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Bodhisattva in Action,
a short article on the Inauguration Ceremony of Tasih Rabten
Ling by Konchok Choedon from Hong Kong.
 Around
8am on this aupicious day, my dharma friends and I (in our
best Tibetan outfit) started to walk to the new monastery,
which was 10 minutes by foot from the hotel we were staying
at. As we approached the monastery, we heard the sacred music
singing the Heart Sutra and prayers to the Sakya lineage masters
and we saw colourful prayers flags, tied from the pillars
of the monastery across to pillars on the ground, dancing
in the crisp Lumbini air. The entrance of the monastery was
packed by monks waiting to enter. The monastery of course
looked magnificant, grand and sacred. In the garden standing
before the monastery, yellow and red marquees were constructed
to house all the guests coming to this event. As we entered
the gates of the monastery, I was filled with excitement and
joy, in anticipation of the day's events.
The inauguration ceremony began around 9 o'clock on this
very cold and windy winter morning with a simple but solemn
ribbon cutting ceremony by the three great masters of the
Sakya lineage, His Holiness Sakya Trizin, His Eminence Chogye
Trichen Rinpoche and His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche.
 As
the grand red doors of the main shrine hall opened, His Holiness,
His Eminences, followed by other Rinpoches, distinguished
guests, monks and devotees, entered into the holy shrine hall.
His Holiness made prostrations to Lord Buddha followed by
a short consecration prayer and butter lamp offerings.
In the main shrine hall stands a fifteen feet statue of Shakyamuni
Buddha covered in gold and his two disciples. Surrounding
them are other statues and an intricate and colourful wall
mural of Lord Vajradhara, Mahasiddha Virupa, the five Great
Sakya masters and other lineage holders. There were of course
many camera clicks and video cameras, all rolling in action
as everyone was trying to capture a piece of this very sacred
moment onto their memory stick forever. Perhaps they were
also planting seeds of virtuous deeds on their mind streams.
 The
three great masters and other distinguished guests then approached
the stage constructed just outside the main shrine hall where
His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche offered traditional silk
kata to His Holiness and other Rinpoches. Thereafter, the
celebration events on this auspicious day begun with the young
monks of the monastery chanting auspicious prayers in melodious
Sanskrit. The day was hosted by the most eloquent tri-lingo
MC, Lama Jampal Losal who delivered his words in Tibetan,
Nepali and English and whose sense of humour and high-spirit
certainly added warmth and delight to the cold winter morning.
There were speeches given by His Holiness Sakya Trizin, His
Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche and other respectable speakers
such as Bhikhu Vivekananda, Venerable Timilsnia, Acharya Jamyang
Lekshey and Lama Choedak. His Holiness Sakya Trizin gave his
warmest congratulations and well-wishes to His Eminence Chogye
Trichen Rinpoche and his dharma activities and paid a tribute
to the then UN General Secretary U-thant who propagated the
development of Lumbini and started the Lumbini Development
Trust in the early 70s. His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche
expressed his happiness that the ceremony was able to be held
on the auspicious anniversary of Sonam
Tsemo.
The key message from other speakers was the message of harmony
and peace - something, which our world lacks a great deal
today, both on an international and national level. Within
our Buddhist society the coming together of different traditions
of Buddhism in Lumbini is a showcase of the fundamental goal
of any religion - happiness, peace and harmony.
After the series of speeches, lunch was served to warm our
body. The celebration was then continued by many colourful
cultural dances ranging from lama dance, dance from cultural
group from Lo Monthang and traditional Nepali dances.
 The
highlight of the celebration programme came after dinner when
the junior monks of the monastery staged a Tibetan drama on
the life of Sakya Pandita, with Namrab Dakpo Shabdrung Rinpoche
acting as Sakya Pandita. This was the first-ever acting performance
put together by the monastery and it was done in such a professional
manner with beautiful costumes, proper props, backdrops, music,
lighting and most of all great acting, enthusiasm, participation
from the monks. There was also a vivid dance of Vajrayogini
to spice up the drama! Despite the very cold night wind, His
Holiness, His Eminences and other Rinpoches and the audience
enjoyed the drama with great joy! We were all so very proud
of this first ever acting achievement of the young monks of
the monastery!
 With
the conclusion of this drama, the celebration of the inauguration
ceremony came to an end. But this was an end to a wish-fulfilling
beginning because there is no doubt that the completion of
Tasih Rabten Ling will further enhance the peaceful and spiritual
atmosphere of sacred Lumbini. It will also provide a bigger
and comfortable ground for the annual Sakya Monlam prayers
for world peace and prosperity and training ground for monastic
and Buddhism studies in order to continue the spreading of
the teachings of Lord Buddha.
On the second day, His Holiness, His Eminences, the congregation
of Sakya Tulkus, Khenpos and the assembly of monks of Sakyapa
conducted the consecration ceremony of the statues in the
main shrine hall.
It is estimated that a total of 3000 monks and nuns from
Nepal and India and 700 lay people (including overseas disciples
of His Eminence from Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Singapore, Spain, and other countries) attended this auspicious
occasion.
 Three
years ago in early 2001, I was also in the audience when His
Holiness and His Eminences performed the ground breaking ceremony
for the construction of the monastery. It is incredible how
the monastery is completed with such great success in such
a short period. I am certain this would not be possible without
the tremendous hard work and commitment from the monks of
the monastery, the generous support from the sponsors and
most of all, the blessings of His Holiness and His Eminences.
It was my great blessing to be able to witness the start and
completion of a project, which will bring tremendous benefit
to all beings. It was truly an once in a lifetime opportunity.
As I heard the words of my lord Guru His Eminence Chogye Trichen
Rinpoche in the inauguration ceremony, I was deeply moved
by his great compassion shown in his never ending activities
to benefit all beings. I remember Rinpoche taught that “great
compassion knows of no bias”. This project is yet another
fine demonstration of this compassion by Rinpoche. Rinpoche
is truely a great bodhisttva in action. Then I thought of
this precious and rare human rebirth in an aeon, which Buddha
came and taught, and the even more rare chance to meet Buddha’s
teachings through Rinpoche. With Rinpoche’s blessings,
I was reminded of the aspirations of the great bodhisattvas
and how paying lip-service to Dharma is not enough and the
key is to ensure that one’s practice which is one’s
life, should truly follow the spirit of Lord Buddha’s
teachings. And so I ended the day by praying for strength
and wisdom to live my life, step by step, in accordance with
the holy Dharma and the ways of a Bodhisattva. May Rinpoche
long live and be in excellent health. May all beings quickly
awaken from their sleep of ignorance and realise the state
of eternal peace and happiness.
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