Wheel of the Meritorious Elephant Generating Power

This Wheel of the Meritorious Elephant Generating Power is compiled as instructed by my guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It has been newly produced, put together and digitized by Venerable Thubten Khedub Sherpa and Venerable Lhundub Gyaltsen Sherpa.

It is now printed and released for sponsorship in the FPMT online store, available in the card form and wallet. I love it because it originates from Guru Rinpoche, the great Padmasambhava 莲花生大师 and I deeply love and respect him!

Apparently, this Wheel of the Meritorious Elephant Generating Power was arranged by several tertöns (realized masters who reveal hidden teachings) and is a response to a request from King Trisong Detsen to Guru Padmasambhava.

The benefits accorded to this Wheel include accomplishment of all activities as well as the increase and multiplication of life, merit, wealth, power of influence, fame and all positive and good qualities. Likewise, all desired things of the external world and its inhabitants, both animate and inanimate, come under one's control according to one's wishes.

However, please note that Lama Zopa Rinpoche has made it clear that this is not for one's altar - not something you take refuge in - but it is for one's office or place of business to bring about success.

King Trisong Detsen

The legend of the Wheel of the Meritorious Elephant Generating Power goes like this....

King Trisong Detsen, one of the three Dharma Kings who established Buddhism in Tibet, respectfully with prostration, requested thus to Orgen Arisen from a Lotus (Guru Padmasambhava):

“Oh Venerable Guru Rinpoche, in order to implement the law of the Kingdom [of Tibet] according to Dharma and make it governable from the center to the outskirts without exception to have merits blazing like fire. By all means, please bestow upon me an instruction from the heart, a secret among all the secrets.” 

Having made this request, Guru Rinpoche sat in meditation for a brief moment and then gave this oral transmission - a yellow scroll that was hidden in the pillar of Monbumthang, at Chimpu Mountain, [the place] of five hermitages. At the end of the Year of the Male Dog, Drog Tonchung took the treasure out from there and it is still in use. It is extremely profound. 

Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava

As it is mentioned in the Precious Treasure Teaching on the Three-fold Tertons - Ajo Palpo of Jukhar, Dre Sherab Bar and Nyalpa Nyima Sengge – these 3 tertons approached one another to compile the instructions for the Profound Wheel of the Meritorious Elephant Generating Power, which is based strictly on some old notes of oral advice. Their intention was, thus, to put [the advice together] purely and clearly. This wheel can be placed on the golden throne of stupas and such, inside a treasure house, or at the heart of a treasure vase. This has been observed as, traditionally, what is done.

Many inconceivable benefits are found.

O glorious ye Glory kueh kueh

One Sunday, my family and I decided to have brunch at Glory Catering in Katong. We ordered mee siam, lontong, laksa, and gado gado, among other local delights.  But before we entered the shop, we were amazed at the trays and trays of Nonya kueh kueh outside the shop. These delicious-looking desserts/snacks made up such an inviting colourful sight. We were so excited seeing these kueh kueh that we wished we could buy up every different type available to try (from possibly at least 50 varieties to choose from!).  I hope all these traditional kueh kueh do not disappear by the next generation.

Here are some of the kueh kueh I love.....

Kueh Kueh Galore

 Kueh Lapis, or Rainbow Kueh

  Kueh Talam Dua Muka

Kueh Bingka Ubi

 Kueh Seri Muka Pulut Hitam

Kueh Pulut Inti

Kueh Jongkong

Putu Piring

Colourful Coconut Candy

 Talam Ubi

Kueh Wajik Gula Melaka

Kueh Lopes

Ondeh Ondeh, Koswi, Kueh Bakar

Ondeh Ondeh

Pumpkin Cake

Eggshell Agar Agar

Rarely do we see these eggshell agar agar selling outside anymore. When we saw these eggshell agar agar in Glory, my sister and I were so excited. My primary school classmate's mom used to make these for us during any parties when we were kids.  So nostalgic.  That day, we had to buy these eggshell agar agar to eat, to reminisce the old times, our childhood.

Are you having kueh kueh this weekend? 

GLORY CATERING

139 East Coast Road, Singapore 428829.

Avoid drinking cold water

I remember a grandaunt from Guangzhou used to tell me not to drink cold water. She has never touched cold water. My own late grandpa died from a heart attack. So I am sharing this.

Faye Wong's red cord

I was watching this video clip of mega-star diva, Faye Wong, singing one of her signature songs in her concert a couple of years ago.  I noticed that she was wearing a red cord on her right hand. It was not a surprise to me because she is also a Tibetan Buddhist and presumably this red cord was given to her by her guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who is also my precious guru. I am a little surprised yet happy that she wore it during her concert. So blessed. 

In the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the red cord is called a "protection and blessing cord." Traditionally, a lama ties a knot in the cord, then prays over it and blows the power of mantras into it. Then he places it around one's neck as a blessing.  The cord is symbolic of remaining within the protection of our guru's compassionate embrace even after departing from his physical presence. Do not belittle the blessings of such a mere red cord. I myself wear red strings from my gurus as blessing and protection. If you receive a red cord from a lama, especially from your personal gurus, wear it or keep it properly. 

Objects touched or prayed over  by holy beings are believed  to be imbued with their  spiritual energy and blessings.

In her own quiet world

I have always enjoyed meeting people during big events, especially Dharma events, because people from all walks of life appear before my eyes. And I always like to think they have to be connected to me somehow in previous lives and in this life, we are making the connection again.

Over the weekend, while helping to raise funds for the monastery, it was very heartening to have met several kind and generous souls offering to donate some money to help the Sangha and the various merit-making projects. Most importantly, I am so glad they made the connection with the Triple Gem.

One old lady left such an impression on me that I had to put this down here. Just after the puja, before dinner, a very old lady approached me. She was such a small built, thin and fragile-looking lady with hair almost all white. Her face and hands were very wrinkled. She was wearing a checkered blouse which was over-sized and crumpled, in fact quite shabbily dressed. Speaking in Mandarin, she said she wanted to donate some money to feed the monks and she fumbled in her bag for a long while and finally took out a couple of tens. She told me she could not hear what I was trying to say, and I too, at the same time, realised she was quite deaf on both ears. I had to shout on top of my voice so that she could hear me. Even then she did not seemed to understand and we had to resort to using sign language. She said it had been a long while since she had stepped out of the house. 

After she made her donation, she walked off, only to come back within seconds to ask if there was any place nearby she could find vegetarian food. I told her I was not sure. She was coming back after dinner for that evening's blessing initiation. She said if she could not find food, then it was ok, she would just skip dinner that night. As she walked away I was feeling very uneasy. I went to check the corner where they usually put volunteers' food. Our dinner for the evening has not arrived yet.  However I saw a few devotees eating packets of food which were leftover extra packets from lunch time, and which were offered to them. I also saw some trays of vegetarian dishes, also leftover from the afternoon lunch for the monks. So I quickly ran to chase after that old lady. She had almost reached the gate. I asked her if she minded some leftover vegetarian dishes  (there was no more rice though...) and brought her to the table.  She vehemently refused and said it was meant for the volunteers. I had to assure her that there was enough food. Those few younger devotees sitting around the table eating our volunteers' food did not even bother to offer her their rice or chairs. I scooped up some dishes for the old lady (she kept telling me 'enough, enough') and had to lead her somewhere else on the cement floor landing to sit down. I also gave her a packet of mineral water. 

She left such a deep impression on me and really humbled me. Compared to the many younger, well-dressed devotees who came and asked lots of questions and did not make a donation, I could feel this old lady's sincerity, even though she was definitely not well-off. She reminded me of my own grandma who is also hard on hearing. I wonder if she could hear the prayers chanted by the monks or the announcement made by the compere during the sessions. I was quite sure she could not.

Anyhow I am so happy she came to participate in the prayers and initiations, and to receive blessings from Rinpoche. I am grateful to her for teaching me yet another precious lesson/experience in life. She touched my heart. May this beautiful old lady with the biggest heart be in great health as long as she is alive and may she be blessed by the Three Jewels in all her lifetimes. 

Fried Nian Gao 3-in-1

Most Chinese will buy Nian Gao, the sticky sweet cake during the Chinese New Year.  It is considered good luck to eat nian gao during CNY because "nian gao" is a homonym for "higher year." "年高". As such, eating nian gao has the symbolism of raising oneself higher in each coming year (年年高升 nián nián gāo shēng).

Normally, at the end of the CNY, we find ourselves with leftover Nian Gao. Eating the Nian Gao by itself would be too sweet, sticky and very jelak (Malay term for "feeling of disgust that overwhelms when consuming too much of the same food"). So my mom would cut the Nian Gao into rectangular pieces, and sandwiched them between cut pieces of yam and pumpkin. After coating them with flour, she deep fried the pieces in the wok.  The result is a fragrant snack, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the sweet combined taste of Nian Gao, pumpkin and yam.  Other times, mom will just fry the Nian Gao coated with flour and eggs. 

Fried Nian Gao is one of my favourite snacks during CNY. Thanks to mom who always remember that and make this delicious snack for me.  

Happy

The Grand Puja begins during this merit-multiplying period!

An exciting weekend awaits! As I have blogged earlier, tomorrow is the start of the Grand Puja personally conducted by His Holiness Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche and an entourage of 15 monks from Gaden Shartse Monastery. Do not miss this chance to participate in the pujas of removing negativities, obstacle-clearing, cleansing, purifying and protection. Also not to be missed are the personal blessing initations bestowed by Dagyab Rinpoche. 

I am doing a shoutout for a couple of meaningful and merit-multiplying activities which I personally feel deeply for. During the Grand Puja, the organiser Gaden Shartse Dro-Phen Ling would be raising funds towards the printing and publishing cost of the Buddhist text, ESSENCE OF LAM RIM, which is authored by His Holiness the 14^thDalai Lama.  

“Lam Rim” in Tibetan refers to “Stages of the Path”. The Lam Rim is one of the most important Buddhist classic in the Tibetan Buddhism tradition, whereby it presents the stages in the complete path to Enlightenment. The printing of this Buddhist text will be in 4 different languages – Tibetan, English, Chinese and German. All printed texts will be for free distribution, and in particular, the Tibetan texts will be given to 17,500 monks and Sangha community. There is no other greater gift than the gift of Dharma.  You may wish to be involved in this very meaningful fund-raising project, which can benefit countless monks and people around the world. 

Another initiative to take note is the Food Fund in Gaden Shartse Monastery.  The welfare of the monks in Gaden Shartse Monastery has always been the main worry of the late highly-respected most venerable Kyabje Lati Rinpoche. Without enough food, it would be impossible for the almost 2000 monks to survive. Gaden Shartse Monastery is one of the biggest and well-known Buddhist monastery based on the Gelug tradition in Tibet (now re-established in exile in Mundgod India). The monastery was prophesized by Shakyamuni Buddha himself 2500 years ago before its actual founding in 1409 CE by Lama Tsongkhapa(who was considered the Second Buddha in Tibet).   

 

To quote Geshe Lhundrub Sopa in [Steps On The Path To Enlightenment Vol 2]... "The Sangha are like nurses who are able to help in the healing process because they understand the remedy that the doctor has prescribed. Because they are taking the medicine themselves, they are able to show others exactly how to follow instructions of the perfect doctor, the Buddha."

Each monk in the monastery eat mainly half the Big Bread for every meal, with a small bowl of watery vegetarian daal and a cup of butter tea. It is only when there are sufficient funds from sponsors each month, that the monks get to eat the occasional rice or hard-boiled egg with their bread. And on very special occasions which are far and in between, only then they get to eat fried rice.  

Compared to our well-fed kids in Singapore, who study in air-conditioned comfort and environment, the monks in the Monastery experience less than ideal conditions throughout their learning path.  They study in shabby classrooms which sometime leak during rainy season or the classes are conducted open air outside on the grounds.  

In Singapore, we value our kids' education in the hope that they can get into University and make a decent livelihood when they grow up. In contrast, the monks, who are our vehicle to the Path of Enlightenment, have to survive in harsher conditions and having to worry for their next meal, in addition to studying the Dharma. I find this irony extremely sad.  Hence I hope you can do your part by contributing generously to the livelihood of the Sangha, as well as accumulating lots of merits especially during these 15 days of Losar Tibetan New Year, where merits multiply by 100 million times! Metaphorically speaking, each dollar you sponsor is equivalent to $100 million !

Last but not least, if you would like to establish a karmic connection with a highly realised practitioner, His Holiness Dagyab Rinpoche, he would be bestowing refuge on 2 March in Dro-Phen Ling centre.  You can register during this Grand Puja or call the centre directly. 

May all be auspicious according to the Dharma.