Light Refreshment will be provided.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your first steps into the world of Buddhism! 🙏
Conducted in a casual setting and only requiring 2-3 hours of your time, let our committed volunteers share more about the temple we have come to love. Allow yourself to be immersed in the open and interactive atmosphere and engage in the interactions with volunteers of our very warm family. After all, the orientation programme is really not about us, it’s really about YOU! Come let us know you a little better!
Learn how to do a bath offering to Lord Dzambala, understand the significance behind a prostration, get a sneak peek at the treasures and colorful history of our temple. Our orientation programme has so much to offer you! Spare us a day during one weekend and let’s make it a colourful and enjoyable one together!
With the invaluable assistance of our warm, friendly volunteers, the quarterly orientation programme has helped to open the doors of Thekchen Choling to many people of all ages. We sincerely thank our volunteers for connecting with our new friends! If you would like to learn how to help us, we welcome you!
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
