treasure vase for the dandenongs

Today I joined with Khentrul Rinpoche and members of the Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute to participate in a Treasure Vase Ceremony for the Dandenong Ranges. I was invited along as the community representative for the Dandenongs.

The ceremony was lead by Khentrul Rinpoche with the day including two special celebrations, one to generate blessings for the local community and rejuvenation of the environment, the other to celebrate the birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama tomorrow.

The Treasure Vase is filled with jewels, medicines and holy relics, blessed and buried. Community members were invited to join in and contribute their own items as well as special 'dirt pills' and blessings prepared by Rinpoche.

Participants were also given a mantra to bestow on them good wishes and blessings in the Buddhist tradition.

It was a beautiful ceremony and a reminder of the great diversity we enjoy in this country. Our community is certainly spiritually richer for their contribution.

tecoma treasure vase

I had the very great pleasure of attending the Treasure Vase Ceremony this weekend to consecrate the temple grounds at the Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute in Tecoma.
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"I welcome the temple here in Tecoma, it makes our community spiritually richer to have you here"
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The Treasure Vase Ceremony is designed to create a suitable location for cultivating our minds, generating merit and blessing for the participants, propagate peace & harmony and also to benefit the local and wider community.
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Khentrul Rinpoche consecrates the temple site, with treasure vases in the foreground.

It is a very rare ceremony and I was humbled to be an invited guest, particularly on the auspicious occasion of the birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama.
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The vases are presented as part of the colourful procession.
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Khentrul Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of the Buddhist Rime Institute, said he was proud to be an Australian citizen and live in a country where there is freedom of religion and freedom of speech. He spoke of how we have lost touch with the environment and the ceremony is a way of healing the environment. He went on to say the ceremony gave thanks for the treasures of life - our community, environment and happiness.
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Lots of chanting, chiming and drumming filled the temple gardens.

The community shared food, prayers and blessings and there was much entertainment and socialising as well.

There is much we can learn from the Buddhist teachings and on the day Khentrul Rinpoche spoke of unconditional love and universal compassion. To have the Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute in Tecoma makes our community spiritually richer.
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Khentrul Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of the Buddhist Rime Institute and me after the ceremony.

They have created a beautiful space in a beautiful setting, I wish them well in the future.