We are in the process of creating a garden of abundance at TBRI in Belgrave, Melbourne named after the 21 Taras. Khentrul Rinpoche wishes to pay homage to Arya Tara by not only naming the garden in the swift protectresses honour, but by also constructing a life sized statue of the enlightened goddess of Buddhism.
The opulent space will also feature a grand stupa, prayer wheel and a Japanese garden beds for the community to enjoy.
Here is what has been accomplished so far….
The project commenced with a sangha discussion on how we could improve the surrounding temple grounds to make it more inviting for the community. To accomplish this firstly, we needed to be seen as a public not private space, which meant we had a lot of surrounding trees and shrubs had to be cleared.
From the roadside the temple was quite hidden by large trees and shrubs. Most people who lived immediately in the area where unaware there is a Temple here.
Temple street view (Feb 2021)
Front of the Rimé Institute Temple view (Feb 2021)
The local community guided by Khentrul Rinpoche started clearing some of the dense tree coverage on the roadside and also near the front entrance to the temple.
It was a huge effort accomplished over a many days thanks to our community members of skilled tradesmen.
The back car park and surrounding garden areas also got a facelift.
Once the dense tree coverage was cleared, it really opened up the space.
The trees and shrubs from the front of the temple were also cleared so we have a blank canvas to work with to create the lush abundance garden for everyone to enjoy.
An additional storage area added to the front will clean up the the buildings front door appearance.
The front corner of the garden was cleared and levelled to make was for our Stupa and new plants.
Of course, Rinpoche has been there every step of the way – leading, guiding and also working very hard!
We’ve had an extraordinary busy couple of weeks on the 21 Taras Garden of Abundance project with so much achieved. The sangha rallied together to focus on getting some of the core elements of the garden near completion. The sangha worked tirelessly digging a lush pond for the garden, complete with two waterfalls, river rocks and a variety of colourful plants.
We have selected 4 new prayer wheels each containing 20 million Mani Mantras to place at the entrance Gate to the Temple Garden. People who walk by on the public footpath will be able to spin them creating the seeds for liberation and benefiting all beings. Thanks to the your generosity, we are glad to say they have all been sponsored!
The space for the Sangha unifying stupa has been cleared, leveled and the foundations of the stupa set. This stupa represents the time when the Buddha unified the sangha. We need a strong global community to bring about Dzokden, the Golden Age.
There were also many other surrounding areas that were also tended to. Mulch was laid around the grounds with carefully selected plants to adorn. The circle and square window were shaped. The circle is called the Window of Enlightenment or Moon Gate and the square is called Window of Delusion in Japanese zen. The circle is to create thoughtful and meditative moments in the garden. We have chosen white rocks that require the visitor to slow down and move along the paths in a meditative state and contemplate the holy objects and environment.
Next to the pond we have also added the fire pit for Sang offerings
3D Engineers have started the process of designing the marble Tara statue to Rinpoche’s specifications. He wants to match the lotus of the innate Kalachakra so they are scanning the statue to fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes.
Stay tuned for further updates in the coming weeks.
We are in the process of creating a garden of abundance at TBRI in Belgrave, Melbourne named after the 21 Taras. Khentrul Rinpoche wishes to pay homage to Arya Tara by not only naming the garden in the swift protectresses honour, but by also constructing a life sized statue of the enlightened goddess of Buddhism.
The opulent space will also feature a grand stupa, prayer wheel and a Japanese garden beds for the community to enjoy.
Here is what has been accomplished so far….
The project commenced with a sangha discussion on how we could improve the surrounding temple grounds to make it more inviting for the community. To accomplish this firstly, we needed to be seen as a public not private space, which meant we had a lot of surrounding trees and shrubs had to be cleared.
From the roadside the temple was quite hidden by large trees and shrubs. Most people who lived immediately in the area where unaware there is a Temple here.
Temple street view (Feb 2021)
Front of the Rimé Institute Temple view (Feb 2021)
The local community guided by Khentrul Rinpoche started clearing some of the dense tree coverage on the roadside and also near the front entrance to the temple.
It was a huge effort accomplished over a many days thanks to our community members of skilled tradesmen.
The back car park and surrounding garden areas also got a facelift.
Once the dense tree coverage was cleared, it really opened up the space.
The trees and shrubs from the front of the temple were also cleared so we have a blank canvas to work with to create the lush abundance garden for everyone to enjoy.
An additional storage area added to the front will clean up the the buildings front door appearance.
The front corner of the garden was cleared and levelled to make was for our Stupa and new plants.
Of course, Rinpoche has been there every step of the way – leading, guiding and also working very hard!
I would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you so, so much all of you, whoever is participating Rime Institute’s activities, classes, translations, and even donators and everybody.
This is very, very meaningful. So please be aware this is incredible meaningful and beneficial for everybody. Why? Because the Dzokden International’s, the goal is perfect peace and harmony of Golden Age. So that is whether people are aware or not, it is everybody’s heart desire in the most absolute, the goal, you know. So this is incredible profound, yet very, very practical. Each human being really needs that. The whole world need that. And also eventually this is benefit all sentient beings.
So no matter how we are small, or we are not incredible wealthy yet, or your donations, or your participate, no matter how small and you are contributing these oceans of profound activity. So please be aware of this and rejoice. And I say again, Happy New Year, and we’re going to have great year 2021 because we done incredible merit. So this is going to be source of perfect, each individual’s life, and our goal of the Golden Age for the world.
We have had a magnificent long weekend of volunteer activities at the Land of Shambhala accomplishing many tasks that coincided with Saka Dawa.
We completed the prayer flag raising at the top of the hill whilst listening to prayers from Zhamtang for the local deities and dharma protectors.
Beside the entrance driveway, we raised 16 vertical prayer flag poles in the ground which flicker with brilliance in the wind.
Also lining the entrance driveway behind the prayer flag poles we planted, mulched and protected eight of our red maple feature trees which will have a vibrant red hue in the spring and summer months.
We finished off the weekend with many prayers, a smoke offering and sealed the merit with a dedication prayers to conclude the auspicious weekend.
A big thank our fabulous volunteer sangha who worked tirelessly to make this all happen.
Want to get involved? Our upcoming Land of Shambhala volunteer days are scheduled every two weeks from June through to September with the next one being on Saturday 20th June 2020. Please check out our event calendar for further details and to register your interest in joining us.
Traditionally, people sponsor prayer rituals with aspirations for generating merit, clearing obstacles, a happier life, prosperity, better rebirth for their loved ones, long life, peace, and enlightenment for all beings.
We are offering the opportunity to our community near and far to create a karmic connection with these auspicious events in celebration of Kalachakra New Year (Nagpa Dawa) and the Land of Shambhala Consecration. Merit during this time is multiplied 100,000 times.
SPONSOR RITUAL ACTIVITIES From May 7-10th, many rituals to make the best conditions possible for the retreat center.
SPONSOR THE TREASURE VASE & LAND CONSECRATION We will bury a vase at Land of Shambhala and consecrate 108 additional vases to create conditions for prosperity and harmony to arise.
SPONSOR THE NAGPA DAWA KALACHAKRA TSOK PUJA On the full moon of Nagpa Dawa at the Land Consecration ceremony, we will hold an overnight camping ritual feast. We will need to rent a tent and many supplies as well as make offerings.
SPONSOR PRAYER FLAGS Prayer flags are for the enhancement of health, longevity, wealth, and all desirable qualities. The flags will be hung for Kalachakra New Year. Putting names on prayer flags helps clear obstacles for the coming year. Funds raised above the costs of the prayer flags will go to supporting all Land of Shambhala consecration activities.
We will read the names of all sponsors and their dedication each day during the events. For those sponsoring prayer flags, the names will additionally be written on the flags. For those sponsoring the Consecration rituals, the names will additionally be offered with the treasure vase.
