Nyingma tradition.

13. Shezhen Khenpo Gangshar Rinpoche, Lodro Rabsal Rinpoche, and Bodtrul Rinpoche. They gave Rinpoche transmissions, empowerments and teachings on the texts Chojug and Khajug, as well as Guru Rinpoche sadhana.

14. Tshophu Dolo Rinpoche. He gave Rinpoche a transmission, empowerment and teaching on the Longchen Nyingthig.

15. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He gave Rinpoche a transmission, empowerment and teaching on Guru Rinpoche sadhana.

We are so fortunate to have Rinpoche with us in Thailand. Trusting in him, we will receive blessings from all of his teachers.

Speaking Chama (Tara)

Yontan is reading Mongyal Lhasray Rinpoche's short personal history which Rinpoche gave us. Yontan was telling me about his fascinating life. Even though I was occupied with other work, I couldn't help paying attention to him. I have an urge to share with you some parts of his life.

When he was young, he found an image of Sherab Chama, female Buddha of compassion. Sherab means wisdom; Chama is loving kindness. Chama and Tara are the same deity. This terma image is a special one. Many people heard it utter some sounds. Hence, it is called "Mongyal's Speaking Chama". He said after the image was found, around 20 Bhante (the term we call other Tibetan Buddhist denominations) and Bon monks recite prayers and offer a mandala to Chama.

Om Mawa Mate Mahi Moha Emaho Maye Rupa Yenta Tutu Soha

Remembering Ajarn Sulak's Kindness

On Wednesday we visited Ajarn Sulak and discussed with him about so many things. He's always supporting the foundation's work. He's the first person who made a donation to the Tara Great Stupa and has continued to raise funds for us. He said he usually didn't support any construction work, but our project was unique because the Great Stupa will be the first Tibetan stupa in Thailand and it's devoted to Tara.

May Tara protect him and bless him with long life!

End of Rainy Retreat, Tai Yai Style

This evening I feel so good. Our maids from Tai Yai in Myanmar are preparing for the celebration of the end of the 3-month rainy retreat (Ookpansa). They set up an altar in the garden and made some tiny birds out of banana leaf. In the kratong they put a mixture of tea and beans. They told me this was the happiest time in Tai Yai. Lights are usually lit and put up around the fence. I told them next year we could celebrate this festival together at Khadiravana. They and their friends can go there and spend a night. We can put up all the lights which will lighten up Khadiravana. Together with the offering kratongs, we'll also make clay stupa or tsa tsa for the Tara Great Stupa.

Amdo Friends

This evening we had a chance to see our Tibetan friends who are studying at the AIT. They are Ujab, Rigyal (Simon) and Rigthob. They are from Amdo, the same province as Yontan. Now at the AIT there are only 4 Tibetans - the three of them and Tenzin Rabgyal, a Tibetan from India. We talked about my prostrations, Tibetan culture, our Stupa project and Khadiravana. They are the first people who helped us build the first mantra stupa. We did it on Tibetan New Year on February 28 this year. Because we didn't have experience, we thought we could finish the work over the weekend. But the task was very difficult. They worked tiredlessly till early in the morning, when the power and their bodies gave in.

Two Wolves, Two Stones

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that
goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two
"wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed,
arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false
pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility,
kindness, benevolence,empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grand son thought about it for a minute and then asked his
grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Ajarn Donald Sandage sent me this picture with a story of two wolves from the American Indians Cherokee. It reminded me of a story of a Tibetan lama who wanted to get rid of negative feelings, one of the wolves in his heart. Whenever he had a negative thought or feeling, he would put a black stone on a pile. When he had a positive thought or feeling, he would add a white stone on another pile. In the beginning it's mainly black stone that wins. But gradually the white stone pile becomes taller and there's no longer a need to have the black stone pile any more.

Follow Your Dream

Just now Dr. Bundit and his friends from Surin came to visit me, Soraj and Yontan at the foundation house in Ratanatibet, Nonthaburi. His friends are pharmacists, teachers, someone who is interested in Buddhist arts and others. It's a joy to meet these new friends who have already been adopted as one of us. Dr. Bundit was inspired by Tibetan culture and way of life. He organized a tour to Mt. Everest and Tibet in May this year, the same time I was on my prostrating pilgrimage to Tibet. His experiences are put into words and will be out in a book form quite soon. The book title is "Winning the Dream, Climbing the Horizon, Days and Nights of Faith, North Face Everest Basecamp".

Dr Bundit said he was greatly influenced by Tibet even before he went there. The physical change is that he lost 20 kgs while preparing for the trip. This made him stronger and more physically fit. He is another case of a dream maker. I thought of a poem that inspired me in my childhood: "Follow your dream, for if dream dies, life is nothing but a broken wing".

Dr. Bundit and his friends said Tibet has changed their lives and they would love to do things that benefit the people there. They offered to help the foundation in as many ways as they can. I thank Tara for bringing these wonderful people to Tibet and into my life. May the Dharma flourish and spread in all directions! May people lead a life in a compassionate way and may suffering be unknown to them!

Motivation in Dharma Practice

Today is another special day in my life. Yontan and I went to see Lhasray Rinpoche and we discussed about various things related to the Tara Great Stupa and dharma practice.

Rinpoche said if someone felt like leaving samsara and wanted to spend the whole life meditating in a forest or mountain so that he or she would gain enlightenment, that would be wonderful. But having that motivation, he or she will not be able to preserve and spread the Buddhadharma for the sake of all sentient beings. In order to benefit beings, there's a need that he or she stays in samsara teaching the dharma as well as preserving and protecting the representations of Buddha's body, speech and mind. This need requires money. Without it, temples can't be built. Scriptures can't be published. Practitioners, even monks and nuns can't sustain themselves. Doing dharma work in samsara is thus a real chanllenge. Obstacles and all kinds of hardship are common. But because of the aspiration to stay in samsara for the sake of sentient beings, this is the most supreme work.

Another Prediction

While Hungchen Rinpoche was staying in Labrang, Amdo, a tiny gyurmo bird visited him. It made some special sounds and Rinpoche took notes. No one paid a special attention to this event. But Lhasray Rinpoche was curious. He looked at the notes. It said: "A stupa should be built on the land that symbolizes a being's main vein. If the thorn isn't removed, the summer water will indeed overflow." Lhasray Rinpoche said had people follow this prediction by building a stupa in Amdo, perhaps war wouldn't have happened in Tibet.

Dakini Predictions

Why did Hungchen Rinpoche build these two stupas in the first place? One day while residing in Chungbo, a big white vulture came to visit him. He told his monks that the vulture would spend a night with him and asked them not to open the door. But the monks were quite curious. So they peeped through a hole of the door. They didn't see a bird there. Instead, they saw a woman wearing flowers as a hat talking to Rinpoche. In the morning when they entered his room, they didn't see the woman but found the same bird. Rinpoche told them to take the bird to the roof. It would fly way. While flying away, two other birds appeared in the sky following this big vulture. Then three appeared. Four appeared, etc. All of them flew away and disappeared from sight.

The Ahor prince came to know about this bird visit. He believed that the bird was a dakini. He asked whether there were any special predictions, particularly those related to his kingdom. Rinpoche said there were 3 predictions. The first one was two stupas should be built on a plot of land that symbolizes a human being's main vein. Its shape should look like a srinmo (ogress or female yaksha).

The second prediction is that Rinpoche received a transmission of a sacred text entitled "Decheg Yinglong Gyatso" meaning an ocean, a great expanse of the enligtened ones. There are 20 volumes but he received only 7 of them. Why didn't he receive the other 13 volumes Lhasray Rinpoche said he would recount this later on. After the prediction fell, Hungchen Rinpoche asked his 15 attendants to scribe them. Lhasray Rinpoche said he forgot about the third prediction. He would tell us when it comes to his mind.

While staying at Shardza Hermitage, Hungchen Rinpoche also received another dakini prediction. The text he received through this special transmission is a Dakini Sangdongma sadhana (practice manual of Lion-Faced Dakini). After the transmission, he asked 4 monks to jot them down.

These texts are among the many special terma texts that Hungchen Rinpoche received form dakinis. Lhasray Rinpoche is editing them so that they can benefit sentient beings in the future.

Hungchen Rinpoche's Stupas

Lhasray Rinpoche related a story about the two stupas built in Ahor province, presently Tangchen, Nagchu county. Nagchu is a nomad town in northern Tibet. They were built by Hungchen Rinpoche according to dakini predictions but got torn down during the Cultural Revolution.

In 1995 Rinpoche rebuilt two new stupas on the same site. They have become important sacred objects in Nagchu. Now many flowers grow there, despite the fact that it's a nomad area where flowers did not grow previously. Patients recounted their miraculous recoveries after circumambulating them on a regular basis. After the construction was completed, 100 monks recited the prayers there for 5 months. Then Rinpoche went there to consecrate them. It took him 2 weeks to finish the consecration.

Rinpoche said the sites for these stupas were interesting. One was built around the navel area of a plot of land that has a human shape. The other was built in the middle of a plot of land that has a tricycle shape. The tricycle symbolizes 3 poisons generally expressed in Tibetan Buddhism with chicken (greed/attachment), snake (anger/hatred) and pig (ignorance).

He commented that a stupa should be built on bad land like this to suppress kleshas and evil energy. Otherwise, it should be built on auspicious land to promote positive energy. In addition, it should be built on a hill so that people can have its glimpse from far away. This will bring a lot of inspiration, let alone talking about its beauty. He compares the two big stupas in Ganze county and Tawu county in Kham. The one in Tawu is much larger than the one in Ganze. But since the location of the Ganze stupa is on a hill, it looks larger and more beautiful.

This is a reason why Rinpoche keeps insisting that we build the Tara Great Stupa on a hill. As we don't obtain a natural hill, we'll make a hill that will become a temple on its own.

Writing Blogs in Chengdu

Building the Stupa as a Representation of Buddha's Mind

Rinpoche said in his life he has done many things which can be regarded as representations of Buddha's body, speech and mind.

Work representing Buddha's body: He has carved an image of Buddha Tonpa Sherab from a big white jade in Kongbo, Central Tibet.

Work representing Buddha's speech: He has edited and published the first Bonpo tripitaka and is editing Kundrol ka, the teaching of his father, Kundrol Dragpa Hungchen Drotu Lingpa Rinpoche.

Work representing Buddha's mind: He rebuilt two small stupas in Nagchu, northern Tibet. These stupas originally built by Hungchen Rinpoche were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. There's an interesting history of these stupas that I will relate later on.

Now that he has been to Thailand, the land blessed by Buddha Sakya Muni, he felt like making another special representation of Buddha's mind, namely the Tara Great Stupa for Peace and Harmony.

On the 30th of the 8th Tibetan month this year he wrote a letter to Thutop Namgyal Rinpoche, representative of Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche at Shardza Hermitage. Together with the letter, he sent Thutop Rinpoche and 200 monks who are meditating at the Hermitage some sweets, fruits and copies of the Stupa brochure. He said they wouldn't have money to support us but their prayers can bring a lot of blessing that will remove obstacles.

Shadza Hermitage is the site where Shardza Rinpoche practiced and obtained rainbow body. It is in Denkhok, Dege county in Kham. In the letter Rinpoche told them exactly as he told us as above.

Thutop Rinpoche is one of Lhasray Rinpoche's teachers. Incidentally, Yontan and I met him by chance while we were on the way to Lhasray Rinpoche's temple (Mongyal Monastery) 3 years ago. We got to spend a night at his house. I don't know his exact age but he is probably approaching 90 years old. The visit with him is a great inspiration for me. I hope to see him again. It's hard to find great lamas like Thutop Rinpoche and Lhasray Rinpoche in this present period.

I felt grateful to Rinpoche's kindness. We are so lucky that he chose to build this representation of Buddha's mind in Thailand.

Tibetan Artisan

Rinpoche suggested that we bring a Tibetan artisan to Thailand and provide him with living and working environment at Khadiravana. He will be responsible for making the statues. Rinpoche and his student Trimed can come from time to time to check on his progress. He said this would be cheaper than casting statues in Tibet or ordering them from Nepal. In addition, the artisan should work more efficiently at Khadiravana because of no distractions.

Talking about Trimed, this is the man who has travelled to Mt. Kailash 13 times. He promised to help us when we go there. He also promised to help Rinpoche with the making of Buddha images for the Tara Stupa.

Recently, Rinpoche has a Buddha statue made in Nepal. It's more than 3 meter high with gold relief, decorations and lion throne. It costs him Y400,000 or roughly 1,600,000 baht. Our statues should be less expensive. They will be about 1.5 meter high.

Statues

We talked about how to go about casting Buddha and other deity statues for the Great Stupa. Rinpoche suggested that we use bronze to create the four Buddha images in the main hall. Regarding the technique, we have to investigate further whether we want to use casting or carving. Casting would be more expensive but more beautiful. Apart from these four images, there will be 1,000 small Buddha images in this hall. Rinpoche said if making statuettes are not possible, we might consider making many thangkas depiciting 1,000 Buddhas and hang them on the wall.

Stupa Tsa Tsa

Stupa tsa tsa is made of clay and is left sun-dried. We'll need a large number of these to be put in the Tara Great Stupa. Tibetans believe that making tsa tsa brings happiness in life and is another great way to gain merit. Yontan said we might need 900,000 tsa tsas for our Great Stupa. We bought this mould and gave it to Rinpoche yesterday. He'll see whether this is big enough. There are 108 tiny stupas in this mould.

Tresure Pots

Treasure pots like these will be put in the base of five natural elements.

Another Memorable Night with Rinpoche

Photo: Rinpoche with Thondup Tsering, his favorite dog

We just got back from Rinpoche's residence. I showed him the pictures of the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya built in memorial of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in Colorado. We talked about construction detail. Rinpoche found this Stupa impressive. He drew our attention to the beautiful dome/vase in particular. He remarked that the Tara Great Stupa would be larger and more complicated with four decorated doors/shrines for each level.

We asked Rinpoche to tell us his life story. But he said he's just an ordinary man with flesh and blood. He's just someone who eats tsampa and has to relieve himself. He said many people have asked to write his life history. But he kept refusing. He said his personality was like this. Even his son commented that Rinpoche was strange because he liked to put himself low. Anyway, due to a famous Bon historian Tsering Thar's insistence, Rinpoche has written a summary of his life history in 3 days. He would find this text and give it to us. He emphasized that to write his life as it truly happened was a difficult task because it might stir up some problem. Rinpoche was imprisoned for 21 years as we all know. He's a real Bodhisattva. Without any resentment, he transformed the prison cell into a Dzogchen retreat cabin.

When he was imprisoned, he was only 20 or 21 years old. He related a beautiful and funny story to us. His Holiness the Dalai Lama once asked him how happy he was in prison. He answered that there's no prison in the world that makes people happy. Prison is a place of suffering and this applies to all prisons both in China and elsewhere.

Rinpoche's father, Hungchen Drotu Lingpa passed away 2 years before the imprisonment. At that time, Rinpoche was in a retreat with all the doors and windows closed. But as an only son he had to leave his retreat to take care of his father's funeral.

We also talked about his sister, a great female yogini and lama of our time. She's the real kandroma (dakini). There are so many interesting things about her. I hope one day this can be revealed to others.

Regarding the work for our Great Stupa, we decided that it would be best to start working now on the four images to be placed inside the main hall. Detail on this I'll relate in the next message.

Then somebody called at 10 pm. Rinpoche had to go to see a patient immediately. He said it might look as if he were just sitting all day at home. But in fact he had so much to do that he hardly found time to write.

Stupa Foundation

Rinpoche insisted that we build a 15 meter foundation for the stupa. Although we couldn't obtain a hill, the tall and stable foundation would suffice. We have proposed to use the foundation as a temple for Amitabha and other 4 dhaniya Buddhas. Rinpoche agreed with this idea.

He remarked that the lotus base must be strong, as it will hold the weight of the stupa and images. We must look for the best materials. It won't be good if we want to save money and buy cheap materials for this purpose.

We'll put a large number of "bum ter" (treasure pots) in the base of five natural elements. They will bring happiness, prosperity and success in life and eleminate illnesses, disasters, poverty and conflicts from the world.

A Truly Perfect Stupa

Rinpoche said in Tibet there are many stupas but not so many are very beautiful. Most of the stupas do not have an open temple (assembly hall), as the one we are building.

Then we talked about Buddha images to be placed inside the temple and shrines. There are 17 of them with Kuntu Zangpo (Samantabhadra) on the very top. This will be placed in the golden rings or the wheels. Kuntu Zangpo is blue reminding us of the natural color of phenomena.

The main deity on the eastern side of the uppermost shrine is Nampa Gyalwa or Vajrapani. Another common name is Chanag Dorje. There are both wrathful and peaceful forms of this Buddha which will be in the form of Sambhogakaya. Ours will be both wrathful and peaceful. Rinpoche said this would be very difficult to build but would be a special one. The image of Vajrapani is a symbol of ability to control kleshas and power in spreading the dharma to all directions.

Rinpoche remarked that when the construction of the Tara Great Stupa was completed, we would have a truly perfect stupa which is in fact a Buddha's paradise. In this paradise there are representations of teachers and Buddha's three bodies, dharmapalas and dakinis, particularly those associated with the Dzogchen teaching.

Editing the Texts to Be Placed Inside the Stupa

Rinpoche has been editing his father's (Hungchen Drotu Lingpa Rinpoche) terma. When these texts are published, they will be placed inside the Tara Great Stupa. I do hope to work with Rinpoche on his lineage's history soon. His father and his older sister (Khabchod Wangmo) were renowned tertorn "discoverer of Guru Rinpoche's hidden texts". And his root lama Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche achieved rainbow body in 1935.

Rinpoche is also occupied with the editing of sungjo "mantras and sacred texts" which will be reproduced in a large quantity and put inside the Stupa. He asked five places in Kham to send him their sungjo. Some of the texts are illegible. So there's a need to edit them. He asked some monks to type them in computer. He will need to go through the spelling. When this is finished, he will send them to us. There are around 80 pages of Tibetan paper (like palm leaf). We'll need to photocopy them in Thailand.

The five places are Dokden Temple in Ngawa, Kongja Temple in Nyagrong, Tulku Dawa Dragpa's temple in Trangko, Shardza Hermitage, and from three monks in Dartsedo.

Rinpoche said reading this sungjo required a lot of time, as the letters were difficult to read. They were written in gold on blue paper. He hopes to reproduce the same thing for one set and make copies in large quantity with red ink on white paper.

The Well-Designed Eternal Stupa - Special Message for Our Painters and Architects

Photos: (1) Comment on the dome proportion, (2) Golden rings, (3) Main temple/hall, (4) Great Mother Satig Esang

Rinpoche explained that there were 118 types of stupas. All of these have similar proportions and designs. The Well-Designed Eternal Stupa (Yungdrung Koleg Choten), architype of our Tara Great Stupa is one of these. Its design is exactly as the one shown in the Foundation's brochure. Rinpoche compliments Ek for a beautiful drawing. He has some comment for the dome which needs a slight adjustment.

Above the lotus base there are 5 steps representing 5 natural elements: earth, water, fire, wind and air. These steps are quite different from ordinary Buddhist stupas which usually have only 3 steps.

There are 3 shrines and 1 main temple (hall) inside the stupa. The temple is dedicated to the 4 Buddhas, namely Satig Esang (Tara), Shenlha Oka (Vajrasattva), Sangbo Bumtri, and Tonpa Sherab representing 1,000 Buddhas.

The roof above the temple is called "ten thri" meaning "support throne". It can have beautiful designs as drawn in the brochure. From this support throne up is what we call the real stupa.

For general Buddhist stupas, the 13 golden rings are called "cho kor cuk sum" meaning "13 dharma wheels". The Bon tradition calls them "khor lo cuk sum" or "13 wheels".

The decorations on the very top of the stupa for a general Buddhist stupa are the sun and the moon, for a Bon Buddhist stupa is a tigle that shows that everything returns to the natural state. The two garuda horns represent the two truths, thab "method" and sherab "wisdom". The flaming sword shows that all the passions (kleshas) are destroyed by this knowledge.

Rinpoche emphasizes that apart from the slightly different names and decorations, there is no great difference between the Buddhist tradition influenced by Indian Buddhism and the Bon Buddhist tradition originating in Tibet.

Why Do We Need a Great Stupa?

Lhasray Rinpoche said although this year we couldn't start the construction, that's all right, as we needed a lot of time in drawing the Stupa picture and drafting plans. He said thinking of the Stupa, he felt like staying many more years to complete the work.

Then he explained why we needed such a great stupa. He talked about Dzogchen, the practice of realizing "great perfection". Understanding this noble teaching, one has a chance to attain Buddhahood. Without an understanding but coming into contact with this teaching, one won't be born in a lower realm. But in order to realize this great perfection, we need to accumulate great merit. Simply meditating on the nature of mind, we won't go anywhere. Awakened mind or rigpa may be experienced but it is just only a glimpse. This is why we need to do good deeds and accumulate merit, which will constitute the base for this noble practice. A wish-fulfilling jewel can't be wish-fulfilling if there are no wishes. Building a great stupa like this one is a very difficult task. But when we think about accumulating merit so that we can realize Buddhahood we can be relaxed. Building the Great Stupa is a preliminary practice (ngondro) for Dzogchen.

Visiting Rinpoche

It's always a joy and a great blessing to be with Lhasray Rinpoche. We presented him a small Buddha image Dr. Bundit gave me, an English translation of Shadza Rinpoche with a Tibetan text published by the Snow Lion Publication (Shadza Rinpoche is Rinpoche's root lama), and copies of the Stupa brochure. These represent Buddha's body, speech and mind. We also presented him Areerat's gift and Dr. Anuparb's medicine.

Rinpoche and his family took us to a Hot Pot dinner as usual. We missed our friends who couldn't be with us. We were with Rinpoche from 2 pm and didn't go back to the hotel until midnight. It was a special time that we spent discussing how to go about constructing the Tara Great Stupa.

Before we retired to our place, I asked Rinpoche to recite a prayer to an American nun who is gravely ill. We jotted down her name in Tibetan for him. She's so lucky to receive his blessing even though she's never met him and she's so far away. May she experience no pain and recover soon!

Photo: Rinpoche and his bicycle on the way back from the hot pot.

Going to China

I'm leaving for Chengdu on October 14 to work with Lhasray Rinpoche on the stupa project. Hopefully, I will get to update this blog. I'm returning home on October 21.

Happy Ending

The Tara Great Stupa with Palden Lhamo

General Atmosphere of the Conference Room

Revealing Architects' Secrets

Where is Ngawa?

Lek tried to show where Ngawa was on the map. This thriving Amdo town is almost at the edge of Tibetan map.

Vajrayana and Lanna

Happy Tibetan Sale!

Thanks to the participants, we received around 20,000 baht in total for the sale of Tibetan products. This amount will be contributed to the Foundation's dharma activities.

Drawing Experience with Atipong (Ek)

Symbolism in Tibetan Thangka by Supachok

Our MC In Need

Carol became our MC for the last session.

Our MC

Napasri conducted the morning and early afternoon sessions.

Another Admirer of Tibet

Dr. Bundit and his friends trevelled from Surin to attend our conference. He's another person who was inspired by Tibetan beauty and inner peace.

Shambhala

Shambhala is not anywhere in the world; It's in our mind. - Teng
Bhutan is the land of my dream. It's a paradise on earth. But there's also a hard side of Bhutan. If you plan to go there, don't do so because of momentary passion. - Carol
After I came back from my trip to Tibet, I found myself totally changed. - Jick (Pratchawan)

Weaving Art for Peace, Seminar on Tibetan and Himalayan Art and Culture

The seminar was a great success. Thanks to everyone involved, and to Supachok for the help with the set up of the lovely display.

Om Mani Padme Hum

"ตั้งแต่นี้ต่อไป ข้าพเจ้าจะไม่ขอมีความคิดเห็นแก่ตัวใดๆ แม้เมื่อข้าพเจ้าสวด โอม มณี ปัทเม หูม เพียงแค่ครั้งเดียว ข้าพเจ้าก็จะขอทำเพื่อประโยชน์ของสัตว์ทั้งหลาย หากข้าพเจ้าจะเกิดความคิดที่เต็มไปด้วยศรัทธาภักดีต่อครูแม้เพียงครั้งเดียว ความคิดนั้นก็เป็นไปเพื่อประโยชน์ของสัตว์ทั้งหลายเช่นกัน" (Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, The Excellent Path to Enlightenment)

Rejoicing (Muthita)

Rejoicing is one of the most important qualities to cultivate. Chagdud Rinpoche teaches us in simple but profound manner:

"Rejoicing means taking pleasure in others' good fortune. This doesn't have to be anything grand. If we see someone resting for a moment in a comfortable spot, drinking cool water or enjoying the sun on her face, we rejoice in her happiness and wish that it might increase. We pray that by the power of our wishes, prayers, and pure heart, her happiness will grow unceasingly. Whether it is someone's moment in the sun, new clothes, nice car, or winning lottery ticket, we are happy for her. We don't give in to envy, thinking, "I wish I had a red car like that one." Nor are we resentful, wondering, "Why does she get to drive around in such style?" When we truly rejoice, we leave no room for jealousy, competitiveness, or self centeredness. In fact, rejoicing in the happiness of others is the antidote to jealousy.

From Change of Heart

Transforming Your Lives

Recently, a colleague gave me a really good book "Change of Heart: The Bodhisattva Peace Training" by Chagdud Tulku. The editor is Lama Shenpen Drolma. In the preface it begins like this: "This book is for those who want to change - their hearts, their minds, the world. It is a guide, a manual of simple, accessible, and quietly revolutionary steps that individuals can take to transform their lives and the lives of others." I recommend this book to anyone who wants to stay on the Bodhisattva paht and those who seek happiness and peace.

Seminar on Tibetan and Himalayan Art and Culture

Don't miss this Saturday seminar.

*Lectures

*Exhibition

*Tibetan products from Tibet and India on sale

*Ancient Tibetan tea

*Tibet tour