Compact Disc

I hope those who have heard the CDs have benefited through the power of the prayers. Rejoice!!

Those from other parts of the world who wish to get a copy of these CDs can contact me directly via my email tztzopa@yahoo.com or geshezopa@gmail.com.

Thank you.

CGC Fund Raising

This fund raising event organised by CGC, Penang was very successful. I can see the joy and smile on everyone’s face like Daniel who’s the director, his family members and all the fund raising committee, their family, student and friends of CGC.

They are very satisfied despite the hard work and tireless effort they have put in for the past months. Now that the event is over, they will all be able to sit back, relax and catch up on some good sleep to re-energize for the upcoming activities which are beneficial to the Penang members and students. I truly rejoice and very proud of the volunteers and on behalf of FPMT and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, I sincerely thank all the supporters from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and from other parts of the world to actualise this event and for ensuring that it is so successfully organized.

They are now looking for their own premises for CGC to expand which will only bring greater benefits to the larger number of people especially from Penang. I must say they are doing great. I pray day and night the CGC team can actualize their goal as soon as possible. I rejoice and rejoice!!

These pictures were taken by Bobby Yeoh during the fund raising dinner event.

CD Chanting By Geshe Zopa

Malaysia

To be launched on 19th May, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Singapore

To be launched from 16-19th May 2008 at the TSUM Counter (Amitabha Buddhist Center), Thekchen Choling Centre and some of the Chinese Temples.


We look forward to your support.

Compact Disk Recording

I am very happy to actualize the recording of various prayers and pujas with intention to share, inspire and bring some benefits by only listening to the chanting in particular to those who needed them. This has been my long time wish and I am very happy that it’s now at the final stage of printing and will be completed by 14^th May which will be launched on Wesak day both in Singapore and Malaysia simultaneously.

I have recorded all these chanting based on proper and pure traditionally unbroken lineage method for the entire sequence of the prayers, tune, motivation (while recording) and dedication. It is unlike the recording of the modern CDs you find today whereby their main focus is based on the music and different modern creation tunes.

So these sets of CDs which has been developed is something different and very rare. I like to reiterate that the recording of the CDs are conducted professionally and these prayers and chanting are all based and passed on through pure unbroken lineage.

There are a series of 4 CDs all together. Each chanting of the pujas are for different purpose. It also has great effect and blessings to actualize the purpose by the blessings of this proper and unbroken lineage and complete sequence.

Guru Puja

I have dedicated one CD for the extensive accumulation of merit based on Guru Yoga practice to actualize all your mundane and spiritual wish is the Guru Puja. Guru Puja contains 3 CDs in one pack.

Tara Puja

Tara Puja for the actualizing of one’s wishes instantly fulfilled such as spiritual realization and mundane (Business or Projects) purpose. Tara Puja contains 2 CDs in one pack.

Medicine Buddha Puja

Medicine Buddha Puja CD is for the cure of hindrance, physical and mental sickness in this life time and prevention of physical and mental sickness in future times. It also actualises one to have a long, healthy and meaningful life. Medicine Buddha Puja is in 1 CD.

Protector Puja

Protector Puja is to clear all the inner, outer and secret obstacles and to actualize the 4 activities like peaceful, increasing, controlling and wrathful. Protector Puja is also in 1 CD.

I will manage this project personally to establish funds for the coming new or any re production of these CDs. I am also going to use these funds from the sales for the charity purpose, especially all projects which are under my jurisdiction. If any of the FPMT centres or other centres, retail outlets who wishes to carry these ranges of CDs, kindly contact me through email @ tztzopa@yahoo.com .

Thank you.

LDC 1st Semester Basic Foundation Course (Jan-Mar 2008)

It was truly a great surprise and inspiring to see all the members, students and friends who sincerely devote and support Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche (KLZR) and his vision in the importance of different study programs in different centres in particularly LDC, Malaysia. We are so lucky and blessed to be able to start the Basic Foundation Course (BFC) at the beginning of this year (2008) and successfully accomplish the first term as planned.

The first day of the course was very auspicious with an overwhelming response of over 90 students who turn up. In fact I totally understand many of them are very busy with their family and work and I never expected 100% attendance. However I do pray and hope that everyone will study when the materials were available, if they think it’s necessary.

So my prayers and wishes were answered and accomplished on April 5 @ 8 pm when 94 students sat for the first semester BFC examination. Everyone put tremendous effort to study the 8 subjects in that semester and many of the students scored high distinction. We achieved a 100% pass in both objective and essay question with no failures from the participating students. Some even managed to score 100% in their objective and essay papers. How wonderful!

Since it’s the first semester’s examination, I set the questions more based on preliminary, more specific but very common in understanding and all from the 8 topics I have thought.

The first impression everyone had when the exam paper was handed to them was easy but when you really read the questions carefully, you actually had to squeeze your brains to get the answer (laugher). In fact, the comments I received from some students was it looked easy but it was actually SPM (Malaysia Secondary 5 Government Examination) standard and the way I set these questions, many enjoyed the examination very much. This “enjoyment” is actually a mixture of simplicity and hardship. The whole purpose of this exam is not to judge someone else but solely for self assessment of individual knowledge in dharma.

The reasons for attending the exam and studying for this program are mainly for respecting the guru’s wishes, great support to your organization, reflect within oneself the stages of understanding, built confidence in the different points of the teaching what one have learned, encourage and inspire oneself to study contemplation and meditation until one have completely perfected in the stage of omniscient. It’s not purely for academic and dharma study but to actualize great merit through leaving deep imprint in different aspect of Buddha’s teachings.

The conclusion here is all of you have accumulated so much merit by pleasing the great holy beings such as KLZR and help to accomplish his holy wishes. As for the centre (LDC), it actualize different stages of studies like BFC can gradually channel effort into accomplishing the complete set of study program which will definitely bring great benefit and understanding in all the different expects of Buddha’s teachings.

We cannot expect all the knowledge to be accomplished within 3 months. This is something we have to go through for at least few years and it must be gradual from the very basic preliminary, then into different expects of the teachings.

Just to give an example, everyone regards and it is true that Lam Rim is the sole teachings that we have to put effort into and Lam Rim Chen Mo which consist of the 3 great volumes in English translation. If we want to accomplish these 3 great volumes with our existing lifestyle, we will take more than 3 or 4 years especially when we go into great detail and explanation. The points and topics are so well structured with the vast information to capture our mind and if we look into the chapter of the calm abiding and wisdom, it’s also very philosophical. So if we don’t have a proper foundation of preliminary studies it could be very difficult to absorb the actual teachings.

My ignorant mind thinks the study of Lam Rim should also be done gradually like overview based on Foundation of Good Qualities, then once you are properly prepared from Guru Devotion to Introduction to Tantra, you will find it easy to adept all teachings or any comprehensive explanation. Once you have that, you are ready to go into the middle stage of Lam Rim, then into great Lam Rim Chen Mo. That time you will really take Lam Rim Chen Mo as one of the teachings you cannot live without.

Same thing like the Bodhisattva Way of Life, I felt it’s necessary to get into the understanding of the different expects of mind training teachings, such as 8 Verses of Thought Transformation, 37 Practices of The Bodhisattvas and Wheel of Sharp Weapon, very limited work but very comprehensive. So once you have an overall understanding on that, you will be able to understand and practice the instruction to transform your mind like the “life of the bodhisattva” in the Bodhisattva Way of Life.

Otherwise for the beginners to directly being introduced to the Great Lam Rim, Bodhisattva Way of Life, Tantric Ground and Path and Philosophy Studies, I get many feedback that they have a very hard time. In many cases they give up with many excuses such as “subject is too long”, “no time and since I can’t come for all classes, I won’t come at all”, “it’s also too much information and my wisdom mind can’t capture, rather I give up” and “too many philosophical terms”. Even English educated people find the terms new and very hard to digest, so they give up!

I totally agree with these people and I totally respect their comment, therefore what I am trying to do here is based on my different experiences and I try to do it gradually. On the other hand it’s also necessary to provide extensive philosophical studies and tantric yoga practices and other advance subjects to those who have already accomplish all the stages in those preliminary studies.

Based on the participants and the majority feedback, I am doing the right thing. 99% of them are in favour of that and are getting benefit, so hopefully we are able to fulfil everybody’s wishes but I know I can never satisfy everyone.

However, over 20 students didn’t get to sit for the first term BFC exam due to their commitments which I totally understand. For those who didn’t get the opportunity to take the exam but wish to do so due to their interest, I will give them one more opportunity which will be on July 13 @ 7 pm in LDC gompa.

95% of the participants who did their BFC essay examination were really inspiring with their great knowledge and unshakeable faith in the Buddha. I had my (interesting and secret) reasons why I choose the essay topic for this test and I was expecting few comments but the answers turn out to be truly admiring and wonderful.

Countless thanks goes to all the responsible staff and members of the centre for the opportunity provided by our organization and the limitless blessing of gurus and protectors, all volunteers, all senior students who participated into the studies which meant a lot to the new comers as encouragement.

Pictures taken by Candy and courtesy of Ven. Osel.

Concecration at LDC - July 26th, 2007