August 19, 2015 4
On August 15-16, 2015 a group of us had the great fortune to represent H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche at the opening of Centre De Méditation Tsongkhapa (CMT) in Ste-Sophie, Quebec (Canada).
The first incarnation (so to speak!) of CMT was opened by the Venerable Geshe Khenrab in Montreal, Canada before a sister centre was opened in Moncton, New Brunswick. After Geshe-la’s passing, care of the organization passed on to his devoted student Venerable Zawa Rinpoche.
When we spoke to Zawa Rinpoche this past weekend, he told us that the last location in Moncton was not entirely conducive to the expansion of activities that Zawa Rinpoche envisioned. Located on a main road with commercial properties, it was difficult to host sangha, hold events, perform pujas and engage in retreats and meditations. Thus Rinpoche started to look for a more serene environment. Upon locating a few properties, Rinpoche consulted His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche who then advised that this location in Ste-Sophie would be very good.
For those who follow news about the Dorje Shugden ban, Zawa Rinpoche will be a familiar face to you. Over the last decade, Rinpoche has been an instrumental member of the movement to lift the ban on Dorje Shugden practice. Not only was Rinpoche one of the first people to speak up against its unjust nature, but Zawa Rinpoche himself traveled tirelessly to raise awareness about the ban.
Rinpoche has also visited Kechara several times to teach us pujas and to perform them for us. In fact, Rinpoche was present on the very night we received our 24ft Dorje Shugden statue in our then-unfinished Wisdom Hall. Along with Tsem Rinpoche, Zawa Rinpoche performed a puja to properly unveil the Dharma Protector into our hall.
With Kechara having had such a close relationship with Zawa Rinpoche, Tsem Rinpoche wanted us to attend the opening to express our gratitude and support for Zawa Rinpoche’s hard work. This was not just for his new center (where he had done a lot of the work with his own hands) but also for his work in protecting Lama Tsongkhapa’s lineage. Tsem Rinpoche expressly instructed us to arrive before the event so that we might be able to help with whatever last-minute preparations there may be (but everything was so well-organized, there was nothing left for us to do!).
We arrived at the center the day before the opening. We were already excited because for days before we arrived, Zawa Rinpoche had sent us photos to update us on the latest happenings. For four days, rainbows appeared above the center. Then five-colored lights shone from the Dharma wheel as Rinpoche installed it on the roof of the temple himself. Completely white flowers sprouted spontaneously on the land, with not a single shade of green to mark it. Then two Shetland ponies wandered onto the property – Rinpoche fed them before they wandered away, not to be seen again.
So we knew the place was going to be pretty special because obviously the deities in the area were pleased with its presence. On our arrival, Zawa Rinpoche warmly greeted us and took us on a tour of CMT which, as the pictures will show, is very nicely laid out.
Can I just say at this point that it is always very nice to meet Zawa Rinpoche, and for me to be able to express how nice it is, at this point I will have to dispense with the formalities.
Seeing Zawa Rinpoche each time is like meeting an old friend because Rinpoche has been a big help to us in navigating the Tibetan monastic world, and educating us on the system. If people only took the time to get to know Rinpoche, they would understand that the things which they criticize Rinpoche for, are not the only qualities they should use to identify him. By this, I refer to the protests and his work in the Dorje Shugden movement to lift the ban.
So what if Zawa Rinpoche practices Dorje Shugden? Look beyond his actions and see what drives them – Rinpoche is a brave, kind, helpful lama who has stuck his neck out for the preservation of Lama Tsongkhapa’s lineage. For his bravery, he has been attacked, insulted and has been identified as an enemy to the Tibetan cause, whatever that may be. All because he wants to practice Dorje Shugden without his teachers and himself being abused for it.
Incredible.
Anyway, after touring the center, Rinpoche hosted us in his simple home. He introduced us to a few other guests before leaving us to explore the property whilst he made final arrangements for the opening ceremony. More dignitaries from the Dorje Shugden world were due to arrive and Rinpoche was preparing for them. In fact, Rinpoche had moved out of his own bedroom and was sleeping on a simple pull-out in the living room, because he had offered his room to his teacher, Venerable Geshe Tsultrim*.
We spent the day getting to know the other Tibetans there, and reconnecting with those we had met before. Most of the lamas had already arrived, including Venerable Trote Rinpoche from New York, Venerable Kalden Rinpoche from Brazil, Geshe Phende from Austria, Gen Youten from Canada, and Geshe Sopa, Geshe Cheme and Gen Jamyang from Vermont. Venerable Rabten Rinpoche was also scheduled to arrive from Switzerland, whilst the remainder of the guests would be there the following day.
The morning of the event started very early for us because we had the honor to be part of the entourage escorting H.H. Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche from the hotel. I may have looked calm on the outside but on the inside I was a giggling buffoon. As I have said before and as I maintain now, there is no vocabulary that exists that adequately describes the perfect being that is Kyabje Rinpoche. Everything about Kyabje Rinpoche inspires faith, and any news about him just tells you that as the years go by, the qualities of Kyabje Rinpoche’s previous life become more and more obvious to all, and the activities manifest so strongly.
Kyabje Rinpoche arrived and was escorted in the traditional manner, with a golden parasol, incense and flowers scattered at his feet. Rinpoche then recited prayers and cut the ribbon into the gompa, before performing a consecration ritual with the sangha. After a short break, Kyabje Rinpoche proceeded to give a short commentary and oral transmission of the Gaden Lhagyama which he received from His Eminence Lati Rinpoche according to the Segyud tradition. It was concise yet profound, clear yet complex, and definitely witty – Rinpoche joked that he could give a longer, more detailed commentary but it would take a few hours, and it would clash with a picnic scheduled after the teaching. If he gave the longer one, people would wonder why the lama is still teaching and what was going to happen with the picnic 😀
Everyone had the opportunity to make offerings and receive blessings from Kyabje Rinpoche after the teaching. Kyabje Rinpoche left soon after, and we again had the merits to escort Rinpoche back to the hotel.
The following days were filled with audiences with the various lamas who were there, to make a connection with them and to update them on our works. They were also spent getting to know our Dorje Shugden brothers and sisters, many of whom we had connected with on Facebook but never actually met before.
To say I had a fantastic time was an understatement. Watching Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition grow in Canada was the biggest blessing of all, and it is thanks to hardworking lamas like Zawa Rinpoche and the loyal students who stand by him that such auspicious events are possible. During this time when we have so many internal and external obstacles, harmony and support for one another is important. As our Tsem Rinpoche often teaches, now is the time to put our differences aside and to focus on the bigger picture – the preservation and promotion of Je Tsongkhapa’s lineage, which includes the practice of Dorje Shugden.
It’s also always nice to be part of a gathering of like-minded people, and to feel safe in the knowledge that all of you share the same faith, lineage and beliefs. We met some amazing people there who, despite the obstacles they have been through for just one aspect of their practice, remain kind, smiling and forgiving, yet firm in their beliefs. To my new friends, it was great meeting you! And to my old friends who have watched us over the last year, this was a really nice opportunity to catch up. I just feel it’s such a shame all of us live so far apart…thank Buddha for WeChat! 🙂
And congratulations once again to Venerable Zawa Rinpoche for the auspicious opening of his new center. May this center become an institution for Lama Tsongkhapa’s learning and traditions to spread in to the ten directions, and may all of Zawa Rinpoche’s works come to fruition swiftly, free from obstacles!
For more information about Centre De Méditation Tsongkhapa, please go to their website.
*Geshe Tsultrim is a monk of Gaden Jangtse who had many students. During the height of the ban, his ‘students’ came to attack Geshe-la’s simple home, throwing stones and rocks at it. The harassment became so bad, Geshe-la had to escape India in the middle of the night. He travelled with Switzerland where Venerable Gonsar Rinpoche gave him refuge. Later Geshe-la moved to Austria where he now lives.
I know y’all want to see pictures! 🙂
[…] Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen. *Taken from Kultchara’s ‘Pastor’ Baby Kong’s “A Canadian celebration!” […]
Malaysia | 17,826 | |
United States | 9,381 | |
Russia | 2,979 | |
China | 2,320 | |
United Kingdom | 3,271 | |
Mexico | 1,722 | |
Germany | 2,251 | |
Canada | 2,302 | |
Nepal | 1,559 | |
Singapore | 2,895 | |
France | 1,169 | |
India | 1,008 | |
Brazil | 776 | |
Netherlands | 1,116 |
Total Pageviews: | 61,993 |
---|
Beautiful blessings in word and pictures–thank you for sharing!
Beautiful visit, thank you very much for sharing these precious moments with us, Ani Lobsang Pema!
Hi Pastor Jean-Ai, Stumble upon your site and really like the write up and the pictures of the opening. Thanks for sharing. Cool that you get to meet up with Zawa Rinpoche, Geshe Cheme, Geshe Tsultrim and Geshe Phende. Blessed 🙂