HH Phakchok Rinpoche came to Bangkok for about 10 days (April 17-26 2009) again and did give teachings over several topics at several venues. For all sessions, he number of people who turned up were more than expected. On the last day of the teaching, at the Tai Pan hotel, the seats were full and people had to start sitting on the floor. I think this is a good sign that we have to be prepared for more people in the future.

 

This trip has been very successful. I must thank everyone involved, the committee, the sponsors, the attendees, and all sentient beings for allowing me to participate in organizing the events. My personal special thanks to Khun Jarunee who has been extremely helpful in all aspects from finding venues to getting the message out about the event. Many thanks to the Tawana hotel and all their staff for their extended help and generosity during HH Phakchok Rinpoche's stay.

 

I will be putting on the audio recordings of the event up on the web soon.

Amazingly rain storm arrived just after the grand opening ceremony of the Vasutara hall which is the first hall with roof at the at the Tara Khadiravana center.

 

The timing was just perfect, right after the opening ceremony of blessings has been completed by Kunga Zangpo Rinpoche, rain poured in, and few moments later, a heavy rain-storm came with very strong wind. The storm was so strong that we had to stand by the thick curtain to make sure it blocks the rain from splashing into the hall. It was quite amazing that the timing of the rain was right at the end of the opening ceremony, I think this is a very auspicious sign.

 

In the afternoon, we all received green Tara Empowerment with series of lectures which continued until the next day. Kunga Zangpo Rinpoche has an amazing character, in-depth wisdom and calm like the deep ocean. In my opinion, I really think he has rid himself from the seed of anger and he did teach of us about different negative emotions especially how to rid of anger.

 

 

Check the photos in the photo album http://fog007.spaces.live.com :-)

 

 

Yet another great Lama visits Bangkok. This is very very amazing.

His Holiness has a very special character, expression and compassion which could be felt. His explanation on things are crystal clear and he welcomes all kinds of debate. How amazing!!!

 

(please don't take my understanding to be what he said, as these are just my understandings)

I did make many break-throughs from the teachings. One of them is about giving and generousity. When we give something to someone, we always expect some feed-back or atleast a 'thank you'. However, the real giving is giving without ANY expectation, and not even expectation for the merit generated. When we give we should just give and also give the merit generated as well. This is the real giving!. Give without any expectation, not even expectation for the merit from it.... :-) VERY VERY important.

 

Another point he mentions was about emptiness of self. If we look at our nose, where do our nose actually starts and where is the end of our nose. Can we draw a clear line and define precisely that "this is the starting point of the nose, and this is the ending point of the nose"!! ? I don't think we can, so if this cannot be precisely defined then how can nose exist in the ultimate reality? Now, if we investigate our finger, and we take out some skin of our finger, would our finger remain to be a finger..the conventional answer would be yes. What about the parts we have taken out? say some skin, some dirt, and maybe some water molecules, are they part of our finger? Conventional answer would be, yes they were. If the skin and the dirt and the water molecules taken our are part of our finger, then what everything in the world is also part of our finger as the swet from our finger evaporates into the cloud, the cloud turns into rain, into waterfall, etc etc.. so everything is part of our finger.... funny eh? Now, think on the other view, if we take out some parts of our finger, does our finger remain a finger? (conventional answer: yes). Now, does any of the parts those have been taken out have nature of finger on it's own??  No, they are junk... Then how could it be possible that something that does not have true nature on it's own be combined and become something real and existant with true nature (like a finger)? I hope I am getting it right!. I think I have had a glimpse of emptiness..

 

Anyway, after all the teachings, Rinpoche was discussing about establishing a new model of medical treatment facility which he plans to starts in Nepal!!. What a great man, only 27 years old, abbot of 2 monasteries... amazing...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another great Lama visit to Bangkok. Thanks to Dr. Andy Lowe and Thousand stars foundation. Rinpoche gave us several lessons and one of the most important thing that I learned was that meditation is not everything it is a practice for actual living.

 

Went to the Tara Khadiravana center, Nong Phlub (district), Hua Hin (city), Prachuab Khirikhan (province) which is quite a big place of about 30 acres where Thousand stars foundation is trying to make it into a practicioner's retreat and event center. What a great plan! :-) Rinpoche did give us White Tara empowerment there.

 

After all the events and teachings both at Chulalongkorn University and at the foundation house in Bangkok, we took Rinpoche out on Friday to see the Emerald Buddha, grand palace and Wat Po then to MBK for shopping. It was fantastic.

Lama Garchen Rinpoche (the most important Rinpoche of the Drikung Kagyu lineage) was giving teaching in Bangkok, Thailand. Thanks to Aishwaresh for bringing us the news about the event.

 

I went and met up with Aishwaresh on 28th April at Tri-mitr temple in Bangkok where the teaching was given. On the same day we all along with lots of people received Jambala (Boddha of wealth) empowerment. It was a great experience. After the ceremony we met Tulku Sanga Rinpoche who is actually a very young Rinpoche (28 years old) and not a monk. He is just like any other individual but ofcourse with very high level of realization.

 

Next day was Dennis' wedding at Westin Bangkok hotel. Right after the morning session, I rushed to Imperial Queenspark hotel to attend Dharma teaching by the Lama. I arrived late but was not too late. The Rinpoche gave a great talk then there was a Question and Answer session, which was fantastic. Sanga Rinpoche who was acting as the Chinese-Tibetan translator gave direct answers to some of my questions, the way he addressed the question is very interesting and it has created a big impression on me. Then a lot of attendees offered flower garland to Garchen Rinpoche in which he gave us back by wearing it on our wrists with blessings. He is always smiling and cheered up.

 

The afternoon session was continued at Tri-mitr temple, Claire and Gerrald were also there, it was fantastic, we all received White Tara (Buddha with female aspect of compassion, long life, healing and serenity) empowerment. We had a short talk with monks that came with the Rinpoche about our group in Bangkok and how we hope to setup a center here. While Rinpoche was leaving, he walked passed the area where myself, Gerald and Claire were and I requested him to perform prayers to stop the war in southern Thailand. Then the Rinpoche gave us all a big hug and smiled and requested me to translate the 37 practices of Bodhisattava booklet which was distributed into Thai and distribute it as it will be very beneficial. I told him I would do it. Then he left with an always big, compassionate, all loving smile.

 

It was an extremely great experience and he sure have created big impression in Bangkok. It might have been one of the rare (if not the first) empowerment in Thailand within a Thai temple.  

 

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om mani peme hung