The Thekchen Choling spirit is very much about genuine and meaningful connections. From Guru Devotion, to friendships, social outreach projects and dharma activities, our footprints can be found in so many parts of the world.With you in the picture, we will definitely be able to benefit more!
Students and disciples of Thekchen Choling are very fortunate to have the opportunities to connect meaningfully with many holy sites and different organizations around the world. Besides pilgrimages to the holy sites and Rinpoche’s frequent visits to see his Gurus in Nepal and Mongolia, Singha Rinpoche is also often invited to teach overseas in United State Of America and our neighbour, Malaysia. These independent centres would often request for guidance and advice from Singha Rinpoche. Disciples from Thekchen Choling are also invited to visit and join them in their meaningful dharma activities. In many ways, Thekchen Choling is not a physical centre in Singapore, but a international network of Buddhist (and sometimes Non-Buddhist) friends engaging in meaningful, beneficial activities that connect everyone, and benefitting all sentient beings.
In the Chinese culture pilgrimage is associated with mountains because they are locations where the sacred manifests. In Chinese, a pilgrim (xiangeke 香客) is one who “offers incense,” and going on pilgrimage translates to chaoshan jinxiang (朝山进香) literally meaning “offering incense to a mountain.” Buddhism’s rooting in China therefore includes the mapping of Bodhisattva abodes (physical pure lands) at numerous mountains. The four great and famous Buddhist mountains (sida fojiao mingshan 四大佛教名山), which are all associated with a Bodhisattva, play a significant part in Buddhist cosmology within Chinese geography.
Disciples of Thekchen Choling have had the rare opportunity to visit the sacred mountains with Singha Rinpoche onmultiple occasions.
Sacred Mirror
The Sacred Mirror represents consciousness and the element of space. Clear, pure and bright, the mirror reflects all phenomena objectively without bias, thereby reminding us to practice objectivity and to rise above our judgmental minds. On a more subtle level, it reflects the Buddha’s core teaching of emptiness – that nothing exists on its own side without a dependent arising cause.
Pinnacle of the mirror
The pinnacle of the mirror, formed by the white crescent moon, flaming red sun and an orange flame of fire, represents the completion stage of Vajrayana practice.
Light Rays
The light rays radiating from the Sacred Mirror represent the flourishing of the Buddha’s teachings, fanning out to the furthest reaches of the universe.
Full Moon Disc
The moon disc represents Bodhicitta, the aspiration to become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.
Blue Lotus
Divinely fragrant, blue lotuses bloomed only in the Buddha’s time. By incorporating it into the temple’s logo, it is symbolic of the ever-present Buddha in Thekchen Choling. Moreover, a lotus flower represents purity, perfection, compassion and renunciation, similar to how the beautiful lotus remains untainted even though it had arisen out from the muddy waters.
Nine Precious Jewels
These nine precious jewels represent the Guru, Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, yidam or mind-seal deity, Dharma protector, the sky, earth, and the human realm.
Two Dragons
The two dragons represent continuity and harmony and create the cause for the temple to enjoy the strong support of members and benefactors for Dharma to flourish.
Golden Khata
The flowing golden khata represents the auspicious increase of all Dharma activities.
The Seven Gems of the Chakravartin or a Wheel-Turning King
1. The precious horse represented by a unicorn’s horn
2. The precious elephant represented by its tusks
3. The precious queen represented by round golden earrings
4. The precious minister represented by square golden earrings
5. The precious general represented by a pair of crossed swords
6. The precious jewel represented by the triple-eyed gem
7. The precious Dharma wheel represented by a branch of coral
