Flourish spiritually in the Thekchen Choling community.
My hope is for you to realise that the temple is truly in your heart and in your mind. There’s no point in intellectualisation. Knowing how to cook does not equate to the ability to cook a delicious meal.
At the human level, humans need love and compassion as an experience to truly grow and evolve. Only with love and compassion can we overcome our past and fears, to believe in ourselves and remember the kindness of others.
On days when you are tempted to just ‘move on’ in life, remember this one word that contains the essence of the three principles of the path – renunciation, bodhicitta and emptiness – ‘re-creation’. In tantric practices, we practice everyday to dissolve and re-create our existence and our world. In this sense, every day presents a new chance day for us to realise the Buddha-nature in all beings.
I dream of the day when our members from all our centres and people from all over the world can connect at a deeper, more meaningful level heart to heart, so that communication will be unhindered by mundane external appearances.
Our temple name Thekchen Choling conveys the Gurus’ aspirations for us all. Thekchen means Mahayana or Great. Greatness is the accumulation of the small. We need to see beyond being individuals and come together to achieve this greatness through divine communication, motivation, intention setting and action. Choling literally means Dharma temple but it also refers to one’s own awakened mind. Just like the Lion’s Roar that is within each and every single one of us, may we all be fearless, forgiving, loving and compassionate … even to sinners and murderers.
I pray that all of us will embody the spirit of Thekchen Choling that pierces through the samsaric aspects of mankind to be of benefit to all.
Rinpoche sharing on “My Hopes and Dreams for Thekchen Choling”, during an interview for a volunteers workshop conducted on 28th – 29th September 2019
Dharma Wisdom
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
