On May 6, 2008, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang again arrived in Taiwan. Many rinpoches, khenpos, lamas, and disciples welcomed His Holiness upon his arrival at the airport. The His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche particularly sent 625 disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center to receive His Holiness. Around 700 people in total were present at the arrival lobby for the grand reception .
At the request of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, His Holiness is going to Kyoto, Japan, to preside over the inauguration ceremony of the first Drikung Kagyu puja venue in the country. H.H. will stay in Taiwan for about one month before leaving for Japan.
Although His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang spends most of his time propagating Buddhism all over the world, he always bears in mind the disciples of Drikung Kagyu, as well as the development of Tibetan Buddhism and the well-being of people in Taiwan. On May 18, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche especially held “The Welcome Tea Party for His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang’s Visit to Taiwan” at the puja venue of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center. The Rinpoches, Khenpos, lamas and disciples of all the Drikung centers in Taiwan were invited. On behalf of all, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche prayed His Holiness to hold a blessing puja for the inflicted of the great Sichuan earthquake and the Myanmar cyclone. His Holiness granted Rinpoche’s wish mercifully and led the attendees to conduct the practice of Avalokitasvara and to chant the Mani mantra and the Amitabha mantra. His Holiness prayed that the consciousnesses of the deceased might be transferred to the Pureland of Amitabha, that those who survive would be found as soon as possible, and that the provisions could arrive in time for the refugees. After the puja, His Holiness had tea and chatted with the Rinpoches, Khenpos, lamas and disciples from the Buddhist centers of Drikung Kagyu in Taiwan. Besides giving a brief introduction of the history of Buddhism and the Drikung Kagyu lineage, His Holiness also revealed his past achievement and future plans, inclusive of publishing unified texts for rituals and establishing a official list of proper nouns and names through the official Drikung Kagyu website. Furthermore, His Holiness encouraged each center in Taiwan to help each other and propagate orthodox Buddhism, by means of which the sentient beings on the island may be benefited. His Holiness also declared the fact that the official website of Drikung Kagyu was launched and the Chinese version is maintained by the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center. Hence, the information has been made available to everyone from the mainland China and Taiwan.
What’s more, Rinchen Dorjee Rincpoche made special arrangements for the local press media to meet with His Holiness. On May 11, His Holiness and Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche were interviewed in the TV program “Lighting the Lamp” of CTS. During the interview, His Holiness talked about his establishment of the Songtsen Library and the emphasis he placed on the passing of the heritage of Tibetan culture and the Buddhism doctrines. A collection of rare Dunhuang manuscripts have been providing His Holiness invaluable and abundant historical resources for his upcoming book on Tibetan history.
In addition, the intimate relationship and the spiritual interaction between a lama and a disciple of Tibetan Buddhism were discussed in the program. In particular, why did His Holiness ordain Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche despite his Han lineage? How did Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, as the root disciple of His Holiness, apply his fullest potentials to carry out the teachings and support His Holiness without a single thought for himself? How did these two, a lama and a disciple, manage to form a bond between their hearts and concentrate on propagating Buddhism for the sake of all sentient beings? In addition, the unique way of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche’s meeting with His Holiness was mentioned in the program. When these two first met, His Holiness had Rinpoche hold a part of his own rosary beads and recited incantations. Rinpoche immediately felt a warm current streaming into his heart. Only afterwards did Rinpoche realize that what His Holiness had recited was Hundred-Syllable Mantra of Vajrasattva. It was also made public that all that His Holiness would be presiding the inauguration ceremony of the new puja venue of Drikung Kagyu in Kyoto, Japan.
The new puja venue of Drikung Kagyu in Kyoto, Japan, will be the first orthodox Tibetan Buddhist center in Japan. The venue was established under the most difficult conditions. Nevertheless, on the occasion of the Great Snake Year Teachings in 2001, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the abbot of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center, took his vow, before His Holiness and the Rinpoches, to bring the flags of the Drikung Kagyu lineage to all the corners of the world and wished the Drikung lineage would exist eternally. Under many years’ guidance of His Holiness, the firm faith and the compassion of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche had made him successfully establish the Japanese puja venue eventually. Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche besought His Holiness in reverence to preside over the inauguration ceremony of the new venue on May 29. Its establishment symbolizes that the flag of Drikung Kagyu is now flying in Japan. The Drikung Kagyu lineage will continue henceforward. It is a grand event not only for the Drikung Kagyu lineage, but also for the history of Tibetan Buddhism.
Updated on May 20, 2008