Greeting All Members & Friends,

Welcome to the NEW YEAR of 2016!

This upcoming Lunar New Year, Venerable Geshe Jampa Lobsang & 5 Lamas from

our Monastery in India will be joining us in our programmes in ushering the Year of

the Monkey.

Apart from our traditional prayers and blessings, we will be organizing the Grand

Naga Wealth Vase Offering Puja for the third year in a row due to the overwhelming

responses to this event in the previous year! Kindly refer to the attached schedule for

more detailed information on our planned programmes.

We wish you a pleasant and a smooth sailing 2016 ！Short Biography of Venerable Geshe Jampa Lobsang

Venerable Geshe Jampa Lobsang was born in 1971 in Markham, Tibet and was ordained at the age of 14. At the age of 18, he left Tibet for India to further his monastic studies at Gaden Shartse Monastery in Southern India. After 19 years of studies, he obtained his Geshe Lharampa degree (equivalent to Doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy). After obtaining his Geshe Lharampa degree he went further to study the four classes of Buddhist Tantra and secured a first division from Gyuto Tantic University. Apart from him being under the strict guidance of his Late root Guru H.E Khensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche, he also received various teachings from other great masters. With his high qualifications and experience, he is now giving teachings in Gaden Shartse Monastery.

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New Year Programme Highlight & Puja Explanation

Grand Naga Wealth Vase Offering @ Marina South Pier on 4th March 2016 (Friday)

Sakyamuni Dharma Centre is organizing a Grand Naga Wealth Vase Offering Puja on 4th March 2016 (Friday).

Venerable Geshe Jampa Lobsang, together with 5 Lamas and the members will be boarding a ferry to conduct this Puja.

We welcome all members and friends to join us for this Auspicious Offering and to accumulate infinite merit.

The Naga Wealth Vase is available for sponsorship at $88/- each.

Boat Fee - $20 per person (Limited to 120 seats, please register early)

Free transportation will be provided to and fro to Marina South Pier.

(If you are interested in sponsoring for the Naga Wealth Vase, kindly contact us at Tel-6745-5900 or 9833-3303)

**************Strictly Vegetarian Diet on the Actual Day**************

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What is Naga?

Naga belongs to animal realm. There are 2 types of animals, one type is capable of harming us while the other is not capable of harming us back when agitated. Domestic animals like cow, chicken are the second type. Naga belongs to the first type. If we accidentally or intentionally harm the Naga, it will cause us sickness and creates obstacles.

If human digs the earth, canal or well, we may accidentally hurt the Nagas. This may cause us sickness. The Naga who is harmed is sick and we also in turn become sick. Unless the Naga gets well, otherwise we will remain sick and even seeing doctor may not cure.

When Naga harms us, we should not return with harm but we should return Nagas with loving kindness and offer them torma, milk and other offerings. This is aligned to Buddhist teaching of loving kindness and generating universal compassion to all beings, especially those in hell, animal or hungry ghost realm, we should generate loving kindness and compassion towards them.

There are 8 kinds of naga Kings: i) Galwo ii) Nyegalwo iii) Kun Galwo iv) Tsuna Richen v) Taye vi) Dhung Kyong vii) Norgye viii) Zichen. These eight are powerful Naga kings. The other types of Nagas are snakes, tortoise, fish, frogs which are also considered a form of Naga.

Naga has two races white and black. Black is fiercest and won’t help us. The white Naga will help us whether we offer to them or not.

Where do Naga reside?

They stay in sea, under sea, water fall, lake, underground, clouds and trees. In animal realm, one type stays on ground while Naga stays underwater. The Naga King’s upper body looks like Deva and lower half is the look of snake.

When should we offer to Naga?

We do Naga Puja to make offerings to Nagas. This ritual should be done on “Naga days.” Naga days fall on once or twice a month. If Naga Puja is not done on the “Naga days,” it will not bring benefits.

What do we do in a Naga Puja?

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When we offer to Nagas, we have the intention to cure the Naga and we also regret the harm or disturbances we created for them. We offer flowers, five-colored cloth, in turn we also gain wealth, we look brighter and we also gain results and siddhis.

Naga can cause lots of sickness and obstacles. Normally we will know when we dream of snake or through prediction.

If there is serious Naga sickness, you need to perform Singhanada “lions roar ritual.” It involves making the Naga a celestial mansion and offer to Naga in the sea. And request them to go away and not create harm to sentient beings.

Conclusion

We can make offerings and generate loving kindness to the Nagas but we cannot take refuge in them, because they are also ordinary beings. They belong to animal realm. Individually if we offer them, we can gain tremendous merit. If we make offerings through love and compassion even the place will have happiness and prosperity. Rain in time is free from sickness and full of happiness. For example; when we do in Singapore, it will bloom with flowers, fruits and prosperity.

Benefit of Offering Naga Wealth Vase

Nagas (snakes, water dragons) can be wisdom holders, and can also cause skin diseases, depletion of life force energy and other obstacles. It is wise to make offerings to Nagas, when disturbing the earth for any reason. It is believed that one's present wealth, fame, health, confidence, merits will improve, obstacles and sickness will be eliminated, one will always meet good friends and masters, has a happy harmonious family with pleasant looking and intelligent children, there will be fine weather in the region with sufficient rainfall, good harvest, and the country will enjoy peace and harmony, last but not least one will accomplish one's practices.

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Grand Heart Sutra Obstacles – Clearing Puja (Discard Negativities and Clear Obstacles in the past year and bring good fortune and prosperity for the New Year)

This Grand Heart Sutra Obstacles-Clearing Puja is one of the most effective and

largest scale pujas in Tibetan Buddhism. It is performed by chanting the Heart Sutra,

eliminating all negative forces and hindrances which may arise from our negative

actions.

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The Heart Sutra is the essence of Buddha’s teachings. Due to the ignorance which

leads them into committing acts of greed, sentient being is trapped within the cyclic

existence of samsara. To rid ignorance and gain liberation, one must contemplate on

emptiness. The scriptures mentioned – if one is able to contemplate and chant

prayers on emptiness, it will be the most effective way to clear obstacles.

All participants should obtain a substitute figurine, which takes upon all of our

obstacles, and then send it away. Through participating in the Heart Sutra Obstacles – Clearing Puja, we are able to purify negativities in the past year, and

is a powerful ritual to swiftly eradicate any on-coming major obstacles for us in the

New Year.

“During the puja, visualize all your obstacles & negativity of your past & present lives are

being taken away by the substitute figurine. Throw away your shirt which takes away your

physical pain, and generate in your mind infinite food and money offerings to offer to all your

debtors. Once the substitute is being sent out, think you have no more relationship with all

these supernatural beings, and all your obstacles are ceased.”

Note: Interested participants, kindly bring along a worn and unwashed shirt for participation in the puja, it will be disposed off as part of the puja to clear away negativities and obstacles. Thank you.

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Protector Setrap PujaThis is an effective puja whereby offering tormas to Protector Setrap, specifically

requesting blessings for special protection against black magic and evil spells,

guarding and guiding us in all lifetimes until we attain Enlightenment.

On our behalf, the Lamas will request Protector Setrap to purify the negativity &

obstacles of all puja participants and all people in our nation. As puja participants, we

will need to sincerely confess all our negative and non-virtuous deeds, and request to

Protectors for their blessings and protection, for our obstacles to be cleared so that

we may in turn benefit other sentient beings. Through the practice of Protectors, we

will be able to neutralize all our inner and outer obstacles, and will be very beneficial

for us in the path of practicing the Dharma and ensuring a smooth-sailing 2016 ahead.

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Raising of Tibetan Prayer Flags

(To overcome obstacles and purified negative karma, increase luck, wealth, lifespan and good health for the New Year)

Raising Prayer flags is one of the easiest and most convenient methods to overcome

obstacles and purified negative karma, increase luck, wealth, lifespan and good

health for the New Year. The prayer flags are also raised in the event of

interferences, or illness, in order to avert misfortunes.

Tibetan prayer flags consist of 5 colors, namely, blue, white, red, green, and yellow.

These colours symbolize the sky, clouds, fire, water, and earth respectively. If we

relate these colors to the physical elements then the blue symbolizes water, green

symbolizes wood, red fire, and white iron. There is also a tradition of flying flags

which represent the elements of your own body.

The prayer flags bear dharma prints, and after special blessing by the Guru, they are

hung up high. The wind which passes over the surface of the flag purifies the air and

carries the prayers to all directions, thus blessing all sentient beings. As all sentient

beings benefit from this ritual, the sponsor who hangs the flags accumulates bountiful

merits as well. Negative karma gets purified as the flags weather under the sun and

rain. With the powerful blessings of the flags, the sponsor avoids any sufferings and

calamites of the earth, water, wind and fire.

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Immaculate Smoke Incense Offering Puja

Sometimes in our daily lives, we may have unknowingly done something which has

incurred the wrath of these worldly gods; and because these beings are

unenlightened, they may cause us hindrances as a form of punishment. Through this

puja, we make incense and smoke offerings to deities, gods and Protectors; so that

we purify all such negativities and obstacles. They rejoice in our smoke offerings, and

will assist us to accomplish all our wishes and work, so it is very helpful to participate

in this puja. Participating in this puja improves one’s good luck, especially for

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businesses. It is also particularly helpful when one requires blessings for an

upcoming project to go smoothly, or blessings to smoothly achieve a goal/target.

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Grand Wealth Vase Puja

(Special wealth ritual to invite luck, wealth and prosperity for the New Year)

The Grand Wealth Vase Puja summons immense positive wealth energies upon the

puja participants, and is a very effective method to invoke positive wealth energy of

the universe and its inhabitants. Though getting rich is a result of one’s past actions,

participating in such wealth-congregating pujas play a significant role in its own way

to change the course of one’s financial situation. With a sincere motivation to

accumulate merit, purify our negative karma, as well as make prayers for all sentient

beings to be freed from all poverty and all sufferings.

(Those who own wealth vase, you may bring them to the centre for re-energizing of wealth

blessings 2 days before the puja.)(Kindly write your name and tel. no. on the wealth vase)

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Dorje Namjom Cleansing Puja

Vajravidaran (Dorje Namjom) is a major meditational deity of highest yoga Tantra.

Tantra in the circle of Tibetan esoteric Buddhism, it is practiced and relied over by

thousands of great yogis and practitioners for thousand years to purify their body

speech and mind. Many unseen factors control the life of human beings;

consequently mysterious illness and disease are prevalent even in today's modern

world. Advancement of medical science and technology are helpless to encounter

such challenges. The only way to encounter these unseen and unknown factor is to

rely on the transcendent wisdom of Buddha and saints of past. The practice of

Vajravidaran has been effectively used throughout the history of esoteric Buddhism

to cure such illness and disease.

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Yamantaka Ruel PujaUnforeseen factors influence and affect many individuals’ life at every level in society.

Some of these influences do not arise out of natural causes. Their remedies also

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appear to be beyond human control. A great number of people face these difficulties.

The Yamantaka Ruel and its puja is an effective, reliable antidote to many of these

paranormal disturbances in life. Amongst Tibetans, the Yamantaka Ruel is

considered to be the most powerful protection against black magic too. Prepared

through authentic, prevailing traditions by the thousand over Sangha members at

Gaden Sharste Monastery, the Yamantaka Ruel renders protection against ailments

ranging from serious breakdowns to recurrent bouts of failure or quarrels resulting

out of paranormal, negative actions of others.

*Those who wish to recharge their existing Ruel, kindly bring before the puja starts. Thank you.

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Leng Chag Torma Puja (To repay debts of previous lives)Since beginningless time, we have been trapped within this uncontrolled cyclic

existence, and have undergone countless times of reincarnations. Although we are

unable to recall our past lives, we can be certain that we are unable to attain

liberation due to our acts of greed and hatred committed out of ignorance. In previous

lifetimes, we would have been indebted to many others, ie we could have owed them

a sum of money, or even a mere sack of rice. The debts accumulated over the

lifetimes are countless.

Through the performance of this Leng Chag Torma Puja - by offering torma (ritual

cake offerings) to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Protectors, we are able to clear all

these debts incurred. Hence, participating in this puja will purify the negative karma

that we have accumulated over the reincarnations.

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Guru Puja (Performed every month on the 10th and 25th of the Tibetan calendar)Guru Puja is a significant and profound practice to honour our spiritual masters and

the Three Jewels. The purpose of performing the Guru Puja is to actualise both the

method and wisdom aspects of the path that lead to becoming enlightened for the

benefit of all sentient beings. This depends on the very root of the path, relying

correctly on the qualified guru. On this basis, one visualises the merit field and

requests blessings with heartfelt faith and devotion with the intent of generating the

realisations of the path to enlightenment.

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Tara Puja (Performed every month on the 8th of the Tibetan calendar)Druing the dharma degenerating times, where the occurrence of various diseases

and natural disasters begins to frequent, the Green Tara practice is most beneficial

for all sentient beings. The Green Tara practice can help sentient beings avoid and

avert such calamities and overcome these obstacles, and is the most effective

practice for all during this time.

Green Tara is a very swift and powerful deity of activity who clears our obstacles, and

help us successfully accomplish both temporal and ultimate happiness. She protects

us from all internal and external dangers, she provides us with all the necessary

conditions for our spiritual training, and she guides us and inspires us with her

blessings as we progress along the spiritual path. If we rely upon Mother Tara

sincerely and with strong faith she will protect us from all obstacles and fulfill all our

wishes. By engaging in her practice, one will be able to dispel black magic, charms,

& disturbances from the formless as well as prevent diseases and harm to oneself. It

can also boost one’s spiritual growth & other aspects - career & academic studies.

Date/Day February 2016 Programme Time

06/02/2016Saturday

Lunar New Year Grand Puja

Grand Heart Sutra Obstacles – Clearing Puja

(Discard Negativities and Clear Obstacles in the past year and bring good fortune and prosperity for the coming

Lunar New Year 2016)

3.00 pm

to

5.00 pm

07/02/2016 Lunar New Year Eve 11.00 pm

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SundayNew Year Eve新年除夕

Light Offering to Buddha to

12.30 midnight

08/02/2016Monday正月初一

Protector Setrap Puja&

Receiving New Year Blessing from Geshela

9.00 am

to

9.00 pm

10/02/2016Wednesday正月初三

Raising of Tibetan Prayer Flags&

Immaculate Smoke Incense Offering Puja

10 amto

12 noon

13/02/2016Saturday正月初六

Yamantaka Ruel Puja

*Those who wish to recharge their existing Ruel, kindly bring before the puja starts. Thank you.

3 pm - 5 pm

15/02/2016Monday正月初八

Tara Puja 7.30 pm

17/02/2016Wednesday正月初十

Guru Puja 7.30 pm

19/02/2016Friday正月十二

Day 1

Grand Wealth Vase Puja - (session 1)

Grand Wealth Vase Puja - (session 2)

(Those who wish to bring your existing wealth vase for

blessing you may bring to the centre 2 days before the puja.)

(Kindly write your name and tel. no. on the wealth vase)

9 am - 11 am

3 pm - 5 pm

Day 2

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20/02/2016Saturday正月十三

Grand Wealth Vase Puja - (session 1)

Grand Wealth Vase Puja - (Final)

Lunar New Year Vegetarian Buffet Dinner in the centre

The management committee of Sakyamuni Dharma Centre cordially invite all to this New

Year Buffet Dinner.For dinner enquiries, please contact

SDC at 6745 5900 / Angie - 9833 3303

9 am - 11 am

3 pm - 5 pm

6.30 pm

21/02/2016Sunday正月十四

Leng Chag Torma Puja 10 am - 12 noon

22/02/2016Monday正月十五 Animal liberation 10.00 am

27/02/2016Saturday

Dharma Discussion 4 pm – 6 pm

28/02/2016Sunday

Dorje Namjom Cleansing Puja 10 am - 12 noon

Date/Day March 2016 Programme Time

04/03/2016Friday

Grand Naga Wealth Vase Offering Puja& Guru Puja (Tsog Offering)

@ Marina South Pier

9 am

to

1.00 pm

12/03/2016Saturday

400 Offerings Puja 5.00 pm

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16/03/2016Wednesday

Tara Puja 7.30 pm

18/03/2016Friday

Guru Puja 7.30 pm

20/03/2016Sunday Namgyalma Long Life Puja 10.00 am

26/03/2016Saturday

Medicine Buddha Puja 5.00 pm

DHARMA TEACHINGS

The systematic approach to practicing the Dharma is to first receive and listen to

teachings; secondly, to contemplate over the teachings, and finally – practice by

integrating the essence of the teachings into our daily lives. If we are able to cultivate

such a practice accordingly, we will hence be able to lessen our non-virtuous actions,

purify our minds, and achieve bliss of the body and mind. Listening to Dharma

teachings not only allows us to understand the meaning and essence of the Dharma;

by the personal guidance of the teacher, we will also be able to receive the blessings

of the Guru and the lineage. This is certainly an important factor for one to

understand the Dharma, and also significantly helps us avoid the downfalls of

misinterpretation of the texts on our own.

Effective Participation in a Puja3 Simple Steps

1) First, generate a good motivation to participate in the puja.

2) Develop faith and confidence (towards the Three Jewels, the conducting

Lamas and the power of the puja itself) throughout the proceeding of the

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ritual. You may like to do some silent chanting of your own mantra, or a

particular mantra advised for the puja session. If possible, you should also

visualize the deity of the puja, and think that the deity is bestowing blessings

upon you to help purify your negative karma, which is the root to all your

problems. At completion of the puja, generate strong confidence and belief

that the efficacy of the ritual has taken place, and you have now been purified

of all obstacles and downfalls. It is very important that the puja participants

think this way.

3) Finally, do a good dedication for the merit which you have accumulated in the

puja. The success of the puja depends on the strength of one’s own karma. If

the negative karma is very heavy and is supposed to result in a serious result,

pujas can help to alleviate and lighten the problem. But if the negative karma

is not so strong, and by the great merit of the doing the puja, the obstacle can

be eradicated. In whichever case however, the puja still plants powerful imprints and collect merits for avoidance of the similar obstacle in future. No pujas are ever wasted. Even in cases where we do not see

tangible results, pujas are always very beneficial for us in the present and

especially for our future lifetimes.

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