1000 Stars Lecture Series: Tibet

Tibet: Life, Mantra and Everlasting Faith

The 1000 Stars Foundation is pleased to invite everyone to attend a talk on Tibet at the Foundation House on Sunday March 9 at 2-4 pm. There is no registration fee. This talk is a must to anyone who plans to go to Tibet or is interested in this mystical and spiritual land.

More detail, please visit our website or contact Miao at worawora@gmail.com

Speakers: Dr. Krisadawan Hongladarom, Prachawan Ketawan and Dr. Bundit Thanaboonsombut, MD

Tara Mantra

Thank you to those who recited the Tara mantra with me on Maghapuja. I hope each of us will continue reciting the mantra to the rest of our life. When we do the counting like this, it's important that we do it happily, joyfully and mindfully. We shouldn't feel stressful. We shouldn't expect that special things will happen after we finish the recitations. If we become happier, that is already the great thing. At the same time, we shouldn't think that our practice is a preliminary one. Instead, we should think that by reciting these ten sacred syllables we'll gain enlightenment. It's the practice that enable us to lead beings of the six realms to realize buddhahood.

When we practice on yidam like this, we should keep in mind the following:

Before the recitation/meditation: We need to generate bodhicitta.
During the session: We keep the view that everything is emptiness so that we will be less self-centered.
After the session: We dedicate our merit to mother sentient beings.

Mantra Stupa

Last Maghapuja we spent the whole night praying to Tara inside this Mantra Stupa. This year most prayer flags have come to the ground. This is the time of joy, as we know each flag has done its duty in spreading the mantra to the world. This also reminds us of emptiness and impermanence of all things.

The Foundation plans to tie new prayer flags around this Mantra Stupa in May so that we can celebrate it around Visakhapuja. We welcome contributions from those who want to make merit with us.

Treasure Bags at Khadiravana

On the 21st of this month which is the special full moon day (Maghapuja) Yontan and I put treasure bags on Khadiravana's soil.

Benefits of treasure bags: to bring abundance, prosperity and auspiciousness; to prevent from calamity and disaster and to enhance longevity. Or in Tibetan we say "sa la tashi" bring auspciousness to the earth, "nam la tashi" bring auspiciousness to the sky, "mi la tashi" bring auspiciousness to human beings" "khyim la tashi" bring auspiciousness to home, and "gyal kham la tashi" bring auspiciousness to the country.







Each treasure bag is filled with grains, holy wood, precious and sacred objects from Tibet.

The picture on top of each bag is Dharmacakra "eight-spoke wheel of Dharma".
The picture underneath is four-petal lotus symbolizing purity.
Each direction of the bag has a symbol: yungdrung symbolizing indestructibility (east), lotus (west), wheel of Dharma (north) and precious stones (south). In addition, there are pictures of four guardian animals: tiger (east), turtle (north), hen (west) and dragon (south).



After we dig the soil, we purify the hole with an incense and put a turtle picture in it. Turtle is for guarding the soil and making it firm. Turtle is an important symbol for Tibetans. A Tibetan nomad tent made of yak's fur is also in this turtle shape. A thangka depicting the wheel of life has turtle as its background.



Then we sprinkle the bag with holy water, put some auspicious rice, fragrant offering and coins in the hole.



Yontan is preparing the hole.



Eight bags were buried in the soil. One of the locations is inside the second Mantra Stupa (near the front lake).



Another location is in front of the first banyan tree.

Reciting Tara Mantra on Maghapuja

Last year on Maghapuja friends of the 1000 Stars Foundation recited 100,000 Tara mantra together. We spent special time that miracle night in the embrace of Buddhas inside the new Mantra Stupa. That night the melodious sound of compassion is heard non-stop generating love and peace to the entire universe.

This year although we are not organizing a group prayer there, I urge each of us, particularly those who have been practicing with me, to recite Tara mantra 10,000 times tomorrow. I will do the same at Khadiravana. We'll dedicate our merit to world peace as well as to Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

Our next group prayer and meditation: Sunday March 2, 5-7 pm (Dakini Day). We'll do Tara sadhana together.

Empowerments: History, Motivation and What to Avoid

History of Empowerments in Thailand Organized by the Thousand Stars Foundation

During these past three years the Foundation has organized many empowerments in Thailand, as follows:

2005
White Tara Empowerment and Medicine Buddha Empowerment by Somam Topgyal Rinpoche at Wat Songtham Kalayani, Nakhorn Prathom

2006
Guru Rinpoche Empowerment by Kandroma Palden Chotsho at the Tara Shrine Room, Nonthaburi
21 Taras Empowerment and Vajrapani Empowerment at the Tara shrine room in Nonthaburi by Kunga Sangbo Rinpoche
Manjushri Empowerment at Chulalongkorn University by Kunga Sanbo Rinpoche

2007
Avalokiteshvara Empowerment by Kunga Sangbo Rinpoche and Amitayus Empowerment by Kundrol Mongayl Lhasray Rinpoche at Rai Rak Dhamma-chart, Hua-Hin
White Tara Empowerment by Kandroma Palden Chotsho and 21 Taras Empowerment by HH Phakchok Rinpoche at Chulalongkorn University
White Tara Empowerment (2007) by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche at Tara Khadiravana

2008
Guru Rinpoche Empowerment by Kundrol Mongyal Lhasray Rinpoche at Tara Khadiravana

This April we'll organize Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig empowerment at a Tibetan monastery in Tibet, as part of our pilgrimage trip.

Several great lamas of various lineages (Bon, Nyingma, Kagyur and Sakya) from Tibet and outside Tibet have been invited to perform these ceremonies, which are inspired by our wish to help sentient beings and to help practitioners in Thailand to receive blessings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Many people asked me why we organized so many empowerments and what are the benefits of attending an empowerment.

Empowerment brings peace and harmony to the land where empowerment is performed. It brings joy, happiness, prosperity, good health and long life blessings to those who receive empowerments.

For serious practitioners, empowerment is an official permission for them to practice on the particular Buddha. At certain points in their life, they may need blessings from different Buddhas.

For example, when they are embarking on a journey that may risk their lives or when they are ill, they may need special blessings from Amitayus and White Tara, Buddhas of longevity.

Blessings and benefits are not only for this life but they last until we gain enlightenment.

Practicing on Avalokiteshvara is a way to cultivate compassion for all sentient beings. Without universal love, we cannot live in this world peacefully and happily. Those who practice on Avalokiteshvara will always be loved by others.
Practicing on Manjushri is a way to cultivate wisdom.
Practicing on Guru Rinpoche is a way to remove obstacles in life.
Practicing on Green Tara (main deity of the 21 Taras) is a way to obtain blessings against fear and suffering.
Practicing on Medicine Buddha is for healing.
Practicing on Vajrapani is a way to cultivate positive energy against disasters and all evil.

An important thing is that when we receive empowerments, it must be rooted in bodhicitta, our aspiration to gain budhahood for the sake of sentient beings. We must not be greedy thinking only of our own benefits. We must not come to the empowerment because we want to put one more blessing in our record book so that we can boast to others.

Having received many empowerments, we must not think that we are better than others. We must not develop pride and jealousy. If we do that, empowerment brings little benefit and won't change us into a better person.

Update on the Tara Great Stupa

Imagine this magnificent Stupa here in Thailand, one of the most beautiful and sacred structures on earth.

The picture shows a recent development of our Tara Great Stupa for Peace and Harmony. Thanks to our architects for this and other wonderful pictures. We will be showing the complete pictures to our contributors and the general public as soon as possible.

Why the 1000 Stars Foundation Wants to Build a Mahayana Stupa in Thailand

We are compiling a few common questions concerning our Tara Stupa project. Here is one of them:

Why the Thousand Stars Foundation wants to build a Mahayana stupa in Thailand, despite the fact that a number of Thais are Theravadins?

The Foundation does not consider differences among various sects of Buddhism. These sects are all the teachings of Buddha. Building a Tibetan stupa or a Thai chedi is a way to maintain and spread the nobel teachings. It also enhances Buddha’s blessings in eliminating defilements for well-being and happiness of sentient beings. There are many reasons why the Foundation wants to build a Tibetan stupa in Thailand. First, the Foundation specializes in Tibetan Buddhist art and culture. Second, it has close relationship with many Tibetan masters both in Tibet and other countries. Third, it is aware of the significance of building Tibetan stupas which are completely filled with relics and sacred objects. Lastly, Thais are devout Buddhists and Thailand has been a Buddhist land since ancient time with the king as a beloved Dharmaraja. These factors render Thailand one of the best places in the world as a venue for a stupa, symbol of the enlightened mind of Buddha.

Compassion is Our Universal Responsibility

ความเมตตากรุณาไม่เพียงเป็นคุณสมบัติสำคัญสำหรับการดำรงชีวิต แต่ยังเป็นความรับผิดชอบของเราทุกคนในการจะทำให้โลกอยู่รอดไปได้ หากมนุษย์ปราศจากความเมตตากรุณา เราจะมีชีวิตอยู่เช่นไร เมื่อเราล้มลงบนถนน รถไม่หยุด แต่กลับเหยียบข้ามไม่มีผู้หยิบยื่นควาเมตตาปราณีให้ ปล่อยให้เราเป็นเพียงสุนับข้างถนน ปราศจากญาติมิตร ผู้ดำรงชีวิตอยู่โดยไม่มีผู้ห่วงใยหรืออาทร

พระวจนะ องค์ดาไลลามะ

Attitude in Practicing the Dharma

We need to ask ourself all the time why we want to practice the Dharma. Is it because we want to gain fame, wealth and position in this life? Is it because we are afraid of getting rebirths in lower realms? Is it because we want to seek only our own peace and happiness? If the reason is either one of these, our motivation is NOT everlasting. It's not the right one that can lead us to buddhahood. Motivation must be grounded in bodhicitta, the aspiration for mother sentient beings to be liberated from suffering. With this motivation, we'll never go wrong. With this motivation, the five poisons that we want to eliminate will have no chance to affect us when we practice the Dharma.

Teaching Tibetan

The 1000 Stars Foundation will be offering the first Tibetan course Basic Tibetan I to the members and interested public starting May 2008. We will be circulating the news as soon as possible. The course will last 30 hours. Teaching time: Sunday 4-6 pm. Venue: Foundation House. We'll provide basic lessons in speaking, writing, reading as well as in reciting mantras and short prayers.

Please email Miao to reserve seats. Due to the seating arrangement, we can accommodate only 10 serious students.

Pilgrimage Journey to Mystical Tibet

A pilgrimage Journey of 9 Sacred Temples on mystical TIBET

The Thousand Stars Foundation invites you to join 9 day pilgrimage to Tibet...A great introduction to the authentic Tibetan culture, their history and outstanding faith. A once in a lifetime experience to receive Avalokiteshvara Empowerment. The tour will be led by honorary guide, Professor Krisadawan Hongladarom, founder of the Thousand Stars Foundation and a specialist in Tibetan culture and Buddhism.

An opportunity to step into Tibetan culture and Buddhism via our comprehensive itinerary, with visits to 9 sacred temples, including; the majestic Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, known as the heart monastery of Tibet, an empowerment of Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva of compassion by honorary lama Kunga Zangbo Rinpoche. A visit to Samye monastery and ending with a picnic on the breathtakingly beautiful turquoise lake of Yamdrok Tso.

Travelling dates: 17-25 April 2008.

Cost: 84,000 baht including all plane tickets, visa, permit to Tibet, ticket entries, transportation costs, accommodation for all nights, all meals, professional service by a well-trained Tibetan agency, honorary guide by an expert who has direct experience of Tibetan culture, and orientation on Tibetan language, culture and religion before the journey.

Contribution: After deducting all cost, the money will be donated to Thousand Star Foundation for building the "Tara Great Stupa for Peace and Harmony," the first Vajarayana Stupa in Thailand at Kadiravana Retreat Center, Hua-Hin, Prachurbkirikan. For more information of the stupa please go to our website: Http://www.taragreatstupa.org.

More detail, please contact Khun Jick at jickryan@yahoo.com, Mobile: 081-638169 or Khun Miao at worawora@gmail.com, Mobile: 086-7228129

All bookings must be made by 15 March 2008.

We hope this trip would create a positive understanding in Tibetan culture which Buddhism has play an important role in their daily life. Furthermore it is a special pilgrimage trip which would bless us with positive energy and encourage everyone to find inner peace and compassion for all sentient beings.

Memory from Kailash Talk

Kailash talk by Dr. Andy Lowe, 3 February 2008

His talk focuses on the pilgrimage he took in May 2002,which is part of a fund-raising event for the first Tibetan stupa in Scotland. It's the trip one should make in a lifetime, he emphasizes. The Foundation is grateful to Andy for sharing his experience and spirit with us. We do hope soon we'll be able to embark on this special journey to pay homage to the holiest of all mountains and to make merit for our Tara Stupa.

Foundation Office

The new office is now operating on the second floor of the foundation house. Anyone who wants to visit us, please make an appointment at worawora@gmail.com or Mobile: 086 722 8129.

Pictures from Tea Meditation

Tea master, assistant and server






Receiving tea with gratitude



Serenity is here and now.



Enjoying each other's company



Picking sweets mindfully

Thanks to Master Koh of the Plum Village for this wonderful ceremony which uplifted our spirit and brought peace and joy.

Pictures from Losar Celebration, Foundation House

Burnt offering to Palden Lhamo








Praying to Guru Rinpoche and Tara





Celebrating a 3-year anniversary of the 1000 Stars

Offerings toGuru Rinpoche

We will make offerings to Guru Rinpoche this Saturday 16 February (Guru Rinpoche Day), 5-7 pm. at the Foundation House. Everyone is welcome. Please bring the Guru sadhana and prayer hand-outs as well as offerings.

Taste of Freedom

Yesterday Ken didn't go to school because he wanted to go to free the fish with us on the Tibetan/Chinese New Year. Yontan hang a prayer flag near the house gate. After that we did some prayer together. Then Chris, a new American friend came. And we went to the Thanam Non Market together. There are plenty of fish and other water animals to be freed. We bought 107 kilograms of "plaa duk" and 9 kilograms of frogs. The total number of fish is 321 but we forgot to count the frogs. Ken gave me 1,000 baht from his New Year gift money as a contribution to this merit making.

When we liberate fish and other animals, it's imperative for us to think whether the animals will survive after having been released. We also should make our best efforts to look for the best home for them. We shouldn't think only about our purpose, such as we want to eliminate our bad luck; that's why, we set their lives free. Instead, we should think about their safety, their future and we pray for their long life and happiness.

Let's help each other take care of captured animals. Let's try our best to help these poor creatures. Let's generate our loving kindness for them. Om Mani Padme Hung!



Yontan is hanging a prayer flag in our garden before going to buy the fish.



Buying fish from the Thanam Non market



Weakless, dead and living - this is human food



Carrying fish to the river in the compound of Saima Tai Temple



Captured fish tasting the joy of freedom



Ken is feeding the birds near where we released the fish.





Freed frogs swimming in a canal, their new home near Saima Tai.

Aspiration Prayer for the Liberation of Fish

Conqueror gone to bliss, defeater of enemies, utterly pure and perfect Buddha hearing the precious ushnisha, to you I prostrate, make offerings, and go for refuge.

If one recites this to dying animals or to other sentient beings who are on the verge of death, they will not be reborn in the lower realms. As there is such great benefit, I humbly entreat you to recite this with confident faith in the authenticity of the Buddha's word.

Infallible Three Jewels and supreme yidams,
Lord of compassion, protector Avalokiteshvara,
Think of me, weak and pitiful, with loving compassion
And bear witness to the accomplishment of this vast prayer.

Long ago during the time of Buddha Chubeb
He recited the name of the bliss-gone one and liberated fish;
Likewise may I, with the rain of Dharma,
Relieve animals that are powerlessly suffering.

Some have no protector and no place to dwell,
Stricken with fear of being helplessly devoured by another,
These animals, tormented by agonizing misery,
May I relieve them with the rain of Dharma.

When they divest themselves of their present bodies,
May they avoid the lower realms
And attain the supreme happiness of gods and humans,
That they may thus listen to the holy Dharma,
Put it into practice,
And strive to achieve unexcelled Enlightenment.

I humbly ask all to recite this blessed prayer, as it is the very one the Great Siddha Thangtong Gyalpo composed while he performed the liberation of innumerable fish.

Translated by the Dzogchen Foundation.

Taken from Chatral Rinpoche's Compassionate Action. Edited, introduced and annotated by Zach Larson. Snow Lion Publication2 (2007)

Losar Monlam and Releasing Fish on 7 February (1st Day of the Tibetan Month)

Yontan and I will pray and make offerings at our Tara shrine room, the foundation house in Nonthaburi early morning of the 7th which is the first day of the new year. We'll recite a long life and well-being prayer particularly for our contributors, sick and suffering beings. We'll tie new prayer flags around the house. After that we'll release fish at the Chao Phya river bank in the area of Wat Saima Tai in Ratanatibet. Anyone who is interested in joining us in setting fish lives free or contributing your donation to this merit making, please contact me or Miao.

If you can't join us this time, I request everyone to liberate fish or other kinds of captured animals at least once a year. Please all of us think of these animals with loving kindness and compassion. Let's take care of them as best as we can. When we see a hungry dog on the street, we won't just walk by without giving it food. When we see a sick animal, we try our best in helping it. When a dog is trying to cross the street, we make sure its life will be saved. And when we eat meat, we eat it mindfully thinking of the body with gratitude wishing it be born in a higher realm.

Speical Tea Ceremony on 10 February (4th Day of the Tibetan Month)

The Thousand Stars is pleased to invite friends of the Foundation and interested persons to join a tea ceremony by Khun Koh (Jitt Tanthasathian) of the Plum Village on Sunday 10 February starting at 8 pm at the foundation house. Khun Koh will serve as the tea master. Yontan and Nat have offered to help him as tea assistant and tea server.

Here is the description from Khun Koh:

"Tea meditation is a skillful mean for friend to gather in an informal enviorment enjoy tea, cookies and the presence of one another. Although we love to have a good tea & cookies at the ceremony, it is the collective mindfulness & the presence of our beloved friends that most matter.

To make it an evening to remember, I encourage each of us to bring a little gift of joy to share with friends. This could be a song, poem, story or just anything that will water the seed of joy & mindfulness for everyone."

Losar Party on 9 February (3rd Day of the Tibetan Month)

The Thousand Stars Foundation was registered on 10 February 2005 in Nonthaburi. It's hard to believe that we have done so many projects both in Thailand and Tibet during these past three years. The list of our members keeps growing. Now we have 10 members who serve the executive board and more than 200 members and friends who attend our activities regularly.

We would like to thank our international and Thai advisory boards and everyone who has contributed to the Foundation and to the Tara Great Stupa project. As a way to say "thank you" and to continue our wonderful friendship, we are pleased to invite members and friends to celebrate Tibetan New Year together this Saturday 9 February 2008 at the Foundation House.

Program
9 February 2008
16.00-18.00
Offering "sang" (fragrant burnt offering) to Dharma Protector Palden Lhamo
Prayer,offering and meditation on White Tara and the 21 Taras on the occasion of the Foundation's 3rd year anniversary
18.00-20.00
Tibetan/Thai/Chinese/Lao Dinner
Please bring food and a token of friendship to share with each other.
19.45-20.00
Celebrating the Foundation's anniversary
20.00-21.30
Bhutanese Movie "Traveller and Magician" brought to us by our friend Bo, a young film maker

At first, we thought about inviting friends to exchange gifts of 99 baht with one another. But we had a second thought. Given that we have a strong intention to start the construction of the Stupa base and temple this year, we should save money as best as we could. Instead of spending money, we could share with one another anything we love, any reflection, any Dharma gift, or any food we like.

Please confirm your participation at Miao (worawora@gmail.com), Mobile: 0867228129.

ฺUnlimited Love

เก็บเดือนเก็บดาวพราวพร่าง
มาปูทางสร้างฝันฝันใฝ่
เก็บรักภักดีร้อยเป็นมาลัย
คล้องดวงใจคล้องโลกเป็นหนึ่งเดียว

Picking the moon and glittering stars,
Laying them on a path of dreams,
Picking love and devotion into a garland,
To put around and unite hearts and the world.

I wrote this poem to celebrate the stupa, symbol of unlimited love for all sentient beings. Thanks to Soraj for the translation. May people of all faiths are united and treat one another with respect.

1000 Stars Team from Surin

Dr. Bundit Thanaboonsombatkun and his friends are planning to form a 1000 Stars Group in Surin to help promote our activities. These pictures were taken at Khadiravana when they came to attend the Guru Rinpoche retreat and to cook for Rinpoche and the retreatants.

Dr. Bundit is now on our executive board, along with other new members: Jick (Prachawan), Jun (Cholatiz), Lek (Sitt), Glaang (Preechawan) and Ek (Atipong).

Tunga Lhamo

This kitten came to me at Khadiravana just a day before Lhasray Rinpoche went there to perform the stupa ceremony. He named her "Tunga Lhamo" white conch goddess. She is now part of our 1000 Stars family in Nonthaburi. She is wild and isn't afraid of anyone. At home we have five other cats. They are no younger than 12 years old. Instead of being humble, Tunga often expresses her anger and little power with them.

Guru Rinpoche Sadhana

I just got back from the prayer session at the Foundation House. There were 11 of us: Areerat, Ampon, Miao, Nuch, Bank, Pom, Charoen, Peter (Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche's student), Soraj, Yontan and I. It's the first time we did the session together in the Foundation's Tibetan shrine room. It seems the shrine room is too small already.

The main text we recited is a terma text that Lhasray Rinpoche transmitted to me the night before he returned to China. The text title is "The Heart Essence of Guru Padmasambhava: A Sadhana of the Three Roots (Guru Peme Thugtig Le: Tsasum Drugpa Nyinggi Gyajan Zhug). This terma is transmitted by a dakini to Vairojana at a rock in Gyamo Mudo in Gyalrong. It was protected by three Damjan. Later on it was discovered by Hungchen Droto Lingpa Rinpoche.

I felt grateful to Rinpoche for transmitting this sadhana to us so that we know how to invoke to Guru Rinpoche and make offerings to him. Thai people are so fortunate to be able to practice this terma. I think of Hungchen Rinpoche with gratitude. Because of his compassion, many terma texts have been discovered for the purpose of sentient beings.

Hrih jepung pema kara dzana siddhi hung!