CGC's Dharma Activities for the Month of June '09

1/06/2009 (Monday) 8pm – “Want to protect yourself from influenza A (H1N1)?” Buddhist teacher Geshe Tenzin Zopa will explain (from the buddhist perspective) why and how a person can avoid being affected by the disease, and Geshe Zopa will also offer practical Buddhist methods to minimise the chance of contracting this disease.

2/6/2009 (Tuesday) 8pm - Chokyi Gyaltsen Center is offering 20,000 lights and pujas presided by Geshe Tenzin Zopa and Kopan Nuns dedicate to all victims of H1N1. Anyone who would like to participate in this event may contribute RM1 per light or more.

Special Day:

30/05/2009 – 29/06/2009 is a Saka Dawa Day - Nyung Nay Retreat during the Saka Dawa month, which will be led by our very own resident sangha, Ven Osel.

It's time to engage in virtuous actions as a means to accumulate extensive merits. As merits are multiplied by 100 million times during this special auspicious period, don’t waste this wonderful opportunity by engaging in extensive Dharma practices with right motivation to gain enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.

Saka Dawa month marks the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha, and each of the days during the Saka Dawa month is said to have 100 million multiplications on our karmic effects. So, can you just imagine doing 3 sets of Nyung Nay during the Saka Dawa month?

1st Set of Nyung Nay: 5th -8th Jun

2nd Set of Nyung Nay: 12th -15th Jun

3rd Set of Nyung Nay: 20th – 22nd Jun

In each of the 3 sets of Nyung Nay, participants will check in CGC's premises on a Friday evening, 7pm, for a briefing. The actual Nyung Nay will start on Sat morning 4am, and end on Monday morning 8am. If you are working, you don't have to take any leave at all, except, try to be early on Friday, and you might be slightly late for work on Mon.

Please contact Stephanie at 012-4282929 or write to us at fpmt.cgc@gmail.com soon for arrangements.

For those of us who do not have the time to do extensive prayers nor practice extensive virtues during the period of Saka Dawa, here is an excellent opportunity for all of us to create vast, extensive merit by sponsoring pujas and more importantly, to dedicate these extensive merits from the prayers to the millions of suffering beings.

While we are so far and distant away from so, so many of these people who are experiencing intense sufferings of losing their loved ones overnight, their hard-earned savings and probably their livelihood, this is a little bit of what we can do for their future happiness and relief of sufferings - our strong and sincere prayers, and the merits of all our good deeds created at least during this Saka Dawa period.

If you think this may be beneficial to your friends and other family members, please help to pass on this message on to them.

Chokyi Gyaltsen Center (CGC) by Ven. Osel

Chokyi Gyaltsen, or the Victory Banner of Dharma. The victory on defeating delusion and ignorance, and accomplish the temporal and ultimate everlasting happiness. The victory that reflect on the dignity and remarkable teaching of the Buddha.

Banner encompassed all qualities of all realizations. It overcomes negative forces and brings auspicious conditions for practitioner to realize the Dharma and thus become a holder of all Dharma teachings.

Mission of CGC
Chokyi Gyaltsen Center is devoted to the transmission of Mahayana Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsong Khapa as taught to us by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and our Spiritual Director and precious holy Guru, Kyabje Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.

We provide integrated education through which people's minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefits of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion.

Our Center is a government registered nonprofit Buddhist Center, affiliated to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international, non-profit organization, founded in 1975 by Lama Yeshe.

Vision of CGC
Chokyi Gyaltsen Center provides Mahayana Buddhism education in a step-by-step basis, through which people apply Buddhism principles to remove one’s suffering and the causes of suffering, and further cultivate compassion, develop loving kindness, peace and everlasting happiness within oneself, and ultimately contribute to the world and all sentient beings.

The Center offers opportunity for the study and practice of Mahayana Buddhism through public events, publication of free Dharma materials, Buddhist study courses, meditation classes, pujas, animal liberation, community service, recreational activities, retreats and pilgrimages.

Motivated solely by the desire to work for the benefit of all sentient beings, the Center aspire to provide all activities free of charge to all at the soonest time when the Center is financially self-sustainable.

NYUNG NAY RETREAT AND ITS BENEFITS

The Nyung Nay (“NN”) retreat is a two-day intensive practice relating to Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, that includes taking the 24-hour Mahayana precepts with the addition of complete fasting and silence on the second day. Doing even one NN retreat for just two days is said to be as effective as doing any other three-month purification practices, and it is extremely powerful for healing illnesses, purifying negative karma and opening the heart for compassion.

This extremely powerful purification practice of NN was given to the nun Gelongma Palmo directly by Chenrezig as a method to cure herself of leprosy and, eventually, to attain her enlightenment.

In the Tantra of the Eleven-Faced Chenrezig, it says that by doing one NN you can overcome the obscurations and wrongdoings accumulated throughout 40,000 eons of continuous samsara.

Not only that, if while doing a NN retreat you become ill, this purifies the karma that would otherwise cause you to be reborn in the hell realm (provided that you still keep the NN vows). If you become torpid, sleepy or depressed but still continue the retreat, this purifies the karma that would otherwise cause you to be reborn in the animal realm. If you suffer from hunger or thirst, you purify the karma that would otherwise cause you to be reborn as a hungry ghost.

In the Sutra on the Establishment of a Place, it says to practice generosity for your whole life and to do 1 NN are of equal merit. To serve all Arhats throughout the universe and to perform 1 NN are of equal merit.

There have been many inspiring stories about the actual, immediate karmic result of doing the NN practice. There are many accounts of people who had accumulated extremely negative karma, but were then able to purify it by doing NN retreat.

One of the 84 Mahasiddhas Lavapa said, "This practice of one-seat and fasting or NN is extremely skillful and powerful practice. Previously there was a man who, in order to acquire a certain woman as his wife, killed 6 people and their horses. Full of remorse, he later performed this practice 9 times, after his death he was reborn as a spiritual teacher.

In addition, there was a hunter who performed 46 NN and after he died, he was reborn in good circumstances in an affluent family. Also, there was a butcher who performed 8 NN and he was reborn as a leader of people."

In addition, even if you cannot do the practice yourself, there is immense benefit to sponsoring a NN retreat or facilitating the practice for others. This includes such things as providing the food on the first day or serving the people who are doing it.

For example, it is said that to serve or offer food to a NN participant is the same merit as offering food to an 8th-level bodhisattva. In addition, it is said that by offering food to NN participants even once for a day, the result will be that in all your future lives you will never suffer from famine, and for 80,000 eons you will never suffer from hunger or thirst. All obstacles will be pacified, you will be assisted by devas and your body, speech and mind will be free of defect and everything you wish will occur. Your longevity, merit and prosperity will increase, and you will become a disciple of all the present and future Buddhas.

Devotees practicing Nyung Nay which encompasses prostrations at Bodhi Gaya, India.

Wesak Day Celebrations at CGC on 8th & 9th May 2009

Wesak day this year fell on Saturday, 9th May 2009. CGC held a very successful two day event for the first time at it's new premises, 37-Y, Lorong Zoo 1, Air Itam, Penang. Devotees who attended the two days event held on the eve of Wesak day and on the day itself, was fortunate to have been lead in prayer by Wesi Rinpoche and Ven Osel.

On the evening of Wesak eve, there was a bathing of the Buddha ceremony and the offering of candle lights to Shakyamuni Buddha. Wesi Rinpoche also kindly led devotees to circumambulate CGC, which was illuminated with 10,000 lights. There was a recitation of the Heart Sutra.

On Wesak Day, Wesi Rinpoche gave oral transmission of the mantras of Shakyamuni Buddha, Chenrizig (Kuan Yin) and Manjushri. Free vegetarian lunch was served. We look forward to having another memorable Wesak Day celebration next year.

Below are some photos which captured the moments of the ceremony held on the evening of Wesak eve beautifully. Once again, thanks to Bob Yeo of d’moments.

Photos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Visit to CGC on 3rd February 2009

Here are a few photos of our precious guru, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche's visit to CGC on Tuesday, 3rd February 2009 courtesy of Bob Yeo of d'moments-inc.com.

1. Butter lamp offerings at the porch.

2. Arrival of sangha & entourage.

3. Chinese New Year decoration in hall.

4. Awaiting the arrival of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

5. Lama Zopa's seat in the main hall.

6. Crowd awaiting arrival in main hall.

7. The arrival of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

8. Welcoming Rinpoche and receiving blessings.

9. Members queuing to welcome Rinpoche and receive blessings.


10. One of Rinpoche's youngest students.

11. Many happy faces in the crowd.

12. Lama Zopa prostrating to the Triple Gem.

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16. Rinpoche in deep prayer.


17. Rinpoche's room on the 3rd Floor of CGC.


18. Tara images left for Rinpoche's blessings.

19. Balinese style wooden Buddha in Abhaya Mudra (gesture to assuage fear).

20. Water bowl offerings.

21. Geshe Tenzin Zopa addressing all present on the night.

22. Aunty Betty leading chanting of "Om Mani Padme Hum" as we await the start of teachings by Rinpoche.