The Opening Ceremony of the Mani Dungdrub Project by our centre was graced by His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, Ven. Shi Yuan Fan, Ven. Shi Kai Xiang, Ven. Dhammaratana and Ven. Gunaratana as well as other invited members of the Sangha. We were also very fortunate to have Dharma friends from sister centres in Malaysia as well as many of our sponsors and devotees join us on this auspicious day. What was even more heartening was that we had the help of many kind volunteers who used up their precious weekend to help us in preparing for the event and also during the event. We are very grateful to the immense help rendered.

In the morning at 10 am, Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche and the lamas conducted the puja to bless the Avalokiteshvara Mandala. At around 12.30 pm, His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche arrived to bless the shrine and left shortly after a tea session. Just before 2 pm, our invited Sangha guests from the Mahayana and Theravada traditions arrived for the opening ceremony. During the opening ceremony, Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche, Ven. Shi Yuan Fan, Ven. Shi Kai Xiang, Ven. Dhammaratana and Ven. Gunaratana unveiled the Mandala then performed the ribbon cutting ceremony which was very special as the ribbon surrounded the entire four sides of the mandala. Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche and Ven. Shi Yuan Fan cut the ribbon in front whereas each of the other venerables cut the ribbon on the other 3 sides.

After this, the venerables made lamp offerings in front of the Mandala and were then invited to say prayers in their own tradition. First were the Theravada monks and then the Mahayana monks and lastly the monks of the Vajrayana tradition. During the prayer session by the Vajrayana tradition, Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche invited Ven. Shi Yuan Fan, Ven. Shi Kai Xiang, Ven. Dhammaratana and Ven. Gunaratana to bless the Mandala by circumabulating 3 times while sprinkling saffron water on the Mandala with a stalk of flower.

The chairman of the Mani Dungdrub organizing committee, Mr. Edwin Tan and Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche were then invited to give speeches. Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche encouraged everyone to actively take part in this event as the Vesak month is merit multiplying and the merits of reciting the Six-Syllable Mantra are immense. It is said in the sutras by Buddha Shakyamuni that even if one were to offer flowers, medicine, robes and other precious items for kalpas, this merit would still be countable but the merit of reciting the Six-Syllable Mantra is uncountable.

Invited members of the Sangha left shortly after a tea session and at 4 pm after the tea session, the Empowerment of the Four Armed Chenrezig commenced. Rinpoche gave the empowerment of the Body, Speech, Mind, Qualities, Activities of Chenrezig as well as the Torma (essence of Chenrezig) empowerment. The commitment was to recite Om Mani Padme Hung everyday.

After the empowerment at 8 pm, Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche lighted the lamps for the devotees who have made lamp offerings then proceeded into the Shrine Hall for the Mani Dungdrub Puja.

We thank everyone who participated in the opening ceremony of the Mani Dungdrub Project and hope that you would continue to support this project by accumulating as many counts of Om Mani Padme Hung as you can and encouraging your friends and family members to do so as well. Before the end of the event on 31st May 2007, please send your mani counts to us for tallying the total to dedicate on Vesak Day. Thank you once again.