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Advice book

New Centers and Projects

Buying a New Property for the Center

Date of Advice:
Date Posted:

This advice was given to the director of a center that was considering buying a new property. They had found a place, but it did not come out as beneficial initially. Rinpoche then advised what could be done to make it beneficial.

Rinpoche checked extensively and said it may be difficult to find another place. If that is the case, the following practices should be done so the current purchase can proceed.

  • Pacifying, peaceful, increasing and wrathful pujas, to be done on the land.
  • White Mahakala Kangso.
  • Palden Lhamo Kangso.
  • Tea Offering to the Eight Classes (Degyä).
  • Feng shui assessment by someone knowledgeable and reliable.

Obstacles to Buying a New Center

Date of Advice:
Date Posted:

Rinpoche checked and advised the following recitations in order to remove obstacles to buying a new center.

One thousand recitations of the Guhyasamaja root text, to be done by the monks from Tsawa Khangtsen at Ganden Jangtse [one of the two main colleges at Ganden Monastery].

Removing Obstacles for New Dharma Center

Date of Advice:
Date Posted:

There were obstacles regarding the purchase of a property for a new Dharma center. Rinpoche advised these practices to remove the obstacles.

Finding New Premises for the Center

Date of Advice:
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Rinpoche advised these practices for an FPMT center that was struggling to find new premises. The students were no longer allowed to hold classes in their current place.

Rinpoche checked and advised the following:

  • Verses for the Eight Noble Auspicious Ones: To be recited regularly until there is success. [In these verses, homage is paid to the Three Jewels, eight sugatas, the eight great bodhisattvas, the eight offering goddesses, and the eight worldly guardians.]
  • Holy Name Mantra That Fulfills Wishes: Recite one mala regularly. [See FPMT Essential Prayer Book, 2021 edn.]
  • White Mahakala puja: Geshe-la to do this.
  • Diamond Cutter Sutra: To be recited three times by center students and whoever can do the recitations at the center.

 

 

Borrowing Money to Start a Hospice

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A student wrote asking for advice about borrowing money to start a hospice.

My most dear Catherine,
Thank you for all your efforts and great benefit to sentient beings. You are benefiting them in many ways, not only with what we think of as peace and happiness now, but much deeper, for them to have peace and happiness even after death, in their future lives, and liberation and enlightenment. Our aim is to benefit beings in many different ways.

Sincerely serving others also makes our lives meaningful, through causing happiness for others. Our goal is not just to stop their worries and give them peace now and nothing for the next life. Our aim is especially to cause happiness in future lives and ultimate happiness: liberation and enlightenment. There are many skilful ways to achieve this aim. Even if the people themselves don’t accept reincarnation, it is still our responsibility, and not only that, we have this great opportunity to help, having received this perfect human rebirth, met the holy Dharma, which is most rare, and met the virtuous friend, who is also most rare.

Regarding your question, according to my observation, it is better to borrow from the people you mention, and run the hospice for twenty or thirty years. The main thing is that we can run the hospice how we like, so that the people can greatly benefit, using many ideas from Buddhism to help people.

In the long run we cannot say even whether we would be able to run the hospice ourselves. Also, it looks difficult to raise the money ourselves at this time. I am very happy that you are doing this project.

With much love and prayers...

Dedication Prayers

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Rinpoche used the following dedication prayers during the ceremony for opening a Dharma center.

I myself will always practice cherishing all sentient beings as more precious than a wish-granting jewel, with the thought of achieving sublime success from them.

As long as space exists and transmigratory beings exist, I will abide and eliminate all the sufferings of transmigratory beings.

In the hearts of those sentient beings who have not generated the precious holy mind of enlightenment, may it be generated; that which has been generated, may it increase.