On June 6, 2010, at the Taipei Arena, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang presided over The Grand 793rd Anniversary Memorial Puja of Drikung Kagyu Lord Jigten Sumgön. Up to 14000 had attended the puja. There were seven Rinpoches and three Khenpoes of Drikung Kagyu Order attended this puja, including Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, Tritsab Rinpoche, Bhumang Rinpoche, Senge Tenzin Rinpoche, Rasbsang Rinpoche, Yeshi Rinpoche, Palme Khyentse Rinpoche. And it was attended by 4 Khenpos, including Khenpo Namdol, Khenpo Yeshi and Khenpo Tsultrim from Drikung Kagyu and Nagwanjeema from Sakya. Additionally, 21 ordained lamas and anis from Drikung Kagyu, Karma Kagyu, Barom Kagyu, and Sakya, and 44 ordained practitioners of Exoteric Buddhism also participated in the event. Attendees were from Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippens, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, India, Tibet, Thailand, the US, Canada, Germany, France, Holland, Australia, and Sweden.

Under the direction of the Ministry of the Interior, this grand ceremony was hosted by Drikung Kagyu Order and the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center was appointed to coordinate the event. This is the second time His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang performed a grand puja in Taiwan with more than 10000 attendees, following the puja also attended by more than 10000 people that was held on June 30 of 2002 at Taoyuan County Stadium thanks to the earnest imploration of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the abbot of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center. As previous pujas that were held by the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center and presided by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, admittance to the event is free of charge as are the ceremonious lamps to be used as offerings during the ceremony. Under the supervision and guidance of Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the expenditure of the event was donated by members of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Culture Exchange Association. The venue was majestically constructed and decorated with highest quality. Starting from one week ago, an archway was built at the front entrance of the Taipei Arena, a huge poster was set up at the outer wall, and many large banners were hung in the hallways. The night before the event, a large dharma photo of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang was erected in front of the archway. With the sight of the photo, all the participants, while entering into the venue, can sense the tradition of Drikung Kagyu Order and the blessing of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. In the arena, a gigantic thangka of Lord Jigten Sumgön was hung up in the back of the mandala and on the mandala 108 sets of eight offerings rendered the atmosphere of grandiosity. Scriptures and prayers of “Legend of the Ten Directions and Three Time” and “Prayer for Flourishing and Spreading Kagyu Teachings” were printed on banners that were alternated with dharma flags and hung around the walls between the second and third floor. With the help of Khenpo Namdol and several lamas, the Taipei Arena had been transformed into a Buddhist pure land. Disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center had been instructed and blessed by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche to carry out all sorts of preparations and rehearsals. All these works were done in the hope that participants could earlier feel the sublime and auspicious atmosphere of the puja and then could attend the event with peaceful minds.

Outside the arena, many believers arrived earlier than 6:30 am, the official time to enter, and lined up accordingly. They eagerly waited for attending the puja and showed earnest imploration of the Buddha Dharma. As entering the venue, they were all handed a booklet about the memorial puja. The booklet includes the information about the origination of this grand puja, abbreviated history of Drikung Kagyu Order, brief biographies of two His Holinesses, all Buddhist centers of Drikung Kagyu Order in Taiwan, short descriptions of the abbots of the centers, and relevant information about the puja. Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche had personally supervised the organization of the content and the references to use in the booklet.

At 8:30 am, preceded by dharma flags, banners, umbrella and instruments, and eight young female disciples to make offerings, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang gracefully walked into the venue and up to the mandala. His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang was followed by Rinpoches, Khenpoes, and ordained practitioners. All 14000 attendees also reverently stood up to greet His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. Upon arriving at the mandala, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang first reverently made prostrations to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, lightened dharma lamps and then ascended to the throne. Prior to be seated on the first throne on the right hand side of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, had made prostrations to His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Tritsab Rinpoche sat at the first throne of the left hand side of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. All other Rinpoches, Khenpoes and lamas were also seated accordingly. Meanwhile, beneath the mandala, on behalf of all sentient beings, 1000 believers lined up to lighten 1000 dharma lamps for making offering to Buddhas. Without any fee being collected, these 1000 believers were chosen by drawing lots.

After participants recited the texts of taking refuge and making vows, His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche made full prostration towards His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, and then wore the Gampopa Ceremonial Hat and led Khenpo Namdol to offer mandala to His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. This is the foremost ritual to make offering to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It is also a ritual to implore the Buddha Dharma. The eight young female disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center, then, offered eight auspicious objects to His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang.

And then His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang bestowed the teaching that he was glad to perform the grand puja at the Taipei Arena, after the one with more than 10000 participants held in 2002 at Taoyuan County Stadium. There were more than 14000 people attending this year’s puja, which was indicative of the auspicious and uncommon causes and conditions. During the eight years, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang had performed retreats, practiced the Buddha Dharma, conducted research, and carried out writing projects. After finishing all these, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang has started the World Dharma Tour of 2010. The first stop was at Malaysia where several pujas were performed at the local Drikung Kagyu Centers. Taiwan was the second stop and after the tour in Asia, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang will travel to South America and the US.

For these years, natural disasters such as floods, those caused by strong winds, earthquakes, conflagrations and so on have happened one after another all over the world. It is because people have not paid attention to environmental protection issues, aroused the anger and revenge of local ghosts and deities. It is due to the flood disaster occurred two years ago that His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche would like to preside over this grand puja for eliminating the possibilities of disasters from this land and brining blessings to all people.

This grand ceremony is hosted by the Drikung Kagyu Order. The abbot of Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, has been appointed to coordinate the event. The Drikung Kagyu Lineage, with its tradition lasting almost 830 years, is prosperous now. Its main ancient temple is Drikung Thil Monastery in Tibet. There are also more than one hundred Buddhist temples in Tibet, Qinghai and so forth places in China. Besides, there are also another more than one hundred centers all over the world, while in Taiwan, this small land where has the most Drikung centers in amount of more than twenty. A few years ago, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche went to Taiwan at the request of Mahayana Centers. At that time, there had been no Drikung center established in Taiwan. Till now, the centers have been built and if there are some that work against Dharma, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche would take the responsibility of management.

Today the grand puja is held in Taiwan, and it happens to be the fourth month of the lunar calendar, the month of Buddha’s birth, attaining enlightenment and nirvana. In Tibet, it is called Saga Dawa, which is a month of million times of enhancement. The virtues and merits from the puja to be held at this time are particularly great. The nirvana day of Jigten Sumgon, the founder of Drikung Kagyu Order, is also in this month. Hence, in today’s puja the Lama Chopa rituals will be conducted so as for commemorating the 793rd annual Lord Jigten Sumgon.

As for attending puja, one’s intention is most important. This grand puja is for eliminating the possibilities of local disasters and praying for world peace. If every attendee could extent their mind of self-benefiting to the mind of bringing help to this place, and furthermore benefiting all sentient beings in the world, it is Bodhicitta. Bodhicitta is developed from the heart of mercy and compassion. The widely-known Avalokitesvara is the manifestation of Buddha Shakyamuni’s mercy and compassion.

Phagmodrupa, the Guru of Lord Jigten Sumgon, has ever bestowed the enlightenment that the merciful heart is like the mother earth where we live, while the compassionate heart is like the water that nourishes the earth. Due to both existence, the big Bodhi tree then grows and bears the three fruits. Those are attainment of dharmakāya that brings benefit to oneself, sambhogakaya that can benefit sentient beings, and nirmanakaya of Buddhahood. This is the Vajrayana practice method.

Additionally, Phagmodrupa once gave the following teaching. When you see an adorable infant smile or talk for the first time, you would feel joy grow in your heart. Such a feeling is mercy. Many mothers in the venue have got such an experience. Nevertheless, there is a difference between mercy and love, for the latter is differentiating. When practicing mercy, one has to do a 1-month retreat and cultivates mercy step by step on a weekly basis. Firstly, one has to visualize his most intimate and most important person who has given him favors in this life. Then, spread the merciful feeling to his relatives and friends, and then the other sentient beings in the world. As to compassion, it is the urge to help that one would feel when he sees his most intimate and most important person being jeopardized. During the retreat, one should practice spreading such a feeling to other people and then generate Bodhichitta.

When one wants to learn orthodox Buddhism, it is of most importance that he follows a virtuous guru to practice. Although Buddhism is thriving in this region, many practitioners do not practice according to the Buddhist teachings. Additionally, the ordained and laity shall adopt different practice means. For instance, the Six Yogas of Naropa and Taras are practice means for the ordained population. If a practitioner does not rely on a virtuous guru who acts according to the Buddhist teachings or fails to practice orthodox Buddhism, he will conduct false practice and fall into the hell.

His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche gave a brief introduction of today’s procedures and scheduled rituals. First of all, the meaning of “One’s own body transformed into the yidam at once” in the Dharma text was explained. The reason why we recite the Emptiness Mantra lies in that our bodies are a combination of causes and conditions as well as ordinary flesh. Such a body is in the state of Emptiness. In addition, the yidam mentioned in the text does not have to be a particular Buddha or Bodhisattva. It can be the yidam that you have practiced. You should visualize your pure and clean nature, which is the pure essence that everyone had had ever since the beginninglessness before they fell into reincarnation. One has to eliminate his ordinary thoughts, visualizes his purified body, and then makes an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

In fact, before this sentence, we should add a phrase of “all pure and clean sentient beings in the Dharma realm”. All sentient beings have Buddha nature. However, because of one ignorant thought, the sentient beings fell into the cycles of reincarnations. If the sentient beings can realize their pure and clean nature that is free from the extremes of elaboration again, they will attain Buddhahood. A practitioner who has enough capacity can attain Buddhahood when he is in the Bardo state after he passes away. A practitioner who has less capacity can attain Buddhahood in a few of his future generations of lives. A practitioner who has practiced in his past generations of lives and has good capacity can attain Buddhahood in this life.

People have seen various kinds of appearances of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas such as Wrathful Deity, Peaceful Deity, Deity with thousand hands and thousand eyes, Deity of Yab-Yum, Deity of single body, and so on. They have also often heard that in Tibetan Buddhism we have held the pujas of Chakrasamvara, Vajra Bhairava (Dorje Jigje), Dorje Phurpa, and so on. Because of these, they misunderstood that the puja of a Wrathful Deity is held to eliminate witchcraft and their karma. Actually, a Wrathful Deity is mainly used to eliminate one’s hatred. Although the Deity shows a wrathful appearance, his true body is pure and clean. You should also not misunderstand the Deity of Yab-Yum. The Deity of Yab-Yum, in fact, is used to eliminate one’s desires. To practice the dharma of a Deity of Yab-Yum, a practitioner also has to hold specific precepts. If people do not understand its true meaning, they will judge by appearance and think that the appearance of Yab-Yum Deity is ordinary sexual copulation.

When a practitioner visualizes that he makes offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with his own pure and clean body such that all sentient beings of six realms can obtain benefits, this is the practice of the development stage. However, always visualizing the Yidam is also an attachment for a practitioner. So a practitioner should also visualize that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas emanate lights, transform to the seed syllable and then disappear. This is the practice of the completion stage. The practice of the development stage is for attaining virtues; the practice of the completion stage is for attaining wisdoms.

Then, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang began to conduct the dharma of Lama Chopa and enlightened all participants the method of visualization, and also explained the meaning of the mantra in the dharma text. After leaving the Dharma Throne to rest for half an hour, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang ascended the Dharma Throne again to conduct the dharma. Then eight girls for making offerings ascended the mandala and sang the song of offerings to give offerings to the guru, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with their loud and clear voices. Their song also represented all sentient beings’ gratefulness. After that, the ritual of Ganachakra was held; all participants had the auspicious and rare cause and condition to share the offering food with the guru presiding over the puja, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Then, the ritual of lamp offering was held; His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang led all Rinpoches, Khenpos, monks and nuns on the mandala to descend the Dharma Throne and recited the prayer text in front of the grand and solemn platform of Eight Offerings, and lit the lamps as offerings to Buddha.

Later, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang practiced the Mani dedication prayer, led all attendees to recite the Six-Syllable Mani mantra, and enlightened the participants the method of visualizing Avalokiteshvara. His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang also explained briefly the meanings of the Six-Syllable Mani mantra. He further reminded people that life is impermanent and many people die every day; when reciting the mantra, you should arouse mercy and compassion within you to benefit sentient beings. Avalokiteshvara’s hands are holding a Mani; this means that people’s wishes will be fulfilled. The lotus holding in Avalokiteshvara’s hands represents that although a lotus grows in the mud, it still can blossom into a pure and clean flower; this symbolizes that although we are in this world of reincarnations which is similar to mud and feces, all sentient beings have the pure and clean Buddha nature and will not be polluted even slightly. The meaning is very deep and significant.

After His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang recited the prayer, the dedication prayer, and the prayer of generating Bodhicitta, the puja was perfectly completed. When His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang descended the Dharma Throne, all participants applauded continuously to thank His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang for his toilsome dharma conduction and enlightenments which let people fill with joys of Buddha dharma. When leaving the venue, each of all attendees received a protection thread with a vajra knot blessed by His Holiness, and a badge specially made by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche with the photo of His Holiness on one side and the Drikung Kagyu syllable word HUNG on the other side.

For this grand puja, the venerable Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche personally guided the disciples to prepare many matters and very carefully arranged all matters related to His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang’s travel schedule, security, food and drinks, and residence. During the puja, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche meditatively listened to the dharma with an awe-inspiring bearing like a motionless mountain. When His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang walked the path, ascended, or descended the Dharma Throne, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche attended His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang with even more energies. These all show that Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche is with the greatest respect and gratitude to treat the root guru and think completely that the guru’s life is more important than his own.

On that day, major TV medium brands such as China Television and GTV Channel 27 have broadcast reports on this event with significant length.

Updated on June 17, 2010